What to do about my old cat(long)

[Rock'n Robin]

I have a cat that is 18 1/2 years old. Yes, I got her in spring of 1987. She has always been healthy. So much so that her original vet died 8 years ago and I haven't had her to one since. Both cats are indoor and not exposed to any other cats (the newer cat had all the standard "kitten care" when I got her--she is 2).
Last year out of the blue she had a seizure. I called the vet. He said I could bring her in and she could have hundreds of dollars worth of tests, but even if it was epilepsy, if she had seizures less than once a month it wasn't anything to medicate. I had heard this before when our lab died in 1999--he had epiliepsy but got violent after his seizures and snapped at anything in his path. Since Micky was already 17 1/2 when she had her first seizure, we decided to wait it out.
Her seizures consist of a big yowl, then lying down and violently shaking, then just laying there for a moment not knowing where she is. After she figures out where she is she yowls for a while and then sleeps. She also loses bladder control.
So at this point she has infrequent seizures. Her only other visible sign of aging is that her fur gets matted as she is too old to take care of it properly. I cut a lot of mats out. Sometimes she eats too fast and throws it right up, undigested. But she is able to go downstairs to the box, and jump up on the washer for food (where it is so the dog doesn't eat it). Her trick is that she likes to drink out of the faucet--every morning she meows until you turn the faucet on, regardless of water in the animals' bowl. She still does that every day. She also sleeps more.
DH is starting to think that "it's time"--this weekened she must have had a seizure while I was in Chicago because she peed all over the feather tick on our bed. DD#1 said this morning there was pee or throwup on her sweatshirt. But it's hard for me to make this decision when she is still seemingly moving around well and meowing. I don't want the reason I put her down to be because I'm sick of cleaning the carpet. On the other hand, I don't want her quality of life to be suffering. And not to be morbid, but if she stays healthy now I would want to wait until spring--I want to bury her in the backyard with my other cat that died in 2001. And I have to make sure my new vet will release animals--some of the vets around here refuse to release animal remains unless they are cremated. If my beloved golden hadn't died at home last year I don't know if this vet would have released him or not (he is in the yard, EPA be darned).
Is there a point to this post? I don't know. I am just looking for some advice, I guess. If a 75% healthy cat starts making a lot of pee and throwup messes, is that a reason to put it down, or should I wait until she becomes seriously ill?
Robin M.

 

[mssocks]

Robin - my cat was almost 20 years old. My advice is, if you aren't sure, it isn't time. I thought I could NEVER make the decision to let Murphy go. One night I came home and just knew it was time. I couldn't get to the vet fast enough.

Jumping onto the washer?? Murphy was using homemade ramps to get on the bed and the sofa. She used her box, her fur was matted ( so I increased the brushing ) and ate her food. At the end, I put the litter near the foot of the sofa ramp and she only came down to eat or poop. Even then, she was not ready. The vet told me they hang on for US.

Maybe you can change some of the house rules to accomodate the seizures. No doors left open etc.

Hang in there!

 

[MOMTOCUTESTDOGEVER]

I feel your pain. I have a 19 year old cat that has recently been diagnosed with kidney disease. Apparently, some cats will live for quite a few years after the diagnosis. Her back legs are getting weak because of muscle detioration and some arthritis. I completely know what you are talking about with the quality of life issue. Perhaps my advice for you is biased because I am living a similar quandry. IMO: I know the soiling of the rug is kind of a nuisance, but I don't think it's reason enough to put her down. As long as your baby is still getting around, eating and drinking, and showing some signs of happiness, I would say it's not time.

 

[lisajl]

Only you can make that decision.
My vet says when your pet can no longer be the cat or dog it was, it is time.

I'm not sure what kind of tests the vet would do, but where I work it just consists of bloodwork. It runs around $100. Maybe you should call around and see what someone else may charge.
It will be worth it to have peace of mind about whatever decision you go with.

Good luck and give your cat a hug for me.

I have an epileptic kitty, too.

Lisa

 

[Rachie0507]

You just described all the symptoms my cat Baby had. Except he had seizures all his life, once or twice a year. We had to have him put down in February at 15 yrs. old. I felt like a horrible kitty mom for wanting to have him put down because of the peeing/pooping/puking but I just felt like he was unhappy. My final straw was when he pooped and peed in a basket of clothes. It hit me that he wasn't doing it because he wanted to be a brat, he was doing it because there was something wrong with him. My mom brought him to the vet for me because I couldn't handle it (I got him when I was eleven!) and the vet actually tried to talk my mom into medicating him for the seizures. But when she examined him, she felt a big tumor in his belly.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you a happier story. But I would suggest having the cat examined. When I had Baby put down, I think it hurt me more to know that he may have been suffering for awhile because I couldn't let go than the actual decision to do it. Good luck and my thoughts and prayers are with you

 

[chyam]

I just went through this with my 20 year old (Feb) He had been failing for awhile and was quite skinny but still ate well, I always said when he quit eating it would be time. He too had the problem of not staying clean, I gave him a bath every 3 weeks (he was used to a bath anyways) I believe he was a little senile also and would pee right outside the litter box, I tolerated it because I loved that guy! The morning I was to head out west to ski I noticed that he was having a real hard time moving.........I guess I had prepared myself for this day so I took him to a 24 hour vet and had him put to sleep. I knew that I did not want him to die while I was away and I also knew it was time............I don't think it is time for yours yet especially since you don't feel it is either, you will know, believe me you will know! As long as he is eating and getting around and you can handle the clean ups then don't do it. It's a heart breaking decision but I guess I knew his time was up and he gave me so much joy for 20 years I wanted to do right by him.