Feline Euthanasia: How Do I Know When the Time Has Come to Say Goodbye to Baby Cat?

Hi, I’m Nicole! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my distinguished Burmese, Mr. Baby Cat.

This is a really hard post to write. To be honest, I’m not really sure where to begin or whether I should write this at all.

Recently, Mac went in for emergency surgery after the muppet swallowed a shelled macadamia nut, whole, and it got lodged in his intestine. Of course, the symptoms didn’t show up until after hours.

When Mac was gone, Baby was worried but had more energy than he has had in at least the past few weeks (but honestly, in the past few months). Upon reflection, it seems like Baby was giving us all his energy to help care for us during this stressful time. He almost seemed young again.

But once Mac arrived home, he melted. While he was so happy to see Mac, and they snuggled for a bit, things have really taken a turn for the worse. He has almost no energy at all, has no appetite, and is extremely dehydrated, despite being on subcutaneous fluids.

Why Haven’t I Taken Baby Cat to the Vet Yet?

If you have or have had a geriatric cat, or one with kidney disease, I wonder if you’ve experienced the same conundrum. Over the past 3-4 years, we have spent a ridiculous amount of money on Baby, from dental cleanings to routine checkups and blood tests, it is starting to add up to college tuition prices in some countries.

Because we are not veterinary professionals, we trust our vet to provide the best care for our Baby, and while she has done an incredible job, we think it’s super important to take into account his quality of life and reasonable potential longevity of it (balanced with the adding expenses).

After Baby’s last dental extraction surgery a year ago, he was never the same. He experienced dental pain, and our vet shared that she may have missed part of the root and it might be causing nerve pain, but she’d have to go in again (at our cost) to fix it. Being that he was 16ish, and the previous surgery bothered him so much, we opted out. He did stop pawing his face eventually, but that, mixed with all his other health problems, took a toll on him. If our vet went in again, would he have been a young buck again? No. Did leaving it accelerate his health decline? Negligible if any.

He’s an old boy, with kidney disease, and poking and prodding him is the last thing he wants. Even the sub q fluids are a bother, and I swear that’s all that’s keeping him alive at this point.

So, in saying that, we haven’t taken him to the vet yet for two reasons.

1. We’re worried that we’re going to be suggested an invasive and expensive surgery that may only extend his life by a few weeks or months, and we don’t want to be faced with the decision ourselves. We aren’t veterinary professionals, and we really want a professional to make a decision for us and we are nervous that our vet might try to keep him alive longer than he may need. Whether this fear is warranted or not, it is real.
2. We’re worried that our vet or any vet will say it’s time to euthanize, and we’re not quite ready to say goodbye yet.

Death is as natural as birth and life, and when it comes to Baby, I have always had this beautiful death pictured: he would die peacefully, in his sleep, surrounded by us, and all our love.

But is that right to wish if his quality of life is declining rapidly? Of course not.

How Do I Know When the Time Has Come?

I work for a pet company, with veterinarians on my team. I have a plethora of articles at my disposal written by writers I know and trust that advise on this situation…but I would have to actually consult my teammates or read the articles to feel that support, but reading them before now was out of my comfort zone.

Denial is a funny thing. I have long prided myself on being aware of my cat’s (and my own) mortality, but when it’s happening in front of you, the clouds of denial and anticipatory grief set in.

One of my colleagues, Dr. Karyn Kanowski, writes in a Catster article entitled Why Euthanasia is a Gift, that “people often ask if I find euthanasia difficult, but I truthfully answer that, in the vast majority of cases, it is a blessing to be able to help take away an animal’s suffering. When we have reached a point where we can no longer help them medically, it is honestly a wonderful thing that we can let our pets go in a quick, peaceful, and painless way.”

This is what we are hoping for when we do talk to our vet. But another Catster article about When to Euthanize a Cat states that “even if a veterinarian believes that euthanasia is the best course of action, they do not get to make the final decision. The decision of whether to euthanize your cat will always be the pet owner’s to make. Sometimes animals can live much longer than people realize if they are given the proper care. No one can force you to euthanize your cat if you are not ready.” And this is our greatest fear. Of course, the final sentence there is meant to reassure a pet parent that a pet will not be euthanized without your consent—but it does feel stressful to be the decision maker when you are not the professional. Obviously, the veterinarian will give their best advice, but it’s such a daunting conversation to have.

According to When to Euthanize a Cat, the following circumstances are when euthanasia is often considered:

• The cat is old and has an incurable disease that is getting worse or likely to get worse.
• The cat has suffered a severe injury that will be too expensive or difficult to overcome.
• The cat is having more bad days than good days.
• The cat is in constant pain or discomfort
• The cat is not eating or drinking properly and is unlikely to recover.
• The cat is not acting normally (e.g., pooping inside, biting family members).

Baby Cat ticks a lot of those boxes these days. So, we know that at the very least, the conversation with our vet needs to be had. I need to be brave and remember that by having this conversation, I am putting his well-being first.

I’ll keep you posted on it all. Thanks for reading and please get in touch if you are experiencing or have experienced any emotions around euthanasia and your pet.