Please help me decide if I should put my cat to sleep.?

Question

My cat is pretty old. I've had her for 23 years now but she got really sick, really fast. Here's a list of her problems:

*Severe Kidney Disease

*Hyperthyroidism which causes her to eat/drink constantly but still lose weight. She only weighs 4.5 pounds now. I can feel her bones.

*There's something pushing her eye out of socket. The vet believes this to be a tumor

*Urinary tract infection

*Abcess tooth/rotten teeth

*She tries not to put too much weight on her back right leg but she can still walk and jump

*When she breathes, she sounds like she's snoring

*She is losing her hearing

I love my cat so much and I just cry at the thought of not having her with me anymore but I know I have to do what's best for her. The vet says that she's too old for any kind of treatment and that I should just try to keep her happy and comfortable but they didn't tell me to put her down. What should I do?

Answer 1

I can't tell you what to do since I haven't seen the cat but if the vet felt she didn't need to be put down right there and then, then I would do my best to keep her comfortable for the rest of her days. Still, I have to say that 23 years is a long life and I'm sure it's been a happy one.

Answer 2

You can't depend on people online to make such a hard decision for you, unfortunately.

My only opinion is this: Your cat sounds like she's in a lot of pain. As much as I hate to say it (Trust me, I looked down at my own kitty when I was typing this) I think you should think about letting her go to a better place. I'd never want Leo to have to go through all of that-- THAT would hurt me more.

Answer 3

Lovely:  I think you've answered your own question.  Take a really good look at all the health issues she has already.  She is in immense pain.  Keeping her here instead of giving her peace is truly cruel to her.  Atleast animals have this option.

That said, I have had to do the same for animals not even close to being in this bad of shape.  It is truly something that never leaves you, and no matter what the reason, you will always question your decision.  I would like to suggest that you have a very caring vet that will allow you to do it your way.  I was with each one, held them close, and said goodbye.  As I'm writing this, the tears are coming.

Keep in mind that she's been with you longer than most cats will ever live, so she's had a full life and has been loved.  It's now your RESPONSIBILITY to let her go.

My thoughts are with you.  Being in that kind of pain every day decreases their quality of life so much.  Her last days should be full of a kind face and loving ways instead of intense, constant pain.

Answer 4

If it were my cat, I would put her to sleep, but she's yours, so you have to make the decision. She has to be uncomfortable, maybe even miserable. I hope you love her enough to end her suffering. I know it's hard, but don't be selfish.

Answer 5

The main question is does she have quality of life? If she is miserable and there is nothing a vet can do to help then you should make the hard decision and put her to sleep. You dont want her to be in pain day after day. Just something to think about. Plus when most people finally decide to euthanize they feel bad that they waited so long. It should be about her life. Now how you will feel without her. She has had a long life so you have obviously taken great care of her. Hope this helps. Hope you make the best decision for her.

Good luck and God bless

Answer 6

Only you can tell if she is actually in pain or not. You have been with her for 23 years. That is a long life for a cat. She had to be well cared for to live that long. But more than that, she had to be loved.

I believe that as pet owners, the last, greatest gift we can give our pets, is a release from pain. To let go, even if we think we can't. To allow them to pass in dignity.

I am truly sorry for you.

Edit:   JME2207 If you ARE a vet tech, you should KNOW that telling a client or owner to euthanize is out of your scope AS a technician. Vets and techs are bound NOT to answer the 'What would you do?' question. We cannot sway the owner either way.

Lovelylady, I'm sorry to use your question as a forum for education.

Answer 7

So sorry to hear about your cat. This decision is yours to make..not ours. You may want to ask yourself a few questions though to help make this hard decision. Things like:

Is she eating and drinking?

Is she enjoying life?

Does she appear to be in pain and can you help her with meds?

Will she eat her favorite treats and play with her favorite toys?

If most of these questions are no..then maybe it is time. If the answer is yes to most of these..then maybe its not. Only you can say when..but it may make it a little easier. So sorry.

