How to Know when to euthanize a cat

This is perhaps the hardest decision every cat owner faces: whether it’s time to let their beloved four-legged friend go. The subject is often heartbreaking, but if you’re thinking about what’s best for your pet, you need to make a rational decision. When deciding if euthanasia is the right choice, you need to consider your cat’s physical and mental health and overall quality of life.

Table of Contents

Assess the cat’s physical condition

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Consider your cat’s weight and eating ability. Food is essential to life. If the cat is in pain (toothache, arthritis, and colic are the most common in older pets), the cat will have difficulty eating due to pain when standing or eating. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Another case is that the cat eats but often vomits. Both cases are worrisome and lead to weight loss in cats. Weight loss itself is not an indicator of euthanasia, but if the cat’s body mass index falls below 1.5/5, the cat will become weak and lack energy.
If there is no hope for your cat to gain weight back, you must consider euthanasia. If the cat’s body mass index is even lower, up to 1/5, then it’s time to let the cat go.

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Determine your cat’s body mass index. Body mass index is a simple measure of how thin or fat a cat is. This assessment method includes a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being obese and 1 being skinny. The ideal stat is at 3.

Level 1: Ribs, spine, and pelvis protrude clearly, even when viewed from a distance. Cats have no body fat and look skinny and hungry.
Level 2: The ribs, spine, and pelvis are easily palpable. From above, the cat has a pronounced waist. The cat’s belly pulls in when viewed from the side. The cat looks skinny.
Level 3: Ribs and spine are palpable but not visible. Cats have a slight waist when viewed from the top and side view, but the belly does not sag when viewed from the side. The cat has an ideal body.
Grade 4: Difficulty locating ribs and spine. The abdomen is pear-shaped when viewed from above and drooping when viewed from the side. Cats can be described as chubby or chubby.
Level 5: Sites covered with fat. There is a thick layer of fat in the chest and abdomen. The body is oval in shape. Cats are obese.

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Observe if the cat is able to reach the bowl of water. Older cats need more water than young and healthy cats. This is because their kidney function often depends on water to remove toxins from the body. The cat will have to be able to move enough to get up and go to the water bowl with minimal discomfort.

Cats that are in pain will not get up unless necessary. They often delay drinking water longer and easily become dehydrated, which in turn puts pressure on the kidneys and makes them nauseous and even more unwell because of the accumulation of toxins.
You can, of course, move the bowl of water within reach of the cat, but the rule here is that the cat should be able to move a short distance without pain. If that’s not the case, the cat’s quality of life is worrisome, and you can consider euthanasia.

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Notice if the cat starts to soil the fur. The cat is a clean creature and boasts a shiny coat. They have a basic need to clean themselves. If cats can’t keep their coat clean, their dignity is compromised, and keeping cats alive is morally questionable. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Of course, occasional incidents aren’t a reason to act, but if your cat has constant diarrhea, or is so out of control of her bladder that it’s causing her coat to stink, she’ll be miserable. If a toilet-trained cat starts to dirty the house, that’s cause for concern.
However, before you decide to euthanize your cat, talk to your veterinarian about whether you can give your cat pain medication, or try replacing the litter box with a lower-walled one. Cats with arthritis will have a hard time getting into a sand tray with a sloped side, so they may choose to make their way to the floor easier.
Similarly, stiff joints can prevent a cat from moving to another room. You can try giving your cat pain relievers to tackle this bad habit.

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Consider your cat’s self-grooming abilities. Lack of grooming can be a sign that the cat’s back is stiff, or that the cat is sleeping more and not giving the coat the right amount of care. However, do not panic if your cat only has this habit, it is likely that your cat will be fine after a while.

However, you can also look at things from the other side. A cat with a well-groomed, shiny coat is one that still takes pride in its appearance and is healthy enough to do so. If this describes your cat, it may not be time to go.
Of course, if your cat has trouble grooming herself, you can make a big difference to her. An old cat with a messy coat that is groomed by the owner will feel more satisfied with himself.

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Determine if your cat can sleep painlessly. This factor is very important. It is essential that the cat sleep and rest without being interrupted by pain. Cats in pain are often restless and show signs such as swishing their tails back and forth or pressing their ears to the back of the head.

