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Cats/23 year old cat

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Expert: - 7/31/2009


Question
My cat won't eat anything.  He acts like he doesn't know where he's at.  He just wanders around the house like he's lost.  He hasn't been taking care of himself for quite some time and he smells really bad.  I am thinking of having him put down in the next couple of days.  Am I doing the right thing?  He has lead a very good life.  Only went outside for short periods of time when I could be right there with him.  Other than that, he was inside all the time.

Answer
Anita,

Congratulations on providing such good cat care!!!!!!!!!! Your cat made it to age 23 (ancient for a domestic cat)!!!!!!!!!!

Has he been checked by a vet? From the sounds of it, he is near the end.  His quality of life has deteriorated and he just is not interested in going on.  Not grooming himself is a sure sign he is depressed and feeling rather puny. So, if it is not something easily fixed by medication, I would consider saying good bye and remembering all the good times you had had together.

Please let me know what happens.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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