When it becomes apparent that she isn't enjoying anything anymore.  Signs
would be stopping grooming, poor appetite, not wanting your attention, or
if it becomes obvious that she's in pain.

Hi G!
I just had to let my old cat go a week ago and hopefully I can help you
to recognise the moment. I knew it was about to happen sooner or later
and I had decided beforehand that as long as he does certain things he
enjoys, he probably still enjoys his life. For myself, I had also made
it clear that it is better to make the decision rather a little bit too
early than a bit too late. That was because my cat was always pretty
healthy and I wanted to spare him from being helplessly sick.

I had a few key habits that I followed about him (he came to the shower
with me, he wanted to go out for a while, he wanted to sleep next to me
etc.) The very last couple of days I noticed that he did not eat but he
could drink. He also had problems with sleeping, he did not seem to
fall asleep although he kept his eyes closed. He used to snore so it
was easy to tell.

When I made the final decision, it was difficult for him to drink. I
think he also had pain because his face looked just like after waking
up from anesthesia. He was still strong and sociable althoug very
skinny and old but obviously getting weak because he walked very
carefully and unstable.

The morning I realised he doesn't drink, I made the decision
immediately and afterwords I feel conforted about the fact that he had
a pretty good, healthy life to the very end.

Mine went weak very fast but I guess what learnt for my other old cat
is to follow the signs of pain, the quality of sleep and the quality of
activity. As long as she is able to sleep well and does things she
likes on daily basis, she probably still enjoys her life.

I hope this helps you a little.

Aya

G&G kirjoitti:

Has the vet got her on thyroid meds? That can make all the difference in the
world. As for when to let go, you will know when your baby is not enjoying
life anymore.
Gina

A couple of points:
1.  Where she is throwing up 3 times a week have you tried splitting
the food?
(i. e. if she gets xxx ounces in a sitting try splitting xxx into two
sittings
spaces at least an hour apart.  Maybe she eats to fast, too much in a
sitting?)
2.  As far as when the time comes to end the suffering, this is where a

good vet comes in.   A good vet will help you through the process and
offer advice/assistance that is invaluable.

Found this -

Jan. 8 to Aug  2003 -  The testimony about Sambo our cat - (born July
1985) - We can hardly believe the recovery Sambo is making.  As of last
July he had lost 10 pounds (he had been 16 #) could hardly get up and down
the stairs, slept a lot and dumped around. Walked like he was 100 yrs. old
and we were sure we were going to loose him. He wasn't eating very much
either.  He slowly was getting worse and worse.  He was so skinny and his
fur got matted and terrible and then he started pulling his fur out -
completely on both sides of his body.  It was an area 2" long and full
length of his body and on both sides. We never took him to the vet because
we thought he was just getting old and we would just have to accept the
fact that we won't have him very much longer.  
We had just heard about Transfer Factor (basic) and we thought if it helps
humans, maybe it will help our kitty.  We thought maybe Transfer Factor
would at least make him feel better and we started giving him 1-capsule of
Transfer Factor on Jan. 8, 2003 (which was the first day Wayne came to our
home to have a meeting for some of our friends to introduce them to
Transfer Factor - which was new to us too!).
Right away we could tell that Sambo was getting better and so on Jan. 15,
2003  we increased the dose to 2 capsules a day.   His speedy recovery was
hard to believe. He had regained 1/2 lb. by Jan. 18th and his fur was
growing back on both sides and the rest of his fur was looking much better
too. It had become very matted and ugly.  Energy?  He is bouncing up and
down the stairs, up and down from the bathroom sink ( he loves to drink
the running water but hadn't been able to make the jump for months) and
hardly lays down for naps.  Previously, he had been sleeping a lot.  Once
again he is following Neil everywhere as he had done for so many years, he
was like our 'young' Sambo again and we knew he was going to be fine!!
It is now Oct  2003 and he is still doing very, very good.  Has a good
appetite, has energy, doesn't sleep very much in the daytime as we would
expect an old cat to do and has a lovely new fur coat.  At this point, we
decided to try the Feline formula instead of the TF human formula.

Update Dec. 19, 2003. We had to stop giving our cat the Feline Complete
formula because Sambo started going down the hill and losing weight. The
Feline Formula did not agree with him. After we resumed giving him
Transfer Factor Plus (human formula) Sambo started doing very well again
We are going to get to enjoy our pet longer which pleases us very, very
much..

Transfer Factor Plus is non-toxic  even in megadoses and you can get it
anywhere. Give with food they say .

There are things that may help keep
her going for a while. Aside from the
usual thyroid meds, et al, you can give
her pedolyte in lieu of regular water to
keep her electrolytes up, and perhaps
giving her special diet-food may help as
well.

Surprisingly, this gave a year's life
extension to an old 16 year old female I
once had. When she became too feeble
to walk much, it was time. She seemed
happy to the end.

Ol' Buster, at 18, just got weak and kinda
listless towards the end (like me) but did
not lose a lot of weight. He seemed to be
happy, he enjoyed his strokes, ate and
drank well, and used the litterbox ok. One
day he jumped down from my computer
chair, walked slowly into the hallway, and
just dropped to the floor-- stone dead!

That's the way I want to go :)

~Chuck

Your cat, given its age, good appetite, yet loss of pounds sounds like my
Toby.  He was 12 and had the same things going on (good eater, but pounds
melting off him).  It was hyperthyroidism.  The radioiodine treatment cost
$1,500, he did wonderful afterwards, and he lived another 7 years.  We had
him put to rest with his mother (he 18, her 19) both various medical
problems that came on fast.   The treatment for hyperthyroidism gave us 7
years more with Toby and he with his mother.

Your cat might have hyperthyroidism.  Now, your kitty being 17-1/2 I might
not do the treatment, she is considerably older.  However, there are other
treatments for hyperthyroidism in the forms of medications.  Toby did not
take well to these meds, caused other side effects that were worse than not.

rpl, you are belaboring the point. Again. Let's just all help the  OP ,
shall we?  I think I've  proven  the merit   of what I have posted. If it
is not enough for you, then fine.

You said teeth loss.  I hope you are giving canned food, not dry.
Could she have worms?  

It sounds like she is just declining from old age, but be sure she
dont have worms, and feed her food for her age and lack of teeth.
Vets have special food for old cats, talk to them.  Just a phone call
might get you what you need.

Of course she might need some meds too, talk to a vet. Do it soon.

Meow