I need specific/detailed advice, please.

[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}}}

[Pinot's Mom]

WOW - this is a tough thread!!

I agree, Taz will tell you. Jamara was 18 when we had her PTS in 2002. She had Oral Squalmous Cell Carcinoma, although we didn't have a name for it at the time, we just knew there was a large cancerous growth in her jaw. She could not eat or drink; we spoon fed her blended food as long as we could, but in the end we couldn't even get that down her. She had lost two pounds and was so weak. The last morning (Martin Luther King Day) - we all knew. When she went, the vet said, "she was weaker than we thought, she went so quickly". It was time; she said good bye to us with her eyes.

You'll know. Watch the eyes - prayers for knowing the signs!

[GILL]

They know when it's time. Out Chocolate was sitting by their food on the cradenza and she called me from the TV room. I went and she just sat and purred with me petting. After about 10 minutes she swatted me to tell me to go. 15 minutes later I went to check her and she was gone. I believe that she just wanted to say goodby.

[kitten645]

Cindy, I'm so sorry you are going thru this heartache. And I know it is exactly that. You feel like your heart is being ripped out of your chest. I believe that animals are wiser than people when it comes to many things. Life and death included. I think Taz will know when it's time and I think he'll tell you. Just release that decision to the Universe and it will play out as it should. I'll PM you too.
Love,
Claudia, Calvin & Hobbes

[Taz_Zoee]

Thank you so much Claudia.

This morning I was playing with Paizly with a string on a wand toy. Taz was about 3 feet away and I saw him watching the string. I flopped the string in front of him and he "ran" up and grabbed it. Then he just sat down with the string under his paw and wouldn't move. He didn't play with it, but he wouldn't let it go. It was so funny!! He finally let go and I continued playing with Paizly. I wiggled the string in front of Taz again and he patted at it a little more, then it was like he was just too tired to play. So he just laid down and watched Paizly play.
Oh, another thing is he doesn't growl and throw a fit at Paizly anymore. I think he's just too exhausted to mess with it.

He did some things he hasn't done in a long time this morning. He was right outside the bathroom door when I came out, and he stayed in the room with me while I did my daily stretches. I opened the sliding glass door a little for him to get some air (the screen door is broken). Good thing I was watching him because he slipped his head out!! So I had to only open it about 1 inch.

We go to the vet tonight to see what she thinks. I don't want to give him oral meds anymore. I can handle the fluids. Although, Bruce is getting tired of helping me, but he will.
I just feel like I'm prolonging his life when he'd be better off at the bridge. Then he does stuff like he did this morning and I feel differently. But what kind of life is being so weak and getting poked every other day? He is not really eating anything. He eats a teeny bit and usually only the tuna I give him after meds as a treat. I'll discuss my options tonight. Oh, I also don't want to schedule the appointment for his trip. I'd rather it be an unexpected last minute type thing.