I need specific/detailed advice, please.

[Reachoutrescue]

I am just reading this now. I am so sorry you and sweet Taz are going through this. Please know that you both are in my prayers.

As everybody said before me, you will just know. There are no straight answers when it comes to these kind of things...you just know.

With our rescue girl, Lady (the staffie mix), we tried everything and nothing worked. When I went to the vet that sad day to see her....her eyes told me to help her go "home".

That is our job as "owners", "meowmies", and "protectors" - to help them be happy, safe, healthy, and free of all ailments and pain. Even if it means letting them go and holding their paw while they cross over to that wonderful Rainbow Bridge. It is the least we can do in turn for all the love and devotion they give to us every single day of their much too short lives.

Good luck and try to stay strong. We love you Taz and will keep you in our prayers.

[Barbara]

I cannot be of much help. End of last year Filou had an infection on top of his renal failure and I was afraid his time would have come.
He refused to eat, hid quietly in places and I could see he had problems walking and jumping (jumping is an important thing for Abys).
We went into handfeeding whatever he liked and making sure he got at least 100 calories per day (egg yolk, ground beef, cream, goose fat...).
Then on top he got diarrhea (maybe too much fat) so the vet said not to feed him 12 hrs, then after it came back, a full day. He was down to 2600 g and I remember I wrote all my Christmas cards saying that that may be his last X-mas.
After the diarrhea stopped and the infection was treated he came back into the world. He is eating now and we have him at 2900 g. He walks much better and jumps again (although not so high than when he was young- but so do I ). He is definitely feeling well.
The vet has stopped to check his levels- we all know they will be over the top and she says she never saw a kitty survive that long on such high levels. But as she is a friend she sees him also privately in our house and she agrees: he is ok.
So I cannot say whether Taz' time has come- he may get over it and that's what I wish for you.

[Medusa]

I think that what made it more difficult for me was that I was reading things into the situation, trying to read Puddy's mind. Just when I'd had myself convinced that her quality of life was gone and that I'd need to help her make her trip to the Bridge, then I'd change my mind and think to myself "Ok, I wouldn't like to spend all my time alone and in the bathroom yet but how do I know that Puddy doesn't like it? Cats aren't people and their likes and dislikes are different from ours". Worse yet, just like Taz, Puddy would go up and down. She wanted to be alone and I'd be at my computer bawling when suddenly she'd come downstairs. Just for a few minutes but enough to give me hope. It's as if she was saying "Don't give up on me, Mom" but yet, that's what I wanted to believe she was thinking.

Puddy's situation was similar to Taz's but different because of her senility. I was waiting for the meds to kick in that were supposed to help w/that and when Lara (Emeraldgreen) suggested that I try injecting the B vitamins in her subq bag and Puddy became her hold self again, then I didn't know what to think! However, that lasted for only 2 days and then she was gone. Her breathing became labored and THAT'S when I knew that it was time. As it turned out, though, true to form, Puddy went on her own w/out any help from me or Dr. Lee.

I've had other times when the situation was cut and dried and there was no doubt what needed to be done. I would love to be able to say "Here's when you should do it" because I wanted someone to say that to me, too, but all I heard was "You'll know". So, unfortunately, all I can say to you is the same. "You'll know". That and keep the faythe.

[Taz_Zoee]

Darn it, I should have known not to read this while I'm at work.

Filou gives me hope, but unfortunately I don't think Taz will be as lucky. He just looks horrible.

This morning he didn't meet me in the hall. But I went to him on the bed in the spare room and he came out to eat. Although he didn't eat anything. So I gave him his Maalox then some tuna and he ate the tuna. Then I went into the kitchen later and he was chasing something on the floor. I'm not sure if it was a fuzzball or a bug, but it made me so happy!!
So, I think I'm getting a better idea of what signs will tell me it's time. And I owe a HUGE thank you to each and every one of you for your kind words and support.

[catmandu]

Thats something thats hard to answer in a specific way, as it depends on your Cat.
I am facing that question with Juke Joint Joseph whos 16 , is now under 7 pounds and has to have his food blended.
I made a mistake with Precious as I kept her too long and she was so weak that she passed on on the way to our Vets.
Only Smokey and Bo Bo passed away cleanly , sadly its up to us to help Our Cats cross over.
We are sending Our Prayers for Taz that you can be togetrher for as long as possible.

[Freedom]

My heart felt sympathies struggling with this. I smiled when you ended with "I wan a CLEAR answer!" I know I felt that way too, each time this situation arose. And deep down, we know that if there were a CLEAR answer, well, threads like this wouldn't get started!

Be sure to ask the vet lots of questions, get the medical side of the situation. What are the possibilities, probabilities. You need input from all angles to help make a decision to go on or not to go on.

Seeing Taz playing this morning, aw, now THAT brought tears to MY eyes!

[slick]

Each time I wondered "should I try just one more thing"? but the answer was usually in their eyes. PLEASE, let me go.

I have to totally agree with this. With Speckles, she was 18 1/2. Her body had shut down, she stopped eating and just laid there in the spare room on the floor all day and night. Finally, I looked into her eyes and they spoke volumes. "I'm ready to go Mom." The vet was scheduled to come to my house at about 6:30 that evening and I told her as she laid on my chest "If you want to go before Dr. Singh gets here, it's OK."

It's hard to put it into words, but you'll just know.

{{{hugs}}}