My old cat is very sick. Should I see a vet or consider euthanasia?

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.

These symptoms can be caused by a range of diseases, and are often accompanied by severe dehydration. Without an exam and some testing, I can't make a diagnosis, and it is illegal for us to make specific recommendations on medications. You should call your local vet for further advice.

Poor Squeak does sound like he's ill, and has a lot of things going on with him at the moment. I think you should take him into the vet. Unfortunately, dying is not a gentle or pain-free process, and he could suffer greatly while you are waiting for him to pass. The vet can do a physical exam, blood tests, and a urinalysis to see how his organs are functioning and to diagnose what is causing his symptoms. If you really are against taking him to a vet and want to let him go peacefully, I would call to see if there is a vet in your area that does house calls, and they can come to your home to put him to sleep. That is a way of letting him go without pain and in peace, and it would be much kinder to have that done for Squeak than allowing him to suffer until he has passed.

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

CJ really needs a vet visit when you can manage it. In older cats hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease are possibilities and require bloodwork to diagnose. The good news is many of the conditions can be treated or managed but you need a diagnosis in order to determine the best treatment. Some areas may have low cost clinics or many vets accept Care credit http://www.carecredit.com/apply/ I would contact local humane societies to see if they can offer any suggestions. Some have programs that may help with vet bills. Good luck and thank you for using PetCoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Toots! I would bring a stool sample and have Toots examined by your Vet. I would recommend full blood work including Feline Leukemia and FIV. If that is normal then I would consider maldigeetion and malabsorption blood work (tests B12, folate and 2 pancreatic enzymes and consider an ultrasound of his belly to rule in or out underlying intestinal disease like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or small cell lymphoma. Most IBD cats are treated with a prescription diet and anti-inflammatories. Since he is getting worse I recommend starting a work up. I wish you and Toots the best!

Poor kitty! I certainly agree with your concerns about hygiene for everyone involved, and also feel sorry for the cat who has an untreated medical issue that is probably impacting her quality of life. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam, to find out what is causing the problem - it may be very treatable once a diagnosis is made. If the problem is not treatable, then it's possible that euthanasia would be the kindest option for her. Your veterinarian can advise you on your options depending on what is found on her exam and lab tests.