Has my cat decided it's his time?

Oh, I’m so sorry.

Is he an indoor cat, or is he also allowed outside?

He is strictly an indoor cat.

Was he outdoors the last you saw him? Poor kitty!
If he is as old and frail as you say he can’t be far. Look everywhere in and around your house. In the garage, behind washers & dryers, any tool sheds or out buildings he could get underneath?

Tarps over woodpiles, etc.? Neighbors garages, tool sheds, wood piles etc.?
Could he be up in the box springs of a bed or under a piece of furniture?
Let us know!

Anywhere dark and warm inside your house would be my bet. Back of the storage closet, middle shelf of the linen cupboard that backs up to the water heater.

I hope you find him.

I think my effectiveness of my searching is being reduced as I get more excited trying to find him. Because this is so out of character for him, I’m getting more frantic and less effective. I’m going to sit and try to relax for a little bit. Maybe he will come out. I will look more in an hour or so. I’m leaking a little.

I found him under the bed where mama and I had looked many times. I brought him out to hold him on my lap and relax him a bit. I was able to get him to take fluids at least. He did drink some, but he wouldn’t even sniff at the soft turkey from the carcass I am boiling. He just went back into our bedroom. Dang he is thin. He used to be over #20 now about #5 maybe 6 if he’s wet. I’m gonna try to help him make it to Christmas.then take him in. I just can’t bear right now to do what I know needs to be done.

That poor old man. He is lucky to be so loved.

@majorrich My heart breaks for you. I had a beloved toy poodle who was such a joy! When she got older she seemed to go downhill pretty fast. At the last she had congestive heart failure. I realized that it had been a very long time since she brought me her toy to play. At that time I realized I was keeping her for me and her good days were no more. I had to let her go. Heartbreaking.

Aw, man. I’m really sorry, @majorrich. Just love on him, pet him and be with him as much as it’s possible for you to be.

You could call a local clinic and speak with a vet to see what their advice is. They might say you should bring him in for a checkup and they might tell you it’s okay, if he isn’t in pain, to let it happen naturally.

I’m truly sorry. :( I get tears in my eyes just thinking about what you’re going through. My oldest cat is around 11 and I’m already starting to get sad about the future.

((HUGS)) to you and your family.

Xmas is a long ways off and he really needs to be seen now. He is most likely dehydrated, and the severe weight loss you describe is indicative of several possible conditions, most likely untreated failing kidneys and/or severe hyperthyroid issues with the potential for heart failure. All 3 are very common conditions in very elderly cats. How long has the weight loss been going on, when was his last exam?

If he has thyroid issues or kidney failure he is feeling miserable and is suffering!
He isn’t going to make it to Xmas without intervention. He may not make it anyway depending on his condition. A blood test is in order to find out his organ function and thyroid function.

This is about him right now not you, always better to say good bye a day too soon rather than a day too late. Please, please., please, take him in first thing, for his sake.

Your cat would not be hiding as he is if he was not suffering so. I agree with @Coloma that it may be time to have a visit at the vet. Those final days with a beloved pet are heartbreaking and we all know what you are going through.

I also agree that it is time to take the cat to the vet. He may be ill or close to dying. We had an inside cat that disappeared for a few days, only to find that it had crawled into an empty cardboard box we had stored and had passed away. I believe she knew it was her time to die. All of our other cats and a dog were taken to the vet when they had become extremely infirm in the old age. With his advice, I stayed with them petting and talking to them while the injection took effect. My wife, however, could not handle watching them die.

I’m so sorry @majorrich. I know how much you love your cat. This is a horrible time for you. As has been said, all you can do is make him feel as loved and comfortable as possible and call your local vet to make arrangements to take him in. You could ask about the possibility of a home visit. It could be costly though. I know I wish I had organised that for my old cats. I’d prefer for them to have passed in their own home. Wherever it happens, know you’re doing the right thing for him by letting him go peacefully and with as little distress and pain as possible.

I’m sad for that sweet, little creature, and for you, too. An animal companion is a beloved family member, and saying “goodbye” is painful beyond description.

