today is her sixteenth birthday! she is the sweetest cat and loves being pushed around in her stroller. other things she loves include craft pompoms, sampling whatever is being eaten at the dinner table, being brushed, speaking her mind, and laying in the sun ☀️

Dear Lily, I can’t even write the words, when your brother Bobby (Paris) passed away at 15 due to cancer, it was hard and traumatic, he brought all of us so much joy and laughter, but knowing you was there after he passed away made the grief easier to deal with, honestly spending an additional two years with you without Bobby I am so grateful for as your love kept me going whenever I struggled with bobbys passing, I still had you.

Those two years flew by, and by October this year we realised you had kidney disease which was affecting your eating, I held hope that perhaps we could slow it down and still have you here, maybe for a little bit longer but ultimately we couldn’t, knowing you was in so much pain, loosing so much weight, unable to eat or do anything you used to do meant that the kindest thing to do was to set you free from the pain, which is what we did today on the 12th October, after the first sedative we noticed you was finally able to relax after being in so much pain, it was like your body took a sigh of relief, then after the anaesthetic you went to sleep peacefully from your pain.

It breaks my heart you no longer being here, both you and Bobby were my rock, when Bobby passed I still had you, now I just feel empty and lonely but the sliver-lining is knowing you’re free from pain, what sort of person would I be to have left you suffering just so I could spend another day or two with you?

You was with me since I was 7 and now I’m 24, it’s a shock you not being here, whenever I felt down or needed company you was there, how do I navigate the world without you? I don’t know but I’m sure I will find a way.

It’s getting late here now but I hope wherever you are, you can have a nice cuddle with Bobby and meet those in our family who you never could before, they will take care of you.

I included the first picture of you on your garden chair enjoying the sunshine as you used to love the summer, I know how happy it used to make you feel.

I love you forever and always, I’m sorry, I will miss you always, please visit me in my dreams and one day when I’m old and it’s my time, we will meet again.

Last week my 18-year old cat (tortoiseshell) was diagnosed with heart problems. Since then she's been getting daily medication, and at first those seemed to do what they needed to do, but she is showing me the signs it is almost time.

Since today she has stopped eating, aside from a couple of licks from a liquid snack. But at the same time she remains alert, wants pets, and she came to greet me at the door when I came home. She cuddles up to me and walks around a little, but it seems like she suddenly got very old in one week.

The vet has agreed to see how she pulls through the night, but if she no longer wants to eat, I realise I probably have to let her go sooner rather than later.

She's been the sweetest thing I ever knew and part of me hopes she falls asleep in my arms tonight and will go peacefully.

My old baby Pixel (18/19ish) struggled with overweight and probably joint pain. She is super cuddly and loves to mew at you for pets.

When I realized that she probably has pain when moving/jumping I took her to the vet to get her Solensia.

Today, I found her on her tree on top again!

So I know she is better :)

P.s.: now she is in perfect height for effortless forhead kissies (and she knows!)

She probably thinks I'm standing behind the glass door and only realizes her mistake at the very end.

I've got an 18 year old male cat who we rescued when he was 6 months old. About a week ago, he started peeing on our bed which for the last few years has been his daytime sanctuary. A vet trip resulted in no findings on urinalysis, bloodeork and physical exam. The vet prescribed gabapentin in case it was pain or feline idiopathic cystitis. We've tried everything we can think of to get him to take the meds but he refuses anything we put them in and trying to purrito him has already led to antibiotics and a tetanus booster for me.

In reviewing signs of dementia, he definitely checks boxes but all the boxes he checks have been checked since he was about 2 years old. He's still using the litterbox (cleaned nightly), eating and drinking fine and still participating in our nightly get ready for bed routine (although that now includes him getting up on the bed and peeing right in front of me).

We've invested in waterproof blankets, more sheets and mattress pads but I dont know what else to do. Ironically, the one thing that makes him grumpy is when we run the washer and dryer, which were having to do daily now because of this issue.

I honestly expected we were going to learn it was a uti or kidney disease knowing the odds are stacked against an 18 year old male. While I'm pleased by the results, I'd like to find a way to get him to take his meds and/or stop peeing on the bed .. I want to continue to enjoy the time we have left and not resent him for the sheer volume of laundry and the smell of car urine that I swear is burned into my sinuses and also not have him resent me for torturing him giving him meds.

