Where to get my cat PTS?

[Ekona]

Sorry about the length/rambling nature of this post too, it's very hard to write succinctly about this.


As I've mentioned elsewhere, one of our cats has terminal cancer in her face and we're getting close to the point where I'm going to have to make the hardest decision, before she starts suffering. I've never done this before, so I'm trying to work out what's best for both her and our other cats. My own feelings don't come into it, I'll be a wimpering mess regardless. It's just a "What would you do?" kinda question, just to gauge what others think.


Geldof is a bit of a nervous cat, and doesn't really like other people but is more shy than violent. My first thought was to ask the vet to come to our house and do it, so that I don't have to put Geldof in the cat box and put her through a car trip she doesn't really like. However:

- I'd have to shut her in the bedroom where she normally sleeps, and then stay in there whilst the vet puts her to sleep. She hates being trapped, and is very unlikely to be remotely relaxed or comfortable with me shutting the door behind me, picking her up and holding her tight whilst the vet goes to work. This will definitely stress her out, and I can't see that being a nice way for her to go.
- Geldof's brother, Zelda, also lives in this bedroom during the day. I'd have to kick him out of the room, stressing him out, or leave him in the room while it happens. I don't think he'll appreciate either option, but he'll be okay long-term I hope. At least this way, I can show her to him after she's gone, so he can understand what's happened and move on.

OR

I take her to the vet, and have it done there. As above, Geldof won't like being cornered to be caught and put in the cat carrier, and she hates the car journey and waiting at the vets, however once she's there and out of the box on the vet's table she's actually very chilled out. Has a little sniff, bit of a walk around, doesn't mind it in the slightest. However:

- That's not her home, and it's a lot of stress just to get her there.
- I'd then have to take her home again to show Zelda, and then bring her back for cremation. That seems a horrible thing to do, to carry her body home just to show her brother. Would I be better off just not showing him, and hope he's okay?


I have no idea. Part of me says obviously have it done at home, but then I know how stressed she'll be and that just makes me feel awful. Thoughts, suggestions, ideas, anything always appreciated as usual.

[bexVN]

You could ask the vet to give her a sedative to relax her at the visit, it will take longer but would hopefully be a calmer scenario for all involved.

I would say if you know and trust her vet have a chat to them. I can see either situation being hard and I don't think you'll be wrong in whatever you decide especially if you plan ahead with her vet.

Sometimes it is more upsetting to remember their final moments in the home than it is to remember it at the vets. I have never been able to have my pets put to sleep at home partly because of this but also because I've been able to trust my vet to provide a calm a peaceful ending at my surgery.

[Ekona]

Thanks Bex, it's good to know that doing it at the vet is something that other folks have done too. I mean, I just read a lot about it all happening at home these days, so it's hard to get the experiences from the other side. I'd not really considered how I'd feel if we did it at home either.

We're off to see the vet on Friday for a steroid jab, and they are very good down there so it's definitely something I'll discuss with them. I didn't realise that a sedative might be an option to, sounds like something worth looking into perhaps.

[Mobile Chicane]

My sympathies OP. However you know you're doing exactly the right thing.

Just spoil her rotten until then:

"Fillet steak, Ma'am?"

"Well done Jeeves. Don't mind if I do."

[Ekona]

If only, I've been buying and cooking her everything under the sun, but she's just not interested. I've tried:

Tuna (steamed)
Salmon (steamed)
Chicken (grilled)
Lamb (grilled)
Ribeye (pan fried)
Ham (from a packet)
Sardines, mackerel etc (in a tin)
Cheese (cheddar, she used to love this as a snack!)
Applaws (various flavours)
Various random poncy cat foods from Pets At Home

The only stuff she's remotely interested in eating right now is, would you believe it, Go Cat cheapy biscuits. Even when I'm trying to treat her with everything just to make her happy, she only wants the cheap crap

Bless her, she's always been a bit odd. Had a good feel of the masses round her head last night, they're getting really close to her throat and ear. I think I already know what the vet is going to say on Friday.

[ali_kat]

[Mobile Chicane]

Ekona said:

If only, I've been buying and cooking her everything under the sun, but she's just not interested. I've tried:

Tuna (steamed)
Salmon (steamed)
Chicken (grilled)
Lamb (grilled)
Ribeye (pan fried)
Ham (from a packet)
Sardines, mackerel etc (in a tin)
Cheese (cheddar, she used to love this as a snack!)
Applaws (various flavours)
Various random poncy cat foods from Pets At Home

The only stuff she's remotely interested in eating right now is, would you believe it, Go Cat cheapy biscuits. Even when I'm trying to treat her with everything just to make her happy, she only wants the cheap crap

Bless her, she's always been a bit odd. Had a good feel of the masses round her head last night, they're getting really close to her throat and ear. I think I already know what the vet is going to say on Friday.

too.

