This is a difficult topic, but I believe it may be time for me to think about putting my 14 year old cat down.
I've had her for 13 of her 14 years, adopted her from a shelter when I was 13 years old. (Thanks mom! Best b-day present ever!)
She's always been a clingy cat, always sitting on my, sleeping on the bed, etc. She developed bone spurs several years ago, and now has arthritis that has progressed to the point she doesn't walk well. She basically just limps everywhere.
She's stopped grooming herself and I spend a lot of time cutting huge mats out of her and brushing her. She also has greasy hair and dandruff. (I feed Nutro and supplement fish oil)
For her arthritis we've gone from cosequin to tramadol, to metacam. She doesn't tolerate the metacam well, but it's been somewhat helpful.
She's packing on the pounds because all she does is go from the food dish to under the kitchen table. She doesn't hang out with us anymore.
Now I think she has a UTI. She's crying and going back and forth from the litter box to the kitchen floor to pee on the floor. We'll be back at the vet tomorrow for antibiotics.
I really hate this, but I feel like it may be her time to go. What kills me is that I can't ask her if she finds life fun anymore. I just want to ASK her.
My vet has never initiated the topic of euthanasia. When I kind of hinted at it when she prescribed the metacam, she just agreed with me that quality of life was important, but that was it.
When do I know it's time? How do I talk to the vet about this?
I've had her for 13 of her 14 years, adopted her from a shelter when I was 13 years old. (Thanks mom! Best b-day present ever!)
She's always been a clingy cat, always sitting on my, sleeping on the bed, etc. She developed bone spurs several years ago, and now has arthritis that has progressed to the point she doesn't walk well. She basically just limps everywhere.
She's stopped grooming herself and I spend a lot of time cutting huge mats out of her and brushing her. She also has greasy hair and dandruff. (I feed Nutro and supplement fish oil)
For her arthritis we've gone from cosequin to tramadol, to metacam. She doesn't tolerate the metacam well, but it's been somewhat helpful.
She's packing on the pounds because all she does is go from the food dish to under the kitchen table. She doesn't hang out with us anymore.
Now I think she has a UTI. She's crying and going back and forth from the litter box to the kitchen floor to pee on the floor. We'll be back at the vet tomorrow for antibiotics.
I really hate this, but I feel like it may be her time to go. What kills me is that I can't ask her if she finds life fun anymore. I just want to ASK her.
My vet has never initiated the topic of euthanasia. When I kind of hinted at it when she prescribed the metacam, she just agreed with me that quality of life was important, but that was it.
When do I know it's time? How do I talk to the vet about this?