My cat…

[RubyBlue]

She is eleven now, always been slight, slim, recently although she hasn’t seemed to have lost weight, she seems skinny. The vet said she’s fine. She is sick everyday but mainly hairball sick even though I give her hairball medication. Even though, she pukes up daily.

When is it appropriate to have a kitty put to sleep? You might think this is mad but I would rather she not have a dreadful life. Can I ask a vet this?

Her eyes seem ‘dead’. The life seems to have gone ~ no way will I allow her to be an unhappy dying cat.

 

[smee]

Have the vets done blood tests, did they weigh her? Hyperthyroidism is quite common in older cats (though 11's not that old) and weight loss and being sick are symptoms. Treatable with meds (or for ours with a special diet). What did the vet say about the hairballs? (also, there are some rubbish vets around - IME, maybe try another one?)

 

[Ax^]

to the vets to see if is anything more serious had to do that with my fatpuss this time last as he started getting thin and sick ..

not nice but only way to know for sure if it treatable a blood test should show most common ailments


good luck to your kitty

 

[Puddy_Tat]

at poorly kitty.

how long is it since she went to see the vet?

some cats do appear 'thin' but in fairness, the average domestic cat in the UK is probably (like the average human in the UK) probably slightly heavier than they should be.

how is she in other respects when she's not throwing up? different cats are more or less sociable / playful than others, but has she changed in behaviour recently?

(((( RubyBlue and kitty ))))

there is a long running general cats / kittens thread, asking for advice on poorly kitties is fairly usual, and many well informed people follow the thread.

 

[Epona]

I don't think you can decide something so final without doing blood tests to see what is going on.
11 isn't ancient or anything.
It could be a manageable condition that with treatment she could be happy again and live many more comfortable years.

You won't know without having tests done though, a vet just looking at her and saying she seems alright and you thinking that is incorrect is not sufficient evidence (IMO) to end her life!

 

[RubyBlue]

She saw the vet two months ago. I will check out the other threads but a cat a had years ago shaped my experience ~ she started being sick and crawling, unable to move probably. She had cancer and I’m scared this one is ill. I would rather she had a little jab and we could say goody.

 

[RubyBlue]

Never will I have a car again. It’s heartbreaking.

 

[Epona]

She saw the vet two months ago. I will check out the other threads but a cat a had years ago shaped my experience ~ she started being sick and crawling, unable to move probably. She had cancer and I’m scared this one is ill. I would rather she had a little jab and we could say goody.

And what if it's not cancer, but just one of the regular conditions that older cats get, and a pill once a day would solve the problem for the next few years?
Or it's an infection and a course of medication will do the job?

Look, I don't want to be harsh with you, but if you're wanting to have her die because you can't face taking her to the vet and getting a proper investigation and diagnosis, then I feel I need to point out to you that is morally wrong.

Please just for her sake, grit your teeth and take her to the vet for tests. Sometimes we have to be bigger than our fears when we care for animals.

 

[RubyBlue]

Yeah, apologies, that wasn’t really what I was saying. Hope that’s not how it came across. I’ve had cats for the best part of 20 years.

 

[Epona]

Yeah, apologies, that wasn’t really what I was saying. Hope that’s not how it came across. I’ve had cats for the best part of 20 years.

OK no worries, it sounded as though it was a serious consideration without doing further investigation.

I do understand the heartbreak when it is their time - but it's important to make sure it is time first - and it might not be

Do you have anyone who can go to the vet with you for a bit of moral support?

 

[RubyBlue]

But after reading what I said ~ maybe that is what I meant, however, it’s not ‘beci can’t be bothered to take her to the vet’ it’s because I love her and if I was her age I would prefer to be put to a gentle sleep. Don’t lame me, we’re all different.

 

[RubyBlue]

Yes, I have a husband who loves her and told me not to make a rash decision, which I’m prone to do.

 

[Epona]

But after reading what I said ~ maybe that is what I meant, however, it’s not ‘beci can’t be bothered to take her to the vet’ it’s because I love her and if I was her age I would prefer to be put to a gentle sleep. Don’t lame me, we’re all different.

