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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
We have 2 cats, one is 19 and one is about 13. My 19 year old seems to
be declining rapidly. He has been deaf for about 1 year, and has been on hyperthyroid meds for about 1.5 years. He has lost a lot of weight, which prompted the vet to increase his tapazole dose; now he is maintaining his weight, although he is skinny. All other blood work was normal for his age. He eats well and enjoys a good cuddle and scratches. However, he has had issues with peeing outside the box. He did not have an infection, we checked with the vet. I solved the problem for a few weeks by moving boxes and placing new ones in favorite pee spots. He has a hard time with one of his back legs and actually will only put 3 legs in the box. The pee runs out of the box, but I have plastic down and paper on top so I dont mind. DH also cut out the front wall from the boxes so he would step in easier. But, this week he started peeing on the carpet in my bedroom. Then he peed in my bed, right in front of me. I was at my wit's end. I had to keep the cats out of the room, which I hate. My younger cat is a big cuddler, and I hate to do this. But how much more pee can I take? Especially in my bed. He has access to the rest of the house, and other places to sleep. I think he may be senile, since he has developed other odd behaviours, like sticking his paw in the toilet and swishing around (this was a cat that NEVER drank from or came near the toilet). He has access to several water bowls up and downstairs. I love him so much, but I fear his quality of life is going downhill fast. But, at the same time, I feel I owe it to him (while he is still eating and purring) to keep him around until he dies of natural causes. I am really wrestling here and I cant make a decision. I guess I need any input those who have has experience with very old cats could give. TIA beth |
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
19 is a long life for a cat but before I would make that decision I would
research on if the increased dose of tapazole can cause bladder problems. I say this because I had an asthmatic cat who did OK on one dose of theophylline but when it was increased during asthma attacks she would often pee in inappropriate places. It took us a while to figure the problem out but I finally put it together and just kept her confined to a room with linoleum when I needed to. Celeste wrote in message oups.com... We have 2 cats, one is 19 and one is about 13. My 19 year old seems to be declining rapidly. He has been deaf for about 1 year, and has been on hyperthyroid meds for about 1.5 years. He has lost a lot of weight, which prompted the vet to increase his tapazole dose; now he is maintaining his weight, although he is skinny. All other blood work was normal for his age. He eats well and enjoys a good cuddle and scratches. However, he has had issues with peeing outside the box. He did not have an infection, we checked with the vet. I solved the problem for a few weeks by moving boxes and placing new ones in favorite pee spots. He has a hard time with one of his back legs and actually will only put 3 legs in the box. The pee runs out of the box, but I have plastic down and paper on top so I dont mind. DH also cut out the front wall from the boxes so he would step in easier. But, this week he started peeing on the carpet in my bedroom. Then he peed in my bed, right in front of me. I was at my wit's end. I had to keep the cats out of the room, which I hate. My younger cat is a big cuddler, and I hate to do this. But how much more pee can I take? Especially in my bed. He has access to the rest of the house, and other places to sleep. I think he may be senile, since he has developed other odd behaviours, like sticking his paw in the toilet and swishing around (this was a cat that NEVER drank from or came near the toilet). He has access to several water bowls up and downstairs. I love him so much, but I fear his quality of life is going downhill fast. But, at the same time, I feel I owe it to him (while he is still eating and purring) to keep him around until he dies of natural causes. I am really wrestling here and I cant make a decision. I guess I need any input those who have has experience with very old cats could give. TIA beth |
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
3 things first have you researched the medication the cat is on if so are
there any side effects that would resemble the problems 2nd is there anything that would interact with the medication that you have game him 3rd does the vet give any advice about this or is the vet stumped about it I have a 19 year old cat precious is her name a black and white long hair Himalayan and has always weighed 4-5 lbs done to 3 now. She has become senile she walks around and howls a the top of her lungs for no reason and continues to do it till you touch her on the head than she acts perfectly normal. She has done the peeing thing right in front of us Our vet said remember how old she is they have accidents just like older people do hence adult diapers. Is he peeing in the same spot on the carpet; if so he can still sense the odor or all over in different spots He has access to the rest of the house how is he acting there http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/behavior.shtml You cat sound like it still has a very good quality of life you are just going to have to deal with it. Would you put your parents down just because they got weird in their old age You got some choices to make can you confine the cat to an area that can be easily clean up at night to allow the other cat to come in to your bed you can bring the other cat into your room and allow the older cat to have free roam of the house if he is not having a bathroom problem there you can get diapers which means a mess like babies do you can put the cat down; which from what I read should not be done unless you and your vet completely agree logically and in your heart that the quality of the cats life is gone and he is suffering :-( |
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
Was he tested for diabetes?
