having a cat put to sleep

[k8bailey]

I'm in the awful position of having to have my cat put to sleep....I feel terrible about this but he's been losing weight for a couple of months, and has stopped cleaning himself in the last 2 weeks. The vet initially thought it was kidney failure, but after some blood tests they tell me that he has some form of leukemia, he also has mouth ulcers, severe anaemia and dehydration. Vet says that they can treat the symptoms, but its terminal and even with treatment he'd only have months left at best.

When he is put to sleep, can I stay with him? is it quick? I'm going to take him in on Thursday.

He's only 8, I 'aquired' him as a very young kitten, he was stray and his mother and siblings were killed on the road. I nursed him back to health only for him to be hit by a car aged 2, he dislocated his hip but by the time the vet realised, it was too late to pop it back, so he has lived with it like that ever since. He goes wild at christmas acting like a silly kitten again. He was my constant companion during my long labour with my 1st daughter, and he has been incredibly patient and caring towards our 2 young children....he seems to have a 6th sense about illness and is always around when one of us are ill. His full name is Elvis Charlotte 'fatty-fat' Jones Bailey-Davies. I know i am doing what is best for him, but it doesn't make it any easier.

[annie0000]

how very sad k8. almost certainly you will be able to stay with him - I had that option when I had to get my cats put down, but couldn't face it in the end. :o( took me nearly 10 years to get another cat after that.

[pastafreak]

Oh dear...this has brought tears to my eyes,as I really feel for you.
About putting him to sleep. Yes-you can stay with him and cuddle him as he goes. The vet will most likely give you time together after also. It is a very quick and gentle process-with a tranquilliser given first,then the injection that will put him to sleep.
I know it must be hard as he is still young and should still be in his prime. But-the poor thing has had a bit of a rough time,and has survived due to your love and good care. Just remind yourself that you are doing what is best for him. Good luck. x

[andy-hughes]

I am so sorry to read this.

Yes, you will be able to stay with him, and pet him as he slips away, which is very quick, a matter of seconds, and of course, he will be free of pain and suffering.

Rationally, you know you are doing the right thing. That you love him, and part of loving himis doing what needs to be done for him, even though it will hurt you terribly, you still have to do it, because he is hurting, and keeping him hurting to stop you hurting is wrong, and not loving him the way you know you do.

Emotionally, your mind is telling you to hang onto him, because you love him, and losing him will be almost more than you can bear.

But you will listen to your rational mind, and do what is right for him, and live with it.

And in time, when the raw pain has receeded, and you can think of all the fun and pleasure you had together, you will be glad that you did this one last act of kindness for him, to let him slip away from you with dignity, while you told him that you love him, and because he obviously knows you, he will know that what you have done is the right thing, and if he could talk, he woudl thank you.

That is for the future, when you weave his loss into your life, but for now, you must be strong for him, and stop his pain, because that is what loving him means - being able to let him go when the time has come.

Thinking of you.

A x

[Old_Geezer]

It is very quick. Simple injection and the pet is no longer conscious. I assume dead already at that point. If it is suffering it is the kindest thing. It is a pity this act of compassion is only available to our pets.

[Ratty2E]

I am so sorry fo you I have sadly been in this position a few times. I have always been able to stay with and comfort the pet whilst it is given an injection and it just goes to sleep. I have also beeen able to stay with it saying my goodbyes as long as I wanted. I would imagine any good vets would be the same. You should not feel bad about it, you are giving him release from his pain and showing your love for him by letting him go.

[lankeela]

As always my thoughts are 'better a day too soon, than a moment too late'. None of our should allow our animals to suffer any more than we can help, so as you say you know you are doing what is best for him. A word of advice, think through beforehand what you are going to do with him as it can be very upsetting having to decide what to do when the time comes. Will you bring him home and bury him? Have him cremated (the vets will arrange this) and either have his ashes back or not. Personally I never have the ashes back, I just allow them to go and say my goodbyes - I feel that once they are gone then I can remember them and have some great memories. Your vet will advise the options, but it helps to be aware before the day. Don't forget we will all be thinking of you and here for you if you want to talk about it afterwards. We've all been there and it doesn't get any easier to make the decision but its always a relief for me when it has been done and they are at peace and out of pain or suffering.

[k8bailey]

Thankyou all so much for your kind words. Although I've had many pets who have died this is the first time I've had to have one put down, I hadn'y realised how hard it would be.

