Our cat is around 16 years old she has always been very timid and hates other cats and dogs. She is deteriorating as in just being a very old lady that is delicate and frail. Stares at the wall for hours, she fell asleep with her head in her food bowl recently. She has lost a little weight, her breathing is a little rapid at times, she likes being brushed and purrs when this is done and she will eat though a little fussier. Seems to like being alone a lot which is a big change she used to follow us around or sit next to us all the time until a few months ago.
She gets extremely distressed going to the vet, if I thought she was in pain I would take her obviously. But the few times she has been she has been genuinely traumatised.
I have never had to care for a pet who is going towards end of life. DH and I have discussed it and we think she isn’t at a time to be put to sleep and we are hoping when the time comes she will peacefully pass on at home. But how do you know the time to intervene if it isn’t totally obvious.
Would welcome any advice from people with experience of older cats, we think she is 16 but as she was from a shelter it was just an estimated age so she could be older.