Knowing When It's Time To Say Good-Bye To Your Cat
It's never easy loosing a good friend. But the decision to euthanize your cat may be the final act of love you offer them. Here are some reasons to consider this act of release for your cat and how to view the choice as the right one:
When the Body Just Gives Out
The average lifespan of a house cat is 13 to 17 years. Like people, as cats age, their body slowly changes. Kidney failure is common in cats and over the years, your cat's kidneys may begin to fail. Eventually they won't sustain life for your cat. Toxic materials build up in your cat's body and they become dehydrated.
Your animal hospital may offer IV fluid therapy to give your cat a few weeks of life, but the health problems will finally catch up with your cat. The choice of euthanasia at this point offers a gentle release for your cat who is likely quite uncomfortable by now.
When the Future is Unknown
Your cat suddenly stops eating and you take them to the vet. They run tests but cannot find a single cause for the lack of appetite. This continues for several days with your cat losing weight and becoming sluggish. More tests reveal nothing new and your vet is baffled. Your vet may suggest visiting specialists in feline medicine at a university or using tube feedings to get some nourishment into your cat.
When faced with an unknown future and your cat's health continues to decline, euthanasia may be the best option to prevent your kitty from facing seriously declining health.
When Their Quality of Life Diminishes
You've treated your diabetic cat for years, but the disease has affected all of their joints. Your cat can no longer jump up on your lap. You must pick them up to put them on the sofa next to you. They've stopped playing with the other house cats because of painful joints. You notice that just walking to the food dish is a painful effort for your feline companion. It's unknown how long your cat may live and the quality of their life continues to decline.
You can find medications, herbal remedies and massage therapy techniques that help with the pain. If your cat does get some relief, they may be content and live several more years. But should the pain and immobility increase, it's time to consider euthanasia as a way to end their discomfort.
Unless your cat passes away quietly in the middle of the night, you might be faced with making one of these choices. Making that choice will be a final act of compassion for your feline friend. To learn more, contact a company like University Pet Hospital for help.