How do cats die of old age? What are the signs of decline or pain?

The signs of death can vary greatly from pet to pet. Often they will stop eating or drinking (and if you do not plan to treat, it can be uncomfortable for them if you force food or water since their body is shutting down). They will become profoundly lethargic. They may vocalize more or find a hiding place. I would not say hyperthyroidism itself is painful, but the side effects of it can be quite uncomfortable. Imagine eating everything in sight and still being hungry. Constant vomiting or diarrhea. No energy to do anything. There are medications your doctor can prescribe to treat hyperthyroidism. If you cannot afford topical or oral medications or a prescription food (like Hill's y/d), then you should watch Callie closely for signs of discomfort, and schedule time to talk with your vet about humane euthanasia so that she is not forced to suffer the consequences of her disease. I know that will be a very hard decision. Here is some more information you may find helpful: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=516 http://www.lapoflove.com/diseases/feline/Hyperthyroidism_in_Cats.pdf

Hello and I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your kitty. It is so heart breaking to lose them. Without an autopsy, one can't be certain, but most often in a cat without any other clinical signs, it's usually a bad heart that will cause sudden death. One of the most most common heart diseases in cats is called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. It often has no symptoms. It is often not detectable on a physical exam. Sometimes there will be fluid in the lungs from congestion in the lungs that can leak out after passing. I hope this helps to provide some closure and with time, I hope your heart heals. My condolences, Dr. Elizabeth

I'm so sorry you suddenly lost your cat! Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain what caused her to pass away, but I can make some guesses. In senior cats, cancer is common, and because our animals can't tell us what is going on with them, oftentimes we find that they are suffering from cancer but we don't know it until it's too late. It could be possible that your kitty had cancer, and it ultimately took her life. She could have also been suffering from kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or other organ failure. I hope my guesses may give you some peace of mind, and again I'm sorry for your loss :-(

If 22 years of age is accurate, that is definitely very old. While cats can live considerably longer than dogs, that is still pretty far past the average lifespan. That being said, I would still advocate taking her into the vet to be examined to see if anything can be done to either make her more comfortable, or to offer you some information as to her quality of life moving forward. Some of the most common issues we see in older cats include kidney disease, thyroid disease, lymphoma (particularly of the gastrointestinal tract), and liver problems. Some of these are addressed with medication while others are far less treatable. I certainly wouldn't advocate just letting her go at home. If anything, if they feel she is in pain then they can make her transition much more peaceful. Hope this makes sense.

Poor Oscar, I suspect he might be suffering with kidney disease. This is a common cause for increase thirst and urination in elderly cars. In order to stop progression of kidney disease you should not give him metacam anymore and opt to have a different form of pain relief. It is hard to answer your question, in a way his body is shutting down but it might take a week to get worse and another 3-5days for him to go. During those 5 days he will not eat, he will probably vomit and be in pain as not allowed to have/not taking his medications. My suggestion is to try to do something with your vet to help him feel better and if he should continue to deteriorate, not eat /drink a lot then let him go peacefully. Hope this makes sense, sending you positive thoughts

Not necessarily. Senior cats do get several treatable aging diseases like hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, and heart abnormalities. With treatment they can improve and continue to live a comfortable life. I recommend a senior workout to determine if there is a treatable problem. She could also have cancer or a more serious medical condition that there is no treatment for. You’ll know more after an exam and blood work. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

These signs are probably not due to old age alone and there is likely something going on with Shadoe. Unfortunately, without a full physical exam and diagnostic testing, it is not possible to determine what could be causing these signs. However, lethargy and eating and drinking very little along with weight loss are very concerning signs that warrant a visit to the veterinarian. Here are some resources that will hopefully help you afford a vet for Shadoe: 1) You can see if your vet accepts payment plans. 2) Look for a low cost clinic in your area 3) Try to apply for Care Credit online (www.carecredit.com) 4) There is an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants (redrover.org) 5) Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website (bestfriends.org)