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Original poster

Treat or euthanise senior cat and seizures

51 replies

phlossy · 13/02/2025 14:57

Hi, my lovely 15 year old lady has had a perfect life of health, no issues.

Today she has had 3 seizures. I've got an appointment at the vets at 30

Obviously no one here knows what's up but just after a sounding board really and any advice.

I am happy for small things like bloods to be done but I don't want her to have to stay in or have scans etc that are going to be very stressful for her. And I wouldn't want any surgery/invasive procedures

How do I know if it's right to ask her to be euthanised instead of medicated or tested

Will they think I'm neglectful if I say no to tests?
The downside of having a clean bill of health all her life is that when she does go to the vets she finds it very very stressful

Thank you

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Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 14:57

Vets at 5.30 that should say

OP posts:
olderbutwiser · 13/02/2025 15:00

Only you can decide when you've discussed it with the vet, but I do know we left it one episode too late with our old cat. She endured tests that really were pointless, and when we finally had to have her put to sleep it was in a distressing emergency.

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:02

My little old girl

Treat or euthanise senior cat and seizures
Treat or euthanise senior cat and seizures
OP posts:
WifeImprovementWorksInProgress · 13/02/2025 15:02

Oh your poor girl op. Hopefully the vet will be able to give some more info or an educated guess on a diagnosis without invasive tests. They will want what is best for her too and if you voice your concerns hopefully they will advise accordingly and sensitively. Either way, how wonderful she's had a long and happy life so far. wishing both of you all the best x

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:03

olderbutwiser · 13/02/2025 15:00

Only you can decide when you've discussed it with the vet, but I do know we left it one episode too late with our old cat. She endured tests that really were pointless, and when we finally had to have her put to sleep it was in a distressing emergency.

Thank you. I don't want her to suffer in any way. She is insured so it's nothing to do with cost I just want her to be peaceful

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WifeImprovementWorksInProgress · 13/02/2025 15:03

Gorgeous ❤️

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:04

WifeImprovementWorksInProgress · 13/02/2025 15:02

Oh your poor girl op. Hopefully the vet will be able to give some more info or an educated guess on a diagnosis without invasive tests. They will want what is best for her too and if you voice your concerns hopefully they will advise accordingly and sensitively. Either way, how wonderful she's had a long and happy life so far. wishing both of you all the best x

Thank you. I hate the thought of putting her through tests that she won't understand why, and for what really? She's 15.
Even having to give her tablets would be really stressful for her, she doesn't talk to me for days after she's been wormed

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MinnieMountain · 13/02/2025 15:06

Our 14 year old cat was diagnosed with liver problems based on a blood test when I took her in for suspected thyroid problems.

We’ve said no further tests or scans. Like yours, she has always been healthy (bar an operation to have a tooth removed last year).

When she looks like she has little quality of life/is too uncomfortable we’ll have her put down. If there was just a daily tablet we could give her without further tests we would do that.

Coffeeishot · 13/02/2025 15:07

I'd see what the vet suggests but I agree with you I wouldn't put her through tests that could distress her.

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:08

Coffeeishot · 13/02/2025 15:07

I'd see what the vet suggests but I agree with you I wouldn't put her through tests that could distress her.

Thank you.? It feels like such a cruel decision to make, but she's family and I can't bare the thought of her suffering

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Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:08

MinnieMountain · 13/02/2025 15:06

Our 14 year old cat was diagnosed with liver problems based on a blood test when I took her in for suspected thyroid problems.

We’ve said no further tests or scans. Like yours, she has always been healthy (bar an operation to have a tooth removed last year).

When she looks like she has little quality of life/is too uncomfortable we’ll have her put down. If there was just a daily tablet we could give her without further tests we would do that.

Thank you x

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BobbyBiscuits · 13/02/2025 15:09

She's gorgeous. Looks a lot like my big boy.
I'm so sorry she's not well. My last lovely cat started losing weight, then stopped going out, then he had a couple of seizures. It was very distressing. The vet said he probably had cancer but we declined invasive testing.
He ended up passing away peacefully at home about a week after the seizures. Though I sometimes think we should've pts before he had them. As he was already unwell.
15 is a good age for a cat. I'm sure you know you'll do the right thing for your lovely cat x

Coffeeishot · 13/02/2025 15:11

phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:08

Thank you.? It feels like such a cruel decision to make, but she's family and I can't bare the thought of her suffering

Show quote history

They won't let her suffer.

oakleaffy · 13/02/2025 15:11

phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:02

My little old girl

What a little beauty!
Oh so difficult..

Don't be forced to go for treatments that may not be in your beloved cat;'s best interests.

We had a Lurcher who had been very healthy all her life -{apart from surgical stuff to remove impacted grass seed in salivary gland!} however she was diagnosed with a terminal disease at almost 12.

The head vet at the vet hospital when I asked ''what would be best'' said '' Your dog isn't a good patient - she frets- this is a terminal condition, take her home and spoil her, when the painkillers don't hold her pain, OR she starts coughing get her euthanised''

We had her PTS at home 12 weeks after diagnosis.

