My cat has cancer and won't eat. When is it time to say goodbye?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she really is doing this poorly, it is very important to have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible as I worry she may be unstable. If this is all confirmed to be due to her cancer and you are not proceeding with treatment of the cancer, euthanasia may need to be considered.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m so sorry to hear about Pepper. Cats need to eat everyday to prevent organ damage. If he stopped eating, I would be concerned the cancer is causing him too much discomfort to eat. When we talk about quality of life and when to make end of life decisions, I measure good days and bad days. When the bad days outweigh the good ones, then quality of life is declining. Good days are doing things he likes to do (like be social if he likes to be social, get petted, sleep in his favorite area, eating, using the litter box). Bad days are not eating, vomiting, diarrhea, hiding, lethargy, weight loss. If Pepper has been eating well since his diagnosis but suddenly stopped, I would consider it a bad day. I hope this help when determining his continued care. If you have more questions or concerns, please submit another question. Kisses to Pepper!

This is a very difficult situation for you to be in. When it comes to quality of life I advise owners to look at what things there cat enjoys doing and if they are still doing those things. Examples could be eating, playing, or interacting with you. If those factors are not what they should be then it is a matter of can this be fixed or not. For example if your cat is not eating due to nausea could we give him medication to make them feel better and eat. Or if they are weak due to anemia could we give a blood transfusion or stimulate the bone marrow to make more red cells to help them feel better. If though none of the interventions are acceptable to you then it might be time to assess the quality of life and end any suffering. Ultimately it is your decision about what constitutes Peter having a good quality of life and if those measures can be met or not realistically. As you know lymphoma ultimately is fatal. Some cats can do very well for a long period of time however with his dropping red cell level I am concerned about Peter's long-term prognosis.

I am so sorry you are going through this with Nino. This is a very tough decision, but one you must make because you love him. You do not want the tumor in his chest to get so large as he begins to have problems breathing. This can come on quite suddenly

I'm sorry that you and Bugger have been through so much together during his skin cancer management. Deciding when to euthanize a beloved pet is never easy and there often isn't a clear cut, black and white answer. Instead, we're left with a lot of maybes, what ifs, and gray areas. I think it's important to consider Bugger's overall quality of life. Namely, can he still do most of the things that he always used to enjoy? That may have meant chasing a bell ball or laser pointer, jumping onto a sunny perch, or following you around the house. If he's struggling to do many of his favorite things, that's a good indication that his quality of life isn't what it used to be. Eating and drinking are all well and good, but that doesn't always tell the whole picture. Based on your description, I simply don't have enough information in order to guide you one way or the other. Instead, I think it's important for you to try to take a step back and objectively assess Bugger. OSU has a quality of life guide that I think is really helpful in making these objective and less emotional assessments. Ultimately, when we make the decision to euthanize a pet, we do it as a kindness to them to ease their suffering, even though it can be gut-wrenching for us. I'm wishing you and Bugger all the best through this challenging time. https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-decision-of-euthanizing-your-pet/

I'm sorry Pig has cancer. He likely isn't eating enough to poop, and it's very concerning you have to force feed him. If you stop feeding him, he will slowly starve to death. In all honestly, it may be time to let him go if you have to force feed him. This isn't a good quality life for him, and letting him go via euthanasia is the kindest option for him. I know this likely isn't what you want to hear, but you do not want him to suffer, which he is if he won't eat. I would take him into a vet immediately to discuss options. Best of luck.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. It is so difficult to make these choices for our pets because we want them to be with us forever. Sometimes, we need to make a tough decision that will end their pain and suffering. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.