Strange And Unpleasant Question

[rockyracoon]

A relative of mine has a cat that is very old and very poorly. The poor thing needs to be helped over the bridge. Now, this relative lives in Thailand, they are three vets along and none of them will put the cat to sleep, saying that nature should take it’s course. My relative is very upset and distressed with this as if he lived here, the vet would do the decent thing. Is there anything he can do, quickly and painlessly to help his poor moggy?
Ta :(

[ladybirder]

Oh lawdy RR I would be distressed as well if that was me. Only thing I can think of is if he went to a cat sanctuary, if there is such a place in Thailand near him, where perhaps they might be more understanding and ask their vet to do the deed. A long shot I know but worth a try?

[jakep]

Your relative must be very distressed.
I understand fully that they would want to ease the suffering of their cat. I can think of no swift, relatively painless way this can be done at home without veterinary help. Their attitude is appalling.
Frankly, the only thing that comes to mind is a gas oven, sorry.

[Peter Pedant]

dont give opiates of any kind - widely available in Thai
it excites them

[jakep]

Ladybirder has a good idea, they could ring around.
Also if they have the equivalent of RSPCA, they may carry the necessary injection.

[rockyracoon]

I’ll ask them about a sanctuary, but I won’t hold my breath. He seems to take care of quite a few strays himself.
Thanks all

[wolf63]

A horrible situation to be in. As PP says some drugs seem to opposite effects in other species.

I agree with Ladybirder as a sanctuary for help.

I can think of no humane way to kill the poor cat.

[IJKLM]

A lot of Thai people are Buddhist.
Buddhists, on the whole, do not believe in taking life.

to describe their attitude as, "Their attitude is appalling." is not really appropriate.

To take a life (even of an insect, let alone a mammal), is seen as something against nature and against the Buddha.

If your relative wants to end a life, then take a hammer and murder the poor thing, or wring its neck.

Or maybe let nature take its course, as all the locals wish.

It is not really appropriate to ask someone else to take responsibility for your relative's sensibilities - especially if those people have an ethical objection to deliberately taking life. If he thinks the cat is better off dead, he should do it himself.

[Philoctetes]

There is very little your relative can do to hasten the end. It may seem pathetic to say this, but I would do everything in my power to make the cat comfortable, give it plenty of water, and keep it company (if it wants - often a cat will just go away to die). I have helped many cats in their final hours over the decades, and am convinced they appreciated this. They know when their time is up.

[rockyracoon]

Philo, thank you, he’s doing all that at the moment. Hopefully it won’t be too drawn out and the cat will pass quite quickly.

[kvalidir]

Well there are plenty of ways to actually kill an animal that's suffering, some more gentle than others but I wouldn't recommend any, however a Google search will throw up the three commonest ( barbiturates, Helium and Insulin) but really please don't the room for those to go wrong and make things worse is massive just comfort the poor thing as best he can x

[andres]

Whereabouts in Thailand is your relative?

[rockyracoon]

Not to sure, Andres. I think the nearest town is Pattaya, but I’m not sure how far away that is from him.

[Toorak]

Doesn’t jj109 live in Thailand (and I think he has cats)? Maybe he can offer some advice if he looks in?

[andres]

I searched and found this vet in Bangkok who might possibly do something for the cat. However he is in Bangkok . His name is Dr. Maytee Tangpanit ,Ari Pet Hospital,1135 Paholyothin Road,10400 Bangkok. Quite a long way from Pattaya .No harm done in phoning him for advice.

[jno]

I have to agree with IJKLM - he's living somewhere convenient for him, I expect, but it's not convenient for putting a cat to sleep; their beliefs are different. He'll either have to take on responsibility for doing it himself, as he took on the responsibility for having a cat there in the first place, or let nature take its course.

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Andres. I’ll let him know. Fortunately he’s married to a Thai lady so she can do the talking.

Thanks all

[ladybirder]

If it is the vets' faith which stops them, then perhaps a vet of a different faith could help?

[IJKLM]

Hi RR. I have to apologise for being perhaps unnecessarily brutal.

Maybe I should have said it more gently - something like this:

If a loved pet is approaching its final days, there is a choice between ending its suffering, or letting it end its days over the natural course of events.

A decision to end suffering is, however, ultimately a decision to kill, whether the instrument of death is a syringe full of lethal chemicals, or something more brutal.

A decision to let the loved pet end its days with love and nuturing (and painkillers) is a decision for love.

Whether your friend believes in the Buddhist cycle of life, death and re-birth, or not, the decision to love or to kill will remain with your friend.

The cat will die. Maybe sooner; maybe later. The decision to kill in a bid to ease suffering will remain with your friend. A decision to love and nurture will also remain with him.

I wish him wisdom in his choices - difficult as they are.

[rockyracoon]

Apology accepted IJ. Thank you.