The vet who came ironically said ''she looks well!''...

But the dog herself let us know she had had enough - {they do let you know of you are close to them}

Best of luck. 🤞

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:11

BobbyBiscuits · 13/02/2025 15:09

She's gorgeous. Looks a lot like my big boy.
I'm so sorry she's not well. My last lovely cat started losing weight, then stopped going out, then he had a couple of seizures. It was very distressing. The vet said he probably had cancer but we declined invasive testing.
He ended up passing away peacefully at home about a week after the seizures. Though I sometimes think we should've pts before he had them. As he was already unwell.
15 is a good age for a cat. I'm sure you know you'll do the right thing for your lovely cat x

Sorry about your boy.
Thank you

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Resilience · 13/02/2025 15:15

I'm with all the other comments.

If she was mine, I'd see what the vet says, have initial bloods done and take it from there. If there's something clearly treatable without too much distress (e.g. she might have eaten something mildly poisonous and just need some medication and fluids) I'd do it. If a terminal diagnosis I'd be led by the vet about life expectancy and quality of life and consider euthanasia (preferably at home if the cat doesn't like the vet as it's more peaceful).

If nothing obvious I'd just take her home and monitor her comfort levels. No invasive/exploratory surgeries/tests. You can't explain to a cat that their suffering might only be temporary or that it's worth it just to have a bit longer on the planet. All they know is that they're suffering.

I'm so sorry OP. I hope it's a one off with a happy ending. 💐

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:19

Resilience · 13/02/2025 15:15

I'm with all the other comments.

If she was mine, I'd see what the vet says, have initial bloods done and take it from there. If there's something clearly treatable without too much distress (e.g. she might have eaten something mildly poisonous and just need some medication and fluids) I'd do it. If a terminal diagnosis I'd be led by the vet about life expectancy and quality of life and consider euthanasia (preferably at home if the cat doesn't like the vet as it's more peaceful).

If nothing obvious I'd just take her home and monitor her comfort levels. No invasive/exploratory surgeries/tests. You can't explain to a cat that their suffering might only be temporary or that it's worth it just to have a bit longer on the planet. All they know is that they're suffering.

I'm so sorry OP. I hope it's a one off with a happy ending. 💐

Thanks, these are exactly my thoughts, even with a young animal I wouldn't subject to lengthy painful treatments for the greater good , as they just don't understand and it seems cruel

OP posts:
Gardenertrouble · 13/02/2025 15:23

This happened to my cat when she was 20! The vet prescribed a barbiturate which completely stopped the fits. We had to give her 1/2 tablet twice a day. We crushed it into some Lick-e-Lix and she ate it all up. She lived another 3 happy years. However, it does mean you, or someone you trust, has to be there twice a day. We also had to take her to the vet every 3 months for a check up.

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 15:46

Gardenertrouble · 13/02/2025 15:23

This happened to my cat when she was 20! The vet prescribed a barbiturate which completely stopped the fits. We had to give her 1/2 tablet twice a day. We crushed it into some Lick-e-Lix and she ate it all up. She lived another 3 happy years. However, it does mean you, or someone you trust, has to be there twice a day. We also had to take her to the vet every 3 months for a check up.

Wow 23 that's impressive!

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Allergictoironing · 13/02/2025 18:57

One of DSis's previous cats started having fits, and was diagnosed with epilepsy. A couple of drops of liquid in his food twice a day was all he needed, until other health problems got to him.

I'm another one agreeing that do the basics to find out what it is only, especially at her age. If it turns out to be likely to be something she needs more diagnostics done for, likelihood it will be something terminal anyway so best you can do is spoil her rotten & she will tell you when she wants to go - my beloved soul cat told me when it was time with his CKD.

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 19:12

We went to vet, they looked her over etc she was very happy and wandering about. We agreed that we would take her home with rectal diazepam and if she had any more seizures book blood tests.

Back in the car and she had another seizure so rushed back into vets and they took us straight in to back room. Vet took one look at her fitting and said I'm very very worried I'm so sorry but this looks intercranial and not something that we will be looking at treating and I can also say for certain she will have more tonight.

So we had her pts. Vet even didn't do paperwork first she said she looks like she's brewing another one so it's better to do it quickly while she's happy rather than it be traumatic for all of us.

Dd 14 was with me and burst into tears when she saw her fitting.

Rest in peace baby cat

Treat or euthanise senior cat and seizures
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RentalWoesNotFun · 13/02/2025 19:14

So sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat. You did the right thing of course. ❤️

MinnieMountain · 13/02/2025 19:19

I’m so sorry OP.

ShrimpBoil · 13/02/2025 19:20

I'm so sorry for your loss, Phlossy - best to save her any pain even though it's hard for the humans. RIP beautiful puss.

Original poster
phlossy · 13/02/2025 19:30

Thank you all. Very sad to lose her, she was born in our house so we've had her literally all her life. But of the ways she could go it was probably one of the better

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