Should I euthanize my cat or put him through more testing?

So, since December my cat has been acting "strange" He was always meowing like he was hungry, even though he was being fed 3 times a day, and he was losing a lot of weight, and he always had diahrea. I took him to the vet, and he ran numerous blood tests on him and everything came back normal, although he thought my cat was possibly in the beginning stages of Hypothyroidsm. The blood tests cost me $250, and they would've cost $295, but my vet gave me a discount for waiting so long for the results. He suggested I change his diet to a more holistic one, and I changed it to Wellness. My cat was doing great for a good 3 months. He stopped meowing for food all the time, and he gained weight, plus his poop was normal. Then it's like things just went downhill. Lately all my cat has been doing is sleeping, constantly meowing for food, and now he's not even using his litter box. He'll go in front of the door, or in front of the tv, and now he's been going right outside of the basement. Unless we take him to his litter box or chase him away from those areas, he won't go. Now it seems like poop just runs right out of his rectum, like he can't even hold it. My cat is about 15 or 16yrs old. My Grandma says it's not fair to do testing on him considering he's an old cat, and it would be best just to put him down. I'm at a stand still. I personally don't think it's fair to put him down, whenever there might be an easy fix to this condition. But then I think maybe I'm the one being selfish, and it's his time to go. I am going to make an appointment with the vet, but I don't know if I should make it for testing to see what's wrong, or if I should make it for euthanizing? I personally don't want to be there if we decide to euthanize. Last June, we put my 13yr old Golden Retriever to sleep in the back of our car, and I was there during the whole process. It was one of the hardest, most painful things I've ever gone through. Plus, my cat and golden retriever were like best friends..so I really don't think I could go through it again. =/My last cat lived to be 21yrs old, actually he was my Dad's cat he had since he was 16yrs old...so I guess I'm just used to having cats that live fairly long. I didn't know the average age for a cat was 13yrs old..wow. A lung infection? No he doesn't have trouble breathing, but his sides are sunken in.

How to Run to Lose Weight

Recommended Answer:

Definitely make an appointment with the vet for testing and discuss his symptoms and possible prognosis with your vet. This could be unrelated to his prior problem and easily fixed or it could be the worst. Simple blood tests and x-rays are not very stressful for your cat and shouldn't require sedation. Unfortunately, you are the owner and as such, the decider. Get as many facts as you can and then make a decision based on that, keeping the quality of life for your pet as the foremost concern.

Other Answers:

• I'm not really "for" euthanizing. I liken it to murder. and pets are family... We don't euthanize our human family do we?
• I actually just had this problem with one my cats and we put her to sleep last year. She had the same symptoms, blood test was normal and the vet mentioned an ultrasound. She was an older cat (12 at the time, was 13 when we put her to sleep). We didn't do the ultrasound and thought it was stress (we had just gotten two kittens and she hated them). My mom thought she had...can't remember what it's called now, but it's s condition that makes cats have diarrhea. She also switched them all to wellness. Eventually she started getting UTI's CONSTANTLY so my mom decided to put her to sleep. We think it was her kidney's since the blood test was normal.I'd mention your concerns to your vet and maybe ask to get her kidney's checked. Honestly, if the blood test is normal and it's something more serious that requires surgery I'd put her to sleep. She's too old to go through that and probably wouldn't even live through going under and surgery.
• I had to put my dog down when she was eighteen. Once they get past sixteen they begin to have those problems. My pets have had organic food all their lives and have lived so long, you can really tell the difference. My cat is my best friend and I could never possibly imagine having to put her down. It is really hard. It is really sweet of you to spend so much money to try to save your cat. A lot of people I know wouldn't spend that much fir their pet. Cats can sometimes get skinny when they have a heart infection or lung. Fluid could be filling up in their lungs making it hard for them to breathe. Have you noticed your cat breathing funny while he sleeps? He my not be getting skinny but his sides could be sinking in, another sign of lungs filling up. This time around it could be an actual disease rather than a reaction to the cat food. You should take him to the vet one more time and see if he can find something different and maybe keep your cat healthy a little longer. It is really your decision. I think your cat will let you know when it's time. I'm sorry about your kitty.
• First your cat is old most cats only live to be about fourteen if your lucky sometimes they can live 20-25 years but its rare have your vet test for worms but most likely its your cats time to go we have a 13 year old tigger in our home my brother got him as a kitten when he was four and we are all dreading the day he may go for a walk and not come back or worse that we will have to take him for his last vet visit ive seen animals die cats included (ferrets are the hardest they can scream for hours) so i know how you feel but ask yourself is it better to let him go now or do you want to see him waste away slowly
• My heart goes out to you. Some of my cats have died in their sleep, others I have had to put down because of kidney failure or whatever. You should discuss this with your vet and make your decision based upon your vet's prognosis and on the quality of your cat's life now.
• There are two types of testing - invasive and non-invasive. If you can afford it, I'd suggest the non-invasive testing so that you can make an informed decision. Things like x-rays and ultrasounds do not hurt the cat or require any kind of surgery, and will show masses or potential masses. Most indoor kitties live between 14-17 years, I'd dispute that 13 year average. Just like humans, some live to be very old, some not so old. I'd go with at least a basic abdominal x-ray (generally $65-125) and based on that, discuss the value of an ultrasound with the vet. If the x-ray clearly shows something "bad" then you stop there. If not, then the ultrasound would be next, but those are more expensive ($250-400). It's a very difficult decision to make - so without what ever non-invasive testing you can afford, you will always be second guessing yourself.