Elderly cat

[CiderMonkey]

My cat is 21 years old, my mum has said it might be time to start thinking about having her put to sleep.

She is very thin, though she is eating healthily. She cannot clean as well as she used to and has matted hair on her legs and belly. We try to cut off the ones we can, but she doesn't like it I don't want to stress her out. We brush her where possible.
She also has gunky eyes which need cleaning regularly.

She sometimes seems confused and will make this awful loud mauwling type sound.

She is slightly deaf now and I don't think she can see properly.

She is walking like she is very frail sometimes and sometimes loses her balance if she has just woken up or is leaning in to being stroked.

she is starting to wee other places than the litter tray and we are now having to keep her in the kitchen while we are out.

having said this, other times she is perky and even jumps up to the sofa.

I have an appointment at the vets but would just like to know what other people think?

[iheartruby]

hi cider,

sorry to hear puss is frail - but it sounds like your mum might be right. this is the hardest thing to think about - and i speak with experience as my 20 year old cat had similar things happening to her when we had to have her put to sleep. i put this off for a few months as i couldn't bare to be parted from her but a conversation i had with a friend made me realise i had to take action. he pointed out that i was in fact being cruel by keeping her alive while she was clearly so ill. he asked me where was the dignity in allowing her to be in a mess and to show her some respect as animals are very proud. might sound crazy but our chat really helped. i took the step and took her to the vets and the inevitable was arranged. it was so sad - even the vet was crying with us - which really touched me. they were brilliant with us and made the process really calm and peaceful.
also, last year my aunties cat became very thin and matted, even though she was eating - she had her up days which kept giving us hope, but then she'd be down again. When we took her to the vets it turned out that she did have something wrong with her and needed to be put to sleep.
hard tho it is, think about what my friend told me - are we being cruel by hanging on to them? there are some beautiful poems and words here on answer bank from animal lovers - written from the perspective of the pet - please read them and you might feel easier about this - i will go and find the link for you now and post it here shortly.
keep us updated - there are loads of friendly people on here who will chat you through any difficult times.
bestest wishes
xxxxxxx

[iheartruby]

http://www.petsonthenet.co.nz/prayersandpoems. htm

i'm sure the other abers will add some lovely poems too.

x

[milliezoe]

I know this is not easy i was faced with a similar situation with an 18 year old Red Setter i took him to the vets and his advice was it would be best for him to be put to sleep i would take his advice Good Luck

[wolf63]

Hi

Vets are usually good at helping you to make a decision in matters like this. I took my old cat to the vet last year and the vet was really nice and George was injected with something and he went off to sleep. The vet was pretty lighthearted but kind.

I am sure that you will be quite agitated just now - always worrying about your cat. I made myself ill worrying about George.

My thoughts are with you.

Susan