I think Rush's time is almost here...

[Ritz459]

He's been sliding downhill for a while now. He's still been up and moving, eating his food, and using his litterbox so even though he was very shaky and thin, he was doing "okay".
This evening he threw up some of his moist catfood and pooped on my brother's bed right after pooping downstairs in his litterbox. If he can no longer digest his moist food, he's not going to be able to keep anything down and will just get even more thin (aka emaciated). He's even more shaky on his feet now and has trouble walking, sitting, and laying down. He also can no longer jump up onto the furniture without assistance.

His quality of life now compared to a couple of months ago is almost uncomparable. He doesn't have the spunk in him like he used to. He used to be the lord of the house, but now it seems like all of his actions are based off of how quickly he'll get food.

If he will no longer be able to keep his food down, my mom wants me to ask the vet about euthanasia.

I wish our animals could talk and let us know how they feel. I don't know what I'll hate more: having to schedule the date for his euthanasia and taking him in, or not knowing if it really is his time.

Just keep kitty Rushie in your prayers.

[Doglover1988]

A friends cat was showing the same symptoms and had to be put down. The vet told her if she didn't have him put down he would just keep losing weight and die. He had diabetes. Not sure what is wrong with your guy. What does the vet say about it?

[Carrie]

Oh I am so sorry. It just seems like when they get really old, they start losing weight and getting weak for one reason or another. That happened with my old cats. Their kidneys just stopped working well and they went down hill pretty fast. It just sucks. My thoughts and prayers are with you. What a hard time. I know what you mean about wishing they could tell us what they feel like. Poor things.

[britishbandit]

I'm so sorry Ritz! It's never an easy choice is it?

My friend had a cat that went though all of that, he was 17 and she outright refused to have him put to sleep because she "loved him soooo much". Not that I had any doubt that she did love him. I was living with her and her sister at the time, and this poor cat went though a terrible time for about 8 months before he finally passed on. He was obviously in distress, and went from a pretty darn fat cat (I think he was about 23lbs) to about 7lbs when he died. He really looked like he'd been neglected he was that emaciated.

Not that I'd say you were in the wrong for trying to hold out a bit longer, but if he truly seems to be having a hard time, I think it's the best thing to do. We all love our pets, and sometimes we have to show our love for them by not letting them suffer.

How old is he now?