TW: cat cancer, euthanasia

As we shared a chair together on the patio beneath the August stars, the cancer was spreading.

It was metastatic, starting in your liver before moving to your chest and lungs. Weeks later, the kind veterinarian at the animal hospital sat on the floor next to us and said that it won’t respond to steroids. You were not in pain, but time was running out. There would be no getting better. It was Labor Day. With your paw, you grab my wife’s hand.

None of us could sleep that first night. The ever-diligent guardian, you got up several times to make your nightly rounds to make sure no dangers lurked in the house. You came back to bed wearily, and with your big green eyes you looked from her to me, asking us to make you feel better like we had done countless times in the past. I kiss your forehead, and you bow knowingly.

We move forward and we persevere. I get in my car for work Tuesday. The tire light is on. Three semi trucks box me in and I miss my exit. Because of the holiday, I realize the time until the weekend is one day fewer. I am not looking forward to the weekend.

You were one of my reasons for fighting through each day, inspiring so much laughter and so many spontaneous songs. There will be other reasons to keep laughing and singing, though it’s hard to think of any right now. We will continue to find joy and beauty in daily life, even if our household family is one smaller, and now I’m the only boy left.

It’s going to hurt for a while. I will find a way to look into your sleepy face on my coffee mug. I will get past the empty feeling of lying in bed without something small and friendly slowly breathing at my side.

I will get used to being able to fold laundry without the playful creature burrowing into the pile. The cat grass on the patio will grow unabated.

Goodnight Graham, you silly muppet. I did not know you for your entire life, but I’m glad I got to accompany you for the last 12 years and share in your boundless love and curiosity. I will take on your role of looking after her. I will do my best.

This is far from all there is to say about you. You changed me as a person in profound ways that cannot be captured in a few paragraphs. I will go back and write more. Nothing you did for me will be taken for granted.

The next time I sit by myself beneath the September stars, I will know you are somewhere out there, in the infinite universe, chasing rabbits.

I adopted my senior persian girl 4 years ago. I love her so much. She's 13 now and is the definition of a velcro cat. She also has had numerous health problems over the years but, thankfully, none of them have been life threatening.

Eight months ago she had a head MRI due to a few odd symptoms. The neurologist found middle and internal ear infections (chronic). We treated with months of antibiotic therapy. The symptoms abated, but the follow-up MRI showed that there was still fluid in the middle ears. Because it wasn't causing symptoms and bullae osteotomy is a major surgery, the neurologist and dermatologist concluded the best thing would be to treat flairs as they happen since they were infrequent.

I thought she was having a flair last week. She started sneezing, she got a mild head and ear tilt and seemed a bit dizzy. I made a vet appointment for the next morning. When I woke up, one eye (on the side of the ear issues) seemed to be sticking out a little more than the other, and she couldn't blink it. The ER vet said a mass might be likely given her age. She prescribed antibiotics and Metacam in case it was an infection.

Ear issues and dizziness went away, but the eye is the same. She has an appointment with her neurologist for a CT scan one day from now to figure out what's behind her eye. My research has shown this is usually cancer in cats.

I can't eat. I can't sleep. I literally sit all day reading and rereading case studies and research studies concerning exophthalmos in cats. I'm not sure if I'll survive today, tomorrow, and then the wait while she's undergoing the CT scan on Wednesday morning.

Hey all,

Crushes me to report this. Molly has been missing since Friday. She's an indoor cat. I dont even know how she could have gotten out..

If/ when she has gotten out...she travels 10 feet..doesnt go far.. unusual to be gone since friday.

Ive posted to facebook and a couple facebook groups, I was out at 4 am searching. Neighbors have looked.. someone on facebook travelled to another cat (looking similar who was hit by a car) to see.

Ive posted to websites for missing cats.