If you made it this far, thank you. Any help, guidance, words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. Pic of our kitten looking old man to say thank you.

Midna

Forever 14.

My girl, my adorable little black bean ❤️

Estimated DOB: 12-26-11 (They said it could be different, but that’s the first date the paperwork had so we went with that)

Gotcha Date: 1-13-25

Goodbye Date: 10-11-26

Forever in my heart, you made me a mother. Between the both of us, we have over 1000 photos/videos of you. Far more than the days we got with you. We prayed for a cuddly cat for years and we got the most perfect one. You are so smart, full of fire and spunk. It’s clearly genetic ❤️

Your adoption was a surprise to say the least. I went by myself on a whim that day, just to “look” at what they had. I picked you out of a line up. As soon as we met it was love at first headbutt. I texted my husband that I was bringing home a cat. 🐈‍⬛

You took a little while to warm up, hiding behind the couch. But they say it takes 3 months for cats to become comfortable in their new space. You started sitting on our laps just about then. It became an every day thing up until the end.

Thank you for being my soul cat, my very best friend. I only wish we had gotten more time with you.

Forever taking walks outside on the leash, forever a lap kitty, forever my love ❤️

We’ll see each other again someday, I promise ❤️

I am looking for advice on how to know it is time to say goodbye. I know that this is a highly personal decision, but I would like some advice on how to make this decision and, more generally, what to expect towarsds 'the end'.

My cat has had CKD for around 5 years, which was discovered after her treatment for hyperthyroidism. She has always been quite stable and things have progressed slowly. Her last bloods put her around Stage 2, though these were over 12 months ago.

She is an elderly cat (20+) who has other health issues too (hypothyroidism, arthritis, heart murmur), so her favourite things to do are to sleep and eat. Ive always said I will know its time if she stops eating her favourite food.

Last week, she had a bad episode. She had diarrhoea, raspy breath, and was extremely wobbly. I came to terms with the fact it was likely her time, fully expecting to make that decision when the vet arrived. However, she perked up. She was suddenly eating and raced down the stairs away from the vet. The vet was uncertain what had caused her 'episode' and said given her age it could really be anything, but testing etc would not be in her interests. Her heart surprisingly sounded fine. Since then, she has been on steroids and a probiotic paste - her diarrhoea has cleared up, but I'm uncertain whether it may return now the paste has stopped. She has been urinating in 'odd' places, but aside from this she has been relatively normal and content.

Her episode was very scary and stressful. It is not the way I want her to go as she appeared vacant and distressed. I therefore want to ensure she does not get that way again, but also struggle to know how I will know its time if she is not 'very unwell'.

Given that we are not testing bloods etc - though I very much agree it would not be right to put her through this - I am also uncertain whether her 'episode' is likely related to her kidneys or not. Before this, she had been drinking more and urinating in some 'odd' places, but had otherwise been okay. If it is her kidneys, what can I expect going forward?

I don't think right now is her time - she's curled up next to me super cosy on a heat pad - but I know it will likely be soon.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.

comment to add: I put '24-ish' as we have believed she is 24 based on when we thought we got her (it was a long time ago, I was very young), but having recently looked at some paperwork it has her down as being 21... so, who knows! She is between 21 and 24, and I hope to confirm soon 🤣

