Hello. I have 2 geriatric kitties and they are both chronically ill. I'm really having a hard time trying to figure out when is the right time to say goodbye? My biggest fear is doing it too soon or too late. Here's what's going on...please bear with me as will be a bit lengthy; my case is unique because they both got sick around the same time and are both going downhill at the same time.
I have a 15 year old DSH orange cat, and he has recently had a dramatic downturn in his health. His vet believes he has a cancer in his eye. We've been treating him for a month and he is going downhill quickly. His eye went in 4 weeks from being brownish looking, to blind in that eye, oozing, weeping, and now his lens is luxated (dislocated). His nose also constantly runs to the point it drips.He's had FHV his whole life but this is bad for him. The veins in his eye and his uvea are very angry and enlarged. He has been on multiple meds and it is getting worse not better. Now he's on palliative care. He's lost 4 oz in 4 weeks, and in spite of doing all I can to help him eat, is only 6lbs. He simply has very little appetite. He is weak, sleeps 20+ hrs/day. I wanted to know if anyone has been down this road before with their elderly cat. What can I expect? How fast do they go downhill? How much time do I have left before I have to put him to sleep? The problem with it being in his eye is that there is a risk of rupture. That terrifies me. He's on pain meds and an eye drop to reduce pressure in his eye, but it's a ticking bomb. I want to keep him as long as I can, but don't want him to suffer or be miserable. When do I euthanize? What am I watching for? Right now he's still eating/drinking just not as much as before. He comes out about once a day for pets for a few minutes. He doesn't meow anymore, he barely purrs anymore. It's heartbreaking. The vet said it's hard to say how long he has left. It could be weeks or months. But I don't want to be selfish and keep him here if he's in agony.
My 2nd cat is a 16 year old Russian Blue mix who has a large tumor on the inside of his mouth. He's been on palliative care for the past 2 months and is on pain medication. We've had to change his dosage from 2 times a day to 3 times a day, from 50mg to 75mg. When he's medicated he seems ok (his underlying condition is unchanged). He will eat soft food and seek out attention from my husband and I a couple times a day. He sleeps 20+ hrs a day. We've decided not to put him through chemo/radiation and just let him be comfortable at home as long as possible. His weight is steady and his appetite is ok. But his pain is getting worse. He is actually needing pain meds at the 5hr mark now, and when it's time he paws at his mouth with both front paws, cries, and actually will gag. It's very sad. So his pain is definitely getting worse. He's in pain every day. He has his good moments and his bad ones. Yes he's *ok* on his pain meds, but I can't just keep upping his pain meds indefiniety. I dont' want his entire existence to be doped up and sleeping. That's being alive but not having quality of life. I know usually you watch for lack of appetite, weight loss, etc..but in his case even if he's eating/drinking etc. but always in constant severe pain, it might be time sooner rather than later.
Going through this with both of them at once is very difficult. I've had them their whole lives. I want to know when it's time to euthanize. But I'm trying to get feedback from someone who has a similar experience so I know when that mark is. I'm so torn. I don't want to rob them of a day of being alive, but don't want them to suffer either. I appreciate any advice or feedback from fellow cat parents who have been through this before. Ty.
I have a 15 year old DSH orange cat, and he has recently had a dramatic downturn in his health. His vet believes he has a cancer in his eye. We've been treating him for a month and he is going downhill quickly. His eye went in 4 weeks from being brownish looking, to blind in that eye, oozing, weeping, and now his lens is luxated (dislocated). His nose also constantly runs to the point it drips.He's had FHV his whole life but this is bad for him. The veins in his eye and his uvea are very angry and enlarged. He has been on multiple meds and it is getting worse not better. Now he's on palliative care. He's lost 4 oz in 4 weeks, and in spite of doing all I can to help him eat, is only 6lbs. He simply has very little appetite. He is weak, sleeps 20+ hrs/day. I wanted to know if anyone has been down this road before with their elderly cat. What can I expect? How fast do they go downhill? How much time do I have left before I have to put him to sleep? The problem with it being in his eye is that there is a risk of rupture. That terrifies me. He's on pain meds and an eye drop to reduce pressure in his eye, but it's a ticking bomb. I want to keep him as long as I can, but don't want him to suffer or be miserable. When do I euthanize? What am I watching for? Right now he's still eating/drinking just not as much as before. He comes out about once a day for pets for a few minutes. He doesn't meow anymore, he barely purrs anymore. It's heartbreaking. The vet said it's hard to say how long he has left. It could be weeks or months. But I don't want to be selfish and keep him here if he's in agony.
My 2nd cat is a 16 year old Russian Blue mix who has a large tumor on the inside of his mouth. He's been on palliative care for the past 2 months and is on pain medication. We've had to change his dosage from 2 times a day to 3 times a day, from 50mg to 75mg. When he's medicated he seems ok (his underlying condition is unchanged). He will eat soft food and seek out attention from my husband and I a couple times a day. He sleeps 20+ hrs a day. We've decided not to put him through chemo/radiation and just let him be comfortable at home as long as possible. His weight is steady and his appetite is ok. But his pain is getting worse. He is actually needing pain meds at the 5hr mark now, and when it's time he paws at his mouth with both front paws, cries, and actually will gag. It's very sad. So his pain is definitely getting worse. He's in pain every day. He has his good moments and his bad ones. Yes he's *ok* on his pain meds, but I can't just keep upping his pain meds indefiniety. I dont' want his entire existence to be doped up and sleeping. That's being alive but not having quality of life. I know usually you watch for lack of appetite, weight loss, etc..but in his case even if he's eating/drinking etc. but always in constant severe pain, it might be time sooner rather than later.
Going through this with both of them at once is very difficult. I've had them their whole lives. I want to know when it's time to euthanize. But I'm trying to get feedback from someone who has a similar experience so I know when that mark is. I'm so torn. I don't want to rob them of a day of being alive, but don't want them to suffer either. I appreciate any advice or feedback from fellow cat parents who have been through this before. Ty.