11 isn't that old though - it's the equivalent of about 50 or 60 in human years.

 

[Epona]

I felt utterly robbed when my Radar died at 13 because it was way before his time.

 

[RubyBlue]

Nothings going to happen anyway, we will be seeking further vet help.

 

[RubyBlue]

11 isn't that old though - it's the equivalent of about 50 or 60 in human years.

Yeah, I’m 63, happy enough but hope my family would put me to sleep if I’m ill enough. (Even if that was tomorrow ) All my family have a DNA and have used it in my father’s case (86).

 

[Epona]

Nothings going to happen anyway, we will be seeking further vet help.

Glad to hear it, I didn't want to argue about it but your post really really upset me - I had to say goodbye to my Jakey just before Xmas, he was nearly 18 and I'd have done absolutely anything to have kept him happy and with me for longer.
It touched a nerve, I hope you understand that.

Hopefully your family would check that you were actually ill and the extent of the illness first tho, eh

 

[RubyBlue]

Glad to hear it, I didn't want to argue about it but your post really really upset me - I had to say goodbye to my Jakey just before Xmas, he was nearly 18 and I'd have done absolutely anything to have kept him happy and with me for longer.
It touched a nerve, I hope you understand that.

Hopefully your family would check that you were actually ill and the extent of the illness first tho, eh

I’m sorry for you and i do understand. We checked with my dad though and it is what he absolutely wanted. I’ll ask my kitty later after checking on her.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

11 isn't that old though - it's the equivalent of about 50 or 60 in human years.

yes.

kitty next door (she's small enough of build for people to think she's a kitten) is 16-ish now. she has a bit of arthritis but otherwise fine, and is still up to chasing dogs off the premises (there's a footpath along one edge of the communal garden. for some reason, some local dogs refuse to be taken walkies along there now)

 

[RubyBlue]

yes.

kitty next door (she's small enough of build for people to think she's a kitten) is 16-ish now. she has a bit of arthritis but otherwise fine, and is still up to chasing dogs off the premises (there's a footpath along one edge of the communal garden. for some reason, some local dogs refuse to be taken walkies along there now)

Wish I hadn’t asked now. Trying to do my best and get called all sorts of cunts ~ although I know that’s not true, but still, it’s not like I hate my 11 yearr old cat.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Wish I hadn’t asked now. Trying to do my best and get called all sorts of cunts ~ although I know that’s not true, but still, it’s not like I hate my 11 yearr old cat.

are there some posts i'm not seeing?

 

[RubyBlue]

Here she is

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Here she is

purr meow purr

 

[Epona]

Wish I hadn’t asked now. Trying to do my best and get called all sorts of cunts ~ although I know that’s not true, but still, it’s not like I hate my 11 yearr old cat.

Erm... I did not call you any such thing, and neither did anyone else.
What a horrible thing to say.

 

[Rebecca Riot]

Here she is

If that's a recent photo then she doesn't look like she's at death's door.

You say she feels skinny but have you noticed if her coat looks a bit rough or if she's breathing more rapidly than normal? If so, she could well hyperthyroid as it often kicks in around that age. It's easily diagnosed with a blood test and treatable with tablets or liquid med. It's well worth another visit to the vet.

 

[RubyBlue]

A

Erm... I did not call you any such thing, and neither did anyone else.
What a horrible thing to say.

Apologies. I’m so sorry, I’m drunk.

 

[RubyBlue]

If that's a recent photo then she doesn't look like she's at death's door.

You say she feels skinny but have you noticed if her coat looks a bit rough or if she's breathing more rapidly than normal? If so, she could well hyperthyroid as it often kicks in around that age. It's easily diagnosed with a blood test and treatable with tablets or liquid med. It's well worth another visit to the vet.

Yeah I took the picture right before I posted, isn’t she lovely? I don’t want to lose her. I had 2, her sister adored her but George bullied her. Luckily my next door neighbour took her so I didn’t need to choose, she’s called Millie ~ 11/years ago I asked here for names and those were suggested.

 

[RubyBlue]

I’m going to look to see if I can find a picture of her and her sister because I did at the time and was asking for name suggestions the names Georgie and Millie came from here