Get a second opinion.  My 18 year old cat has the same symptoms.
Through research I think it could be one of three things,
hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or kidney failure.  I'm taking my cat in on
Satuday I'll let you know what I find out.  To ease my cat's burdens
I've made a lower litter box without high sides out of a rubbermaid bin
top and put it and wet food on a dish each day in his favorite room.  I
have also made sure there is plenty of water available and near by as
well.  My cat seems a lot happier despite his symptoms.

Good Luck,
Rachel

Bruce  this is a decision that all pet lovers never want to face.  The only
thing I can say is you will know when it is time.  This decision needs to be
based on facts not all emotions  that may sound cold and cruel  but you have
your loved one to think of.  You need to think about the quality of her life
and how it has been affected and effected

To put your mind at ease you may want to go to another vet and make sure
there is nothing that you can do so there is no doubt.

This is going to be your hardest decision you have ever made but you have to
be strong and do the right thing.  You will know when it is time to do what
is best   there is no easy answer for this

Purrs and Hugs for you

"Brucefan" <bfan2@hotmail.com> wrote in message

It's a tough call and no matter what you decide you may always wonder if you
did the right thing. A percentage of pet owners wait too long IMO, and some
jump the gun too soon simply out of a need to have it be over. Neither type
owner can be too harshly judged IMO as both are feeling as they do out of
love.

Make a list of the things she loves most- looking out a favorite window,
sleeping in your lap, etc., and when she can no longer enjoy these things
then it is time IMO.

Since you wrote:

I would guess her quality of life is beginning to wane. I suggest one more
veterinary visit to double/triple check that there is no pain management or
other treatments possible- this to assuage your guilt as much as anything
else. It is also a good time to talk over in office vs. at home euthanasia
so you understand what your options are.

Then take her home, watch her, and look deeply into her eyes when you talk
to her. She will tell you when she is ready to go.

A calm humane death (at home IMO) is the last great gift you will ever be
able to give her. It will be very difficult for you, but you have to set
your own feelings aside and think only about what is best for her. Be as
strong as you can be for the procedure- try and offer her loving support and
as calm a goodbye as you can muster.
Try and remember how much she gave you instead fo how much you are losing.

It is never easy.

It is torture and my heart goes out to you.  I made the decision just
over a year ago for my beloved old dog, Tosh.  I still second-guess
myself.  Here's a link that might help:
http://angelshavenhere.homestead.com/makingthedecision.html

-L.

Have had bloodwork done?

If not, I would do that immediately. THat will tell you fairly quickly
if there is something treatbale, or if it is beyond help.

Last year, Maynard seemed fine but suddenly had yellow ears, a very bad
sign. The day before, I ahad been planning a birthday party. I was
going to be at a cat show as a vendor on his 19th birthday, so I
figured I would have a cake with his photo and a little photo display.
I do photography, so it would be a cute way to get people over to look.

Then, I saw his ears. I took him to the vet the next morning. He was
still actibing fine, eating, drinking, etc. But I could tell by the way
the vets were talking, that this was much more serious, and that we
were mostly likely at the end of his life.

I did the bloodwork in the hopes that there really was an infection
that could be treated, and i started doing at-home sub-q injections to
see if that helped. But it was clear from the bloodwork results that
this was liver failure, and the best we could do was keep him
comfortable. After 2 days, he quit eating, and I knew he was ready to
go.

I took him in on the 3rd day. We don't have a vet that will come to the
house, but they did come out to the car, so I could stay there with him
on my lap, in privacy and love him up.

I know that I made an informed decision. I had the bloodowkr results
with liver values way off the charts. I knew it would only torture him
to try and do further treatment. And the bloodwork bought me 3 days to
love him up and make sure I was making a rational informed decision.

Even though I ended up losing him 3 days later, I believe it was money
well spent. I have also decided to do bloodwork more often with my
other pets. Kira is much younger, only 12, but as she is my stress
kitty, and acting older than she should, I will do hers more often.
Right now, she is acting healthy, and her results are good, so I will
do it every 6-8 months, rather than once a year. If she gives me reason
earlier, I will do it sooner. In a year or so, I will increase it to
every 4-6 months. I want the opportunity to treat things earlier.

You're lucky to have a pragmatic vet. I've had to break mine in. After
the $1,300 I spent on Cosimo only to have to euthanize him I told the
vet that if they knew what was going on, why did we prolong his life?

My 16 year old is still active but he does sleep a lot more. He's right
next to me now. Still, he's definitely MY cat.

Nobody here can give you the answer. You should schedule an appointment with
your cat's vet and discuss your cat's health with the vet. Remember that
euthanasia is permanent; you can't change your mind after the fact. When my
Sara was heading into her final days, I met with the vet for a half hour and
we reviewed Sara's chronic renal failure and the progression of the disease.
I fully expected to end up making that final appointment for Sara, and I
wouldn't have had doubted a suggestion that Sara's time had come. I showed
the vet photos I had taken in the previous year and asked what my options
were. We tried a cortisone and Vitamin B injection the next day, and Sara
perked up.

Sadly, Sara died nine days later at home. But she lived life to the fullest.

I'm not saying that I rejected euthanasia; I didn't. In fact, the day before
Sara died, I knew she was at the end. But the vet wasn't in that afternoon
when I called. Otherwise, I am sure, I would have had Sara put to sleep.

Things to consider are:

(1) Is my cat eating and drinking?

(2) Is my cat in control of her bowel movements and bladder? [Sometimes you
need to differentiate apparent incontinence from convenience: A cat may no
longer be able to step over the wall and into the litter box, so the cat
goes to the bathroom on the floor. The solution would be to put newspapers
down in that area or, better yet, make an improvised litter pan with shorter
walls.]

(3) Is my cat able to walk around on her own?

(4) Is my cat aware of her surroundings? Does she respond to patting,
talking, etc.?

(5) Is my cat in any noticeable pain, as opposed to general discomfort? Can
the pain be treated? Can the cause be treated?