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[Robot Parade Leader]

My cat is about 17 years old.

She's the best behaved and best pet we've ever had, and she's in my bed with me right now. She sleeps with me every night.

Her only real problem is that she's throwing up a lot (every day in the mornings). It's just her food, and some hair. There's nothing discolored about it. This, of course, has lead her to lose weight.

I think my parents may be jumping the gun, especially because it's just my mom pushing for it and she's often unreasonable. I don't think the cat is in any pain. Sure she's old but you don't just throw things away when they become inconvenient. Then again, it might be my emotional response, but they haven't had a death sentence from the vet yet .... Last time they took her to the vet it was just because she was scratching too much and she got a cortisol shot. I don't think they've even brought up the puking thing.

I've done the simple google search stuff, but I don't know. It's hard to get things across on this one, or for me to explain it.

Does anybody have any experience with something similar? Thank you.

[Octobomb]

I've had two cats put down. We hung on to both as long as we possibly could. One spent his last years incredibly thin because of a hyperactive thyroid and desires not to eat. The produced almost liquid ... waste for her last years. It was awful, but we put neither down before their time and I regret nothing. Go see a vet, perhaps. But don't let the cat go before her time. Even if you have to clean up the vomit and feed her extra yourself, when her time does come you will not regret it. I'd be crying now if it weren't for the fact there is currently a cat restricting my airflow.

[Orange Wizard]

Indeed. It's best to check with a vet before you jump to any conclusions.

[martinuzz]

17 years is a somewhat respectable age for a cat, but by far not really old yet., unless it's some genetically defunct thouroughbred. My dad's cat died at age 31. Hunted and roamed outside till age 30.
Throwing up, and some hairs does not sound at all like a reason to put it down. At least not without a vet agreeing on it. Throwing up hairballs every once in a while is quite normal behaviour, moreso if there's a season change and the cat is changing fur (cats change coat twice a year, at least in countires that have distinct summer and winter). If it keeps doing it every day though, it is something to report to the vet and have a look at. But put down? Geesh no. Ask your mom if she is okay with you putting her down as soon as she gets the first signs of elderly inconvenience.

[LordBucket]

Does anybody have any experience with something similar?

In my experience, cats know when they're going to die, and take care of it themselves. They find an out of the way place where they expect that you won't find the body and then they die. I've lived with half a dozen different cats. Not one of them has ever died inside the house. They just disappear one day, maybe you wonder how or why or if a coyote ate them, and then maybe you find the body completely uneaten half a block down the street in the bushes. Or maybe you don't.

If your cat is ready to die, she'll take care of it herself. There's no need to push her.

[LordBucket]

17 years is a somewhat respectable age for a cat, but by far not really old yet., unless it's some genetically defunct thouroughbred.

I've known a couple cats who made it to 19-20, but 14-17 seems to be more common. Depends on the breed, I think. Calicos don't usually seem to live as long as most others I've known, for instance.

My dad's cat died at age 31. Hunted and roamed outside till age 30.

Contact Guinness.


Anyway, OP: by all means, talk to a vet like others are suggesting. Talk to your cat, even. Animals are smarter than people sometimes give them credit for. Don't let them kill her unless you're sure it's what she wants.

[Darkmere]

Yeah can I +1 the suggestion to tell your mother you'll put her down if she gets sick after 70?

I'm only half-joking. Agree with the others, take you cat to the vet and let someone who actually trained for this give you an opinion.

[Robot Parade Leader]

Thank you all so much. This whole thing is kind of a nightmare.

Dad has agreed that the cat will certainly see the vet.

Currently, the cat sleeps on my bed most of the time, so she's not isolating herself, and she will sometimes sit on my lap when I'm in the chair in my room. She pulls that bit where she paws me for attention, etc. We had another cat try to isolate itself years ago; that one hid behind the drier in the end (thankfully an isolated experience that hopefully won't repeat). Point being, this one is doing fine and sleeps with me every night.

My mom and dad want to limit the amount of food the cat is given because she keeps throwing up. As a result she's lost weight.... I get that they don't want to just give her more if she's going to puke it back up, but that weight loss.... [sigh]. Counterproductive? My dad has also said he thinks the cat is "choking" because he heard her make sounds when she was throwing up. I'm betting this was merely that not so nice sound cats always make when they cough up a furball/throw up.

The cat is being more attentive to me lately for some reason. She didn't always lay on my bed all the time, but I am the one feeding her so.... She seems sick for sure, but near death? I don't know and I hope not.

Mom is primarily upset with the fact that the cat pukes. Additionally the cat won't eat food unless it is "freshly placed" in he bowl. I imagine it's the smell. Mom started feeding her some kind of "natural" cat food for senior cats. Who knows what that really is....

[Darkmere]

Only eating "fresh" food is a cat thing. When they get hungry, they'll eat the rest, don't fret over it.

[LordBucket]

The cat is being more attentive to me lately for some reason.

You're the one standing between her and being murdered.

Like I said, animals are smarter than people give them credit for.

[Robot Parade Leader]

Yeah....

I'm afraid she does know something is wrong with her though. She's having quite a time keeping food down.

[Bumber]

My dad's cat died at age 31. Hunted and roamed outside till age 30.

Contact Guinness.

The link says 38 years and 3 days is the record for dead cats.

[LordBucket]

The link says 38 years and 3 days is the record for dead cats.

...ahh. I misread it. Ok.

[martinuzz]

Good thing your dad decided to take it to the vet. If it's losing weight, then indeed something is not quite right. Unless your mom *really* gives it too little food.
I hope the vet can fix her up mate. She might just have some kind of cat stomach flu, or Feline Parvo Virus (although that mostly infects kittens, adults are less susceptible).
Let us know what happened.

EDIT: on the topic of cat losing weight: most housecats are too fat. To stay healthy, cats need to be somewhat lean, and muscular, not chubby.

[Robot Parade Leader]

Thank you for your help and concern.

So far they've piped down about putting the cat out of its misery (I don't see any misery), but have yet to schedule a vet appointment for her.... I'm hoping that happens soon.

Additionally, they have insisted on feeding her VERY small amounts of cat food so she, in their minds, is less likely to throw up. The cat does not enjoy this one bit and she's constantly meowing for more food. I guess we'll see if this approach works tomorrow morning, but yeah....

I want to feed my skinny cat MORE, but it seems she can't keep it down? Hum.