When is the right time to have cat put down?

Cant stand cats but she's your pet. No "very much" about it make damn sure you're there for her when its time to say goodbye. Let the last thing she sees be those that love her.
 
Both our cats are gone now but the 1st was in a terrible way and a vet offered to put her down after examination on an emergency visit but as it was so sudden wife said no, she went on to recover and live a whole another "quality" year before it was proper time.

Other cat was 19 and had tooth problems that turned out to be a tumour in her throat/skull. Vet advice was nothing they could do, this time we agreed .


So yeah... Not great advice is it.
It's all down to how much time you are willing to invest looking after her but at the end of the day.... Only you can decide.
 
Vets can be hesitant to advise putting the animal down, so if/when they say it in as many words then listen. Using phrases like end of life care is a definite hint that you should be asking the question you're asking.

although it never hurts to get a second opinion. some vets if they also cater to livestock can be a tad gung ho when it comes to pets.

Obviously you know your animal better than any random stranger on the internet, and i'm not wanting to sound condescending but i do need to ask if she's just hiding pain. Its truly insane what animals can tolerate without showing it, guess its a survival instinct never show weakness or maybe they just dont feel pain the same as humans do.

The scary thing with cats is they have a tendancy to know when its time, and they'll go off to find somewhere quiet to die, and you do not want it to get that far.

Whenever you make the call, and it sounds like if it isnt now then it isnt far off, stay with her, dont let them take her off to a back room, folk suggesting a home visit is even better if its an option.
 
adolf hamster said:
Vets can be hesitant to advise putting the animal down, so if/when they say it in as many words then listen. Using phrases like end of life care is a definite hint that you should be asking the question you're asking.
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They tend to be an independent voice in the matter, and often a voice of reason although they are very much pet people.
 
If a pet is barely eating then that's a firm push for us that the time is near. We haven't had cats for a long time but we've recently lost 2 dogs and the criteria is always:
1. Are they still eating well? If they are not eating at all then this is usually enough to make the call (we always have they put to sleep at home where we can).
2. Do they still want to go for walks. Or in a cats case are they still moving about enough
3. Can they control their bowels

It's a toss up between all of these. You will know your pet better than anyone else and we find using these points alongside any change in their character helps us decide when the time is right,
 
Quartz said:
Just be there for her when she goes.
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My ex said she couldn't be in the room when we had Hetty put to sleep at the start of the year but there was no way I could let her have her last minutes surrounded by strangers. It absolutely broke me and I still miss that stupid floof, but at least she wasn't alone when she went.
 
Craterloads said:
She has passed today peacefully, we were with her for her last breaths, which I can take some comfort in.

I had just called the euthanasia lady and by the time she replied with her details she had gone.
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Glad you were all there. You'll never remember today with fondness but you'll always know you did the right thing.
 
Quartz said:
Just be there for her when she goes.
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Absolutely this, I am still furious at our previous vets as when we had to have Buster put to sleep following his heart stopping they faffed around so much moving us from room to room he ended up passing without us there.

When we had to have Lola put to sleep, we opted for the 2 injection method so we could hold her during the initial sedation and she drifted off knowing we were there.
 
Craterloads said:
She has passed today peacefully, we were with her for her last breaths, which I can take some comfort in.

I had just called the euthanasia lady and by the time she replied with her details she had gone.
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i'm really not a animal person and certainly not where cat's are concerned but reading that has just hit me like a gut punch as i've been following the thread. you have my utmost sympathies, that cannot have been easy for you but it's good you were there with her and it didn't drag on for too long.

now, i need to go blow my nose and wipe my eyes as i seem to have been struck down with some sort of allergy that's causing me to leak fluids from my eyes and nose.
 
Just buried her in my sisters garden, all extended family came over nieces, nephews etc and she’s had a good send off. I’m happy in a way she’s had a great life, illness free till the end and plenty of love.

I’ve had my cry, just so glad I got to see her this morning when I woke up. I hand fed her some paste food on a spoon, she licked a little bit off.

I knew it was time, laid on the floor with her for about 15min so she could see me, brother did the same. Made the phone call and by the time the lady texted her details she had passed.

Sorry if that’s a bit mushy, a bit emotional but happy in a way too. Maybe content is the right word.
 
I’m sorry for your loss, but she’s no longer suffering and as you say, had a good life.

Not mushy at all, I’m still not over several dogs whom I’ve lost. My first GSD, Mia, after she went to the rainbow bridge, I couldn’t sleep that night, and ended up in the vets car park in the early hours, in the car with no memory of driving there. I just sat there for hours.
 
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Daisy our cat has been getting worse each day. She had not eaten in two days and was only drinking water. We took her to the vet today knowing what would happen.

I have buried her in the garden, next to her sister who died 2 years ago, just before I was hospitalised. RIP Daisy doo. I'm really going to miss her so much.

WCZxE5hb_o.jpg
 
something daft already!! said:
Daisy our cat has been getting worse each day. She had not eaten in two days and was only drinking water. We took her to the vet today knowing what would happen.

I have buried her in the garden, next to her sister who died 2 years ago, just before I was hospitalised. RIP Daisy doo. I'm really going to miss her so much.

WCZxE5hb_o.jpg
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She’s gorgeous, sorry for your loss mate.
 
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