Butterscotch isn't looking too good these days.
He doesn't eat as much, and when he does, he goes more for the soft food from a can than from the crunchy cat food.
He moves about with a strange limp, and he goes up and down stairs a lot more slowly.
What worries me the most is that we can easily feel his bones under his fur. I can run my fingers all the way down his spine like a little staircase, I can feel his ribcage, his hips look a bit crooked, and his back legs stick out in a funny way. I'm the most concerned about those back legs. He even sounds like he's hurting when he meows.
I did a bit of research; it's possible he could have diabetes, arthritis, or kidney failure.
Guess the only way to know for sure is to take him to the vet.
That's what I'm worried about most of all.
They might have to put him down (that's what happened with my previous two cats when we took them in) and even if they could treat him, he's definitely over the hill. He's half my age (16 years) and I don't want him to live the rest of his life in pain.
Still, putting him to sleep is not a decision to be made lightly, either. Especially when I've had him for as long as I have (he was just a month-old kitten when we first got him) and I'm not sure how ready I am to let him go.
I love him...but my conscience is getting the better of me.
I spoke to Mom about it a little earlier, and she's as conflicted as I am.
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