Putting down your pet is by far the hardest thing to do as a pet owner. While there is sometimes a gray area as to when is the best time to put down a cat, we have done our best to put together a checklist of the best time to put down a cat.
The key to knowing when to put down a cat is to assess the cat’s quality of life.
When To Put Your Cat Down Checklist?
Below is a checklist for when to put down your cat. In general, you should assess the following categories: mobility, respiratory problems, eating/drinking habits, hygiene, litter box behavior, and happiness.
Mobility
Mobility is one of the main factors in determining if you should put your cat down. If your cat is unable to walk normally, or unable to walk without pain, then this is usually a sign that you may need to put him/her down. This is especially true if your cat’s condition is chronic or unlikely to be healed.
One of the main illnesses that prevent a cat from walking/running normally is arthritis. This is very common in older cats, and their joints and bones slowly start to deteriorate. While there is medication to help with the pain, there is no cure for this condition.
Respiratory problems
Another serious condition to look out for is anything that affects your cat’s respiratory system. Respiratory illness can cause serious problems with your cat’s breathing. If you notice that your cat is having trouble breathing, or is wheezing a lot, you should take them to the vet immediately.
Hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are both common issues that can affect your cats breathing.
If your cat’s condition is unable to improve and he/she continues to have trouble breathing, you should put them down. There is a strong chance that their quality of life is very poor if they cannot properly breathe.
Eating habits
If your cat is not eating enough nutritious food and requires hand-feeding help, then you should try your best to maintain a feeding tube. However, this can be very time intensive, and your cat most likely doesn’t have a high quality of life if they have to be hand fed or fed through a tube.
If your cat starts eating less or completely stops, it can cause a series of health issues. They will rapidly start to lose weight, and they will most likely lose mobility.
Hydration
Similar to eating habits, your cats may need to be put down if they refuse to drink. While a cat can go a couple days without water, they will almost certainly die if they go more than two days without water.
Dehydration affects older cats even more than younger cats, so its especially important to make sure your elder cat gets enough fluids. A death from dehydration is very painful, so it is much better to put your cat down before this happens.
Hygiene
One of your biggest responsibilities as a pet owner is to brush and clean your cat. You should also make proper steps to keep your cat parasite-free, otherwise, it can face various health issues.
Cats also love to groom themselves. If you notice that your cat has completely stopped grooming themselves, it may be a sign that they on their way out. It may be best to euthanize them before their hygiene reaches a nasty level.
Litter Box Problems
Another reason you should put your cat down is if they have issues with the litter box. This usually involves them peeing around the house instead of in the litter box. However, on the flip side your cat could be going to the litter box every few minutes.
While some issues like urinary tract infections can be treated, there are other that are chronic. Litter box problems not only cause your cat to have a low quality of life, but it is also a lot of work for you to clean up.
If your older cat is unable to improve their litter box behavior, it might be time to put them down.
Happiness
Last but not least, a perfectly healthy cat should express joy and interest. It should also be responsive to her surroundings including family, toys, etc. Some signs of a happy cat include purring and moving around a lot.
If you observe that your cat is depressed or anxious, there is a good chance they have a low quality of life. This means that you might need to put them down, especially if they are not enjoying life.
Conclusion: It Is About More Bad Days Than Good
Putting down is a very hard decision, especially when there is a lot of gray area in terms of your cat’s health and quality of life. The most important thing is to consult with a doctor and see if your cat’s medical conditions can be healed.
If your cat’s conditions are chronic and cannot be healed, there is a good chance you should put down your cat. I hope this checklist helped!