I have two cats, brothers, aged 15. One was diagnosed with diabetes nearly three years ago. It’s been up and down ever since, with his diabetes never really controlled - according to the numbers, but he’s had periods of apparently good health. He’s also had bouts of pancreatitis and various other things.
He also has a tentative diagnosis of lymphoma - tentative because the vet won’t do the necessary biopsy as his health is so poor he wouldn’t be able to cope. So he’s on a chemo drug for that. He’s also had a course of steroids despite the diabetes (we put his insulin dose up for the duration).
At the moment he seems very thin, though perhaps not at the lowest weight he’s been. His coat is a mess - clumped, greasy and dandruffy. The contrast with his brother, who is sleek and plump, is heartbreaking.
He has over the last week or so pooed in a washing basket and on the bed, and weed on a suitcase. He also appears to have sprayed up the back of his brother’s set of steps (arthritis) in our room. The diabetes means he’s a copious pee-er so it soaked the carpet.
I’m really conscious that the messes are unpleasant and it makes me feel like we might put him down because he’s an inconvenience … I hate that thought. But it’s also all such a bad sign when he’s always been your typical clean cat. I also don’t want him to end his life with us resenting him because he makes messes everywhere. We keep on top of his litter tray and try to keep him downstairs as upstairs seems to confuse him these days. He has intractable diarrhoea and frequently gets his tail or feet in it.
I have no idea what his quality of life really is. He does sleep a lot but that’s normal for a cat - often on the kitchen or hall floor or threadbare carpet. He’d be welcome on the sofas but never hops up, and he’s banned from two out of three bedrooms because of the peeing etc. The third is the other cat’s territory. He’ll still be picked up for a cuddle but seems less content with it than he did. He often just stands in random places and does nothing. He has cataracts but makes his way around okay. Doesn’t really go outside any more.
Having just read a post about a much older cat that can still jump - he can also still jump. He’s obsessed with our food and will jump from floor to table (with varying success), onto various surfaces to steal food and lick things. I do worry he’ll hurt himself doing this. He does fall back down onto his back legs when standing though (diabetic neuropathy) and his tail is always down.
The two are my first pets and I’ve always thought that the ability to have an animal put down when the time was right was a gift. I still do but now it’s no longer abstract it’s so hard. If I’m honest I sometimes wish he’d go properly downhill and make the decision easier - which is awful. Or that he’d just slip away of his own accord. But I think it may be time? Everything medically contradicts everything else, and it doesn’t feel like he’s going to improve in any meaningful way.
Not sure what I want from this post … maybe writing it all out has helped. I think it might have done. At the very least I’ll be calling the vet tomorrow for a conversation and for him to be looked over.