My cat is 15 (going on sixteen within the next few months) and he got in a fight and now has an infection on the top of his head and a cut on the inside of is ear.
He's had it for a while now, but we managed to clean it out properly, but it's just come back this week.

We are taking him to the vet because he isn't acting the same, so I think he's in pain because of it. What I'm asking is if he will get put to sleep? I'm scared they will put him to sleep because he's old.

I'm so scared for him. I've had him since I was 2 so he's a member of the family. Is there an age where vets just say it's better to put an animal down?

He's probably just not acting the same because he's in pain. I'm sure a course of antibiotics will sort him out fine.

The vet won't put a cat down just because it's old. They will only advise an animal be put to sleep if there's nothing they can do about an illness, and it's in the animal's best interest.

Let us know how you get on.

Vets have told me that age isn't as much a consideration as the quality of life. My cat was almost 16 when she was diagnosed with cancer. The vet operated on her and was preparing to give her chemotherapy before her condition suddenly deteriorated. Her general health was very good, she always looked and acted a lot younger than her age and, despite the cancer, all her major organs were healthy (heart, lungs, kidneys) so the vet was initially happy to offer treatment to extend her life. Unfortunately, she died but the vets tried their best with her despite her age.

On the other hand, vets have generally advised my uncle, who is himself old, to have his elderly cats put to sleep when they become ill because they feel my uncle cannot offer the care required. Myself and my cousins have generally resisted this advice and managed to prolong the lives of 2 of his cats, the most recent cat was too poorly

As Jojo has said, the vets always advise what is in an animal's best interests.

ah okay thank you.

We can definitely provide the care needed, so thats not a worry.

This has made me feel alot more calm. I was crying when I wrote it but I feel fine about everything now, so once again a big thank you

Vets don't put animals down unless it's the last resort or if it will seriously cause the cat pain to live. If the cat can live happily without pain...then vets will always do the best they can.

When I took my 19 year old cat to the vet for her yearly injection I asked the vet to give her a quick check & tell me how she was & whether there were any major problems. The vet basically said that she was old but in quite good shape & thaa she reckoned we'd have her for another couple of years. The vet was spot on; she became ill & we had to have her put to sleep 2 years later.

So don't worry, there was no suggestion that age on its own was a problem.

When cats fight and get an abcess it's very common for it to recur unless they get antibiotics. Bathing it a couple of times a day to keep it open can help - the problem is it needs to heal from the bottom up, but even with this often the skin closes over some infection and a while later it breaks through again. Hopefully all your cat needs is a long-acting antibiotic injection.

I do hope you take him to the vets every year for his shots, and a check-up. Mine get weighed each year as well.