NBR-Don't know what to do.

JMack1117

I posted this on the Pets board, but I wanted your advice too.

I have 2 cats-they're almost 11 years old and littermates.  Over Christmas, we noticed one had gotten really really thin, and thought his thyroid meds needed to be adjusted.  I feel horrible that I didn't notice sooner that he'd lost weight, but I'd just had DD, and both of them back off a little when we bring a baby home.  My arms were full of baby, not cat for a few weeks!  Anyway, he'd gone from 11 lbs to 8, and blood tests showed his thyroid was fine.  Turns out he's in liver failure because of a huge tumor in his abdomen.  There's nothing left to be done, and our vet recommends euthanasia when we're ready. 

Here's my dilemma.  I don't know how to decide when I'm ready.  He's stopped eating for the most part, won't eat any of his favorite foods even...just a little canned food once a day.  He's just laying around, and I've found him sleeping in DH's bathtub a couple of times, which he's never done before.  He's also lost a lot more weight--definetely under 7 lbs.  He is just skin and bones at this point. (He lost over a pound in 10 days)  However, he doesn't appear to be in obvious pain, and he still likes to be around us for the most part.   He isn't peeing/pooping/puking anywhere other than the litter box

The other day, I was feeling strong and made the appt for Wednesday morning, because DH can be home with me, and DD1 will be at preschool.  Now I'm feeling like I should wait until he's really doing badly.  I don't know if its kinder to let him go now before things worse, or keep doing what we're doing for a while.  I don't think it will be long either way, but I want to make the right decision  Selfishly, I want to get this over with, because DH and I are complete wrecks, and I can't take too many more days like this. Also selfishly, I want to keep him around as long as I possibly can.  How do I decide? 

This got long...thanks for reading. 

LiveLaughLove17

I'm really sorry you have to deal with this. I had my cat for 18 years.  I grew up with him.  As he got older, he developed diabetis. In his last weeks, he got very sick very quickly. I hated seeing him so sick and helpless looking. He, too, got extremely thin quickly. I know it's hard, but I'd recommend doing it sooner rather than later, especially since it was confirmed that he's in failure. I feel it will be the most humane for him. Best of luck with your decision. Please know that you are doing the right thing.

Vieve831

((Hugs))

Such a hard decision to make - our pets are family members!

If it were me I would probably stick with the Wednesday appointment, he sounds like he is in rough shape and I couldn't imagine the vet making the recommendation unless it was the end.

Maybe you can find a special way to say goodbye? 

dpeugh85

I agree with Vieve and LiveLaughLove.  It's a tough decision, but the right one to make.  Animals have an incredible pain tolerance, much higher than humans.  Just because your cat isn't showing visible signs of pain doesn't mean the pain isn't there.  It's a tough decision and so hard to go through with, like Vieve said pets are also family members.  Sending good, strong vibes your way. 

klreese0213

My pets are my babies too. I know the pain you are in and its horrible IMO it sounds like your poor baby is suffering and needs to be put down. We had a dog who had a grapefruit size tumor we had no idea about! He had been yo the des for shots and everything. We didn't find out about the tumid until we took him in because he was acting funny. We didn't leave the vet with him. Its was heartbreaking. If it were me id keep the Wednesday appointment.

mbgreenwalt

I'm sorry your dealing with this.  I'm a vet tech and I counsel clients on when it is time to decide all the time, but when it was my turn to make a decision it was so hard.  We had to euthanize one our cats right before DD#2 was born.  We were pretty sure he had cancer, but we couldn't pinpoint where.

Your cat sounds like he is where mine was when had to make a decision.  He was already skin and bones, but was getting thinner before my eyes.  He was eating at the beginning of the week, but by that Thursday was only drinking water.  I made the decision that day to schedule with one of the docs for Sunday when my clinic is closed so we'd be alone.  I knew his quality of life was almost gone and I didn't want him to suffer.  By Saturday night he was so weak and wouldn't move far.  I wrapped him in a towel and put him on top of the dryer and turned it on (his favorite spot).  On Sunday am when I went to check on him he hadn't moved all night.  We cuddle all morning in the sun and then I brought him in.  He was pretty far gone at that point and it was very quick and peaceful.  

It is a hard decision, but a good one.  To be able to prevent his suffering and let him go peacefully is a great gift you can give him.  Take care.