When is it time to put a cat to sleep

I am praying for guidance. I am trying to find a vet stateside to help me. My cat has uncontrollable seizures. No meds work, we do not know why she is having them and unless I take her to the US I may never find out. She cannot travel so it's a catch 22. She is eating and sleeping. She will not cuddle or play. She is upsetting the other cats who are scared of her. At what point do I put her to sleep or let her live like this?? I have no idea if she is in pain or knows what is up.

Its a hard decision to make. Some base it on finances; others by the "quality of life - suffering".

For me, it would be if I felt the quality of life would not improve and the cat would be suffering too much. I had to make that decision with my first cat, Mitten. He was PTS at age 13 when he got cancer. He went downhill in a short time from 14 lbs to 6-7 when I took him in. I didn't want him to suffer any more.

Its hard to know when. I had a Cat with seizures from the time we got her. She was paralyed her last few years in her back legs. She would drag them and still got around. At age 11 she had a seizure and died but she was sick with something else also. Yoshi was pts last Jan. he was still alert so it was very hard to so. In May 2007 he was doen to 8.2 pouns from 14-15 pounds. The Vet said it was kidney Stones with Fip they think. She gave him 6 months to 2 years t live. Last Dec he was acting worse again. We took him to the vet and he was down to 7.5 pounds. Then he started not wanting to eat. I tried everything. Coco had a appointment Jan 11 for her bladder problems. We asked if we could bring Yoshi also. As soon as the vet saw him she said he looked like a 15 year old cat. He was down to 5.2 pounds in 3 weeks. Can you talk to a vet in the us over the phone and see if maybe then can help her? I have had to have 3 cats pts and it always was hard. I looked at the quality of life.

This article helped me make that hard decision: http://www.naturescornermagazine.com...ompanions.html

A friend gave me some advice on this.

When you realize you are keeping the cat alive because you aren't ready to say goodbye, but he has been ready, then it is time.

Courage is not the action, but the decision to take action despite your emotions.

{{{hugs}}} and strength to you.

If she was sick looking or acted sick, lost weight or was crying it would be so easy. Aside from the seizures she is fine. She plays, hisses, poops, pees...sigh

I talked to two vets recommended here in private messages. Everyone has a different treatment. One says more meds, one says raw food. If I could fly with her, I would.

Of course only you can make that decision.

But if your cat has good quality of life when not having seizures, then my choice would be to keep her. Have any of the vets recommended she be put to sleep, and what can they tell you about whether the cat is experiencing pain? Humans live with epileptic conditions for their whole lives, and I believe in humans there isn't pain associated with seizures.

If it's time I cannot do this..I cannot take my pet. Is this horrible??

It is a very tough decision to have to make. My friend just made the painful decision to have her baby Lexi pts this past saturday because the quality of her day to day life was going downhill fast, although she exhibited other good traits like continuing to eat ok and stuff. I'm sending you lots of good and wish you the best on whatever decision you have to make in regards to your little one.

thanks all...special thanks to V...I talked to Boni and she said it's not time yet. I upped her pheno to include a mid day dose to see if I can stabilize. This was recommended by 2 vets. She seems ok since 12. She sat out on the patio watching birds. I will keep her on a raw food diet and hope she comes around.

you are doing so amazing, stay strong. Good luck with your kitties! You obviously love them very much....

phelana, I can't figure out where you are that there are no vets there.

She said in another thread that she's in Bonaire, an island in the Antilles. She has a vet there but not a specialist.

Originally Posted by phelana

thanks all...special thanks to V...I talked to Boni and she said it's not time yet. I upped her pheno to include a mid day dose to see if I can stabilize. This was recommended by 2 vets. She seems ok since 12. She sat out on the patio watching birds. I will keep her on a raw food diet and hope she comes around.

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You will know when it is time and you will find courage to do what you think best. It will be one of the hardest decisions you make.