Euthanasia- how soon is too soon?

[wombat]

My FIV+ moggy went blind 3 months ago for unknown reasons (we ruled out hypertension, toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis) and started limping at the end of September. It quickly progressed to him mostly moving around on his bum and dragging his left leg along. We took him to a specialist at the beginning of October and he said spinal lymphoma was at the top of his suspicions, but the only way to find out would be to get an MRI, which we declined because we didn't want him to die under general anaesthesia. He has been unable to pee on his own, so we've been taking him to the vet everyday to express his pee, but the last two days he has been peeing on his own, thank goodness. He hasn't pooped since Monday, though. The vet says he has become progressively weaker. He is pale, and he now has jaundice. We didn't take a blood test as the vet didn't want to hurt him more. I asked the vet if he could recover from this and she said it's very unlikely. She said it'll be time to let him go when he stops eating. Right now, he's eating about maybe two teaspoons of food at a time. He gets gunk in his eyes and he's sneezing constantly, and produces a dark yellow mucus. He drinks a lot of water. I wish he could pass naturally, but I also don't want him to suffer. How soon is too soon to euthanise a cat? I've read that the cat will let you know but I really don't know how to read the signs.

 

[will2002]

I am sorry for your situation but in my opinion, it's way past time to let Moggy go. I know it is a very difficult decision to make because I've had to make it many times in my lifetime, and it never gets any less difficult to do.

I hope on the best for you and Moggy God bless you.

 

[di and bob]

It's so very hard to really know, each cat is an individual and cats are known to hide pain and illness very well.....
I have been through this many times, and the point I came to know that means they are very close to that time, is when they no longer find enjoyment in everyday life. You both have fought a long, hard battle, and it is so very hard to know when to stop. When he hides, when he pulls away from you instead of enjoying your caress, when his eyes look tired and vacant, that is the time. As long as he is eating even a tiny amount and is drinking, he is trying. With everything else that is going on,when this stops, his enjoyment in life will stop too.
If vets stress him out too badly, you may want him to die at home, try to get a liquid pain med or an injection to give him when that time comes. or have the vet come to your house if you can. Every living thing fights against death, and it is so very painful to watch when you love them so very much and have fought so hard.....No matter which way you go it is going to hurt, you will have second thoughts and regret, because that is called grieving. Just try to have pity, and know his suffering will have ended. Your love will always be with him, and his with you. The bond you have is spiritual, so eternal. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers, please give that precious, courageous boy a kiss for me, may the good Lord welcome him with open arms.....

 

[Maria Bayote]

I have been following your updates on your sweet boy Moggy, and I know how it pains you.

You have to be ready for this, but at the same time think of how Moggy could be feeling right now. You do not want him to suffer, so I believe you have to let him go.

Even if I am literally crying as I am typing this I know in my heart that your sweet boy is also ready. It is alright. You can let him go while he still can feel the warmth of your loving embrace.

The whole TCS family is with you all the way, whatever you decide upon. Be strong, even if it is so painfully hard.

Our sweet boy, Moggy. We love you. Remember that always.

 

[Tik cat's mum]

I think you know it's time to say goodbye. I'm so sorry but you need to remember no more suffering that's what it means. We will all be thinking of you and moggy.

 

[Misty_Miffy_Moon]

I am so very sorry for what is happening right now. But if I had to choose, I would let Moggy go. I am so very sorry, I read your other post and Moggy sounds like he's suffering right now.

I am so, so, so very sorry.

I love you and Moggy.

<3

 

[Furballsmom]

But if I had to choose, I would let Moggy go.

As would I which I posted on your other thread, I didn't realize you had this thread going as well.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I think you can let moggy go only when you know you are ready to do so. It is nice to get the opinions of others, but they cannot substitute for you coming to terms with what you need to do - and when - for moggy and in your own heart/mind. The best thing any of us can do for you is give you our prayers, thoughts, and well wishes that you can find a way to decide on your own how to handle this time in moggy's and your lives. This is the only way you won't walk away with a lot of regrets - regardless of your decision.

 

[Furballsmom]

Regrets and sadness will be there from the awareness that our pets don't live as long as we'd love to have them do, but the animal should be thought of first and foremost.
I personally think there should be a clarification regarding eating, because, as here, moggy isn't consuming anywhere near enough calories/nutrients to sustain a healthy cat, never mind one that is additionally trying to fight a very serious illness.

 

[neely]

I think you can let moggy go only when you know you are ready to do so. It is nice to get the opinions of others, but they cannot substitute for you coming to terms with what you need to do - and when - for moggy and in your own heart/mind. The best thing any of us can do for you is give you our prayers, thoughts, and well wishes that you can find a way to decide on your own how to handle this time in moggy's and your lives. This is the only way you won't walk away with a lot of regrets - regardless of your decision.

If it helps at all, when I was faced with this decision a wise person said to me, "it's better to go a day too soon than to suffer in pain."

Please know that our hearts and sincere sympathies are with you. All of us at TCS are thinking of Moggy and you.

 

[FeralHearts]

My heart breaks for you. I'm crying with you.

XOXOXO

I can't tell you about timing as I know myself, I won't know with my own.