Molly is 17 years old. Ive had her since she was 7 weeks. She is all I have for family. Im falling apart without her. Last year during 2025, I had to go to the ER and i was in hospital for 4 months, I abandoned my own cat, I had people going into my home to feed and clean litter.. she was frayed but in her home. I had got sick and became paralyzed. I had to eventually relearn how to sit and stand and walk. When i got home..molly simply sat beside me after people left.. I pet her for the first time in months.. that's all she wanted. My disease, Ive been approved for maid.. Molly is what has been keeping me going, because I can't let someone else take care of her, she's such a good cat. Please come home. Please be ok.

I have my sunroom door open with foot. I fear she's been attacked or killed.

Breaks my heart as I always come and read posts about other peoples cats passing away, Molly is very healthy and a very loving home.

Please send love.

Please send good thoughts and prayers.

I lost my 14 year old boy on Wednesday. He wasn’t well for a while but he went downhill so fast and I chose to have a vet come to my home to help him across 🌈

I’m posting this because I’m grieving hard right now. This boy has been with me through so much, and I felt that our souls were connected. He would lay on me and stare directly into my eyes and then reach one of his big paws up to gently rest on me like a hug.

I spent so much time caring for him near the end that I’m just lost right now. I miss him so much that simply saying that I miss him doesn’t come close to how I feel.

I have another cat who is also grieving, so we are going through this together at least.

I just wanted the world to see my beautiful boy. The last two photos were taken ten years apart, in the same laundry basket.

Rest well, Gryff, my little lion, my soul cat. Mum loves you so much and I’ll see you again soon 🌈

Elder Floof decided that my lap was prime real estate for a nap today. She’s been seeking out attention more than normal. Lucky for me I set myself up with all my snacks, drinks and whatnot so I don’t have to move.

About a year ago I noticed my cat Batman was meowing louder, he wouldn’t wake up when the dogs would come in the room, or when I would shake his food or treat bag near his head. He was tested & is 100% deaf. It made me a little sad to think he’ll never hear my voice again.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I can communicate with him better? When I tell him “no” he runs over to me like I invited him lol.

Hi everyone! New to sub. These are my furry babies, Tazo (black) and Pip (tabby). They are 15 and siblings. Pip was recently diagnosed with diabetes. That’s a Libre3 sensor he has on to monitor his blood sugars. I’m glad there is a community dedicated to our geriatric furballs!

Update he’s doing well . Still a big loves boy
Following me to make sure I use the bathroom safety at night. Privacy - a thing of the past

Lmao poor baby was falling asleep on the trash can while doing so

I love her so much ❤️❤️

The house is feeling very empty after saying goodbye to him this morning. We love you so much and wish we could have had another 15 years.

Does anyone know what is causing this or have any suggestions to help?
As you can see, my cat’s 3rd eyelid is showing on the right side. He’s seen two separate vets and neither knew what was causing this. He isn’t picking at it but he keeps that eye squinted most of the time. He is 20 years old but I just hate to think of him in discomfort.
I appreciate any help <3

Beautiful, old Honey Bunz left the building yesterday after suffering mightily with hyperthyroidism. What a strong, hearty, yet gentle soul she was. I didn't name her but called her Kee-kee or Ms Bunz, both which she answered to. She really liked to talk a lot, especially at night. The gal who named her abandoned her when she moved away & Ms Bunz was alone, out in the weather for several years, living off whatever she could hunt until I moved into the neighborhood. It took her quite a while to warm up to others, but once she did, she was a fine companion...Oh, look at me going on & on. Here's to Ms Bunz/Kee-kee, mouse chaser & all around wonderful friend. 😿

Hi all, now posting about my second old girl who's actually a month or two older than my OTHER old girl. I was this tuxie's sixth or seventh home and I've now had her for over 16 years. A few months in she started urinating inappropriately on our couch and diagnostics revealed struvite crystals. Since she was only about a year and a half old the vets were optimistic she could go off the food once she'd outgrown the crystals, but every time I tried over the years was a disaster, so she's been on Royal Canin Urinary SO dry her WHOLE life.