He passed in ‘24, still my best friend

I put my cat down Thursday and I have so much guilt and feel like I should go to Hell because of it. My 10 and a half year old beautiful calico cat, Kairi, during the last half a year of her life started to exhibit odd behaviors. She first scratched up our molding on our doors, I have always provided multiple scratch posts so that shouldn't have been an issue. I sprayed the molding so she would stop this behavior, which helped. Next we added a doggie door for our Newfie and I let the cats, go roam the backyard that's fenced in and treated for mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. On 2 occasions during the summer she decided to go under the shed and didn't make her way back out and just got herself stuck under it. We got her out both times and boarded it up so she couldn't ever go back in. You would've thought after the first time she wouldn't have done it again, but she did. We recently had a furnace and a/c unit put in and the workers didn't board back up the crawl space and our Kairi decided to go through the little space and not make her way back out. I got her out again. Within the past 2 months or who knows how long, she started to go to the bathroom outside the litter box in the completely opposite side of the house in the guest room first, and then our bed room, on carpets, on laundry left on the ground, in opened laundry baskets. I went and got the Nature's Miracle products to curb this behavior but it didn't help. I brought her to the vet yesterday morning to make sure there wasn't anything medically wrong with her, and there wasn't. The vet suggested so much anxiety meds and supplements that the poor girl would have been in a stupor I feel. At 10 and a half years it would be hard to break her of that habit of the bathroom situation, even the vet and the vet tech that I was speaking to during the exam have cats that they can't break the habit with their own cats. The vet also suggested that cats get Dementia too later on in life. I researched that and she had a few of the symptoms. I called the vet up later yesterday and said we wanted to put her to sleep. They were able to get us in and the same vet said she didn't feel like she could do it because there was nothing clinically wrong with her and I told her everything she told me earlier in the day about the anxiety, dementia, and her own cat that couldn't break their bad behavior and conceded to the euthanasia. After it and all throughout this weekend I have had nothing but guilt, and feeling like I should be punished or go to Hell for our decision. Those I have told said we made the best decision for her and us, that there were signs she wanted to go. That she would've gotten worse. My heart is so heavy with all of this. What would you have done? Did I give up too soon?

She is true to herself and chooses to nib on something green instead of exploring empty evening yard.

​

After surviving a severe, life-threatening case of systemic feline calicivirus in May 2026, Grandpa Sally is now healthy and happily basking in the warm sunlight.

I love you so much, my sweet Grandpa Sally. ❤️🐾

Post got taken down for some reason☹️🥺

My baby of 15yrs and 6 months was diagnosed with CKD and went into kidney failure over the last week and we finally found that it was due to a proximal obstruction in his left ureter. His only real option is to have a SUB (subcutaneous ureteral bypass). I was quoted about $13-15k for this surgery but was told that this surgery is invasive and extremely hard on kitties as well as the recovery.

I just don’t know what to do. I’m not ready for him to cross the bridge and believe he still has so much life. He still has a kidney that’s functioning and he’s only in the condition he is in due to the obstruction. Before the past couple weeks he was healthy, bright, playful, every vet has always said how young and healthy he is physically compared to his age and then one day my whole world flipped upside down. The doctors even said his CKD is not that advanced for his kidney values to be what they are at it’s, due to the obstruction.

Looking for people with similar stories who chose for the SUB surgery and their stories and experiences. Can share more details about his specific case and story with those who have been through this.

Just feeling extremely lost right now and in need of a friend of who understands. The thought of putting the love of my life to sleep doesn’t even feel like an option but I would never want him to suffer or die in pain. He is my absolute soulmate, the light of my life, the man who puts the stars in the sky for me, my best friend, my rock, my whole world and everything, the only man for me. I can’t imagine living life without him.

I haven’t heard and feel my baby purr in over a week except one time faintly while going through all this. The things I would do to make him comfortable to be able to feel and hear him purr again. My heart is feels so broken. I can’t even describe the pain I’m going through.

Is all hope lost? Are there other options for us? Is the SUB surgery worth it? We need help😔😞❤️‍🩹

This is Grinchis, we have had her for 11 years. We had to say goodbye this year.

She got sick, and even though the antibiotics got rid of her allergies she still wasn't better, she didn't want to move, her hair fell out in clumps, and her skin was irritated. So we quarantined her in the bathroom just incase it was contagious and to keep her safe from play fighting.

Almost 2 weeks of meds and nothing, we didn't want her to suffer, didn't want to keep her locked in the bathroom for the rest of her life and away from the other cats.

Apperently it was in her autoimmune system, we still aren't sure, all we knew was that it was fast, in less than a day.

One day we noticed her sneezing, the next we noticed bald spots, then the visit, quarantine, sneezing gone, more bald spots, another visit, gave her a bath, the hairs on her neck where all gone by the time we stopped brushing and drying her, the decision, last bath, pus coming out of her legs, her whole back didn't have hair, she didn't eat that night.

