I am considering having my 16 year old cat put down, primarily because I cannot afford all the treatments she needs.
She limps badly (unknown issue but vet thinks probably onset of arthritis), has some unusual dental condition which is not properly understood (but which has already resulted in three teeth being removed and possibility that all her teeth may have to be removed at some point), and recently has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and is now slowly but steadily losing weight.
I have already spent about £1000 in the past month getting her various treatments and estimate that it will cost me upwards of £2000 per year for her to carry on living.
She lives (and has lived) a good life, and as far as I can tell she is pain free, although with cats it's difficult to know.
I don't know what to do - I can't afford everything she needs to continue on and if I can't afford it then her health may well continue to degrade and her quality of life would suffer - she will have to adopt a completely new dry diet for the thyroid problem and she dislikes dry food.
She lives outside in the back garden (has a heated kennel) and food is her greatest enjoyment in life. She has no social life to speak of (humans or other cats). This winter just gone she hardly came out of the kennel except to eat and to chase off neighbouring cats.
I feel that if I took her to be put down then I would be saving that money and also I would be saving her from suffering during her twighlight years.
Any advice or guidance greatly appreciated.
She limps badly (unknown issue but vet thinks probably onset of arthritis), has some unusual dental condition which is not properly understood (but which has already resulted in three teeth being removed and possibility that all her teeth may have to be removed at some point), and recently has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and is now slowly but steadily losing weight.
I have already spent about £1000 in the past month getting her various treatments and estimate that it will cost me upwards of £2000 per year for her to carry on living.
She lives (and has lived) a good life, and as far as I can tell she is pain free, although with cats it's difficult to know.
I don't know what to do - I can't afford everything she needs to continue on and if I can't afford it then her health may well continue to degrade and her quality of life would suffer - she will have to adopt a completely new dry diet for the thyroid problem and she dislikes dry food.
She lives outside in the back garden (has a heated kennel) and food is her greatest enjoyment in life. She has no social life to speak of (humans or other cats). This winter just gone she hardly came out of the kennel except to eat and to chase off neighbouring cats.
I feel that if I took her to be put down then I would be saving that money and also I would be saving her from suffering during her twighlight years.
Any advice or guidance greatly appreciated.