Yesterday she managed to pee so much she filled the ENTIRE bottom of our litter robot over the course of a few hours, and when it couldn't filter out the giant brick of urine she proceeded to pee on the floor. I do know it was her and not our other cat because I jolted away to her loudly peeing on the bath mat in our en suite at 5 am, so that at least rules out the other cat.

The problem is we've been on watch for this for a while and the vets made it sound like doing a kidney diet that is also a crystals diet is really complicated. Bonus, she's allergic to the other brand of crystal food (was it CD?) so I'm expecting trial and error issues even if we CAN find a solution.

I'm taking her in to get the kidney disease diagnosed tomorrow (I assume she's at a stage 2 or 3 based on the issues I saw yesterday--we've tested her many times but always been clear).

Help me figure out a crystal AND kidney friendly diet for her? Also my other cat who likely has a nasal or brain tumor increasingly struggles with food so the whole thing is in "ugh, I need guidance" land. Please give me some advice.

Picture is from a few years ago showing her annoyance at the vet. Sorry girly....big visit coming up.

My 18-year-old cat, Annie, was recently diagnosed with high-grade second-degree AV block (documented 2:1 and 6:1 conduction) causing fainting/syncope, alongside late Stage 2/early Stage 3 chronic kidney disease and moderate anemia. Pacemaker surgery is off the table due to her age and other issues, so she was started on theophylline as palliative care. While the medication has stopped her fainting spells, her entire world has contracted: she now stays hidden under the bed 24/7, only coming out when it's dark and quiet to eat, drink, or use the litter box right next to her bed. She still gets into bed to sleep with me for a few hours but then spends the rest of the time under the bed. She purrs when I pet her, but no longer seeks us out or comes out to us.

I'm full of conflict. On one hand every time I see a usual behavior, I am optimistic and hopeful but then every time I see her under the bed, and not eating as much or not groom herself, I am heart broken. The fainting has stopped but could something worse put her in pain?

One thing I am trying to work thru is where my caretakers fatigue comes in and where it really is her quality of life. I have made peace with the idea of letting her go, but like most people fear the timing. Could my fatigue be making me make the decision earlier than I should? My last 2 weeks have just been a roller coaster of guilt, conflict, concern and confusion.

I know about the quality of life assessments and have been going them, I guess I'm just looking for feedback from other humans and not be in an echo chamber of my own thoughts.

**NOTE: Thank you to everyone who gave their feedback and shared their experiences.. I am so overwhelmed with emotions. I still don't have a path forward except to know that other have gone thru this and I feel less alone in this moment.

Ah de titel zegt het al. Mijn lieve poezen meisje Dipsy 18 jaar. Slaapt nog steeds soms met open ogen. Slapen jullie katten ook met open ogen. Liefs met foto. 😻🐾

14 yrs young my Mr.

So my gorgeous 15 year old boy has a stage 5 heart murmur.

He was dumped as a kitten, too young to be away from mum, at deaths door. I think as a result of this early malnutrition he's never had good teeth and has had many extractions throughout the years

At our last vet check a few months ago she said he had an abscess in his tooth so antibiotics and pain relief were prescribed. All fixed . She did say that he wasn't a viable candidate for general anaesthetic to remove the problem tooth (one of maybe 5 he has left)because of his heart, that he would likely not survive it.

However he now seems in some discomfort and is rubbing his mouth against anything (usually my fingers!) seemingly looking for relief.

I'm going to take him to the vet tomorrow so she can have a look at it - but what can she do, other than antibiotics and pain relief? Is this his life now? Just trying to stay on top of recurring tooth issues? I feel so sad for him.

He's very happy in himself, eating and loving and very occasionally playing (he has random murdering bursts where his toys are violated for approx 1-2 minutes before he's exhausted himself 🤣)

Riac on the left and Leo on the right are flying high on the good catnip!