I think she knew what was coming, we couldn't make her better, couldn't stop the pain she was feeling.

I feel guilty sometimes, but my knowledge of what was happening kept answering all the questions I had.

What if we noticed it before?

It started with only allergies, it wasn't the first time she's had allergies

What if it was the meds?

The meds where originally for her allergies, they where antibiotics, the symptoms where already there from day 1

If only I had done more

There was nothing you could do

I said goodbye, gave her kisses and pets, we held her paw while it happened.

We still aren't fully sure of what exactly she had, but it was inevitable that it happened to her, she was a white elderly cat, and had already gotten sick before.

Now that bathroom is clean, the door is open, the others can go in now freely. She has 2 biological sisters, theyre coats are very ironic, one of them is black, and the other is black and white. She's closer to the black one Odi. Funny enough shes the one in the background of this picture, laying down just like her. Ever since we put Grinch into quarantine, has been very short tempered, she'd randomly attack the others for no reason. Now they'll see the bathroom clean too, clean empty bathroom, and maybe they'll notice that she isn't there anymore.

I hate it, I hate having a clean bathroom with an open door. I hate that when I shower now I won't have a half naked paw trying to get my attention, hate that when I'm doing my hair I won't feel skin and fur patches rub against my legs.

Mami,

It’s on me for thinking you'd be eternal. But now you are. And you will be in my heart and tattooed on my skin forever.

Mami passed away yesterday in my arms, surrounded by me and my parents, at 17 years of age, after one of the hardest lives I've ever known for a cat. A stray from the start, she became a mum to Sakura and Momo (the cats I had with my exgirlfriend, hence the name) and began living in a garage. She used to go out in the mornings and come back at dusk, waiting for someone from the family to open the door. One day she vanished and came back three weeks later, half-dead. The vet told us it was highly unlikely she’d pull through. But this would be the first of many displays of sheer willpower this little girl showed me. After two weeks in a Vet Hospital, she pulled through. And at that point, she became a shop's stockroom cat in my ex’s parents’ store. No one could take her in, but at least she was safe from the dangers of the streets, people, cars, and that bloody uncertainty of whether she’d be alive the next day. It was so unfair. We were unfair to her.

During that time, she had two failed adoptions, one of which left her health severely compromised. And after another stint at the vet's when she was around 13, I was finally able to take her in. On the 12th of October 2022, Mami walked into what would be her Forever Home. In just over an hour, after exploring the house, she climbed onto my bed and claimed it as her own. As if she had been there all the time.

With me, she discovered the warmth of sleeping under a little blanket, or curled up against my bum under the duvet. She discovered that, basically, I was at her beck and call, and that the house was hers, not mine. She discovered our post-lunch telly naps, what it was like for me to give her bits of ham, fish or salmon whilst I was having my lunch. She learnt to bop me on the head from the stairs when she wanted to play. She discovered that my necklaces were toys, or that she could use me as a mattress 24/7, as she absolutely loved being on my lap. She discovered what a true home life is. But I discovered what true love really is. Unconditional love. The kind that gives and asks for nothing in return. The kind that always respects your time and your space. Coming home to a little cat waiting for you, looking at you with pure joy (though some days it was more of an “oh, it's you AGAIN”).

This is just a tiny summary of her life. Of her all-too-short time with me. Even though I'd known her since she was two, she was my cat for 3+1 years. Because this past year has been an absolute gift. A tumour was eating her away inside, and back in 2025, she was given days to live. But in her usual fashion of proving everyone wrong, and her sheer will to live, she came home and started eating and drinking as if nothing was wrong. And this year, nearly every single day, every single morning, I thanked her for staying by my side for one more day.

But yesterday, her little body just couldn't take any more. She’d completely used up all her 9 lives. In less than 24 hours, her body said enough was enough. Her breathing was getting faster and harder by the minute… and keeping my promise that with me, her days of suffering, and pain were over... I made the decision to part ways so she wouldn't have to experience a single second of pain.

