Cats are pretty resilient pets, and typically live longer than dogs. Ragdolls are a hearty breed of cat an are known to live long lives often into their twenties.

But cats don’t live as long as humans, and often need euthanasia (a gentle and easy death), it certainly isn’t something any cat owner wants to consider or think about but it is a responsibility of pet ownership and something we need to consider.

Are you considering Euthanasia?

My Personal Experience

I recently had to go through this very thing. My Grandma Cat who was about to turn 25 in 2021 took a turn for the worse. It was a gradual decline, which made things worse because she would have good days and bad days. She slowly lost her sight and probably her hearing. I was taking her to the vet regularly and they said that she definitely had some kindey issues, but was too old to really make much of a change (blood work was done).

For about two years she was having trouble with incontinence but didn’t seem to be in any pain. We managed the messes and kept her in her own space at night so she wouldn’t get lost in the house. Towards the end however she started to change her sounds, and you could tell she was in pain.

That was the deciding factor. The pain.

For me as long as she wasn’t in pain I was willing to manage her old age issues, but as soon as she was in pain the decision to euthanize was strongly considered. We took her to the vet and the vet agreed, she was in pain and there was little chance she would pull through any surgery or hospitalization. So we decided to put her down. She was 24 and had a really good run.

What are Symptoms of Cat Dying?

Sometimes the symptoms that you see in your elderly cat will be very noticeable and sometimes they will not be very noticeable. Some cats digress very quickly, and other ones take a long time. Here are some signs to pay attention to.

Lack of Interest in Eating and Drinking

Cats are known to lose their appetite as their bodies start to break down.

• Lack of Interest In Eating and Drinking. It’s common for cats to lose their appetite toward the end of their lives. …
• Extreme Weakness. You will notice your cat becoming more lethargic and refusing to move. …
• Lower Body Temperature. …
• Changes in Appearance and Smell. …
• Seeking Solitude.