Mrs JBRG and I made the decision last night to take our oldest cat to the vet when she gets home after work today to have the old gal put down.
Max is almost 18 and has been with us since she was a kitten. Max came into our home the same day we had Mrs' cat down (her Pet Monster). Max has been the little sister to one cat (Homer was put down a month after we got Max) and the big sister to 2 other cats and 3 dogs.
Max has been giving us signs that it's time for a while. She has lost so much weight over the past couple of years that she is just skin and bones. She has gone deaf, has diminished eye sight, doesn't clean herself anymore and, when possible, doesn't go downstairs to use the litter box.
The next 8 hours or so are going to be hard for me but in the end, Max will be out of pain and in the spiritual company of Monster (whom she replaced in hour home), Homer (whom I took in because a friend was allergic), Fitz dog (a rescue dog who had medical issues that could not be controlled) and Red Dog (old age).