It may be kindest to euthanize her. Try placing the boxes closer to her bed/where she sleeps (but not too close or she won't like it) and make sure to clean the urine out thoroughly. Cat collars are designed so that the cat can wriggle out it if she gets snagged on something, so don’t worry about choking. She has two litter boxes that are low and cleaned out every day, but she has started to urinate consistently on our rug. A cat with a glossy, well-kept coat is a cat that still has a pride in her appearance and is well enough to do something about it. If there is no prospect of her gaining weight, you must consider euthanasia. If this is not the case then the pet's quality of life is in question and euthanasia should be considered. You want to make the right decision for your dog, but knowing when to say good-bye can be difficult. At least try to convince her to take the cat to the vet and get a medical opinion about what to do. A mouthful of food at dinnertime, then leaves the rest. Of course your vet won’t put down Fluffy; she’s a gold mine. "I'm debating what to do with my 18-year-old kitty. This, "The article was much more specific about cats appearance, weight loss, quality of life, change in habits, mood. ", lost lots of weight. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. %PDF-1.4 %���� She will appreciate the honesty and help you make the best decision. Either of these scenarios are a cause for worry and will result in the cat losing weight. It has gotten worse, and she even peed on our feet as we slept. Quality of life is a way to refer to and discuss the day-to-day life and lifestyle of a cat reaching the end of its life. Dr. Alice Villalobos, a veterinary oncologist, has developed a quality-of-life scale for cats that provides guidelines that help owners and veterinarians work together to maintain a healthy human-animal bond. Re: Put the Cat Down! I, "Having read the advice regarding euthanasia and older cats, I now feel more confident that I am in a position to, "I loved my 17-year-old cat and did not want her to suffer. ", is having trouble eating much everyday and has lost a lot of weight. She has no visible body fat and she peed on the floor just once and there was blood in it. Does your pet become stressed or afraid when left alone, assuming this was not a problem before? When To Put Your Dog Down Checklist When you have a heart-breaking decision to make about putting your dog to sleep your vet is there to help. What should we do? Our Cat Has Cancer — Should I Let My Son Be There at the End? Reading the, "This is an answer to a lot of prayers that I have about when is it time to let go. Tell her that the cat is probably miserable and in pain most of the time. An elderly or sick cat will have good days and bad days, but if the overall balance is positive and the "bad" is never extreme pain, then it is reasonable to carry on. that you are able to assess your cat’s quality of life in order to prevent suffering as they get older, or if they become ill. You can be present when you put your dog to sleep. Do the pet's age or illness-related behaviors alienate family members? if we put down every dog or cat that showed aggression towards vets, there … Putting your dog to sleep is difficult, but it could be the most loving thing you do for your dog. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 283,454 times. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. I almost always encourage them to take their dog or cat to the vet, who can help them decide if it’s time to say good-bye. She is 15 and will not survive surgery. It was with a, "When you mentioned about quality vs quantity of life. There is no way I want to know or see her have to suffer now at the end. Hearing others' stories and similarities has given me more, "This was a well written article, especially during the hard time at the end of your pet's life. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This could be as simple as a happy or sad face for good or bad. It sounds like her bladder control is rather weak, or she cannot remember where her litter boxes are. The pictures are kind of funky but the advice is helpful. Bring your cat to the veterinary office or prepare a space in your home, if the euthanasia is happening at home. The scale rates seven basic factors (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More Good Days Than Bad) from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best possible score. Today we called the vet to help her to go. Another example is the cat that eats but regularly vomits food back up. He still eats and drinks well, but he urinates in the sinks and counters, as well as my clothes and purses (but he still goes in the litter box as well). She is under vet care, but after reading this I'm feeling it would be kinder to let her go with dignity. He's obviously having problems with his diet, and this is a root cause of many problems. Keep in mind that certain factors, such as senility, are often best judged by the owner who lives with the pet, rather than the vet in a ten minute consultation. ", years of a perfect life with hardly any illnesses!! Deciding to put your pet down is an incredibly difficult decision to make. Owners do not consider euthanasia lightly, and it is highly likely that if the thought of euthanizing your cat has occurred to you, then your cat is close-to, or already in distress. 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