Please don’t let the little guy suffer and die slowly alone. He’s trusted you for many years, and you’ve always taken care of him. He’s trusting you, now, to save him from fear and pain.

A pet store nearby had a clinic with a vet that looked him over. He does have a respiratory infection and significant muscle wasting, but she said that doesn’t a death sentence make. I made a message on our vet’s answering machine for Monday for some bloodwork and then the decision will have to be made. In the meantime, he drank a little turkey broth and went back under my bed. I still feel a little leaky.

@majorrich Yay! Did she put him on an antibiotic? Let us know how things go Monday! Best Wishes to you both!

She wouldn’t prescribe anything, but said we should take him into the shop and that he wasn’t going to expire today. It really lifted my spirits. Still dreading Monday. But he has a fighting chance at least.

@majorrich Do your best to keep getting some broth or other nutritious liquids into him. maybe try tuna water, fancy feast. He must stay hydrated and get some nutrition. Good luck!

@majorrich I’m so glad this his condition “doesn’t a death sentence make.”

Please let us know how things go at the vet today. Also, @Coloma gives good advice about keeping your cat hydrated with broth and other tasty liquids. I give my own kitty CatSip, milk that’s specially made for cats; he drinks a bowl every day.

Our vet is a big fan of putting a bunch of saline under the skin so he looks like a hunchback. Waiting on a call back from the office, probably on Monday.

@majorrich Yes, one of my cats just had the fluid injection recently for a bout of mysterious vomiting. It’s a great way to get a lot of fluid in them fast if they are dehydrated. Hopefully he won’t worsen by tomorrow. :-(

I was able to get him to take about a teaspoon of broth. He won’t eat the chunks. (worried)

I’m sorry. It’s easy to see this is a well-loved cat, which means you must be feeling horrible.

When our old family cat stopped eating, she could be persuaded to try egg yolk, and we managed to nurse her back to health with that.

This was a long time ago, so I just did a bit of research: The consensus seems to be that cooked yolks are fine, while raw ones might not be, and whites can be detrimental both raw and cooked.

Well, the vet did a blood draw and checked the ol’ boy out. Put him on antibiotics for his chest congestion and we’ll see about how his blood work turns out. He showed a remarkable recovery once I got him into the office! Where he was pretty much ‘dead cat sleepin’ he put on quite a lively cat show! (Don’t put me down Daddy! I’ll be good Daddy!) $300 later, we’ll see how he does. LOL. I do feel a great sense of relief! I was prepared to come home alone in the car.

@majorrich Glad you got him in and I’ll look forward to finding out about his blood work. Poor guy, but stress/fear will often bring out the fight in an animal even if it is very sick. Let us know the results, rooting for you both!

A light has gone out of my life and a new star will appear in the heavens tonight. My boy has gone home. 14 was not enough years for me to learn to say goodbye, so I just wordlessly buried him next to his brother.

@majorrich Awwww… I am so sorry! What happened, what did his test results show? Did he just pass away or did you have to euthanize him? So sorry! :-(

He began to decline mentally and was getting lost in the house. He got stuck behind the door and in corners. Just didn’t know what to do. I think he had a stroke or something. I rushed him to the Vet and she said his temperature was 94 degrees, which is really low. He was unresponsive so we put him down. I think it was the right decision. I hope it was the right decision. Still kind of numb it’s only been a couple of hours.

@majorrich Oh, I’m so sorry. I think you made the right decision, he was obviously on a serious decline. Poor you, but try to focus on the wonderful life you gave him, I know he was a happy guy with such a great cat daddy!

I’m so sorry @majorrich. It was the right decision. As hard as it is for you right now, you did the right thing for your loved friend. Now you’ve made me all leaky too.

@majorrich Those were the best 14 years he could have had. I’m sure he always knew that he was loved. You helped him and he’s not suffering. I’m really sorry for your loss. :(

I’m sorry, @majorrich, it is always so hard. I lost a beloved dog this past summer and I am still bereft.
But oh, the joy they give us while they’re here!

My condolences. It does sound like you did the right thing, so kudos for being strong enough.

So very sad.