When is the right time to put puss to sleep?

[Aussie Willy]

My cat Joubert has had diabetes and cushings disease for the past two years. Have managed with the insulin and trilostane medication. However after I got back from Canada in August he had really bad cat flu which the vet and I thought he would not make it. He did recover quite well from that. This week after getting back from a week away (dealing with dad who was in hospital) have come back to him losing his diet, not drinking as much but also he had quite bad vomiting as well last night. Still eating a little bit but kind of gone back to being a fussy eater which he was before diabetes. I am just going to monitor for the time being but I am really wondering if I need to make a decision.

Still I don't think he is very happy. Sleeps most of the day but kind of looks at me a quite miserable. Still quite affectionate. But I am really wondering why I continuing to keep him alive when his life just isn't great and he isn't really very healthy. And it is not going to get any better.

I am probably a bit stressed after dealing with my dad too who lost his wife in October and I have had to take on Power of Attorney. Also he is in early stages of dementia (constantly forgets things) and suffered delirium in hospital where he was agitated, couldn't remember anything and it was very concerning.

So at what stage have you decided to put puss down? I had to do it with my previous cat many years ago because he got really bad with a heart condition. You just knew it was time. This time the decision is a more difficult. I just need to know at what point you have had to make a decision.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I had a cat who lost half her body weight. She could still crawl up to my lap, move around, ate and drank......but obviously there was something wrong. I went to the Vet and she said a couple of things that stuck with me.

1. The cat does not have a sense of time like we do. Giving the cat a couple of weeks more doesn't register with the cat (if that makes sense).
2. The other thing she suggested was that it is better to put the animal to sleep when you know it is sick, and there is no solution, before it becomes a crisis. (like convulsions, seizures, etc.)

Sounds like you have given your cat lots of love and good care. Good Luck. It really sucks.

 

[KatieC]

I'm sorry it's reaching that time Aussie Willy, it's difficult to make that decision. Is he tempted by salmon or tuna, bacon or ham? If he shows an interest in anything I'd hold off, but I think you will come to know when the time is right. Enjoy your cuddles.

 

[ballettmaus]

My parents and I were recently faced with the same decision. In the end, we didn't have to make it because it all then happened rather quickly but she didn't seem to be in any pain, so we went by: as long as she eats and drinks, we're assuming she has a will to live. (Which seems to have been the case because a day or two before she passed, she suddenly barely did either).

I'm sorry, Aussie Willy. I know the decision isn't easy and neither is saying goodbye.

 

[Aussie Willy]

My parents and I were recently faced with the same decision. In the end, we didn't have to make it because it all then happened rather quickly but she didn't seem to be in any pain, so we went by: as long as she eats and drinks, we're assuming she has a will to live. (Which seems to have been the case because a day or two before she passed, she suddenly barely did either).

That is a good point. He only eats because of survival. I really feel I am just keeping puss alive because if they are living/breathing we assume they are okay. I am not sure how I am benefiting puss by keeping on with his treatment. If I didn't intervene puss would have passed away quite a while ago.

Thanks for the comments. I know that our little community of puss lovers here are always understanding when it comes to these things.

 

[Japanfan]

If an animal is very sick and not feeling well, and/or in pain or discomfort, and there is no hope that the dog/cat will get better, it's time.

I would speak with your vet, Aussie Willy.

You are keeping him alive because you love him. But what's important is that he not suffer or be miserable.

Those us who have cats and dogs (or other pets) commonly have to go through this. It is the cost of loving them.

 

[JasperBoy]

I have found that the animals let you know when it is time. They just quit. No input or output, and they don't move.

But I do agree that it can be kinder to have them put to sleep before they reach a crisis stage. That is terrifying for the animal and upsetting for the owner. Besides which, the crisis always happens on a weekend, and you have little choice but to wait until Monday morning to visit the vet.

