This is just a quick update before we take her to the vet for euthanasia. She has taken a turn for the worse. I had booked in a vet’s visit today at midday to put her to sleep because she was demonstrating signs of leaving us yesterday. She was more passive than usual. She spent long hours in a crouched position with head hanging and on one occasion she was breathing heavily and her neck was craned forward. That was the moment when I rang the vet.
She had been quite OK before that in many ways. She started to eat less and then stopped. I think the steroid injection that had perked her up had worn off.
She spent a peaceful night on my partner’s bed. At about 7 am, she jumped off and had a coughing/vomiting fit for a short while and then went under the bed where she lay down and breathed heavily then poorly. We thought that was the end. It was dreadful for her and us.
She got up and is now in a crouched position and passive. We are going to ring the vet as soon as they open at 8:30 am and try and get her in first thing to send her on her way to a better world and over the rainbow bridge.
It has been a restless night for us all. She has touched us and my partner is extremely distraught. And so am I. This is high stress.
I had wanted to go to the vet sooner. Perhaps I waited too long. It is hard to make a good decision.
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Thanks Valerie. Best wishes to you and your 13 year old.
RIP Cardi.
Michael, thank you for sharing. Be comforted that she is at peace.
Elise, thank you for your comment. I have had multiple experiences with pets that stay awhile and let me know of their presence. They, also, make me aware when they are going fpr good.
I second what Marc says, our cat Ebony had 3 more happy years after the vet told us she was living on borrowed time.
She chose her own time to leave us and died peacefully aged 17.
We just have to treasure every moment with our cats while we can as we are merely their caretakers on this earth.
Don’t be too surprised to feel her jump on your bed for the next few days. Cats tend to find a way back to make sure their human companions are ok. I heard Dreyfuss and his big toenails scraping the bare floor for several nights after he passed.
Hopefully she can be around longer than a couple of years. I’ve heard of cats living quite a long time with thyroid conditions – given the right special diet and care. I have often read of cats in this situation out living the estimations by a lot. They have come a long way in creating prescription diets that are very effective in keeping your cat healthy and within more reasonable ph ranges etc. Good luck to you and your 13 year old cat.
I really feel for you Michael as I’ve had the experience and now I have a 13 year old with heart cond and overactive thyroid so we’re trying to get the meds right for her so costly but worth it maybe she will have another couple of yearsRIP Cardi