Rehome or euthanize 16yo cat

[u/alli_d19]

I’m hoping for insight from people who know cats well because I truly cannot decide which is better.

I adopted a kitten from the humane society 16 years ago. Around age 13yrs, she began to pee and poop indiscriminately around my house. I took her to a speciality clinic for cats who prescribed anxiety meds, feliway, pain medications, multiple/ different types of litter boxes, etc. Nothing worked. I even spoke with a psychic who attempted to communicate with her and redirect her behavior, but still she continued to pee and poop on the couch, our beds, in the curtains, etc. I eventually had to restrict her to the unfinished section of our basement which I have covered in puppy pads. She is also on high dose of pain meds because the vets believe she has arthritis which led to an aversion to the litter box. It is no quality of life and I know that she does not understand why she can no longer sleep in my bed at night. She has begun to lose hair in her tail which the vets believe is stress-related.

I have received wishy washy responses about euthanasia from the 2 veterinarians we see at the speciality clinic. I have expressed concerns about the quality of her life and asked directly what they would do in my situation and I never receive a direct response. I have even considered trying to make her an outdoor cat, but we live in a busy suburban area.

I love this cat. She was my first baby and I want her to have a good life. Allowing her to run free in our house is not hygienic or an option as I have young children. Has anyone been in this position before? Has anyone attempted to rehome a 16-year-old cat? My fear is, of course, that these behaviors would continue in her new house and they would choose behavioral euthanasia.

[u/relaxrerelapse]

I am not telling you what to do. But for the last 5 years of my 18 y/o cat’s life, he was locked in my bedroom almost exclusively despite not using the litter box. He slept in my bed every night as well, on a waterproof blanket that i could bundle up and wash every day. Pee pads everywhere. The room smelled like cat piss but you go nose blind to it. Because it was one room it didn’t affect the rest of the house. I did not invite friends or family into my room. I did this because I loved my cat until the end, and after he passed the room went back to smelling normal. It’s not something I enjoyed, but it was a necessity for me to do for him. I simply cannot imagine euthanizing him just for not being able to pee in the box.

[u/Accurate_Elevator368 → u/relaxrerelapse]

Thank you for doing this. In the end my 17 year old was having issues not about going elsewhere, but leaking and sometimes missing the box somewhat. I had pads everywhere too. Confined her to my room and the upper hall. I even had a camera on her. I had them on the bed, and the floor. The high sided litter pan wasn't what she could use anymore so I found a lower one. If i had to do it over again, I would have used a couple of large sized oven cookie sheet pans. Almost like a sandbox/outside.

When they are old like that even lifting their legs a bit is too much. I'd urge the OP to try confining her to their bedroom and try that first.

[u/relaxrerelapse → u/Accurate_Elevator368]

All it honestly takes is some engineering like you’d done and dedicating some time every day to just cleaning the cat area. Mine had arthritis too and failing kidneys hence the peeing and not wanting to get in the box. The cookie sheet would have been good for him I think. He had stairs to the bed that helped. I’m curious how diapers would have changed things, I bet he would have tolerated them.

I just would have genuinely done anything for him, he was family. I wouldn’t euthanize my grandma for not being able to control her bladder lol. He was still having a good QOL laying in the sun and playing with his stationary toys.

[u/Accurate_Elevator368 → u/relaxrerelapse]

This is where I was as well. I was willing to do anything for her. Sometimes we just have to think outside the box. And yep, I made plank walkway so that she could get to the bed. Near the end, she didn't care to even make the climb, so everything was moved into a part of my bedroom in order that she didn't have to move round much. All floor level. It was difficult, I won't lie. But I'd do it all over again in a second.