And so it was. The vet came home and she slipped away in my arms, amidst kisses and tears. Loved to the very core of my being. A stray little cat who no one would have bet a penny on, had become the most important pillar of my life. And she left a trail of love everywhere. Anyone who met her fell in love with her. And that just makes me feel even luckier to have been her cat dad.

Mami, my love, you left too soon. Too soon... because I foolishly thought you were eternal. And even though you’re no longer here, my life will always carry your memory. My home, wherever it may be, will always be yours, and you will be in it. Your memory will be bigger than anything else in this world to me. And your special paw will always be reminded.

I hope you are at peace now, and entirely pain-free. That you’re squabbling with Pía over who gets to eat their tin of food first, or who gets the window bed on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Momo will be around there too, so look after her as the good Mum you’ve always been.

To her. To me.

Farewell, my Mami, my Mita, my Mitoncivs. Thank you for every single day you spent by my side. You made four years go by so bloody fast. And now, life will go on in slow motion forever without you. Today’s been the first day of the rest of my life without you.

I love you. And I always will.

EDIT: Massive and heartwarming thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of you for your kind messages and words. Everything seems like a bad dream, and my mind is playing tricks on me constantly. I feel a rollercoaster of emotions. I still feel her around me. I still haven't touched her fountain or her litterbox... I can't do it.

Again, thank you so much. I've read all 200+ responses this message has had so far. Mami was truly loved worldwide. Thank you.

We’ve been family since he was about 6 weeks old! In the blink of an eye, it’s been 17 beautiful years. Kitten photos taken right when he was adopted. Other pics from mostly this year. I just love him so much.

A little more about him:

His full name is Daikon but I call him Dai-chan , Daisuke (I’m half Japanese, hence the Japanese names) and he also answers to my sweet boy, boy boy (like baby but a boy). Also the Bebe, said as Moira Rose. Or crazy pants when he gets zoomies.

He was a kitten my neighbor found in her garage/alley, along with his 3 siblings. I adopted him and his sister, Apricot/Api chan. Neighbor kept the other two. Mama cat was also a Void and looked just like him. Other siblings were more tabby. He was the youngest and smallest of them.

My old man and I have been through so much in his many years. I feel blessed to have had him for 18.5 years, but it hasn’t come without effort, attentiveness, and lotssss of love (and meds.)

I’m just curious what everyone else is doing with their seniors. More for comfort when I feel stressed by having to give so many meds these days.

This is our routine:

Daily - miralax. He has low stage 3 kidney disease and “possible” IBD (diagnosed at 15 for IBD, at 10 for kidney disease.) with that said, he has had chronic constipation since he was 15. We had two ER visits with sedation and have been on MiraLAX ever since.

Daily - amlodipine. This is supposed to be daily for a recent high BP diagnosis, but I’ve been doing every other day because this med has destroyed his bowels. He now has soupy poopy and is far less frequent. I also switched his food so need to see which is causing the issue.

Daily - probiotic.

Every 3 days - Mirtazapine. This med has been a godsend. We’ve been using it since he was 15. I used to stretch the time between uses to a full week, then it dropped to every 5 days, and now it’s usually every 3. I’ve had to go back and forth between the transdermal and the pill because the transdermal hasn’t been as effective lately.

Every 3 days - sub q fluids. We started this a couple months ago and I have zero complaints. He does really well with the syringe method.

As needed - cerenia, famotidine, and gabapentin. When he pukes I give cerenia, when he’s visibly nauseous I give famotidine. When he seems a bit extra uncomfortable I give a small dose of gaba. If we go to the vet I give a biiiigggg dose of gaba.

He has been on OTC RAWS, or KOHA, or First Mate food after many years on RX urinary food. After his suspected IBD I went for foods with less ingredients and dabbled with novel proteins. We were fine until the amlodipine and food swap, so I’m trying to swap back to the foods that were working for his bowels. He got a taste for the good life with some Weruva WX chicken, but I suspect he has a chicken allergy and that’s partially why the soup poop and less frequent movements.

So yeah. I’d do whatever I needed for him, and this routine has kept him moving and groovin. I’m only a bit stressed lately with the regression in bowels, but that’s likely my fault. I’m just curious how everyone else is doing with their geriatric babies. Share your routine so I feel less alone.