Our cat is 21 years old. She has been chugging along well for years (albeit more frail). However, recently she has not eaten for 4 or 5 days. Her appetite had been getting worse, but she had still been excited about her meals. Now she won't eat anything. I have tried 10 to 15 different types of foods and treats. She still goes through her routine of getting up and going to the kitchen, but she doesn't eat and returns to her bed. She has been drinking a lot, but evidently not enough as she needed to be given fluids by the vet.
Last month she had a kidney infection, but she appeared to get over that. Blood work this time shows that her kidney values are decent (for her age), but her liver values are elevated. X-rays show no obvious signs of trouble (ie, cancer) that would be causing this.
Our decision now is whether to force feed her (using a feeding tube) in the hopes of having her bounce back from this, or letting her go and accepting that she is old and has lived a good life. The tube would probably need to stay in for 4 to 8 weeks to see if she would resume eating on her own. Of course, if her body is just old and wearing out, the tube won't save her and may even make her sick.
Our vets seem a little uncertain themselves. One seems to lean toward putting in a tube, while the other leans toward letting go. It's hard to think about putting her to sleep when she keeps going through her routine and is somewhat interested in things. She even walks over occasionally and expects to be held (her all-time favorite activity). However, I don't want to see her starve to death either. She is already pretty weak.
I am struggling with the decision. Does anyone have any thoughts? Considerations? What would anybody else do?
Last month she had a kidney infection, but she appeared to get over that. Blood work this time shows that her kidney values are decent (for her age), but her liver values are elevated. X-rays show no obvious signs of trouble (ie, cancer) that would be causing this.
Our decision now is whether to force feed her (using a feeding tube) in the hopes of having her bounce back from this, or letting her go and accepting that she is old and has lived a good life. The tube would probably need to stay in for 4 to 8 weeks to see if she would resume eating on her own. Of course, if her body is just old and wearing out, the tube won't save her and may even make her sick.
Our vets seem a little uncertain themselves. One seems to lean toward putting in a tube, while the other leans toward letting go. It's hard to think about putting her to sleep when she keeps going through her routine and is somewhat interested in things. She even walks over occasionally and expects to be held (her all-time favorite activity). However, I don't want to see her starve to death either. She is already pretty weak.
I am struggling with the decision. Does anyone have any thoughts? Considerations? What would anybody else do?