The pain can strain the muscles, and the cat is more likely to curl up, crouching instead of lying on his side with his legs stretched out comfortably. Cats that are in pain are also prone to hot flashes and irritability. Therefore, you should pay attention to changes in temperament in cats, such as a gentle cat suddenly wheezing and irritable.
Of course, there are different levels of pain and every cat’s tolerance is different. When deciding whether or not it’s time to let your cat go, you need to consider whether the time the cat is in pain is much longer than the time it is comfortable.

Consult a veterinarian

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Discuss with your veterinarian. Don’t forget there’s also a vet to give you advice. Ideally, your cat has been going to the vet for many years, as the vet has followed the cat’s life and knows its normal appearance and behavior. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Your doctor already knows you, and this will help make the discussion more honest and complete when it comes to the best option for your cat.

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Call your vet at the first sign. If your cat is taking medication regularly and the vet is familiar with it, you should call the vet about the first worrisome sign.

Your veterinarian may recommend that you take your cat to the hospital, change the dose of the medication, or change the medication. Your veterinarian will also try to find a solution for your cat before euthanizing your cat.
At the first sign of concern, talking to a veterinarian is not necessarily about euthanasia, but about finding the best treatment for your cat.

Make decision

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Make a list when you are calm. Even if the cat is fine, list the factors that you would find unacceptable if the cat started or stopped displaying these behaviors. The list may include items such as cats no longer grooming themselves, not eating, or regularly soiling carpets and furniture. The list above will make it easier to tell when your cat starts showing these signs. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Find the tipping point. Life is about balance. Sometimes things go smoothly now, other times not, but in the end everything needs to be balanced. The life of cats is not much different from this fact.

An old or sick cat will have good days and bad days, but if the overall balance is positive and the “bad” days have never turned out to be terribly painful then you have a reason to stay alive. for cats. However, there will come a time when the bad will overwhelm the good.
A tipping point can occur when your cat no longer responds to pain medication or you notice a worsening of your cat’s hygiene. Although every cat is different, when the quality of life becomes unacceptable, the tipping point has been reached.
Once the tipping point is reached, euthanasia can be the most humane thing for your cat.

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Try to balance all the factors. The essence of difficult decisions is that they are not clear-cut. In terms of balance, one large factor (like a cat having a stroke) may not be as important as many smaller factors combined (like the cat no longer grooms, starts to get dirty, and loses weight). ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Consider your cat’s quality of life. “Quality of life” is a phrase that is often mentioned in euthanasia for animals. As with physical factors, such as pain, quality of life can be an abstraction that includes factors such as pleasure in a cat’s life. Considering your cat’s quality of life will help you make a humane decision. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Prioritize quality over quantity in life. A useful concept to keep in mind is “quality of life, not quantity of life”. If you decide to keep your cat alive, it’s important to ensure that your cat has a life worth living. If your cat is in constant pain, perhaps a euthanasia is better for her, since her quality of life is nonexistent. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Trust your intuition. Trusting intuition is wise advice in deciding to let your cat go painlessly. You know your pet cat well, and chances are that if you think your cat is suffering, you probably are. No owner wants to say goodbye to their pet, but you need to put your cat’s interests above your feelings. You can sense when it’s time. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Don’t feel guilty because you made the right decision. The first thing you need to remember is that, when you decide to let your cat go peacefully, you are not killing it, nor doing it for God. Such thoughts are of no use at all. In fact, you’ve made a positive decision to save your cat from unnecessary pain, discomfort, and suffering.

Second, it’s better to let your cat go than to do nothing and watch the cat break down. Cat owners often don’t take cat euthanasia lightly, and if the thought of euthanasia comes to your mind, chances are your cat is or is about to suffer.
Finally, remember that cats have given you love and affection throughout their lives, and when their quality of life is gone, it’s not selfish of you to decide to say goodbye and bring them to an end. life properly.

Advice

The occasional cat return to normal is no reason to delay euthanasia for cats that have lost weight, are dirty, and no longer want human company.

Steps

Assess the cat’s physical condition

Consult a veterinarian

Make decision

Advice

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