 

[MacMadame]

I'm going through this with my dog. He has a host of health issues and also sleeps most of the time. He also recently has been hard to get to eat. However, when he is up, he's very happy and pleased with life.

He does have health relapses and whenever he gets so he has trouble breathing, he gives me such sad looks. So then I think maybe it's time but I take him to the vet and they give him a new prescription or a shot of something and within a day or two he's back to being his cheery self.

Of course, over time I can see the deterioration. And he's getting thinner and thinner. So I know the day is coming. I hope when it comes, I'll be able to tell. But right now he seems interested in living more than he doesn't.

 

[Japanfan]

Besides which, the crisis always happens on a weekend, and you have little choice but to wait until Monday morning to visit the vet.

At least some vets here have Saturday hours, and there is an animal emergency facility open 24/7, which small communities would likely not have. Super expensive of course, but there if you need it.

 

[Japanfan]

I'm going through this with my dog. He has a host of health issues and also sleeps most of the time. He also recently has been hard to get to eat. However, when he is up, he's very happy and pleased with life.

He does have health relapses and whenever he gets so he has trouble breathing, he gives me such sad looks. So then I think maybe it's time but I take him to the vet and they give him a new prescription or a shot of something and within a day or two he's back to being his cheery self.

Of course, over time I can see the deterioration. And he's getting thinner and thinner. So I know the day is coming. I hope when it comes, I'll be able to tell. But right now he seems interested in living more than he doesn't.

@MacMadame, I had shared a dog with the people who live in the basement suite here (long story). A true junkyard dog - Sharpei crossed with a Blue Heeler and something else. She developed megaoesophagus, so couldn't get any nutrition. Putting her on a feeding tube didn't seem right, but in retrospect I wish the decision had been made to do so for a time.

Sweetpea and our two dogs used to chase balls in the alley. And Sweetpea played her little heart out for about six months after she developed the condition, despite the fact that she was starving to death. Then one day she just lay down on the kitchen floor and clearly indicated that she was done.

Dogs may cope with discomfort better than we do, or have a greater love of life than some of us. Or, maybe they just go on in part because they do not comprehend the concept of death.

I think Sparky will let you know when he loses interest in living. For now, do the best you can for him and cherish the time you have left together.

 

[Scrufflet]

I've been through this a few times. Some I handled well, some I didn't. I keep in close contact with my vet who notices changes that I don't. If the cat still enjoys food then it probably isn't ready. When it moves labouriously or certain issues seem more extreme (like breathing), then it's time. Our last cat had breathing problems and the vet said she was exhausted and struggling. We took her in a few days before the scheduled time and I'm glad we did. Their sense of time not being like ours is an excellent point. We had a good 13 yrs. with her; why the need for 3 extra days to say goodbye?

 

[PRlady]

My cat died recently after being diagnosed with stomach cancer two months' earlier. The vet had him on steroids and he seemed fine for several weeks, eating (a lot, steroids make you hungry) and playing. Then one day he started howling and having trouble breathing, we brought him in and it was clear he had a stomach bleed and was severely anemic. It took another two-three days for it to be obvious that nothing could be done, and he went to sleep peacefully (and I think with relief.)

I think you'll know when it's time. I agree that if he's still eating and cuddling and not yowling with pain or having trouble breathing, he probably still has some time left.

 

[clairecloutier]

I have been through this twice now.

The first time, our cat was 13 years old and went into an unexplained decline. He started to lose weight, first gradually, then more noticeably. He was still eating and enjoying being with us, but there was something wrong. The vet kept trying to diagnose the problem and couldn't. We kept hoping. Then, over a weekend (as @JasperBoy said), he suddenly worsened and stopped eating and stopped enjoying being petted and started hiding/sitting in unusual, out-of-the-way places. He died on the examination table at the ultrasound lab when we took him in for another diagnostic test. After that experience (we were devastated), we realized the signs of the end being near, and that we should have let him go sooner, so that he did not suffer.

