The hardest decision

[Purrcats]

My gorgeous gentle boy is poorly. He was diagnosed at the beginning of the year with a serious heart defect and cancer. He was already living with arthritis, IBD and thyroid issues. He has done fantastically well with all of his health issues, surprising the vets with his zest for life and showing no decline in health.

In the past couple of weeks, his health has declined. He is having trouble going to the toilet and has bloody runny liquid squirts. His bottom is so sore. He is on anti biotics and pain relief to address this.

The vets are saying if no improvement by the end of this week, there is nothing else that we can do and should let him go.

Am struggling massively with this, because he is still eating, drinking and demanding cuddles. He even tried to steal our other cat dinner earlier! Yet at same time I hate seeing him in pain with his back end.

This is when being a cat servant sucks, because it will be one of the hardest decision ever, and I don’t want to make the wrong one for my gorgeous boy.

Oh OP, I am so sorry you’re going through this it’s heartbreaking.

I think you already know what you have to do. He is starting to suffer, you need to do the kindest thing for him. Better a week too soon than a day too late x

He is beautiful! How old is he? Sadly if his quality of life is impacted, and it sounds like it it is, the kindest thing is to let him go. It’s great if they can come to your house to do it as that way the cat is in familiar surroundings until the end. You can then be with him whilst he passes. I’m so sorry though - it is hard letting them go xx

He is 10 almost 11 years.

We got him as a rescue when he was 4 years.

I will look into seeing if vet can come to our house rather than stressing him with going to vet.

I think decision just harder as when we lost our last cat during Covid, it was traumatic for me as had to leave my very upset family at home, then sit in the carpark whilst my beautiful old girl was put to sleep because at the time we weren’t allowed into the vets and they wouldn’t come to the house.

I hope things are ok with you, @Purrcats .

Hello,

Believe it or not my gorgeous boy is doing much better. From thinking we were going to have to put him to sleep, he has bounced back.

He is no longer leaking bloody liquid poo, and his back end is looking much better. The vet has been amazed by the turn around in his health.

He is still on the meds currently and we have a review next week, but feeling much more optimistic about my gorgeous boy. He’s a little fighter for sure.

i knew he was feeling much more like himself when he started trying to steal our girl cat’s food again and wanting to play with his toys.

That’s such good news!

What a lovely surprise! I actually came on the thread to recommend Dignipets if you lived in the Midlands, so glad to see that's no longer required!😻

How wonderful! He's got a really unusual looking coat - is it as curly as it looks and is it really soft? Do you know what breeds he has in him, his head looks oriental in shape.

My gorgeous boy is a Devon Rex.

His fur is curly as it looks, and feels different to most cats’ coats. Suade is probably the nearest material I can describe the feel of it as.

This breed can be good for some people who are allergic to cats, but it depends on what makes person allergic to cat. Devon Rex doesn’t shred as much fur for example.

We got him as a rescue several years ago.