Gail wrote in message oups.com... We have 2 cats, one is 19 and one is about 13. My 19 year old seems to be declining rapidly. He has been deaf for about 1 year, and has been on hyperthyroid meds for about 1.5 years. He has lost a lot of weight, which prompted the vet to increase his tapazole dose; now he is maintaining his weight, although he is skinny. All other blood work was normal for his age. He eats well and enjoys a good cuddle and scratches. However, he has had issues with peeing outside the box. He did not have an infection, we checked with the vet. I solved the problem for a few weeks by moving boxes and placing new ones in favorite pee spots. He has a hard time with one of his back legs and actually will only put 3 legs in the box. The pee runs out of the box, but I have plastic down and paper on top so I dont mind. DH also cut out the front wall from the boxes so he would step in easier. But, this week he started peeing on the carpet in my bedroom. Then he peed in my bed, right in front of me. I was at my wit's end. I had to keep the cats out of the room, which I hate. My younger cat is a big cuddler, and I hate to do this. But how much more pee can I take? Especially in my bed. He has access to the rest of the house, and other places to sleep. I think he may be senile, since he has developed other odd behaviours, like sticking his paw in the toilet and swishing around (this was a cat that NEVER drank from or came near the toilet). He has access to several water bowls up and downstairs. I love him so much, but I fear his quality of life is going downhill fast. But, at the same time, I feel I owe it to him (while he is still eating and purring) to keep him around until he dies of natural causes. I am really wrestling here and I cant make a decision. I guess I need any input those who have has experience with very old cats could give. TIA beth |
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
Hi Beth,
People already gave you good ideas -- sounds like a medical problem. Our newest cat is going through a bladder infection right now, and it is distressing how they can pee and leak urine all over. I keep thinking that however distressing it is for us, it is much more for him. If your cat tested negative for bladder infection, Megan on this group (and my vet) told me about another condition called interstitial cystitis that has the same symptoms. It's a problem with the bladder lining and the cat can have flare-ups due to stress. her post is he http://groups.google.com/group/rec.p...0f48d478088997 You know your cat best, but if he is otherwise feeling good and eating, I personally couldn't think about euthanasia because of the peeing. I would think of that more as a clue that something's wrong, and you need to do a little detective work even if it involves a second vet opinion. In the meantime, I have found that plastic shower curtain liners are very cheap, and work well to cover the beds, furniture, etc. Another good thing is a fitted plastic mattress cover to go under the sheets. Good luck! Rhonda wrote: He eats well and enjoys a good cuddle and scratches. |
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
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Wrestling with the big decision (euthanasia) r/o please-long
I love him so much, but I fear
his quality of life is going downhill fast. But, at the same time, I feel I owe it to him (while he is still eating and purring) to keep him around until he dies of natural causes. I am really wrestling here and I cant make a decision. I guess I need any input those who have has experience with very old cats could give. TIA beth My tabby was entered into rest at 16.5 years old. I would like you to know that he had no chronic health problems 'till 14 (he did have an isolated incidence of a severe type of anemia at about 10) at which time he developed hyperthyroidism, which I elected to treat with Tapezole. Shortly thereafter, he developed problems with constipation and a series of bladder obstructions (no stones). Within maybe six months, I got all this under control with the help of my veterinarians. Unfortunately, he developed a cancer of the spinal cord at 16. But, in spite of that, he lived a comfortable last six months of his life: purring, happy and eating well as you relate. I had him on home treatment: his Tapezole, fluids, special diets, laxatives, and some steriods as required and he did just fine. The veterinarian told me that I would know when the time was right if I had to make that difficult decision (or that I could be assured that she would let me know). She was exactly right - I did know because I wanted the very best for my friend and I waited for him to tell me and he did. He came to a point very suddenly where there was no doubt what the right thing was to do and no one had to tell me. I took him to my veterinarian right away and she helped me over the next day to make this transition - for him and for me. The last six months of his life continue to be a solace to me. God bless you at this most difficult time. |
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