My 18 year old cat Ziggy is overweight by about 6 pounds, has arthritis, has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, thickening of the heart muscle, and abnormal heart rhythm. Occasionally he has trouble getting his back legs to work right (he seems to get some kind of twitch thing that makes him not have control over his hind legs for a few seconds...this really confuses him.)
He is being treated for the pancreatitis, but it seems like he is only partially responding. He spends most of his day since the treatments began going to the food dish and eating 4 crunchies, going to the water dish and taking 3 licks then going immediately to the litter box. Then he rests for 5 to 10 minutes and starts all over again. He is not sleeping as much as usual. He no longer cuddles all the time which he did before. He purrs and seems happy when you go to him and pet him, but he no longer initiates contact.
Due to his age and number of health problems, I am wondering if he is nearing the end of his time. I am kind of nearing my max ability to treat him financially, but I really don't want that to decide the length of his time with me. I don't think I could emotionally handle that. However, if he is not going to have any quality of life, I don't want him to spend his last time suffering.
Any advice?
He is being treated for the pancreatitis, but it seems like he is only partially responding. He spends most of his day since the treatments began going to the food dish and eating 4 crunchies, going to the water dish and taking 3 licks then going immediately to the litter box. Then he rests for 5 to 10 minutes and starts all over again. He is not sleeping as much as usual. He no longer cuddles all the time which he did before. He purrs and seems happy when you go to him and pet him, but he no longer initiates contact.
Due to his age and number of health problems, I am wondering if he is nearing the end of his time. I am kind of nearing my max ability to treat him financially, but I really don't want that to decide the length of his time with me. I don't think I could emotionally handle that. However, if he is not going to have any quality of life, I don't want him to spend his last time suffering.
Any advice?