'That' time...
Discussion
They say you know when it's time.
Well, I'm sitting here absolutely devastated, cuddling my little companion, as it seems like it soon will be 'time'.
She's a little long haired cat who has been with us for 15 years, we reckon she's 17 this year.
Over the last 4 weeks, she's lost over a third of her body weight, her muscles are weak, but the blood tests show nothing particularly wrong.
It's old age. I know it, she knows it, and her little companion / friend knows it.
She's struggling to walk, although she's eating and getting around a bit.
But she's obviously in a bad way. We are seeing the vet again on Monday, and unless he has some miracle solution, I'm mentally preparing myself for the 'time'.
Well, I'm sitting here absolutely devastated, cuddling my little companion, as it seems like it soon will be 'time'.
She's a little long haired cat who has been with us for 15 years, we reckon she's 17 this year.
Over the last 4 weeks, she's lost over a third of her body weight, her muscles are weak, but the blood tests show nothing particularly wrong.
It's old age. I know it, she knows it, and her little companion / friend knows it.
She's struggling to walk, although she's eating and getting around a bit.
But she's obviously in a bad way. We are seeing the vet again on Monday, and unless he has some miracle solution, I'm mentally preparing myself for the 'time'.
I used to call her my 'PA', as she was always wandering around the desk when I was working from home.
Managed to get her to chase a piece of long grass for a minute or so today, her favourite game on a sunny day in the garden.
She's getting really subdued and withdrawn now. Suspect she'll slip away during the night. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, and she still purrs when I cuddle her. But the end is near, sadly.
Such a special little thing, I'm really struggling to keep it together at the moment.
Managed to get her to chase a piece of long grass for a minute or so today, her favourite game on a sunny day in the garden.
She's getting really subdued and withdrawn now. Suspect she'll slip away during the night. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, and she still purrs when I cuddle her. But the end is near, sadly.
Such a special little thing, I'm really struggling to keep it together at the moment.
Gah! We're going to have to take a real steer from the vet on this one.
She's walking better today and is currently attacking a Felix pouch in the kitchen.
Somehow, during the night, she made it upstairs and onto the bed - and she has jumped off and on a couple of times this morning. She made it downstairs to the kitchen fine, too.
She's a little fighter, I'll give her that!
She's walking better today and is currently attacking a Felix pouch in the kitchen.
Somehow, during the night, she made it upstairs and onto the bed - and she has jumped off and on a couple of times this morning. She made it downstairs to the kitchen fine, too.
She's a little fighter, I'll give her that!
Sadly, she's looking really like nearing the end this evening.
She's had diarrhoea and doesn't even make the litter box now - and she's stumbling as she walks.
Whilst she's eating and will come and climb up on me for a cuddle and purr, there's little behind the eyes.
One last evening of treats and cuddles and we'll do the kind thing tomorrow.
She's had diarrhoea and doesn't even make the litter box now - and she's stumbling as she walks.
Whilst she's eating and will come and climb up on me for a cuddle and purr, there's little behind the eyes.
One last evening of treats and cuddles and we'll do the kind thing tomorrow.
Edited by Trabi601 on Sunday 26th March 17:53
garyhun said:
If they're happy eating then it's not time!
Fingers crossed for you.
Sadly it can be a bit more complicated than that and shouldn't be used as the only factor for quality of life. Fingers crossed for you.
OP I am so sorry for difficult time ahead you are dealing with. You will make the decision thinking of her and that is what counts.
I have said many times before better a few days early over a day too late.
bexVN said:
Sadly it can be a bit more complicated than that and shouldn't be used as the only factor for quality of life.
OP I am so sorry for difficult time ahead you are dealing with. You will make the decision thinking of her and that is what counts.
I have said many times before better a few days early over a day too late.
OP. Good luck with tomorrow's meeting with the vetOP I am so sorry for difficult time ahead you are dealing with. You will make the decision thinking of her and that is what counts.
I have said many times before better a few days early over a day too late.
It is never an easy decision.
Thanks all.
She's such a frail little thing now. But she's had some roast lamb and lots of cuddles this evening. Tomorrow is the day, sadly - she's been such a devoted little cat, really going to miss her following me around, wanting to 'help' with everything I do.
What I'll most miss is the little tap on the face she'd give me to get me up for breakfast. No idea where she got it from, but it was 3 taps on the face. Repeated every few minutes until I woke!
Such a difficult and emotionally charged evening. I'm not very emotionally strong over stuff like this, so have cried, a lot.
She's such a frail little thing now. But she's had some roast lamb and lots of cuddles this evening. Tomorrow is the day, sadly - she's been such a devoted little cat, really going to miss her following me around, wanting to 'help' with everything I do.
What I'll most miss is the little tap on the face she'd give me to get me up for breakfast. No idea where she got it from, but it was 3 taps on the face. Repeated every few minutes until I woke!
Such a difficult and emotionally charged evening. I'm not very emotionally strong over stuff like this, so have cried, a lot.
Trabi601 said:
Well, that's that. RIP my little Willow. You were the best.
It seems I have some dust in my eyes.Having had cats and dogs for over 20 years, I have had to let a few go.
It always hurts, but knowing you have done the best for them all their lives makes it a bit easier.
They are never forgotten. RIP little Willow
Been through this recently with one of our cats (only 12). It's a tough decision, but the right one. Still very conscious of her absence.
Sorry for your loss.
EDIT : We also found our other cat was more than a little lost & started seeking attention more.
Sorry for your loss.
EDIT : We also found our other cat was more than a little lost & started seeking attention more.
Edited by Chris Type R on Monday 27th March 11:39
Thanks all.
The vet is guessing some form of cancer, as there was little wrong with the bloods they did do.
We made the decision that it would be far too distressing to try and chase the illness - and were advised that any concrete cancer diagnosis would be just academic and for our benefit, but that Willow would have been stressed by any kind of testing.
Her pal is wandering a little lost, looking for her. My worry is how she's going to adapt to being a lone cat.
The vet is guessing some form of cancer, as there was little wrong with the bloods they did do.
We made the decision that it would be far too distressing to try and chase the illness - and were advised that any concrete cancer diagnosis would be just academic and for our benefit, but that Willow would have been stressed by any kind of testing.
Her pal is wandering a little lost, looking for her. My worry is how she's going to adapt to being a lone cat.
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