I remember reading in the rainbow bridge area someone wrote a long post and the gist of it was that we make a deal with our babies. We care for the and love them and they love us and there are all sorts of things in between but that part of that commitment is letting them go too. It's the deal we make when we share our lives. That post broke me. It was true though. That's the deal - and it sucks beyond words.

You can only do what you think it best for Moggy, just like you've done their whole life. I'm so sorry.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

 

[fionasmom]

I am very sorry that you are facing this. I had a rescue with lymphoma and cryptococcus, went blind, the rest is much like Moggy. ( I realize that you clarified that Moggy does not have that, but the end result was the same). You have really fought the good fight and from my experience with Pangur Ban, you are at the point where releasing Moggy is the kindest and bravest thing you can do for him. BUT we are all strangers to you, so you do have to be at peace with this decision; none of us are there with you.

Observe him when he is not aware that you are around and see how he reacts and what he is doing. He might be trying to react to you if he thinks that you want that, but it may not reflect his real physical state. If you are going to great extents to get him to eat, that might be a sign as well.

 

[amandag1]

Im so sorry. It is so very hard to make this choice. He does sound very sick though.
Im sure you know in you’re heart he doesnt want to suffer anymore.
Lots of love Moggy

 

[Leomc123]

Wombat, i am sorry that you are going through this hard time. It is the hardest decision to make and i know i have been there two times this year. Leo had a similar issue was limping was in pain were medications wasnt working on him that well, he eventually was draging himself around on the floor with his two front paws, he was not able to stand up on his own and became incontinent he would pee and poo on his side while laying there. Every day I would help him up when he needed to go to his spot to toilet, i would hold him up when he was eating. He wasnt blind and was eating well, and on his last day he was the most happiest cat only for the fact that he was not able to move around on his own and would lay there. It was the hardest decision in my life, but every time i saw him draging around the floor like that and not being able to go to the bathroom on his own when i was at work made me think about his quality of life. I even considered buying him cat nappies or even making him one just so that he could not soil himself. I even made him one of those wheel chairs to help him move around but that didnt work for him, he was just getting worse. So i made the hardest decision to let him go.

Wombat its a scary feeling and it is the saddest feeling to make this decision. Before you do make this decision, spend time with moggy, take photos, videos of him, love him , kiss him, hug him, be with him, before you finally say that last goodbye, dont rush it, and take someone withyou. Big hugs to moggy, bless his little heart and his strength. And god bless you wombat for loving moggy like you do, and caring for him like you do, big hugs to you. May God and his angels guide you and moggy in this tough time.

I think a day too soon is better than a day too late, for MC she was a day too late and in both cirumstances it wasnt easy decision to make no matter what the situation was, the only thing that mattered was they werent suffering anymore longer than they had too.

I agree with Fionasmom when she says to observe moggy when you are not around, like through a window or a camera , Leo was an outside , indoor cat, my parents didnt want to let him be an indoor cat only cat which made it worse for him, so when i would watch him from the inside the house to see what he would do at night and durring the day , he would try to move around but was dragging himself and struggling to go to where he needed to go.

 

[Meowmee]

My FIV+ moggy went blind 3 months ago for unknown reasons (we ruled out hypertension, toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis) and started limping at the end of September. It quickly progressed to him mostly moving around on his bum and dragging his left leg along. We took him to a specialist at the beginning of October and he said spinal lymphoma was at the top of his suspicions, but the only way to find out would be to get an MRI, which we declined because we didn't want him to die under general anaesthesia. He has been unable to pee on his own, so we've been taking him to the vet everyday to express his pee, but the last two days he has been peeing on his own, thank goodness. He hasn't pooped since Monday, though. The vet says he has become progressively weaker. He is pale, and he now has jaundice. We didn't take a blood test as the vet didn't want to hurt him more. I asked the vet if he could recover from this and she said it's very unlikely. She said it'll be time to let him go when he stops eating. Right now, he's eating about maybe two teaspoons of food at a time. He gets gunk in his eyes and he's sneezing constantly, and produces a dark yellow mucus. He drinks a lot of water. I wish he could pass naturally, but I also don't want him to suffer. How soon is too soon to euthanise a cat? I've read that the cat will let you know but I really don't know how to read the signs.

Only you can decide, it is never easy. I have always waited till the end, sometimes too long in one or two cases, but I could not let them go early in case there was a miracle recovery and they still seemed like they wanted to live, even Syb at the end when she had a saddle thrombus did not want to die. But I wish I had done it a day earlier for sure in at least two cases. They were all very, very ill and in the er etc. I have never had any pass easily at home. I had wanted to have someone come to our house for Syb but it didn't work out that way. I always hear about people’s kitties passing at home without needing help but all mine have been so very ill, bad luck that they all had terrible diseases, multiple in some cases. Hugs to you and your baby, I know how very painful this is.

 

[Leomc123]

 

[MissClouseau]

Vets in some countries show this scale. My thoughts are with you, wombat.

 

[wombat]

Thank you for your kind wishes and support everyone. My moggy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge early this afternoon at home, surrounded by his loved ones. He let us know it was time... he stopped eating and drinking yesterday and became very restless. He went so peacefully, and as heartbroken as I am, I am thankful for that.

 

[FeralHearts]

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO W wombat XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Much love coming at you.

 

[Tik cat's mum]

I am so sorry for your loss R.I.P Moggy