When to PTS?

[OctaviaPole]

My cat is at least 14 possibly older as he's a rescue. 4 weeks ago I took him to the vet with what I thought was a respiratory infection. The vet agreed and he's had antibiotics. He appeared to improve but last week his breathing sounded bad again so I returned to the vets. This vet said to be sure as to the diagnosis x-rays were required costing £500-1000. I'm simply not willing to pay this money. She then suggested that the difficulties he was having with his breathing was possibly cat asthma. So he was given a steroid injection and I was to take him back again which I've done tonight. He did seem a bit better after the steroid.

Different vet has had a good look at him and thinks he's probably got a mass in his larynx. This could be a tumour or an infection. She can't be sure without examining under anaesthetic which is risky given his age and chances are would just confirm a mass and in this case they wouldn't bring him round from the anaesthetic. She's given him a long lasting steroid to see if by reducing inflammation we can help his breathing as he's struggling a little to breathe in. In the time this has been going on he's lost 600g in weight because he struggles to eat and breathe. He has lost loads of muscle over his back and he looks different to the big fat cat he used to be.

He's due back at the vets Wednesday. The last vet was the first to talk about putting him to sleep. Its so hard because he still loves his strokes but it must be crap not being able to breathe or eat. I feel awful saying yes to putting to sleep when he's still pushing my hand for a stroke.

Any advice?

Hi OP.
That is such a hard decision. With my old cats I always realised that when they weren't enjoying life or even acting normally, enjoying time in the sun etc, then it was time.
I really do feel for you. Good luck.

OP your instincts are correct, the time is now. Animals have no concept of tomorrow only of today and how they feel now. You've ruled out a couple of simple causes and got the most accurate diagnosis you can get without wasting money paying for suspicions to be confirmed. Vets train for years, the chances are their educated guess is correct. It's a condition that's only going to deteriorate. To PTS now to prevent further suffering isn't wrong. If in doubt, it's better a week too soon than a day too late. I know it's difficult 💐. Don't beat yourself up about the financial side of things. There's nothing wrong with being practical and sensible, avoiding a situation where you're in a ton of debt and still have no cat at the end of it.

Thanks both for your responses. @SusanMaria my instincts are that whatever this is, it's likely terminal. It might be we can get another 6 months with medication. But I do wonder if that would be right if he's struggling to breathe and can't eat like he wants to. On the plus side he's still looking for sunny spots and enjoying a stroke.

I always looked at if they're eating, pooping, purring and not struggling with the Basics ie eating, breathing and moving around.

Struggling to breathe and eat would be very close/past the line for me as difficult as that is to say.

We had a older female cat with a tumor (lymphoma) who couldn't go under anaesthetic as they thought her body couldn't take it. We opted for steroids and no intervention. We monitored her very very closely to check the Basics weren't a struggle. So I completely understand what you're going through. 💔

I've had to make this decision a few times now. The more often I've had to do it, the more convinced I am that as soon as you start to wonder if it's time - it's probably time.

I'm so sorry, OP - it's a heart wrenching time. But eventually, the best thing you can do for them is help them go peacefully.

I've only had to make this decision once but with hindsight I made it too late. I got sucked in by the vet suggesting there was some treatment when really I knew there wasn't a hope.

I totally agree with @LancreWowhawk as soon as you start to think it is time, it probably is.

So sorry you've got to make this decision.
I've had to do it three times now.
It is the most important gift you can give a beloved pet.
They have no concept of prognosis. They just know that they're feeling ill and scared.
Cats are very good at hiding distress.
It's better to PTS a week too early than a day too late.

Just wondering why you didn't want the x-ray if it would have given a diagnosis? Would it have helped?

I'm afraid for me, seeing my elderly pet struggling to breathe with very little chance of improvement would be decision time. There's only one fair and kind option. I am so sorry OP but this is just prolonging the discomfort.

I've just made the decision to have my little boy pts at 4pm tomorrow. He's declined rapidly over the last few weeks, hasn't eaten anything apart from a few licks of gravy or tubes of lick e lix and blood tests show his kidneys are no longer working properly. He's also become urinary incontinent and is unable to stand in his tray for more than a few seconds before his back legs slip and he needs to lay down and rest before getting back into his bed. When I took him to the Vets the other day he had his bladder expressed and was howling. I could have had him put on a drip for 48 hours to try and flush the toxins out but he has a few more other health issues as well and the Vet said even if it did work which there was no guarantee it would it may only be for 6 months and then we'd be back to where we are now.