Try raw wild rabbit. It's like crack for cats.

But when you know, you know. Rather a day too soon then a moment too late.

[Ekona]

Mobile Chicane said:

But when you know, you know. Rather a day too soon then a moment too late.

That's the bit I'm really struggling with. Apart from not really eating or drinking a whole lot and losing weight, she seems fine. She's chatty, incredibly loving at night, still runs around as normal etc. The only difference in the last week is that she's started to get very aggressive towards our new kitten, to the point where I've had to separate them as I'm not convinced the fighting would stop naturally. I just wonder if she's now starting to suffer with pain a bit and won't stand for the kitten's antics, where she used to.

This is so, so hard. I'm in tears before I go to sleep at night when she cuddles up with me, and I'm in tears when I wake in the morning as she jumps up for another cuddle. I now realise I've been so lucky in the past when my other pets have died naturally and quickly in their sleep. Bloody well in tears again just writing this.

It just seems so wrong to even be considering putting her to sleep when she seems so active and alive, but your sentence has really stopped and made me think again that I'm doing the right thing. Thank you

[moorx]

I'm so sorry, it's never an easy decision, even when it's inevitable

I've seen this quoted before, and whilst it is a little 'clinical', sometimes we have to take that step back....

Here is some practical help from the book "Absent Friend" by Laura and Martyn Lee, and proposed by Andrew Edney, vet and past president of the British Small Animal Vet. Association:

Is the animal:

Free from pain, distress, or serious discomfort which cannot be effectively controlled
Able to walk and balance reasonably well
Able to eat and drink enough for normal maintenance without much difficulty and without vomiting
Free from tumours which cause pain or serious discomfort and are judged inoperable or otherwise untreatable
Able to breathe without difficulty
Able to urinate and defecate reasonably frequently and without serious difficulty or incontinence

and is the owner:
Able to cope physically and emotionally with any nursing or medication that may be required?

If the answer to any of these questions is "No" and treatment is unlikely to help, then euthanasia might be the preferred option.


I have to say, that I don't necessarily agree that any one of these = PTS, but I think it is sensible for owners to think about them all when considering a pet's quality of life.

Edited by moorx on Wednesday 30th September 13:46

[Ekona]

Clinical maybe, but it's probably the right way to look at things from the POV of what's best for her. She certainly fails at least one of those, that's for sure, and possibly two if we include the eating/drinking and maybe three if the first one applies as well.

Thanks for that Moorx, it's appreciated.

[Ekona]

The vet and I both agreed, it's time to let her go. She's booked in for Monday, so we get the weekend together at least.

There are quite literally no words for how I feel right now.

[Ste1987]

Ekona said:

The vet and I both agreed, it's time to let her go. She's booked in for Monday, so we get the weekend together at least.

There are quite literally no words for how I feel right now.

You're doing the right thing. Our last cat got cancer as well, and was similar to yours; hardly eating but chirpy as ever, but my mum decided it wasn't fair on her to starve. Very difficult time

[moorx]

Sorry to hear that

[ali_kat]

[bexVN]

I'm sorry , I suspected your vet may say as much but it wasn't for me to say.

The weekend will be a strange one, there will be tears, smiles and I hope for you (as it was for us) a sort of peace knowing that you know what is happening (I hope that comes across how I mean it)

I hope you were able to discuss what to do on the day with your vet.

[Ekona]

I did, or at least I tried to through the tears. I asked about what to expect, where it happens, what happens during, and where she goes afterwards. Sadly I can't bury her due to various issues, so I'm going to have her cremated then I'll put her in one of those cat-shaped caskets and pop her in her favourite room, the one that gets all the sunshine.

I think she'd like that.

[moorx]

If only all animals could have owners who care as much as you....

[Ekona]

Well today hasn't been much fun. Every time I see her I just keep thinking it's the last time I'll see her play with her toy, or give me a weekend lay in cuddle, or eat her tea, or anything really. Absolutely dreading tomorrow.

I assume I can feed her before we go to the vet? Appointment is 5:20, be nice to give her a treat before I take her.

[bexVN]

Yes as long as she isn't prone to travel sickness.

I know how tough it is, there isn't really anything I can say to alter those thoughts but be thankful that she is oblivious to what day it is and that your last day with her isn't that of her in extremes of distress because that would be a far worse memory to hold.

[Einion Yrth]

bexVN said:

Yes as long as she isn't prone to travel sickness.

I know how tough it is, there isn't really anything I can say to alter those thoughts but be thankful that she is oblivious to what day it is and that your last day with her isn't that of her in extremes of distress because that would be a far worse memory to hold.

Truth.

Chin up OP, we've all been there and know how much it hurts, and we'll all be there again, it's part of the deal when you take the little gits in.

I have all the empathy of a nail and yet I can mourn this all too common situation with you.


Although that emoticon seems too trite.