Old, old cat and incontinence

**spokewench** · 11-25-2008, 01:21 PM

I lost my 17 year old cat three Christmas Eve's ago; and now his brother (who is now 23 years old) has become completely incontinent. I've had him so long and even though he has some arthritis, he still eats good, purrs good and still weighs about 19 pounds. He has been kind of leaky for a while and I have been dealing with it with puddle pads and washing blankets a lot; but now, even though he still tries to go to his box, he just can't control his bladder any longer.

I locked him in the laundry room today with nice warm blankets and a way to get to the garage where his kitty litter box is; but my husband says that he is just confused and unhappy about this change. Hubby was home for a while between a PT visit and going back to work to check on the kitty.

I am having a hard time coming to terms with taking kitty in and putting him to sleep especially since my two brother-in-laws passed away this year within 3 months of each other; and my other cat passed away on Christmas Eve. I just can't deal with putting Big Kitty down on Thanksgiving! But, I'm also about at the end of my rope dealing with the incontinence issue too.

Should I just bite the bullet and take him in to the vet?

**Bluetree** · 11-25-2008, 01:29 PM

Kitty Diapers?

**tulip** · 11-25-2008, 01:35 PM

So sorry to hear about your kitty. I'm probably not the right person to answer because I don't have any pets. But I'll give you my uninformed take on things.

There's life and there's life worth living. Only you can make the call. It's hard to separate what's best for our fuzzy friend and what's best for us. Who knows, but 23 is a good life lived up to now.

I had a cat, Fudge, that I got when I was in the 5th grade. I was 10. She died when I was 30. That's not as old as your cat, but that was most of my life at that point. My brother and father were going to take her to the vet that morning to put her down because she had stopped eating and was no longer functioning properly. When my little brother went to put her in the box, she was gone. Unfortunately, things don't always work out so neatly.

Hugs to you and Big Kitty!

**Biciclista** · 11-25-2008, 01:48 PM

I had a wonderful cat who became incontinent in his old age. he was miserable. I took him to the vet and we gave him medicines, fattened him up but the problem continued. I did have him put to sleep. He would have hated diapers and he found it very frustrated that he couldn't hold his bowels. He was one of the coolest cats I've ever had, but like tulip said, there's life and there's life worth living. I think your cat would feel punished locked up out there. a horrible way to spend his last days on earth.
Lucky for your cat, you have a choice.
good luck.
wow, 23 is OLD!

**Flur** · 11-25-2008, 02:27 PM

I am completely against putting animals down, and would never do it myself.

That said, I agree that spending his last days locked in a laundry room, no matter how many cozy blankets he has, is no way to live. I'm sure that he wants to be with you and he's probably completely embarrassed about his incontinence (most cats would be). If your only two options are putting him down or locking him away, putting him down seems more humane to me.

**Blueberry** · 11-25-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Flur

I am completely against putting animals down, and would never do it myself.

I really hope that you're never in some of the situations I've been in. I wish I could have spared my pup, Cricket, the last few horrific hours of his life. I'll spare everyone the graphic details, but "natural causes" were extremely bloody and painful.

CA

**Irulan** · 11-25-2008, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I really hope that you're never in some of the situations I've been in. I wish I could have spared my pup, Cricket, the last few horrific hours of his life. I'll spare everyone the graphic details, but "natural causes" were extremely bloody and painful.

CA

I'm with CA here. Thanks.

**redrhodie** · 11-25-2008, 03:33 PM

(((sw)))

I totally understand. I'm in the middle of making the same decision. I spoke to my vet today about euthanasia (we're getting close to the end). It's a really hard decision, one you will never be satisfied with, but sometimes, it's the right one.

For dealing with cat urine odor, hydrogen peroxide works great. I'm sure you know this, but I only just figured it out. Also, I have thick, cheap, absorbent bathroom rugs, and a quilt I don't care about, over the sofa for protection. So far, it's worked well.

Good luck. You're lucky to have had him for so long! Trixie is only 16.

