Is She suffering?

[clafoutis]

hi

I have a Tortoise shell cat shes 16 years old soon to be 17, she lost a lot of weight, but she won't stop eating. She's always asking for food and she will try and steal our food when we're eating. Her fur is no more silk its not even soft anymore. She keeps throwing up and have diariha,I have took her to the vet many times to many vets most of them said she just have digestive problem but a few have said that it could be digestive or cancer but she's to old to do full test and find out, of course since then I don't have enough to take her to the vet again and find out, though I do have to say I'm afraid to... I'm afraid to hear that she's suffering and I have to put her down.
She doesn't show any signs shes suffering but I was told that animals will hide it... she sleeps more then she use to which I understand shes old..

[Korat]

You'll know when it's time her time as she'll stop eating. I agree that stool samples to the vet are needed to be checked.  
My Max was 17 and in January he stop eating and drinking and would just walk and walk without stopping and so we knew he was gone as his eyes would be spacey. so he was put to sleep on 9th of January 2008, vet said he had heart problem and thyroid problem and meds for one or other would kill him. It was a very hard choice to make...I so miss him at times.
Enjoy the time left that you have with your cat.
Might be you just need to switch to a better cat food, go to a specialty cat store and ask them.

[Mrs_Savas]

As long as she is still eating and grooming herself, then she hasn't given up on life, which should mean she isn't suffering unduly - that's a rule of thumb that I have used and I find it's true.  A cat that's in a lot of pain will just give up, stop their normal behaviors, stop trying to maintain life by eating and drinking and just endure.  If something changes to make it obvious, then that's different of course, but otherwise, it's something to go by.

Otherwise, all I can say is trust your instinct.  You have known her for a long time, you will probably know when something drastic changes for her.  

The rough fur and increased sleeping is perfectly normal for a kitty her age - she's an old girl and she's earned her snooze!
  

[elizabethm1]

You should ask your vet to do blood work and test her stools for worms or parasites.
I don't think she would want to eat if she was suffering but there is something wrong.
You need further test to find out and unfurtinatly that cost money but if you find out whats wrong it may be treatable.