Very sick, elderly cat. Making the drive to see her. Is it time?

My cat, Fluffy's health has been slowly decreasing over the last few months, but lately she's gotten worse pretty fast. She lives with my parents while I am away at school, and recently she's lost a lot of weight and has been getting very weak. I was going to try to wait until next weekend when I'm going to be visiting my parents anyways to see her, but they told me she has been really bad lately, and I'm going to make the drive back very soon today to see her. 

I don't think she'll make it very much longer. She seems to be having trouble eating, drinking and even walking at times. She's very, very thin, a little under 5 pounds now. She's also an old cat, nearly 18, and I have had her since early childhood. I think at this point she's nearing her 'time.' She's already on medicated food and some medicines, and I don't think it's going to do a lot of good to keep putting her on more and more medicine and treatment at this point when she already hasn't been improving. I just don't know when the time will be. I'd like to be there to care for her until the end, but I can't stay for very long.

I guess I'll have to wait until I see her and we go to the vet tomorrow.

If anyone doesn't mind sharing, how did you know when it was time?

Sadly, a couple of people have been in this dilemma here lately.  I'm so sorry you are having to make this decision.  I went through a similar situation with my kitty, who was also almost 18.  She was slowly going from kidney disease.  I hoped she would go on her own and we wouldn't have to euthanize, but it didn't happen that way.  One day, I realized that, as devastating as it was, I had to let her go.  As I've mentioned in other threads, I wasn't ready for Skittles to go, but she was ready.  She told me by the look in her eyes that her little body was tired and she was ready to go.  

Others will chime in, but I think most of us believe that our cats communicate with us--especially those special kitties we've been bonded with for many years.  You will probably know when you see and talk to her.  

It is so good of you to go be with her and help her, and your parents, through this difficult time.  

Here's an article that might help you, too:    http://www.thecatsite.com/a/when-is-it-time-making-the-difficult-decision

I've finally made it back to see her, and it is definitely time. She has worsened tremendously throughout the day from what I was told. She will meow occasionally, but it sounds very different than it used to(though nearly as loud). She's so cold. I'm trying to keep her warm. If she makes it through the night, we will be taking her in tomorrow. Very glad I was able to come see her tonight.

It's very unclear what's caused her decline, the vets haven't pinpointed anything, but I've been around a few cats ear the end of their lives and I think she's definitely there. 

She hasn't really moved(or even closed) her eyes, and sometimes her paw twitches. Anyone know why this is? 

I can't answer your question about the twitching.  But I wanted to say I'm very sorry about this news.  Stay with her--comfort is the best thing you can give her right now.  My thoughts are with you all.

Well, she passed this morning, lying on the bed with me. No real answers on what specifically had her ill. Her liver, kidneys, heart, etc. were fine, even after she began to decline, so I think it was just time for her, and maybe she was ready. I think she'd also been missing our other cat who passed away nearly two years ago to the date all along, and I can only hope they're finally reunited.

Thank you for your kind words and help, betsygee.

I'm so very sorry on your Fluff's passing, but also happy that you made it back in time to be with her. I'm sure it meant the world to her, it was as if she was waiting. It hurts so very much when they go because we loved so much. She died at home surrounded by the people she loved more then anything in the world, that is a beautiful way to end her journey in this world and to begin her new journey to the Rainbow Bridge where she will be waiting for you. She wouldn't want you to dwell on her passing but to remember the love you two shared with a smile. God bless you for loving this little girl so much, she will never be forgotten but will live on forever in your heart. RIP beautiful Fluffy! 

I'm so sorry.  It does sound like it was her time--there's not always a clearcut explanation.  I'm very glad, for both you and Fluffy, that you were there with her at the end.  I agree with Di and Bob, it couldn't have been a better way for her to leave this world than with the people she loved and who loved her so much.  You helped her have the best ending she could have had.  

My deepest condolensces for you and your parents.

I want to send you my sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing or your beloved Fluffy. At least you were there to comfort her as she passed.

I know what it's like to lose a beloved pet companion. My wife and I had to euthanize our first cat, a female lynx point siamese named Woodstock. She wouldn't eat anymore and wouldn't drink very much of any liquid. She lived 19 years, 6 months and 6 days. She was my wife's cat and Woodstock's passing nearly broke my wife's heart. My wife hurt so bad she said she never wanted another cat living with us ever again because of the deep emotional pain of Woodstock's passing. But, Time does heal deep emotional wounds.

We have another cat now, a male manx named Tiger. He's a little over 16 1/2 years old, but he's my cat and I'm well aware of how old he is. Luckily Tiger is still in good health. I don't know how much time I have left with him, but since I'm now retired and have been since August of 2010, I make everyday with him a great and happy day in his everyday life. When my Tiger passes, I'll feel the same emotional pain my wife felt and went through many years ago.

Again;  so very, very sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry you had to say goodbye to Fluffy. 18 years may be considered a good long life for a cat, but it's never enough to those that love them.


Fluffy's memorial thread can be found here:


http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272926/fluffy-ca-1997-2-17-2014