Answer 8

You should ask your vet to discuss this with you.  They have seen many pets, and they will know better than anyone what symptoms are serious to the quality of life, and which ones are not as serious

For me, I would be very concerned that my cat was suffering, so I would ask the vet, especially about the breathing difficulties, abcessed tooth, and urinary tract infection.  

Answer 9

a vet will never tell you to put her to sleep. it is your choice.

when he said " she's too old for any kind of treatment and that I should just try to keep her happy and comfortable ", he said, "put her to

sleep. " you just didnt hear it. you were listening for" no problem, i can cure this".

go do something with her one last time. steak dinner in the blender so she can drink it, walk in the park, what ever. say goodbye.

you are going to feel a lot worse if you come home some day and find her dying a slow painful death, all alone.

Answer 10

awwww that's a super hard choice!! I dont know what i would do if i were you!

Answer 11

Your vet is probably thinking about your feelings. Which is right, in a way.But here's the part that will be hard to hear:

Your cat has had a long life, and the hard decisions are often the ones that need to be done the most. Consider it one final kindness. There's no treatment that will make a difference for your cat's terminal conditions, and they're only going to get worse and cause the animal more suffering. It's suffering now, and it will hurt you just as much to watch the process.

I've had to euthanize several cats, and it doesn't get easier. The process is simple: the vet will give an injection that will cause unconsciousness and cardiac arrest in under a minute, and the only pain the cat will feel is the needle pinch. You can hold the cat while the injection is done, or not as you choose. It may help to bring a friend for support.

Answer 12

She's suffering let her be pain free is my opinion. :..<

Answer 13

It is a personal decision...a very HARD personal decision.

I would put her down if she was mine.She's probably in pain all over.

:( Sorry.

Answer 14

Personally, I wouldn't put a beloved pet down any sooner than I'd put my old grandma with cancer down. Yes, my baby isis hurting, but hurting is a fact of life and we all suffer. I think about it this way, "If my grandma was going through all these problems, would I 'put her out of her misery', so called, or let her live out the remainder of her few days with the people she loves?"

I would keep her comfortable, keep her loved and take care of her until she passes. Yes, it will be hard watching her hurt and being able to do nothing except comfort her, but it's a lot better than killing her. At least, that's the way I feel.

Answer 15

the vet is right,.,there is basically nothing you can do. im a vet tech and the humane thing to do is put her to sleep. i personally think she is suffering with all of her problems. she cant eat because of her abcessed tooth. poor cat must feel awful..put her to sleep

Answer 16

I had to make this same decision after twenty years with my "Perkins."  I loved him like he was my own child.  I made that decision for him quickly though when I realized that he was in pain more often then he felt good.  I had him cremated and I still have his ashes.  I miss him but I have lots of good memories that he was a part of.  I just recently got a new kitten after a few years of Perkins being gone, I hope my new kitten will be a part of my family as long as Perky.

Answer 17

if i was you, i honesly would put him down. i know how you feel cause i had to make the decision. at first i was thinking, no way i cant live without him but than i realized all i was thinking about was my feelings, instead of how he felt. i love him so much that i didnt care hw i would feel or how sad i was, i didnt want to watch him suffer anymore. i knew that he would rahter be died than suffer. so puttign your cat down will really show how mych you love him. i know its the hardest thing in the world, but you dont want to see him suffer. and your right it is only up to you but thats what i woud do. that is what i did. you have to realize that your cat will be in a better place where he isnt suffereing anymore. and someday you wil be together agian. so just say goodbye to him for now. im sorry that you have to go through this its a tough decision cause you dont want to let him go but at the same time you dont want him to suffer. but just do whats best for him. alot of people feel guilty aftter but htey shouldnt casue putting their cat down shows how much they love them. and its good that you realize its about her and not you. i can tell you really love her. but it wont be goodbye forever, jsut for now. i hope you get through it when the times comes. and just rememebr how lucky your cat was to have a owner that loves him.  

Answer 18

even if its just every once in a while like once a week you notice she seems to be happy/enjoying life even just a little then i would let her live

if god wants her he'll take her