**cycling_sarah** · 11-25-2008, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by redrhodie

I totally understand. I'm in the middle of making the same decision. I spoke to my vet today about euthanasia (we're getting close to the end). It's a really hard decision, one you will never be satisfied with, but sometimes, it's the right one.

I'm so sad to read this! I was so hoping things were starting to look better! I'm thinking of you and Trixie and hoping for the best!

**Blueberry** · 11-25-2008, 04:36 PM

My Buff was only 11

She died way before her time

I've been lucky with the animals I've put down (1 cat, 1 ferret), that my vets were wonderful about guiding me when the time was right. And they were right - I just knew looking at my animals on the day it was time. Hard as it is, I'm absolutely positive I made the right decision for both. Gut wrenching, yes. But right. Your animals will tell you.

(((((((redrhodie)))))) (((((((spokewench)))))))

CA

**surgtech1956** · 11-25-2008, 04:55 PM

It is a hard and difficult decision to make. I agree with red you will never be satisfied with, but it will be the right one. We've lost 4 cats over the last 8 years - 2 had to be put down and 2 died in their sleep. Right now my dog(lab mix) is 15 and she's a little shakey on her feet, stumbles and will fall sometimes, her appetite isn't good, I started mixing hot dogs in her dog food. I know the day is coming. We have 7 cats - 18, 16, 8, 8, 8, 3, and 3. Keep us posted.

**badger** · 11-25-2008, 11:21 PM

my neighbour's 18 year old cat is in her final hours/days of her life, and looking at it from a person who doesn't know the cat, I would say she should have been euthanized several days ago.

She's had renal and probably liver failure for some time now. About a week ago she stopped eating, and her limbs aren't functioning anymore. She just wets herself because she can't get up anymore.

But euthanasia is a personal choice; my neighbour is in denial and thinks that her purring is a sign she's "happy". Cats purr when they're in pain or anxious, too.

I'm not sure I believe in knowing the "right time". I struggled a lot with that one with my aged dog. I know that in the end I would never have been able to just drive him to the vet and had him put down. He had a stroke and HAD to be put down, so that decision was made for me. But I don't think I could have said "ok, tomorrow at 11am I'll drive him to the vet to be put down".

So, as much as I can say as an impartial third party, I know when it's your beloved baby, you sometimes can't see the "right time".

As corny as it sounds, you should do what you feel is right. There is truth to "life and life worth living", there isn't much joy or dignity in living a life of pain or failure of bodily functions.

I wish you peace in whatever you decide. Know that you gave kitty a very long life full of love - something so many animals are denied.

**bmccasland** · 11-26-2008, 06:24 AM

((((((((((SP & Big Kitty))))))))))

it's a hard choice, and you need to talk to your vet. If medication can't help, living locked away isn't much of a life either. There are no easy choices.

**makbike** · 11-26-2008, 06:31 AM

You might ask your vet about using medications to control this. It has been a year since I worked in a clinic but I recall a drug (Proin) that was often prescribed for this problem and many owners reported good results.

**spokewench** · 11-26-2008, 10:03 AM

well, here is an update. Big Kitty has settled down with his new circumstances and seems to be doing okay. I am only locking him up while I am away from home and at night. And, he has a kitty door from the laundry room to the garage (where his cat box is) so he can go wander in the garage and there is a window in the garage with a large benchlike area in front of it where he can perch and watch. We have closed the doors to the bedrooms so he cannot get on the beds, but he was quite content to lay in front of the fireplace last night on top of a puddle pad and also on the couch.

Not, such a bad life especially for a cat who just sleeps all day long anyway. So, we will see how things go, but I don't think he feels punished and he seems to be fine. I think he is adapting pretty well; as he used to be a garage kitty for the first 12 years of his life anyway. And, up until three years ago, he was not allowed to get on furniture at all. Yes, he is a very smart trainable cat and never got on furniture when he was not supposed to.

So, I am in a holding pattern to see how things go. If he is in pain or not doing well in other areas, quits eating, etc., this will probably change; but right now, he is doing okay with his change in circumstances.

Thanks everyone for your input. It was nice to hear other people's opinions. I'll keep you posted.

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