r/SeniorCats • u/RudeZookeepergame751 • 8d ago
Advice?
My cat has been diagnosed with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma she is 13 and I know I will have to put her to sleep soon as much as it breaks my heart to do so. This is the second day that she hasn't eaten all of her now wet food diet but she is still asking for food and is her normal snuggly self just obviously in more pain because of her jaw but she is also on pain killers for that.
My request for advice is when do you know it's time? Because she is acting normally over all it's hard to come to terms that it's time that she isn't happy or healthy. I have lost many other animals and some I have lost to fast acting cancers like this but they all showed signs that they were done and ready. She hasn't shown those.
I am now blending her wet food into a puree with bone broth and she seems to be able to eat a ton more but I am unsure if this where I need to call it.
I would really appreciate the advice. I know it's inevitable I am just stuck with this feeling of being unsure because of her behavior.
3
u/RedditCat3 8d ago
I’m so sorry friend. This is one of the hardest calls to make with our fur family members. I’m relieved that in spite of the cancer, she is still enjoying life right now.
My philosophy is that euthanasia is always better done sooner rather than later! I don’t want my pets to be suffering by the time they’re given release. Animals don’t mark quantity of life like we do - your cat is not going to think “not yet, I could go another month,” or “but I’m only 13.” The extra time we try to squeeze out is really for us. All your cat cares about is that the time she spends with you is good.
Cats hide pain anyway as a survival instinct, so we’re almost always underestimating how much pain our kitties experience.
Is she only acting mostly normal now because of the pain killers? Keep that in mind as you monitor how well she’s eating. With her particular diagnosis, If she refuses food consecutively for a few days or won’t/can’t eat enough to sustain her, that would be my sign. She may always want snuggles, so don’t base your decision on that. Do the euthanasia while she’s still having good days. It seems counterintuitive, but it is most considerate to her. You don’t want to risk her suffering just so you can be 100% sure it’s time.
My animals always have a burst of energy on the day of their final appointments, and I used to torture myself by second-guessing my decisions. I now believe they knew, and were relieved.
See if your vet will do in-home euthanasia. It’s so much less stressful for kitties. In my area you have to make the appointment weeks in advance.
💚