My old cat is sick, I'm on a budget. Am I a bad mom for considering euthanasia?

I'm so sorry G is so sick. I work for an home euthanasia service, so I face these kinds of questions frequently with my clients. I would look at G's quality of life in make the decision as to when to euthanize him. If he's in pain, losing weight, having diarrhea, detached, and head pressing, his quality of life isn't very good. When a cat is in constant pain, they will be suffering daily, and in my opinion, that is when it is time to let them go peacefully. It's never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet, and they are often ready to go before we are ready to let them go. By letting G go peacefully and without further pain, you will be giving him one last great gift. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Again, I'm sorry he's so ill :-(

First off. I'm so sorry Choocherboo is sick! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face this question all the time with my clients. I recommend looking at the cat's quality of life. Are they eating, drinking, doing things they normally enjoy like playing? Or are they having difficulty breathing, spend most days sleeping, don't eat, vomiting, are losing lots of weight, and/or appear very ill? When the cat's quality of life has declined, that's when euthanasia should be considered. Unfortunately I can't tell you what to do, but I do suggest evaluating his quality of life, and if it's declined, then euthanasia would be the kindest option. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Having him euthanized is a valid option if his quality of life is not good. If he cannot control his bowels and is not able to eat, that is not a happy life for him. Older cats can have liver, kidney disease and diabetes that can cause illness. You may want to have a vet examine him to see what the treatment options maybe before making that difficult decision. They can tell you want to expect long term to see what his quality of life will be like if he starts on a treatment. You know him better than anyone, so you will be able to know best how happy he currently is.

Yes, euthanasia is most definitely becoming likely, the main criteria being quality of life in an instinctively clean and independent cat who is becoming unable to exhibit normal behaviors. Acupuncture and physiotherapy may provide some options depending upon the severity of damage

I am so sorry for your heartache, I know how difficult this time is. You have a couple of options to consider. 1) Let her pass at home. Make sure she's got a warm comfortable bed, allow her to be propped into a whatever position seems most comfortable. If she's having any difficulty breathing, it may help to prop her so that she's sort of lying on her chest, (so the breastbone is on the surface)--this allows both of her lungs to expand most comfortably. There is no medication that I can advise you to give her, but just being with her is the best thing you can do to make her comfortable. You can keep things she really likes (a cat toy she used to love, etc) and familiar scents (one of your worn t-shirts,etc) in the bed with her. Don't try to force her to eat or drink. 2) Call an emergency clinic. They likely have 24/7 full services, including euthanasia. Additionally, they may be able to refer you to "on-call" in home euthanasia services in your area. More and more of these at home services are available 24 hrs in metropolitan areas. Costs will vary, but will be more expensive than taking her in to your family veterinarian, due to the 24/7 service. You and your kitty are in my thoughts. Thank you for trusting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What a tough situation for you to be in! I would recommend running at least blood tests on your cat, specifically a geriatric blood panel. That would give an idea of how her organs are functioning, if there are any medical conditions present (such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease), and it will help your decision as to whether or not to let her go. She could potentially have an underlying medical condition that isn't treatable, or has reached a point where letting her go is the best option. Also, if her organs aren't functioning well, a dental will not be safe for her as the anesthetic risk would be too high. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that Mystic is so sick. Unfortunately there are no pain-free ways that you can perform euthanasia at home. I recommend calling your clinic, or the emergency clinic in your area. If you explain that Mystic is very sick and needs to be put down, but you don't have money for this, most clinics will euthanize at no cost so that the animals are not suffering. Try a few if the first clinic says no. You can also try a humane society. If you say that you know Mystic needs to be put down, and don't want a consult but he is suffering, they should be able to help you and Mystic.