Is it time? How do I know?

[Hotandbothered222]

My poor 14 year old cat has a tumor - she’s outlived the vets expectations of 3-6
months after the diagnosis, which was around 9 months ago.

Over the past couple of weeks she’s gone downhill - wobbly on her feet and much quieter than usual. Last Wednesday she was drooling and obviously uncomfortable so rushed to the vet. I think the vet would have been happy to put her to sleep then and there, but we agreed on an anti-nausea jab and watch and wait.

Took her home and she rallied a bit, Friday she was very floppy and falling over and we called to make an appointment, but then cancelled when she picked up again.

This morning she’s drooling again, very unhappy, then 10 mins before the vets opened she perked up and ate a big plate of food.

We can’t keep going round in circles like this - I’d rather just have her put to sleep sooner rather than later - I hate the fact that she’s suffering. My husband is the one who wants to put it off - he thinks it’s too soon.

What should we do? The vet was no help really, we all know she’s not going to get better.

I honestly don't know and I'm so sorry, I can feel your pain.
I guess there's no 'right time'. There's the time you choose and choosing it makes it the right time. And the two of you have to choose it together.
Sending a hug and if you want to share a pic of kitty from better times please do (but equally don't feel obliged to). 💗

Sounds like it’s time. If you are asking the question it usually means it is. With two of mine I absolutely knew. The light in their eyes had gone. The third one was so sudden I was blindsided by it. But I knew it wasn’t fixable. I found the vets being neutral really difficult as I wanted to be told what to do in that case. I get why they do it, but I’d have found it easier for her to say that there was nothing they could do.

Thank you both. It’s the up and down that’s hard. If she’d stopped eating it would be clear what to do, but the stopping and starting is confusing.

I think you need to take a step back and objectively look at her quality of life. Eating alone is not really enough in itself.
She's been a much loved part of your family and this is a very hard decision for you all. But it's kinder to take the decision slightly early rather than slightly late.

It’s a difficult call, but from reading your post I’m sorry, but I think the time has come. Cats are very good at hiding pain and suffering.