Quality of life for my 16yo - when do I stop fighting?

My 16-year-old cat is still eating well and playing, but his quality of life has dipped slightly due to mobility issues and frequent naps.

I wrote up the details of his recent vet visit and what we've tried in a previous thread, so I won't repeat that here. But I find myself wondering when it is the right time to stop fighting. I know he is still happy, but the decline is noticeable. How do you decide when aggressive treatments become too much for them?

Hard question, Donna. My Smokey is 12 with glaucoma. I stopped the aggressive drops when they started stressing him out more than the pain was helping. I look at whether he initiates interaction. If he still wants to be petted or follows you around, I keep the comfort measures. If he hides or hisses, I back off.

@mikej64 That makes sense. He still comes to sit near me, which is nice. I miss Pepper so much, Lost Pepper last week, feeling hollow, that I am afraid to let go of this one too early, but I don't want to overdo it either.

I worry about this with Daisy. She is 9 and picky. If she stops eating, is that the line? Daisy stopped eating her usual food, what do I do?

Hello everyone. I think appetite is a big indicator, but not the only one. Bob is young, but he was a rescue and had issues. Luna is 7 and a bit stiff. I watch for pain. If the vet says the treatments are causing more stress than relief, that is usually the time to switch to comfort. Mittens is stiff again, any tips?

I am so worried about Bella. She is 6 but has asthma. I keep asking myself, is this treatment helping or just prolonging the discomfort? What is palliative care actually for cats? I feel like I am always second-guessing myself.

Thank you, @denisek8 and @paulr18. It is hard not to feel like we are failing them when we stop. I think I need to ask my vet specifically about what a comfort-only plan would look like for him. Does anyone have a checklist of things to ask?

Sophie is 5 and anxious, so it is different for us, but I feel the same pressure. I think the checklist is less about medical items and more about their personality. Does he still do the thing he loves most? For my girl, it is sitting by the window watching birds. If that stops, I think that is when I would stop the heavy treatments. Signs that the suffering outweighs the joy