ALLEY CAT RESCUE
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Hospice Care and Euthanasia Decisions

Hospice care for terminally ill and aging cats has become more popular over the years. With the guidance of trained veterinarians, owners can administer medications and nurse their sick animals until they either die naturally, or until the guardian feels the quality of the cat’s life is poor enough to consider euthanasia. Hospice and euthanasia decisions can be very difficult to make and caretakers should reach out to veterinarians and animal welfare groups if they need guidance. It is important to remember that grieving is normal for anyone caring for a cat, regardless of whether they are an owner or an outdoor group caretaker.
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Hospice Care
ACR feels that hospice care is an appropriate option for both terminally ill pets and feral cats. The American Association of Feline Practitioners supports hospice care and defines it as “a relationship-centered philosophy that all veterinarians can use in practice. The concept of hospice care is to provide an alternative to the premature euthanasia of a terminally ill catー and not about heroic medical interventions.” People choose to use hospice care for a multitude of reasons including the diagnosis of a terminal illness, the inability of a cat to perform routine tasks as a result of a chronic illness, the failure of other medical options to help the cat, and other reasons.

Feral cat caretakers should take extra precautions if they choose hospice care. In their older years feral cats may come to trust their caretaker, and caretakers may be able to trap the cats and provide them care inside the home. Caretakers who consider this option should still take all necessary precautions when handling a feral cat. Despite the cat’s illness, they are still feral. For some feral cats, in-home hospice may not be possible and caretakers may consider euthanasia. Caretakers may also let the cat die alone in peace if multiple attempts to trap the cat are unsuccessful. ACR feels this is a humane end of life decision.

When providing hospice care, make sure the cat’s area is surrounded by her favorite things such as a comfy bed or a favorite toy. People who opt for hospice care should closely monitor the cat’s behavior and take the cat to the vet for routine check-ups. Cats do not always show outward signs of suffering and may still perform activities such as eating and drinking. Signs of pain to look out for are excessive panting, gasping, shyness, hiding, stillness, and food pickiness.

Euthanasia
Caretakers may also consider euthanasia for a cat. Euthanasia may be the best option if your cat is suffering and their pain cannot be properly managed. Caretakers should discuss guidelines for euthanasia with their vet before bringing a feral cat into the clinic. Most feral cats are healthy and common illnesses and infections can be treated. ACR does not recommend euthanizing cats with FIV and has cared for many healthy FIV feral cats. However, for conditions that require long-term, in-house care and where treatment is not possible, it is more humane to euthanize the cat than it would be to release her back outside. Euthanasia should only be practiced when all other options have been exhausted.

End of Life
Remember, it is normal to struggle with end-of-life decisions and many people suffer from guilt, regret, or grief. These are not easy decisions to make. So always talk with your veterinarian, do your research, and know you are doing the best you can. If you are struggling with difficult  feelings and having a hard time, please reach out to those around you for support.
 

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Resources

End of life care. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/end-life-care.
Veterinary hospice care of cats. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/PositionStatements/HospiceCare.pdf.
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  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission
      • Our Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Financial Information
      • Email Sign-up
    • ACR in the Press
    • ACR Publications >
      • Newsletters
      • Blog
      • Press Releases
      • National Surveys
    • Adoptions >
      • Adoption Application
      • Cats available for adoption
      • New Cat Checklist
      • Introducing A New Cat
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
    • Partners
  • Action Alerts
    • Spay Neuter Pledge
    • No Declaw Pledge
    • Campaigns >
      • TNR Support Letter
      • The Feral Fix
      • Working Cats Program >
        • Shelters with Working Cat Programs
      • End Deadly Eradication Methods
      • "Fix the Family"
  • Spay/Neuter
    • Early Age Spay/Neuter
    • Misconceptions About Spay/Neuter
    • State Low Cost Spay/Neuter
  • How to Help Community Cats
    • Find a Stray Cat?
    • What is a Feral Cat? >
      • Feral vs. Stray Cats
      • Benefits of Feral Cats
    • TNR-- What does this mean? >
      • TNR Statistics
      • TNR Step-by-Step
      • Targeted Trapping
      • TNR Tips
      • Hard to Catch Cats
      • TNR Equipment Loan Resources
      • Where to Buy TNR Equipment
      • TNR/Community Cat Care Financial Resources
      • Helping Shelters Implement TNR Programs
      • Common Complaints
    • Providing Shelter
    • CAT Action Teams: TNR Groups by State
    • Health Care
    • Cat Overpopulation
    • Relocation
    • Feral Kittens >
      • What to do if you find kittens
      • Stages of Kitten Development
      • Orphaned Kittens
      • Socializing Feral Kittens
      • Fostering Kittens
    • How Rescuers Can Effectively Adopt Out Cats >
      • Adopting Adult Feral Cats
    • Winter Tips for Protecting Cats
    • Summer Tips for Cats
    • Feral Cats and the Law
    • Cats and Wildlife >
      • Cats and Predation
      • Where have all the birds gone?
      • Debunking the Myths and Misinformation: Cat Predation
      • Why Eradication Methods Fail
    • Handbook Download
  • Cat Health & Supplies
    • Health Care for Your Cat >
      • Vaccines
      • Wellness Vet Checkups
      • Microchiping
      • Nail Trimmings
      • Effects of aging
      • Hospice Care and Euthanasia Decisions
      • Financial Assistance
      • How to Prepare for an Emergency
    • FIP, FeLV, FIV >
      • Testing for FeLV/FIV
    • Common Cat Health Issues >
      • Feline Panleukopenia
      • Fleas
      • Zoonotic Diseases
      • Rabies
      • Toxoplasmosis
      • Ringworm - Symptoms and Treatment
      • Ringworm Myths Debunked
      • Obesity in Cats
      • Diabetes
      • Indoor/Outdoor Cats
    • Cats & Claws
    • Animal Cruelty Against Cats
    • Hazardous Poisons
    • Poisonous Plants
    • Cats and COVID-19
    • Cat Supplies
    • Pet Food Banks
    • Pet Disaster Preparedness
  • Cat Behavior
    • Solutions to Prevent Surrendering your cat >
      • Rehoming
    • Common Cat Behavior Issues >
      • Litter Box Problems
      • Scratching and Destructive Behavior
      • Aggressive Cats >
        • Cat on Cat Aggression
      • Meowing and Yowling
      • Urine Marking
      • Behavior Issues in Elderly Cats
    • Introducing Cats
    • Cat Enrichment
    • Tips for Entertaining an Indoor Cat
    • Cat Supply Resources
    • Lost Cat
  • African Wildcats
    • AWC Conservation Projects
    • Press Release on African Wildcat Campaign
    • Differences between AWCs and domestic cats
  • Donate
  • Store