Should you euthanize a 15 year old cat if it is having trouble with its kidneys?

Answer 1

Kidney disease, kidney failure, lymphomas, and other cancers are common in elderly cats; 15 to 21 years is "elderly" in felines.

At 20 years old, one of my cats developed KD. I opted to treat at home with IV fluids and special kidney foods (wet food from vet-- expensive). My cat did okay for a year. But cats crash fast, and they are good at hiding how bad they feel. So when they crash, it is often after hours and on a weekend--when owners cannot afford a visit to an emergency vet. Friday at 11pm my cat began to cry like weak human infant. I held him through the night as he plaintively whined; I could do nothing for him. He died in my arms early in the morning-- it was the absolute worst thing I ever wanted him to endure.

A few years later, my next elderly cat stopped eating. Vet said kidney disease and lymphoma. Again, we tried IV fluids and KD food. But after 6 months of care at home, he began to go downhill. I had vowed I would never love a cat again so much that I would end up holding a pet as they cried and died. So I opted for euthanasia for my 2nd cat.

Cats do not need to suffer. Let them go, peacefully.