I had a similar dilemma recently with one of my bunnies. Daisy has to have her teeth ground down periodically as they grow unevenly and hurt her to eat. I don't know how old she is as she is a rescue bunny but she certainly isn't young. At the time I had to make the decision she had a chest infection which hadn't responded to 10 days of antibiotics and the vet was unsure if she would survive the anaesthetic. She also had two lumps. If it had just been the lumps I'd have left them.

When talking it through with my vet she said I had to be sure I could live with it if Daisy died while under the anaesthetic. If I couldn't she thought I should just leave her be. I found it an incredibly difficult decision but decided to take the risk to have her teeth done as I couldn't be sure she wasn't in pain - and having had toothache myself I didn't want her to have to suffer that for the rest of her life.

Daisy did survive and is now enjoying her food again. It was a different situation to yours in that eventually her teeth would have grown through her mouth as they grow continually so I would have had to have her PTS then.

It is so, so hard to know what to do for the best for our fur family. Is there a chance your cat's teeth will just fall out if they are left? Can your vet give your cat something to make her mouth more comfortable?

One of my cats has very few teeth left and she still eats dried food. I think the gums must harden up or something when the teeth are removed but I guess it could cause pain if the teeth are still there but are loose.

Applaws are very soft and may be OK for her.

She sounds a very special old lady.