I'm am so sorry. I have lost one cat, and am slowly losing another to mammary cancer/tumors (one of which has erupted). But before i get to that, the breathing issues are no good, and I fear you'll have to make the call sooner rather than later, in spite of her still having a good appetite. 

I also lost another cat to CHF (congestive heart failure), his breathing is how we noticed (his chest cavity was full of fluid), and he had another 6 days after that and he was gone. 

Years ago, Nibbler had a tumor erupt in April. It managed to heal, somehow. In November, she ended up with what we think was either blood cancer or sepsis, and was gone (with help, not naturally). I kick myself for hospitalizing her and trying to save her (for 2 days), she was already too far gone when we noticed (it happened overnight, she was fine Saturday, then lethargic and immobile sunday, gone tuesday). 

Mary Jane has many mammary tumors, one of which erupted back in August. She also has mineralization of her bronchi, so she has developed a cough, and possibly a URI (got her antibiotics yesterday). She has been on prednisolone for 8 years to keep the tumors at bay. I'm not sure what her sign to finally say goodbye will be,  but I know it's coming. 

If her breathing is labored, I'm afraid her time is running out. Use this time to make as many memories as you can while you can. I would let your vet know if her mouth breathing increases, and see what they say. 

Fuck cancer. hugs

I'm so sorry 🫂🫂🫂

Hello, I am so very sorry for you both. Please do not blame yourself. You couldn't have known. I, too, have found myself in situations with pets where I thought they had just become picky with their food. Cats are so very good at disguising pain.

If your baby is still eating some food and drinking water, I would spend as much time as possible with her. It's common for her to start peeing in other places.

I would go ahead and make a plan and an appointment to let her go and finish out your time together. I once made the mistake of getting through Christmas with one of my soul cats, and that day I realized when his condition had gotten so bad that I was doing it for me, and the best gift would be to let him go. I promised him I would never do it to another. This Christmas will be thirty years since then, and I’ve mostly kept that promise. If not for having COVID, my next kitty, whom I’m still strongly grieving, had to wait a little.

The advice I’m trying to give is that you’ll know when it’s time, but don’t let it come too late. Enjoy some special time cuddling and loving your baby, and sharing everything in your heart with them.

I wish you strength and love.

What’s the prognosis from the vets? What’s the treatment plan? I’m sorry you are going through this.

Hello. Sorry for the very sad news you received. To answer your question: cats hide their illnesses very well so many times it’s in advanced stages before humans detect something is really wrong. As to when to send her over to rainbow bridge… only you really know best. However, something’s to keep in mind: if she stops eating all together, becomes very restless, or yowls, or becomes listless you might want to stop and really take note. It might be time to say goodbye. My cat became very restless. He just could get comfortable anymore. I hade him from 6 months to 14. My other cat of 18 years began yowling and pacing when it was her time. You know what is out of ordinary for your cat’s behavior. The main thing is that you want kitty free from pain and suffering. It’s always hard to let go of our soulmates. But she will be smiling down on you when the time comes and thanking you for all the wonderful years you had together.💕

Our old girl Meg developed stage IV bowel cancer and with her advanced age (18) and a slight heart murmur it was decided palliative care was the only option as any treatments would make her so very sick and miserable with very little to gain aside from extending her time a bit.

We just loved on her, cuddled her, fed her any foods she wanted to eat (within reason), spoiled her rotten. She lasted 3 months from diagnosis until we decided it was time. We played it by ear and monitored her behaviour, weight, eating, drinking, and toileting habits as she very slowly declined for signs she was unhappy/in pain and made the call as soon as she showed first signs of struggling to move around comfortably and her weight abruptly dropping despite still eating. By the time we finally managed to get in to our vets sister clinic (4 days later than we would have ideally liked) to say goodbye she toldcus very clearly she was tired and ready to go.

She was 18.5 yo but we'd only had her just over 7 years having adopted her as senior with the intent to be her final forever home.

