[NatalieJastrow]

To put my cat down.

The very long story is that my vet has no real diagnosis for him. But suspects cancer. He has had blood tests, urine and an ultrasound which showed enlarged lymphnodes. To find out, it would be $2,500 dollars and a lot of misery for him for a biopsy. Since he is 16 years old and has a lot of health problems... I don't think that is wise on any one.

He seems miserable. He throws up about every 72 hours and nothing we have tried has stopped it.

He sleeps all day.. except for 4 am when he wakes me up.. for food.

Last night he woke me up with that terrorized look in his eye, like he will die without food. But he is already refusing dry food. This makes me suspicious that soon he will be refusing wet food. But still hungry because the food makes his tummy feel better.

He is losing weight rapidly and seems weak. It just seems like he knows he is sick and wants me awake to guard him. It causes him a lot of anxiety not to get his food and dry food isn't cutting it any longer.

People always say, you will know, I think I knew last night. I just don't want to get into a situation where he is in dire streights and I am desperate to get someone to help him... and also, what happens when he stops eating, it will be very scary for him to visit the vet without gabapentin- which is given in his food.

And then, I know you might think this is selfish but I am unable to really concentrate on me with this going on and I need to concentrate on me and my health. It is taking up almost every waking moment and a lot of my money.

I just feel like I am kidding myself to think he will recover from whatever is going on. He is 16.

I just have to man up and do it.

I have to go to work this week for two days but I think I will call - I have saved the email to the vet in my email folder and I can send it even at work.

[downandlonely]

It sounds like the right decision to me. He is old and in pain.

I am so sorry, it does sound like it's his time though

[divine1966]

I am sorry but I think it’s time. He is 16. And he is clearly not feeling well. Vets aren’t able to make him feel better. I am sorry.

[Bugtussel]

I know exactly how you feel. I made that decision today for my elderly dog who stopped eating. The vet was pretty clear in that there was little they could do if she even survived anesthesia for the proceedure to check for cancer. It was kinder to let her go. I think it is hardest on those of us that love the pet, others just don't understand out grief. Bugtussel

[NatalieJastrow]

I am giving one more thing a shot, but he threw up already. I will give it a week or so.

[NatalieJastrow]

Originally Posted by NatalieJastrow

I am giving one more thing a shot, but he threw up already. I will give it a week or so.

Well if I hadn't written this post, it wouldn't have worked, but I gave my cat Egg Yolk Lecthin... and, .. success.

It has been one week since a throw up. That is major. He was throwing up every 72 hours or less before. One week is a VAST improvement.

I do have problem now that I don't know if I can get under control, he has a TON of energy.

So he yowels at 12 AM or whenever he wakes up... which he wakes up a lot. Hoping I can get that undet control but very happy about the throw up situation... telling me I am on the right track.

[divine1966]

You are such a devoted pet owner! You don’t give up on your cat but also remain mindful that he should suffer. He feels better or he’d have no energy!

[NatalieJastrow]

Originally Posted by divine1966

You are such a devoted pet owner! You don’t give up on your cat but also remain mindful that he should suffer. He feels better or he’d have no energy!

That is what I am thinking - hoping. I am hoping he has more energy because 1. he isn't throwing up every 72 hours (not dehydrated) and 2. Hair in the digestive track is not blocking him from absorbing nutrients.

One step at a time.

I am going to try an egg yolk tomorrow. It supposedly increases stomach motility -- speed that food passes through. I think my cat's stomach motility has slowed from old age and that allowed hair to build up.

So he wasn't taking in any greater hair, it was just that it didn't move through his system as quickly as when he was young... leading to it building up. The egg yolk lectin keeps the hair from sticking together and forming a hair ball... because it is a fat emulsifier doesn't allow fat to help a hairball form.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by NatalieJastrow

That is what I am thinking - hoping. I am hoping he has more energy because 1. he isn't throwing up every 72 hours (not dehydrated) and 2. Hair in the digestive track is not blocking him from absorbing nutrients.

One step at a time.

I am going to try an egg yolk tomorrow. It supposedly increases stomach motility -- speed that food passes through. I think my cat's stomach motility has slowed from old age and that allowed hair to build up.

So he wasn't taking in any greater hair, it was just that it didn't move through his system as quickly as when he was young... leading to it building up. The egg yolk lectin keeps the hair from sticking together and forming a hair ball... because it is a fat emulsifier doesn't allow fat to help a hairball form.

I wonder if he wakes up and screams because he is hungry faster than before if his food digests faster. Maybe increase frequency or amount of food or liquid?

[NatalieJastrow]

Originally Posted by divine1966

I wonder if he wakes up and screams because he is hungry faster than before if his food digests faster. Maybe increase frequency or amount of food or liquid?

He is eating almost every 6 hours now. But possible.

[NatalieJastrow]

Well, after 8 days, this morning he did throw up. If I can keep him to throwing up 4 times a month maybe that would be something but, I very discouraged this morning. One symptom of him feeling ill is not sleeping and yowling so possible all that was due to feeling sick.

I do think I Need to stop the torture and just man up and make an appointment.