I'm trying to help a friend with a (probably) dying cat.

[pnwmom]

The friend's cat is around 13, and has a number of serious health issues. Recently, my friend wrote this:

"Then there's the cat... I am so attached to that little animal that I don't know where to turn any more. She's not well, but she's not dying either - yet - and has reached the point where she is completely unable to control her bladder. Everywhere she lays or sits or stands or walks, she leaves a puddle of urine."

My friend is trying to pack up for a move, so that she can sell her house, pay off her debts, and go to live in another state with family. Having a cat making puddles all over the house obviously will not help her sell the place.

Is there any treatment for a senior cat that's completely incontinent? If it were up to me, I'd be leaning toward euthanasia. But we had to make a decision to put our 16 yr old dog to sleep in June, and we know how hard that is.

[Deep State Witch]

1. Quality of Life Assessment

The vet that we used for an at-home euthanasia for one of our cats has a "Quality of Life Assessment" on their website. It's a list of normal activities for pets, and how owners can judge whether the pet's quality of life is impacted. Inability to control elimination is one of the factors. You might share this with your friend.

https://peacefulpassage.net/end-of-life-resources/

[pnwmom]

3. Thank you!

[The Blue Flower]

7. Thanks so much for these resources

My three grandkids will be losing a beloved dog tomorrow. In January, she developed a tumor on the inside of her muzzle that turned out to be inoperable. She's now in terrible shape, down to skin and bones, weak and disoriented, her eyes running, drooling uncontrollably, and emitting a terrible stench when she breathes. She'll be euthanised at home tomorrow. It's been a tough decision for my son, their dad. He rescued her from the street 10 years ago. The kids have been through the deaths of two cats and a dog (they're 11, 8, and 3). It's so sad to see the dog going through this decline. She still eats and drinks a bit but doesn't play anymore. Falls down sometimes. She always slept in the kids' bedrooms, but can't get up the stairs anymore.

[Deep State Witch]

8. So Sorry To Hear That

They live such short lifespans. May his journey be peaceful.

The QOL Assessment was really helpful for us, because our cat was in a low spiral. We'd lost cats before that way. My husband, who is on the spectrum, wanted something more quantifiable when it came Cosmo's time. We always said that when he stopped eating, we would know. Well, being a very food-motivated cat, that was the last thing to go. Peaceful Passage was a wonderful resource. She put him up on the bed where he loved to sleep, gave him some Churu with the first shot, then we held him as she gave him the second one, and he slipped away. She also disposed of his body.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Only a veterinarian can answer that with a complete exam.

[pnwmom]

5. I don't remember this cat's health history, but she's taking prednisone for something,

and I understand that she's close to dying -- just not there yet.

And my friend doesn't have a lot of money to spend on exploratory tests. And if they found out she had cancer, for example, there would be little point in treating a cat that old. So why do the testing if she wouldn't be going forward with treatments?

[Nigrum Cattus]

4. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Please have her take the cat to a Vet ASAP
Could be very treatable

[pnwmom]

6. Okay thanks!