The appointment is booked for tomorrow afternoon, I've arranged for someone to look after the kids so that I can take Elvis to the vet and focus on him.

Afterwards, I'll take him to my mum's to be burried there, I know it sounds silly but we're moving house soon and I can't stand the thought of leaving him here.

Andy and Lankeela were spot on - it's not about me, it's about Elvis and I wouldn't ever want him to suffer.

Old_Geezer - I totally agree, the care he has recieved so far has been fantastic, no waiting lists, blood test results available within 2 hours and as hard as it is for me, his suffering can be ended peacefully and painlessly, if only we could all have that available to us.

[wolf63]

It is going to be hard for you - any cat who could put up with two small children would have to have been an extra special cat.

I found this (sad) poem the other day:


Poem by Alice Chase


Your favourite chair is vacant now...

No eager purrs to greet me

No softly padded paws to run

Ecstatically to meet me



No coaxing rubs no plaintive cry

Will say it time for feeding

I've put away your bowl,

And all the things you won't be needing



But I will miss you little friend,

For I could never measure

The happiness you brought me,

The comfort and the pleasure.



And since God put you here to share

In earthly joy and sorrow

I'm sure there'll be a place for you

In Heaven's bright tomorrow...

x

[kat1]

You are doing the right, humane thing k8, Elvis is suffering. Gosh wolf i'm in tears reading your poem, how lovely.

[vallaw]

So sorry. I had to have my 17-year-old cat put to sleep recently. Yes you can stay with him. It's very quick and completely painless for the cat. You owe it to him.

[carmalee]

I agree with everything that has been said and it's hard to improve on the thoughts and advice. Just one thing to consider though, it is possible to have the vet call to your house and put him to sleep - that way your kitty is spared the trip to the surgery and the strange surroundings. Of course this will increase the cost. Well done for making the right decision to let him go.

[notasyoungasiwas]

It cracked me up reading about how much he loved Christmas, but you gave him that k8bailey, without you he wouldn't have had that lovely life. You may like this:

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And as a cat, you know I am most able
to decide everything for myself!

Are you coming then? asked God
Soon replied the whiskered angel,
but I must come slowly
for my human friend is troubled.
For you see, she needs me, quite certainly.

But doesn't she understand? asked God
that you will never leave her.
That your souls are intertwined - for all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed
It just is ...... forever and ever and ever.

Eventually she will understsand replied the glorious cat,
for I will whisper into her heart
that I am always with her -
I just am ...... forever and ever and ever.


Thinking about you both xx

[linedancer16]

So sorry to hear about your cat. I know exactly how you feel as I had to have my dog put to sleep last week. I stayed with her and it was very peaceful. The vet just injected her front leg and she closed her eyes and went to sleep. It was all over in a few seconds but you will be given the chance to stay with him afterwards to say goodbye if you choose to. Thinking of you.xxx

[k8bailey]

Thanks again everyone, especially for the poems which were hard to read because I was crying so much :(

He got spoilt rotten yesterday with chicken and cuddles, so at least he had a happy last day, and spent the night sleeping in one of his favourite places - the bath!

i feel quite calm about it all so far today, but my 3yr old daughter's questions were hard to handle - she wanted to know if he would get mud in his eyes when Nana burys him and if we can go and buy another 'elsa' (she can say V) this afternoon....if only it were that easy!

[lankeela]

Will be thinking of you - keep busy till you go and then try to be matter of fact about it, but don't worry when you get to the vets - they deal with this every day and if it wasn't for people like you who care so much for their animals they would be out of business.

[GillyGee]

Hiya K8 sorry to read all this news, just to reiterate what everyone has said, it is a horrible time but I am sure he will have had the best time ever living in your house. I don't where you live but the only thing that bothered me about burying my cat George in the garden was that he can be dug up by foxes. It may be worth while having him cremated and then you can take the ashes with you to your new home and then bury them or still bury them at your Mum's. Take care.

[pussnboots]

It's a very sad day for you today and my thoughts are with you.

[stokemaveric]

how awful for you,i had to take a cat of ours to be put to sleep after he was hit by a car,he managed to crawl home but he was too severly injured to save,i was gutted but stayed with him as the vet put him out of his misery,you are doing the right thing k8,however painful it may be for you at least your beloved cat wont be suffering and that would be horrible for both of you..my thoughs are with you x