I lost my Tomato a month ago due to heart failure and was told that the mouth breathing means they cannot get enough oxygen from normal breathing. If that worsens, suffocation follows and that is a horrible ending for them. Your vet has indicated that a peaceful, planned passing is reasonable. A week too early is better than a minute too late. Ask yourself what is the kindest and most loving thing for her. Do not avoid the ending to avoid the grief; it is coming anyway.

I am so sorry for the situation and know you love her more than anything. It is time to show it. I wish it could be different, truly, but what you shared here does not present good reasons to wait. Let her go on a good day so you minimize regret and guilt.

It's better a week too early than a day too late. Please give her lots of love. You may want to check if in home euthanasia is an option where you live. If she's having trouble eating and breathing, she's not doing well at all.

It's a super aggressive cancer that even if caught early doesn't usually have a happy ending. It can also progress rapidly within a matter of weeks. This combined with cats hiding pain, can make it hard to notice.

https://preview.redd.it/w5ucxw3ps28g1.jpeg?width=498&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02a43b9fc4399123420450e5a32d65aa61051f41

We had a kitty with mammary cancer along with many other issues. She started to decline at a time when most vet offices were not letting people in with pets because of covid. Long story short we made an appointment for home euthanasia but had to urgently move it up because she really took a turn for the worse and couldn’t walk. It was terrible to see. If you have an at-home option I would strongly suggest it so kitty can pass in a comfortable place, and would look into that now if she is already having breathing troubles. 

Please don’t beat yourself up. I don't believe cats expect us to solve all of their health problems, they just appreciate our love and care. 

I had a similar situation with my older girl. She got cancer at 9 (spayed way too late in life). Thankfully it wasn't spread to the lungs, yet. It was stage 4 as well. We got a mastectomy (full nipple chain removal on the affected side). Unfortunately it did spread to her lymphnodes. But she was so good, they gave us about 8-9 months. A year later, she developed another mass in the same spot and when we got that one removed, I was told no more surgeries, because it spread her cancer to her sweat glands. So now she had stage 3 Adenocarcinoma on top of the Mammary cancer. So we stopped all surgeries and went to palliative care as well. Just making sure she was comfortable. She was with me until Oct 22, 2024. She was diagnosed with Mammary cancer Jan, 2023. And the Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed March, 2024. She oit-lived the initial time-frame. Now I don't know about when it spreads to the lungs... but just love on your baby. Take as many videos and pictures your phone can possibly handle. Get an imprint pack so you can get a nose print and paw print. The only thing I can say, is give her the meds she needs and all the lovins you both need. I'm so sorry OP. Cancer fucking sucks. But my heart is with you in spirit and so is my girl Mufasa's heart. She will greet your soul baby as soon as she can. I can promise you that. ❤️❤️‍🩹 oh, and my girl was also 12. So very similar situation with some differences.

TLDR: my female 12 year old kitty, Mufasa (Moosey girl, or Mumu) had 2 cancers and was lucky enough to have outlived the time-frame given.

Not mummary cancer but my soul kitty was diagnosed with lung cancer also stage IV at the end of November 24. 19 days after the diagnosis I had to put her down. My vet told me to monitor the whole week how she's doing. If the week was more suffering than good moments I should consider taking her down on a Friday rather than rushing her to an emergency vet or clinic on a weekend because she can't breathe. We're looking at a disease here with no chance of curing. :( do the best for her the last weeks / I hope it will turn into months. Be prepared a switch can happen really quick and don't let her not eat/suffer for too long. Sending strength for you and your little one 🫂

So sorry you are this juncture. Paws crossed you can make her comfortable. Cats hide pain!

When she stops eating. That's my advice.

Hi everyone thank you so much to everyone who has responded your comments have really been helping. We have an at home-euthanasia visit scheduled for my sweet Cora today but I’m really not sure if she’s ready to go, she’s given me no signs. She’s still very much eating, getting around ok, and snuggling a lot. I noticed some mouth breathing and coughing today but didn’t notice anything yesterday. I’m so terrified of her going into breathing distress and having to rush her somewhere but it just seems like she has some life left to live

I’m so sorry about this. Sending you lots of prayers and positive vibes your way to the both of you. 🫶🏻🫂