Advice needed: Time to put my cat down?

In My Humble Opinion
1

In about 2 1/2 hours I have a vet appointment. I’m thinking of telling the vet that it is time to put my cat, Timmy the Cat, to sleep. I am conflicted, though.

Here’s the story:

About a two months ago, he started vomiting. He had a short bout of diarrhea the week before. He had also lost some weight. I took him to the vet. After a series of tests ($1500 worth) I found out the following: he had thickening of the walls around his heart (he’s had a heart murmer his whole life), and he has some kind of thyroid disease. He also had an infection as a result of these conditions. The doctor said the heart condition was irreversible, and the thyroid condition may be the body’s way of compensating for a kidney condition. The vet said he had about 1-2 months to live without medication, maybe 6 months with the medication. I put him on antibiotics for the infection and medicine for the heart and thyroid. The anitbiotics took care of the infection. He began to regain weight and showed signs of life.

By the way, the two medicines cost a total of $90 a month. I am presently unemployed and don’t really even have the $1500 I spent earlier.

Last month, the infection came back. The vet put him on the antibiotics again and that seemed to address the issue. With one sideeffect. Major diarrhea. I had been given acidophilus to combat the diarrhea the first time and it worked. It didn’t work the second time. We finished the antiobiotics and the infection seemed to disappear with the exception of hte diarrhea. Oh, he hasn’t been using the litter box through this entire situation, so I’m cleaning cat diarrhea two times a day.

Timmy has always been sort of a dull cat. Meaning, he doesn’t like catnip, doesn’t care for cat treats or cat toys. His primary joys were sitting in my lap and sitting by an open window. Lately, he doesn’t want to sit in my lap and doesn’t come runnign when a window opens. He doesn’t appear to be in any pain, though.

This morning he pooped outside his litterbox while I was taking a shower. The smell made me gag and dry heave in the shower. I am REALLY tired of cleaning up cat diarrhea.

So, through a combination of money concerns, quality of life for him and me, being sick of the diarrhea, his prognosis for the future, I am feeling like it is time for me to say goodbye.

I am conflicted because he is not in pain. When I adopted him, I feel like I took on the responsibility of taking care of this animal. For better or worse, so to speak. I can’t help but think that I am doing this for personal, selfish reasons, though.

So, in the remaining 2 hours or so, I’d be interested in Dopers opinions, perspectives and thoughts regarding this issue.

2

If you think it’s time, it’s time.

I had my 15-year-old cat, Dorothy, euthanized a few months ago; she was fading away with cancer. I thought, “better two weeks too early than two weeks too late,” and called the vet.

3

If he’s not enjoying the things he used to, he may be in pain, just not acute pain. In any case, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he gets really sick and is in real pain and you’ll be forced to euthanize him. Maybe it’s time to put him down now, before he has to experience the distress and discomfort that’s on the horizon.

You know him best, and are best able to judge whether his quality of life is currently high enough to justify nursing him through the next few months. It sounds like you’ve been a good friend to Timmy, and I’m sure you’ll make the right choice.

4

Ain’t that the truth. I’ve always waited too long with my kitties. I vowed not to let that happen with the next one. I got to the point where I burst into tears just looking at them. You’re not a bad person if you put her down…but you’ll feel like shit if you wait too long.

Sorry for the sadness.

5

I’m so sorry, and yes, I think it might be time.

I had to make the decision with my 17 year old dog a few years ago after going through pretty much the same thing, but he’d also lost the use of his back legs. After MONTHS of taking him outside and helping him stand to “go” it got to the point where he couldn’t hold it until we got past the front door. No meds helped, and even though he didn’t seem to be in any real pain I thought it was for the best. It was a very very tough decision, but I knew when it was time to let him go.

If you feel like it’s time, then it’s time. Diarrhea can be painful and our animals don’t always show that sort of pain so much…but an indication *might * be that he doesn’t want to be held anymore.

6

The heart issue sounds like it might be cardiomyopathy. We had a cat with that who lived for 10 years after diagnosis (we were told 6 months, tops), but she didn’t have any other ailments.

The disinterest thing isn’t necessarily pain. CJ was simply tired all the time. She seemed happy, just tired.

I’d say it might be time for your Timmy. Continued diarrhea is putting (probably) even more of a strain on his system. The litterbox avoidance is probably a sign that he’s unhappy.

So sorry to hear about this.

7

I’d ask the doctor if Timmy is in pain, or if it is likely that he will be in more pain later, just to make sure.

8

What happened to Timmy?

9

I put him down. I guess I had already made that decision. Nobody I talked to thought it was anything but time to go. And that made it easier.

The people at the vet were real nice. I didn’t realize the whole procedure was so quick. One shot put him to sleep instantly. The next shot stopped his heart. I stroked his neck while all this went on. They were all patient and consoling toward the fat guy who started bawling when the vet said his heart had stopped.

Thanks to all who posted to this thread. I valued your observations and comments.

10

{{{{Hugh Jass}}}}

You did the right thing for your kitty.

11

If Timmy could thank you, he would. Sending positive thoughts your way.

12

'Scuse me a moment, I have something in my eye.

You did the gentle thing for Timmy, Hugh. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. My cats send their love too.

13

:frowning: Bye kitty. :frowning:

14

Cats and dogs on far to many occasions get the shitty end of the stick, If you couldnt help thinking it was more self than dire need only you know the answer to that, I suppose really im dreading the time if and when i have to make similar decisions,do you not have something like the PDSA where you live, in the uk i can get my animals treated for
free as long as i prove im not working and have got an address.sorry bout your cat tho i feel for you :slight_smile:

15

You did the kind and decent thing. Trust me. I was there recently with 16-year-old cwKitty. I tell myself she’d agree.

16

HughJass, I’m so sorry about Timmy. A few years back, my beagle had the same symptoms as your Timmy and he was diagnosed with cancer. We had him put to sleep. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

BTW, I don’t know anyone who didn’t cry like a baby when they put their pet to sleep.

17

I’m crying like a baby hearing about someone else’s cat. I’m not looking forward to this decision with my own cats.

Hugh, cats are very stoic. They can be just about dead, and you’d never hear it from them. You were also worrying if this was a selfish decision on your part - yeah, in part it might have been, but that’s life. If Timmy hadn’t been as sick as he was, you wouldn’t have had him put down; the fact that he became so sick at a very bad time for you was just the way it goes sometimes. It sounds like you did the right thing for both of you. That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

18

I have 2 cats, 10 and 15 years old. Neither of them show any signs of aging so I hope it’s as obvious as Timmy the Cat was. Spot-on decision and it was saintly of you to spend the money in your situation.

19

Thanks again for the supportive comments. It’s been a few days now, and I feel like I made the right choice. I miss the little feller though. It’s conflicting, knowing the right decision was made and still regretting it.

I took all of his stuff (food, carrier, cat dishes, litterbox) to the ASPCA on Saturday. What they can’t use themselves they said they’d give away with another cat, which was nice. The ASPCA here has a nice building, but they said they are in constant need of standard supplies. When I have steady income again, I think I may make a practice of buying litter or food and dropping it off on occasion.

20

You made the right choice. :frowning:

Good luck!