My cat will be put to sleep this afternoon. I think I have let him down very badly.

[MellowYellow552]

He is 17 and three quarters and he's been treated for hyperthyroidism for over two years. My vet said he should eat either renal-friendly food or have Ipakitine on his normal food as treating hyperthyroidism often reveals underlying kidney problems. He has been doing this for two years (but he's had the odd treat and sometimes robbed from some of the other cats, as they do!)

I came back from holiday three weeks ago and he had the runs, so I gave him probiotic in his usual food which seemed to help. Then last week he was stretching out on the cold tiles next to the back door which I just took as being overheated, because it has been so hot. I now think I should have called the vet.

He was picky with food on Friday (though he did try and steal ice cream midweek!) then Saturday he started to go downhill very badly. Wobbling about, not eating, plaintive meows, drinking gallons. He's eaten some food, but picked at it. Last night he meowed loudly for some cooked chicken and scoffed the lot (8 small pieces).

I can't help thinking I have let him down very very badly and I am heartbroken. If I had called the vet when he first got the runs, the outcome might have been different. I don't think I will forgive myself for this.

Bless you. He’s 17yo, I really don’t think the outcome would have been different. Sadly it just sounds like he’s reached the end of the road but at a great age with some loving care from you to get him here.

I felt the same when my beautiful girl slipped away at home one evening. I'd been worried about her and I'd made an appointment for the following day, not thinking it was emergency.

Your cat has had a lovely life, and Time catches up with us all. Thinking of you 💕

Oh sweetheart, you only feel this way because of how very loved he is. It’s a part of grief, not a reflection on your care of him. He sounds like an adored old boy who has had a very lovely life and now is being given the final act of great love, to let him go painlessly. What a gorgeous boy ❤️

Why are you giving yourself a hard time OP? He's 17, he's had a hardcore illness which you've managed extremely well. To get to that age is a very well looked after cat. You haven't let him down, it's just his time. Be kind to yourself.

The very fact he has made it to 17 means he has been looked after very well. I know it will break your heart today but it is the last act of love you can do for him x

Hand hold. You absolutely haven't let him down.

Coming from someone who was in the same position two weeks ago with my 18 year old fur baby. I stressed, was I doing it too early, too late, was there something else I could have done. I cried buckets.

I made the appointment and told her it was okay for her to go. She suddenly perked up, came from her hiding place and nuzzled me. Then I thought I had made the wrong decision and she was on the mend but ultimately it was her time to go and the kindest last thing we can do for our babies is to let them go, pain free.

Sending you so much love. The pain will ease but we won't forget them. X

What a beautiful cat! You haven’t let him down. You talk about a different outcome- sadly there’s no different outcome for a 17 year old. Maybe a delayed outcome and that could have brought him suffering.

You really haven't let him down, on the contrary you've looked after him so well all these years. It's such a hard day, I know. Go easy on yourself, cry as much as you need, but don't blame yourself for anything, you don't need to 💐

What a beautiful boy, your love and care for him shine through this post@MellowYellow552 . Please try not to feel bad (easier said than done I know!). He went at the right time thanks to your loving kindness, as others have said, being taken to the vet to be prodded about may have stressed him much more than what actually happened, he had a lovely long life with you and went when it was his time💐

Sorry, in my above post I thought he had already passed; wishing you strength for this afternoon OP ❤️

What a beauty he is! Don’t beat yourself up OP, he’s 17 and has obviously been very much loved and has had a great life with you. With most animals it can be so difficult to know when there’s an issue and honestly, most of the time a wait and see approach is fine.

He's been one lucky lucky cat to have had an owner like you . Tell him you love him and to go in peace .

You will only be letting him down if you don't PTS as soon as possible now.
He has probably had a great life and this will be that last loving thing you do for him

What a beautiful cat!
He's had a lovely life with you.

Sending lots of empathy. You obviously loved your cat a lot and looked out for him. It's horrible when you have to make these decisions.

Dont feel guilty OP. I spent £4000 treating my cat's hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine and she was "cured" but 6 months later she had the symptoms you describe and had to be PTS.
The hyperthyroidism had hidden the symptoms of severe kidney disease and my vet said there was nothing they could do for her.
Thank goodness we have the option of letting them die peacefully.

I think we all carry some guilt, when in reality we’ve done our best. He’s an old cat OP, he’s not well and not going to get better. You’ve looked after him, it’s better to let him go peacefully than he spend his last days at the vet. It would likely only prolong things a few days. Be strong. 💐

You can't second guess what happened. We do the best we can. It's often hard in those last years to know what's happening with them health-wise (and also to know when is the right time to let them go). Take care of yourself.

You haven't let him down OP. We have no actual way of knowing just how our cats feel, and can only go by what we see and our instincts. I doubt I would have taken my cat to the vet either in those circumstances. He was a good age, I lost my eldest boy at 17 last year, and you have given him a good life and cared for him. I'm sorry to hear the news, but you have done nothing wrong. 💐

My 17yo cat was exactly the same a few months ago and was PTS. My comfort was she had a peaceful and sedated death, rather than writhing in agony with end-stage kidney failure.

You have obviously done your best, be kind to yourself. 💐

I'm very harsh on people mistreating their animals as an ex vet nurse I saw an awful lot of bad owners. You are not one of them, you are just grieving and blaming yourself is a part of that. You definitely didn't let him down, he was very lucky to have such a good owner

Hope you're OK today OP, and thank you for posting the beautiful pic of your boy. He looks such a happy and well-loved boy, and I'm sure that was his reality.
Take care of yourself. 💔

You haven't let him down and you're not letting him down by PTS now. He's had a good life and you're not letting him suffer. xx

You would have let him down if you had continued to let him suffer. Once cats have kidney problems it's downhill all the way. Our cat had seizures and lost loads of weight, she should have been euthanised sooner but my autistic son was closest to her and I knew I should let him decide because it would help him in the grieving process. I was worried that if I made the decision he would resent me and blame me. He understood that she was terminally ill but finally made the decision when she couldn't use her back legs any more. It was a very upsetting time for both of us but it was done in the home on his lap where she was happiest, being petted and relaxed. He keeps her ashes on the floor next to his bed where she mostly slept when he was gaming or otherwise occupied.