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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

AIBU to want the cat put down?

112 replies

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:28

:(

he is 18.

He has started to leave nuggets of poo about the place.He did do this about 18 months ago but I changed their diet and it stopped. It's started again.
I did a 'big clean' yesterday and but the baby found one and put it in her mouth this morning. :(
This has been my worst fear about him :(

We had to take him to the vet yesterday as he has something wrong with his mouth.

Today I want to take him back there and not let him come back. In general he has stopped grooming himself, I have to brush him. Also he seems a bit vacant. I know I am reacting to the poo thing but it was IN HER MOUTH.

OP posts:

Report

yellowraincoat · 04/08/2012 09:30

I can understand your distress about the baby putting cat poo in her mouth, but I think you would be wholly unreasonable to get a cat put down just because it's no longer convenient for your lifestyle.

StewieGriffinsMom · 04/08/2012 09:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:35

I have asked for it to be moved.

How can I change my lifestyle/ circumstances to accommodate the cat and keep the baby safe?

OP posts:

Samvet · 04/08/2012 09:36

Ask for this to be moved unless you like a pasting. You need to discuss this with the vet. Lack of grooming often associated with arthritis so he needs treatment for this. Has his blood pressure been checked? This can cause 'senility'. Does he have several easy to access, low sided litter trays?
There is a lot that can be done to help older cats, being old is not a disease. Plus shut cat put of lounge for example at night so you know no poo in there and be more vigilant to look for the poo. Make sure he has comfy beds that are easy to get to (stools etc to help climbing up). Yes you can have him put to sleep, make your life easier, do you really want to be that person?

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:36

Zyclene is like Feliway?

I don't think that will help. He's not pooing on purpose, it's falling out of him [sorry for TMI]

OP posts:

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:37

he was at the vet yesterday. I will ask DH what else they checked.

OP posts:

Samvet · 04/08/2012 09:37

Dropping bits of poo often sign of arthritis too. He sounds like he needs some metacam (painkiller) ask your vet about this.
See the feline advisory bureau website (fabcats.org) and cats protection websites for tips.
If your vets can't measure blood pressure or won't prescribe metacam change gets.

Samvet · 04/08/2012 09:38

Some vets are crap with cats full stop, let alone old cats!

Samvet · 04/08/2012 09:43

www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/index.php
This will help I think. Sorry cant do link thing.

vess · 04/08/2012 09:44

Yanbu. Sounds like he hasn't got a lot to live.
All depends on how you and other family members feel about it.

Icelollycraving · 04/08/2012 09:45

I posted something similar when pregnant & got flamed. My cat was very ill for months & had kidney failure & did have to be put to sleep in the end. It was very distressing.

LaurieFairyCake · 04/08/2012 09:46

It sounds like things need to change for you.

I sympathise massively, I have 3 elderly cats and one elderly dog - they have all developed serious issues in the last few weeks and we have the remainder of the summer to sort them out - or they will be getting pts.

They are all getting miserable because of their issues and they don't like the changes implemented (litter trays:exclusion from areas:new food) - all designed to support their lives. At some point it's going to get too much for them and us.

I cleaned up sick/poo/ - 8 times yesterday - and the (tiny) house we live in reeks and I'm going to need to spend today cleaning and getting a new cat flap as they actually broke the one we have in desperation to get in.

Try some things - vets, exclusion areas, litter trays, making a comfortable bed outside the house.

Him getting 'vacant' suggests he has something more serious so he may not have long anyway :(

Samvet · 04/08/2012 09:50

A comfortable bed 'outside the house'- really? You want an 18 year old cat to sleep outside?

LaurieFairyCake · 04/08/2012 09:52

Yes, it depends on your set up really - we have a couple of small outbuildings that could be made comfortable but a house that's very open plan and difficult to exclude them from.

I've no idea what the OP's house is like so its just finding what works for her really.

Rhubarbgarden · 04/08/2012 09:54

I wish people wouldn't get pets if they aren't willing to give them the care and attention they need in their old age. If you have derived any joy from your cat through the last 18 years then please have the decency to not abandon her now that she needs a bit more attention.

Lucyellensmum99 · 04/08/2012 09:55

There may be a reason for his incontinence, have you had this checked out? well, its probably his age 18 is a fantastic age for a cat. Could you maybe restrict the cat to one part of the house that your baby doesn't use? I'd be grossed out by the poo, keeping him wormed should minimise any risks.

I do understand where you are coming from, but making a decision to have a pet put to sleep is difficult enough as it is, and even when you have made the decision solely for the pets welfare there is, for me at least, a feeling of guilt (unreasonable of course) but if you make the decision based on what is best for you, afterwards you are going to feel terrible. You might not think so, but you will, i promise you.

He sounds like a poorly old cat, you have had him 18 years, keep him pain free and comfortable, you owe him that much. If he is in pain or ill, then yes, absolutely have him put to sleep.

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:57

He has to go to the vet for a check up on Thursday. I will take him. I want them to address the arthritis if that's what it is. A few years ago he had steroids and that did seem to help him in general. Maybe he needs to go back on them.

I am calming down a bit now.

laurie I have 2 indoor cats and one that chooses to live outside. The other indoor one is only 9, so I don't have to deal with them all getting problems at once. It's awful to deal with :(

OP posts:

Lucyellensmum99 · 04/08/2012 09:57

He was at the vets yesterday? you don't know what happened? did you not get this checked out??

cozietoesie · 04/08/2012 09:59

I had exactly the same thing with my old boy. He was (I think) trying to hold it in because it was painful to do his high squat in his tray but eventually it couldn't be contained - and then we would get vomiting; as much as anything because it wasn't leaving the other end.

Vet thought it likely that he had some arthritis given his age and prescribed a very gentle laxative/bulker sort of thing (twice daily) and an anti-inflammatory (once daily). End of problems. He's pooing regularly and happily in his tray, sickness has pretty well stopped (any cat will likely have the very occasional one), he's grooming places he possibly couldn't reach before because I haven't seen him do them for a while - and generally perkier, happier and dashing about the house.

4LoathesomeBrats · 04/08/2012 10:01

I totally don't care if you put cat down or not, but I think it would be a little U. Can you confine cat to certain areas of the house for now? What did vet say yesterday, your DH did explain all his problems to the vet, and what you feel is most urgent to sort out?

I have found various sorts of pet poo in baby's mouths, and even more disgusting things imo, no harm done. Babies really aren't that fragile. I mean you do sort it out & try to prevent, but it's not so horrendous as to prevent at all costs.

4LoathesomeBrats · 04/08/2012 10:02

If her DH is like mine he left out half the problems when talking to vet yesterday .

yellowraincoat · 04/08/2012 10:02

4LoathesomeBrats it is really dangerous for kids to put poo in their mouths, especially cat poo because of the risk of toxoplasmosis.

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NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 10:03

I have no room to 'exclude' him to.

I will keep him outside as much as possible while it is warm and dry, he sleeps outside in the sunny patch so I can keep an eye on him.

He is an affectionate cat. I don't hate him. I can't risk my baby :(

OP posts:

sancerreity · 04/08/2012 10:04

Get it put down.Its an animal not a person.Youir baby is your priority.

yellowraincoat · 04/08/2012 10:04

OP, it sort of sounds like you've made up your mind and now you want everyone to say "oh yes, that would be fine" so you don't feel as bad.

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