Is my cat nearing the end of his life?

[palmtreesoliveleaves]

He's old (around 20) and we're now going into the 4th day of him barely moving from his bed.

He sleeps in the kitchen on top of the island with 2 blankets and a doughnut bed and we've not taken this off the island since Wednesday. Normally, it comes off in the morning and gets put back on at night. He's mainly in the living room during the day unless we're out.

The past few days he's been lifted out for a feed and then put back up in his bed. He's managed to use the litter tray. This morning I lifted him out his bed to eat and then he looked like he was coming through to us in the living room but he jumped back up to his bed.

He was at the vet twice over the past 3 weeks as he had an abcess/cyst on his face that burst and was infected so he got antibiotics and a cone and it healed well.

We mentioned to the vet he had been being sick more, where he'd be sick lots during the day and spend the next day sleeping. The vet didn't really say much apart from he was old and we'd sort out his face first.

But now that's cleared up and he's now barely got out of his bed for days 😥 We're used to him sleeping lots and being less active/not going outside but this is new behaviour.

He's 20, so yes. He's a very old cat. The fact that you're having to lift him out of his bed to eat otherwise he doesn't move is very concerning. He may be in pain.

If it was my cat, id say it was time to say goodbye to him so i could choose the time and place before he gets to the point he's suffering.

I wouldnt be in a rush to take him to the vet. He still jumps. My old 21 year old cat had episodes like this especially in winter.
I knew it was the end when she refused any food or water and could no longer jump on the bed and could barely walk. It happened at the weekend and I knew it was time.

Yes he may be in pain, cats don't really show it but his lack of activity might suggest it. Or he is just 'winding down' towards the end of his life. Keep a close eye on him and show him a lot of love and cuddles when he's awake. He may not have long to go.

Yes, the fact he managed to jump has made me wonder too. And that he's still interested in food, albeit less than usual.

I'm aware the final vet visit is "better a day early than a day late". We've just expected him to "snap" out of it like he usually does but now we're in the 4th day it's concerning.

This has also crossed my mind. He stood for a stroke and a meow when I went into the kitchen this morning, then he watched as I got him breakfast but I had to lift him down for it. He was a bit shaky eating it.

I can hear him snoring from the living room 😄💗

This is him with a missing head on Tuesday 😅

Instead of putting his bed on a worktop so he has to jump to get into it why not leave it on the floor? If he's still eating and jumping it sounds lovely ke he's still got a few more weeks left in him. Old cats sleep a lot. As long as he eats, uses his litter tray and likes strokes I'd leave him be. If he stops eating, keeps having a poo outside of litter tray, vomits and can't jump you'll know it's time.

It's tricky

Mine was eating, enjoying life and strokes and jumping and having zoomies
But he was also having urine issues and incredibly thin and frail. I chose to say goodbye when he was well which might seem odd but I didn't want it to be an awful rush to the out of hours with him in pain etc and he was never going to get any better than he was at that point

Looking at photos now, it was the right thing even if some people questioned me over it. I just knew and he looked tired