When a cat is clearly down to her last few weeks of life, is it love
or selfishness that delays the decision to euthanize?

I have decided that it is either selfishness or ignorance.  The only
way we can decide about euthanasia for our pets is purely
anthropocentric.  We say to ourselves, "What would I want for myself
in this situation?"  Given a choice of entering a period imminent
ill-health followed shortly by death most of us would probably prefer
to have someone put an end to our lives.

In the case of a cat it is even easier.  The cat probably has no idea
she is about to get whacked.  I know my own is very intuitive and she
might figure out something is up but the awareness is limited.

What a wonderful thing to have a life of luxury and comfort and have
the painful final stage eliminated!  And what more, to have it end
without knowing it is about to happen!  If we love our pets we owe it
to them to eliminate the final days or weeks of painful existence when
we know the end is near.