Some months ago, I started a topic about my cat's end of life due to a chronic renal failure diagnosis - Stage 4 at that time. With my vet, I've managed to control the disease, reducing it to Stage 3 for a long while, but it's crept up again to 4 with the last few blood tests showing no improvement.

She hasn't voluntarily eaten anything substantial for 10 days now and her only fluid intake is her 150-175 ml/day Ringer's solution. Weight has dropped about 30% in the last 5 weeks.

During the treatment, the vet often tried to reassure me with 'When the time comes, I'll put her to sleep'. That was a crutch I leant on heavily.

Yesterday, I asked the vet to put her to sleep but, despite earlier assurances, she refused. She knew my cat hadn't eaten, was staggering on the odd occasion she tried to walk, was hiding away in dark places, indications of pain and discomfort - all the negative signs I'd read about. The reason for refusal was "She's looking around and can walk a bit - seems OK. I can only do it if she's unconscious" which sort of defeats the object of euthanasia, surely. I tried to reason but, of course, it was useless. I was inwardly raging! Obviously the vet's view of Quality of Life is a million miles away from mine!

I won't be trying to feed her any more, maybe I'll reduce or end the Ringer's since fluids will only delay her passing. No other meds. except Ringer's during the whole period of illness.

She'll die soon of starvation as much as her disease, as I see it, so can anybody here tell me what to expect during her inevitable decline? How does the process of dying proceed? Is there such a thing as a 'typical' time period for her to die? Anything else?

Thanks.

Both of my cats suffered from CKD. They both started to lose weight and then stopped eating. I learned that once a cat stops eating, the end is near.

The cat will die a slow, miserable death. A family member waited too long to euthanize their cat, and it had a seizure. That finally got their attention.  I don’t understand the Buddhist hang-up on humane euthanization.  Is there an option to sedate the cat?

https://www.concordanimalhospital.com/blog/euthanasia-vs-natural-passing-whats-right-for-my-pet

As a pet starts to decline, body systems gradually shut down due to lack of blood flow and oxygen. Pets may start breathing heavily and you may hear a “death rattle” as mucus builds up in the throat. Pets will stop eating and drinking, may vomit, and may soil themselves as they lose the ability to control their bathroom habits. Pets may experience pain or discomfort for days as their bodies gradually decline, and they may experience abrupt episodes of thrashing, respiratory distress, and vocalization.

If pursuing natural death for a pet, it’s advised to have pain medications and a backup plan,

https://petlossathome.com/about/faq/timing/dont-let-a-pet-suffer-to-death/

Edited June 30Jun 30 by TedG

I'm a cat lover. Poor little thing. 😢