End-of-life welfare decisions for cats require careful quality-of-life assessment and compassionate timing of euthanasia to prevent unnecessary suffering.
End-of-life welfare for cats is complicated by the species tendency to mask pain and decline, the strong emotional bond between cats and owners, and the ethical complexity of choosing euthanasia timing. Delayed euthanasia, driven by owner grief or uncertainty, causes unnecessary suffering in cats with terminal conditions. Over-treatment with invasive procedures that prolong life without improving quality causes welfare harm. Veterinary guidance that empowers owners to use quality-of-life scales and palliative care approaches enables informed, compassionate end-of-life decisions. In-home euthanasia removes the stress of transport for a cat in the final days of life, providing a welfare benefit that is increasingly recognised.