By unwanted, of course I mean unwanted by others, or abandoned like the three kittens we found on the side road a few months ago, Larry, Moe and Curly.
bodypoet – I have been there and it’s never an easy decision. I still ache to this day when I had to put my wonderful Sam down in Sept of 2000. I posted here of my plight and got lots of support from those here on the SDMB.
Anyhow, I want you to know that while your heart hurts, know that your kitty is happy and safe now. Nothing will hurt her ever again.
This site: http://www.petloss.com/ (as music) was recommended to me by someone here on the SDMB, I don’t recall who it was but while I bawled my eyes out reading through it, it was very cleansing. So please stop by and let your emotions go. Grieve as much as you need. Pets are our family and to lose them means as much (to most people) as losing a member of our human family.
Hugs to you and please know that you did the right thing, as hard as it seems.
{{{{{{{{{{bodypoet }}}}}}}}}}}}}}
First you tried every thing you could to help you littlel kitten. You did everything you could.
At the last you took the best option, and yet saddest step for you. You put her to sleep. Putting pets to sleep in these cases is a very hard choice. But sometimes it is the only choice. i takes breavery to put a pett you love down.
Bodypoet, feel free to email me f you want to talk. I lost My Dagny in my apartment fire. I know Dagny made it out of my apartment, I beliefe that Dagny found a new home becasue Dgany loved everyone. I have been serching or Dagny for six months at least. I just want my Dagny back.
{{{bodypoet}}}}
Feel free to email me. I lost my Mama cat ‘Dagny’ in my appartmentfire.
Slee
Damn. I’m crying. I’m so very sorry bodypoet. I’m so so sorry.
Poor kitty. I would have done the same thing.
(((((((((hugs)))))))))) and prayers for your kity angel up above.
(now, you must go out and get a new one at your local shelter…IMHO, it would be the best thing.)
Again, I’m so sorry. These creatures are just the best.
CH
I’m so glad that there are other cat lovers here. My 11 yo, who was gone at the time, is my main concern now…he is a softy (much like me, perhaps even more so) and is devastated by the news that Sassafras didn’t survive the weekend. I did, at least, tell him before he left that I thought she wouldn’t make it, so he got a chance to tell her goodbye. But like me, he keeps saying, “Oh, mom. I just feel so sorry for her.” Sweet, sweet boy.
I’m so touched by all your stories. What a nice tribute to our beloved pets, to have them memorialized here. Slee, I’m so sorry–I remember reading your post about the apartment fire, and I’ve wondered if your kitty found her way home. I have a very strong feeling that she has been adopted by someone else, but I know how much you love and miss her.
I probably won’t seek out another cat quite yet, as I already have four others who are fat, content, and bossy, but I am always open to that one lost kitty who finds me. There is something very comforting to me about having cats draped all over things.6
I feel bad that my kitty wasn’t sick when I got her, but the vet assures me that he doesn’t think it was anything I did or exposed her to that caused her illness. In fact, he thinks that perhaps she was sick, but that her symptoms were being controlled by medication/diet/whatever, or that it wasn’t as acute as it became later. (She came from a no-kill shelter, and I am not confident that the lady who ran it was totally honest about my kitty’s health when I inquired, because she got sick immediately–within days–when I adopted her.) I certainly tried every food on the market, to the extent that ALL my kitties ate the good ol’ $30/10# stuff for a while; and all the steroids and anti-inflammatories that we gave her just didn’t do the trick. It’s horrible to be willing to do everything you can, and then to find that it just isn’t enough.
Again, thank you all for your comfort and stories. I’m truly touched.
I’m so sorry about your kitty, bodypoet; your story was really touching. I’m sure it was not your fault that kitty got sick, though of course guilt isn’t always the most rational feeling. I hope it’s some consolation that so many here wish you well as you deal with this difficult time.
Big hugs to you and to the others who shared their stories.
Hey bodypoet,
I’m glad you have four other felines to keep you company. I just love cats. sigh
Yes…another one may cross your path one day.
Take care…CH
I’m so sorry.
I bawled and bawled and bawled both times I had to put a cat to sleep. Even though I knew it was for the best.
It’s hard. Sending good thoughts your way.
My sincere sympathies, bodypoet. In spite of your cat’s illness, she had someone to care for her and I am sure she took comfort from it. She may not have been with you for long, but it was long enough for her to know she was loved.
I have had several cats over the years. The last one (called The Striped One) had to be euthanized and I would like to take this opportunity to encourage pet owners to consider having the vet make a house call, if that service is available from your clinic. It seemed more comfortable for my cat, since she stressed out every time we went to the vet’s office - this way, she was in her own environment. Secondly, it was more comfortable for me, since I had the vet to myself, so to speak. I was used to vets being busy and somewhat removed, what with all the other patients and surgeries and phones ringing; in this instance, since he had no other distractions, I found my vet to be warm, sympathetic and supportive, and my cat and I had his full attention. He also took the time to explain the whole procedure slowly and clearly.
The Striped One was put to sleep in my arms, in her own home, purring. It was quick, and I had had quality time to say goodbye. He then took the cat away. I won’t say it was a pleasant experience, but I found it better than going to the animal clinic: I didn’t have to wait, I didn’t have to share the vet’s attention, I didn’t have to wait until I was home to break down and I didn’t have to drive home crying, with an empty cat carrier. If you can afford it, please look into this service. You’ll be doing your pet, and yourself, a favor.
I have to say how great my vet was, bless his heart. Here it was, after closing time on a Friday evening, and he should have been on his way home. Instead, he asked me to bring her in so he could see her. When he saw how bad she was, he spent a good 40 minutes or so with me while I made my decision, let me have time alone with her before he administered the sedative, and gave me a big hug before he left. I was touched–what a great guy. Even though she looked horrible, he kept telling her how beautiful she was and how he was so sorry to see her feeling so ill.
bodypoet,
Sounds like a compasionate vet. I had a vet like that when I had to put my pet rabbit asleep a few years back. The vet gave me time to think about what I wanted to do and to say goodbye.
I’m so sorry, bodypoet. I’ve never had to put a cat to sleep, but I have had to do that for a dog I loved very much. It hurts so bad–5 years later I want to cry.
Did it a little over a year ago.
Will probably be doing it again this year.
Sorry for your loss.
My deepest sympathies… I’ve had to put down a few beloved pets in my days…
I may come off as something of a cold bastard most of the time (here and in the world), but I know what you’re going through and I feel for you and yours.
hmmm… does empathy mean more when it comes from someone that almost never has any?