euthanasia

My cat is old (@15) and is very listless, does not have much of an apetite anymore, has many accidents (yes, loose) around the house, and generally looks miserable....if I take him to the vet he will probably not return home....when do you know what "the right time" is....

[Amber]

You can usually just tell. Look at your cat as "Would I like to live like this?" And depending on the answer you yourself come up with...that's how you know. Myself personally I can't handle anyone suffering, so if I thought they were in any pain, I'd put them down. It will be hard, but you need to think best interest of your pet. I'm sorry to hear about your cat

I had to do that a year and a half ago with our dog. It wasn't easy, but it was needed, for everyone. See if you can take some nice pictures before the time comes. That's what we did. Placed the pic in a frame with the dog tags slid into the corners. Good luck.

You can check with your vet to make sure that your cat isn't suffering from something else, then you can decide. But if your cat does have something else, but the treatment involves something major (like surgery), then chances are that your cat won't survive these treatments anyway because of its age and the fact that it hasn't been eating well.

It's definitely a quality of life issue - I had to make a decision like that recently (letting my cat be in severe pain or to have him undergo surgery that he may not survive) and it's best to think of your pet's happiness. I agree with LordoftheDense that it's definitely easy - but if you feel that it is something that should be done, then go ahead with it.

one thing i find quite strange is that while we are ok to euthanas our pets (not, of course, without a lot of feeling and grief on our part over the decision) when there are suffering and in pain. But the debate (in most countries) still rages on about the same issue when people are involved.

On your question:
It is hard to know whenb the time is right.

[rocky3]

you will know when the right time is no one else can tell you i can't explain it but you will know and no vet will tell you that you should or you have to that is all up to you

[Basil]

I would go to the vet for a general exam. A friend of mine was going through the same thoughts with her 18 year old cat, Hemphill.

Once vetted - it was aparrant the cat was not getting enough nutritional intake.

As animals age their needs change. With blood panels testing out well, and other ailments and illnesses ruled out, a change of diet (that was not expensive by any means) quickly put him back on track.