Poor kitty. She’s been sick ever since I got her…she had terrible canker sores–stomatitis, I think?–covering the inside of her mouth. Initially, the vet believed that removing her back teeth would solve the problem. When I took her in for the procedure, however, he realized that because only her tongue was involved (as opposed to her gums or gums/tongue), the operation was likely to be unsuccessful. We’ve gone through this process about three times, and I’ve spent a small fortune trying to get her well.
Last week, I took her in again, in hopes that the tooth extraction would be deemed appropriate. The vets felt, again, that it wouldn’t, but they biopsied her tongue and treated her with steroids and other medications. She was in hospital for four days, and was looking pretty perky when I brought her home. She was grooming, had been eating well at the vet’s, and actually purred when I petted her.
That was on Monday evening. Tuesday, she seemed okay, and I attributed her not eating to having a sore mouth from the biopsy. Wednesday, she took to her sleeping spot and started sleeping–a bad sign. Yesterday morning, I thought she was dead, but she wasn’t–quite. She couldn’t stand, and refused water even from a syringe. I called the vet, and he expressed surprise when I said I thought she would have to be euthanized. “But she was eating quite well!” he said. “Wait 'til you see her,” I told him.
He was appalled at how quickly she had gone downhill, considering the amount of medication he had given her only a few days ago. He outlined the options, but frankly, they all involved a lot of treatment with no real hope of curing her. We’ve been using all the treatments available for her, and while she rebounds for a day or two, it’s always followed by weeks of misery until we could give her more steroids.
He showed me the inside of her mouth, and it was horrible. She must have been in agony. I looked in her eyes, and she just looked…empty, as if she were already gone. The vet said it best: She looked like she was trying to die.
So I had to have the vet kill my lovely, sweet kitty, who never did anything to deserve such misery. I know it was the kindest thing to do, but I’m still haunted by what she went through, and the fact that I couldn’t help her when she needed me.
Damndamndamn.
My heart aches for you, Bodypoet. God go with you always.
{{{{{{bodypoet}}}}}}
This is always such a hard decision to make, and such a painful one.
With their trusting little eyes, they look to us to make their world all better, and sometimes the only way you can do that is to end the pain.
Hugs and love to you.
I’m so sorry for you Bodypoet. I know that it’s hard to have to make the choice between quantity of life and quality of life for your kittycat. You helped her as much as you could when she was sick and you helped her the only way you could when she was in pain. It’s a very hard and very brave thing to do. I still regret having to do the same thing but I know it was kinder than letting my babycat die slowly and painfully.
Having a way to say goodbye might help. After my cat was put down, my DH and I framed a picture, got some black and white candles (our cat was black & white), and had a little memorial service in our living room that night. It sounds corny but saying goodbye really helped. Be strong.
I am so sorry. I’ve been there, and it’s a hard decision to make. You did the right thing. I hope you get to dream about your sweet fluffy girl like I do about my Alley-cat 
{{{bodypoet}}}
I’m gonna go hug my cat for a few hours.
**bodypoet, **I am so sorry. Sometimes life just isn’t fair. We know that but it still hurts. I’ll be thinking of you and your kitty.
I’m so sorry. My heart and my prayers are with you.
My Love,
Cheri
i am so sorry.
you did all you could for her. sometimes all the love in the world can’t cure, just comfort. you are a great comfort to your kitty.
I am so sorry for your loss. I went through the same thing with my old dog Lou in April. You said
You know that’s not true. You helped her in the best way you could. It was a brave and compassionate thing you did. I’m sure on some level she realized it too.
{{{{Bodypoet}}}}}
I too would like to ad my condolences. Recently my ex asked me to accompany her to the vet to have her cat euthanized. Since I am on very good terms with her I went and consoled her the best I could. Still, it was very tough for both of us because while we were married we had cats and loved them very much.
When I get home from work in the morning, I will be spending a few minutes with my Susie and thinking of you, Bodypoet. Thanks for giving your kitty a home and loving her.
Quasimodem
sniff
Thank you all for your kind support. I always try to remind myself that things could be much worse in my life, but that doesn’t really minimize the sadness I feel over this. I’ve never had to put a pet down before, and I dread having to go through it ever again…and considering the ages of my other pets, I’m sure it will happen all too soon.
She was a lovely, beautiful, regal-looking queen of a kitty when she was well, too. But when she was sick, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an animal look more pitiful. She couldn’t groom at all, much less eat. It was just heartbreaking, and I feel so bad for her, even though I know she’s not in pain anymore.
Tomorrow will be better, I’m sure. My husband and I are having more problems too, so right now I’m just treading water and waiting for the tide to turn.
hugs all Dopers within reach
Your story brought tears to my eyes. I had to have a cat put down because of bladder problems. I could not see spending $300 every other week. He was my cat and he let everyone know about it. When I was home, he was with me no matter what I was doing. He would even walk behind me when I was mowing the lawn. I know how you feel, its the pits.
They say getting a new pet right away helps, I have had 4 cats since but none of them could replace Scandal.
The kitty’s in a better place now. I send my condolences.
Nothing hurts more than losing your pet.
I’m a mama to seven kitties. And we need some quality time tonight.
(((((((hugs for bodypoet))))))))
You gave one kitty soul a very happy home during it’s lifetime. Don’t sell this short. We humans tend to do that.
(((bodypoet)))
poor kitty.
but it’s really the kindest thing.
we had to put our beloved hamish to sleep in november. he had an abcess on his lung.
it’s sad but it’s the only real option.
{{{bodypoet}}} On a rainy day, I was driving back to Phila from the house I was buying below Harrisburg. I saw a blob in the road, and as I neared, I saw a kitten! He was sitting on the line, and I snagged him, jumping back into the car with both of us drenched. Dried with my sweatshirt, he sat in my lap and went to sleep. Back in Phila, he stopped eating, and I went the same route as you. Recalling that day makes my cry as I type.
Our babies are special while we have them here, and are always loved inside our hearts
My condolences to you, bodypoet. I once found a cat with a broken leg. I took him to the vet, and after the leg was amputated, I took him home with me. He lorded over the three females that we have, and treated me as an equal, which coming from a cat is the highest honour you can receive. About seven months later we noticed that he had trouble peeing, so my wife took him to the vet. He seemed healthy, but died suddenly on the examination table. That devastated me, I cried for two days. And I am a goddamn redneck carpenter!
That was four years ago, and we have since then added four unwanted cats to our family. One of them, Eileen, was born with three legs, but is a lovely cat nevertheless.
We have no children, so our menagerie takes their place. Our cats and dog give us joy and happiness that would otherwise be less in our lives.
If you can, get another cat. You can’t replace a loved pet, but a new pet can take some of the sorrow away. I still think of my Tripod.