The second time, our 18-year-old cat started to lose weight and strength over a period of time. Then a knobby small growth appeared on his cheek, and the vet said it was likely cancer. We had the choice of spending a lot to try to diagnose it and treat it (with no guaranteed success) or letting him go. Given his age, we decided the time had come. ?

 

[Winnipeg]

So sorry to hear this. It is always sad to say good bye to a beloved pet friend. I like the idea of talking to your vet?

 

[mrr50]

I have been through this with 14 cats. It is never easy. Talk with your vet, but...is the cat comfortable, does he still love the sun beam or is he crawling away to a dark corner?

Good luck and supporting thoughts.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks everyone. He is eating a bit better but still not drinking much water and going to the toilet as much which for a diabetic cat is a concern. Thankfully I have a fantastic vet who has always worked hard for him. And all the staff at the vet's think he is a lovely cat. I probably should take him in again and have another chat. Back in August the vet did say it was my decision and I think she said I have probably persisted more than anyone else with a cat with his conditions. Making a decision is hard because he is so up and down in his activity. One moment he is quite lively and then next very very quiet. But I don't think it is a good life for him any more.

 

[sk8pics]

I think your vet can be a big help to you in deciding when is the time. I’ve been through this 4 times, most recently less than 2 weeks ago. It was not obvious until Leo really crashed, and it was plain that he was finally suffering and just getting sicker and sicker. But the vet told me several times she was comfortable with my decision. This vet practice hosts a Memorial Tree ceremony every December for the owners of pets who died in the previous 12 months, and she made that comment there too, that they are always comfortable with our decision when they euthanize a pet, or they would not do it.

Hugs to you. It isn’t ever an easy thing.

 

[skatesindreams]

Concurring and sympathizing with everyone here; having been through this many times.
You, and your vet, will know when the time arrives.

 

[acraven]

It is such a sad thing, to watch an animal decline. Cats are especially stoic, so I've never felt comfortable judging how they are feeling. I depend heavily on my vet, but I get the feeling that a lot of vets tend toward delaying the inevitable if the animal is being taken care of properly, because they know the loss will be painful for the human/caregiver. But the thing is, it's not any less painful if you keep a failing animal alive for an extra week or month.

In retrospect I've sometimes felt I waited a bit too long, but it's hard to be sure. I do think it's a bad sign if a cat known to have an incurable condition suddenly starts spending most of its time in the back of a closet.

 

[MacMadame]

I've never had to make this decision before. When I was a kid, our cats were indoor-outdoor and after we had them a few years, they'd one day not come home. Usually, this was because they were hit by a car (which was sometimes confirmed and sometimes not). Most of the other animals we had (small pets like hamsters or birds), one day you'd check on them and they'd be dead.

The worst was when my son's rat got some sort of respiratory infection. He was having trouble breathing so we took him to the vet and were given antibiotics. He didn't last 24 hours after that.

But this is not the same as having a very old pet (like my dog) and watching him slowly decline.

 

[Deleted member 1204]

I had to put my beagle to sleep last week. He started to have terrible seizures that were hard to control. There is no right or wrong decision with what you described. Personally, if he is eating, drinking, and affectionate, I would wait a bit longer. I also understand if you don't want to wait until he suffers. The process with my beagle was so peaceful- aside from placing the IV, he was very comfortable through it all. Everyone says that you will know when it is time. You really will.

 

[misskarne]

I'm sorry, Aussie Willy. But it does sound like, even if it's not quite time, it's very, very close.

My sister is a vet, and she always says that when the animal's quality of life starts to suffer - when they can no longer do things they enjoy, or when they start to have difficulty with the basic stuff (eating/drinking/sleeping/toileting), then it is time to say goodbye. Better to euthanise one day too early than one day too late. Animals can't vocalise their distress the way humans can.

 

[canbelto]

So sorry to hear about your kitty @Aussie Willy . I think your cat will let you know when it's time. Meanwhile prayers that he still will have good days and hope you treasure those good days.