My foster cat (all treatment provided by the RSPCA) Jack is not very well ... has poor kidney function and despite tablets and a renal diet is not eating great amounts and is painfully thin, and yet he still seems to wander around, lying in the sun, washing himself and first in line for the odd scraps for meat that might accidently drop from the sky ... He is soooooo thin and a little wobbly on the back legs, but other than that he seems to be quite a normal elderly cat ...

At what point do I make the decision ... at what point does he become too thin ... he seems happy enough at the moment ... but he is horrible to look at!

C X

This is always the hardest decision. For me with my other pets it was a matter of, are they in pain and what is their quality of life. I always believe that deep down each responsible owner knows when it is right to say good bye even if it is very sad and painfull to do. For me it is always my pet comes first in decisions like this. So PembrokeMadhouse if you are asking the question you must have an idea your little ones time is getting near. No one can help but can advise. Maybe have a chat with your vet and see what they say. Good luck with your decision

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I know his time is near ... just don't want to cut it too short, or delay it too long ... ultimately it's not my decision to make it's the RSPCAs but if he deteriorates very quickly I will have to get my own vet in ... just presented him with a tin of mackrel which he turned his nose up at ... now going to try ham ... just want him to eat anything .... then I know he's got some fight left in him - he's come in from lying in the sun now and gone to take up his daily place on my son's pillow ... he'll be there all day now ... might just have to bring a cooked chicken home from work ... ...

C x

When you think the cat no longer has a good quality of life, or if they are suffering.

Its a tough choice but you have the cats best interests at heart.

I really feel for you because its a choice i have had to make just recently with my dalmatian.

Good luck and best wishes

Never an easy decision....I would talk to a vet, think it will help.

Poor boy.

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I know I need a spell checker.

I would say - when they aren't happy or are in pain, or when the physical intervention just causes a huge loss of quality of life.

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I can't see that he's in pain ... just thin .... seemed to like a bit of the ham so that's good - i know he's eaten a bit today before I got to work ... got to go to my vet for spaying and neutering of other stray cats on Wednesday so might squeeze jack in the cat box too x

C x

I have the same with my boy, hes only 2 tho and his bloods were good 3weeks ago. The problem is getting him to eat, he is a large ragdoll and only weighs 4kg. He really is not interested in eating much at all, i tempt him with food sprinkled with Fortiflora(which he loves) but in the long term i dont want to keep giving him this.
Its horrible seeing them so thin, i know what you mean.
Archie is fine in himself, much like your cat. He plays, cleans, lays in the sun and chases the other cats so im sure he must be happy

Hope Jack picks up soon. x

our Willio was in the same situation as you with the same ailments. She didn't eat much but all she did was sleep, she was very thin but she wasn't in any discomfort even though she was not well. When she did deteriorate it happened quite quickly and only lasted a few days until we had to say goodbye to her.

I know how hard it is but like others say I think you know when it's time.

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If only cats had thumbs

From what you have written he sounds like he is still ok for a bit.
He is washing himself and enjoying lying in the sun and still walks a round.
These are all good signs.
Having had a cat with kidney problems and very old and thin i would now know the timeing.
I sadly left it too long. My poor Boy was my first puss and find it very hard to make that phone call. Hubby did it in the end.
He got to the stage where he wasn't walking anywhere and other problems too.
I know what you mean about him being very thin and not that nice to look at but we humans get like that when we are very old but we still enjoy life.
You will know when he wants to go to the Bridge.

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