I have to euthanize another one of my cats.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

It wasn’t too long ago (March 31st to be exact) that my wife and I had to euthanize my favorite cat that I’ve ever had. On Tuesday, we have to do it again.

We’ve had Anubis for a little less than two years or so. We adopted him from the animal shelter, and at the time, he only had a couple days left (people don’t like to adopt black cats). He was a big, healthy cat; weighed about 12 or 13 pounds, and was a big black ball of fluff.

Anyway, he started losing weight a few months ago, and I attributed it to him not eating the new cat food that we got. So we switched back to the food that he liked, and he started eating again. But he wasn’t gaining any of his weight back. The vet told us some interesting things.

First, he’s considerably older than we thought. We thought he was about 5, but the vet said that he’s more like 10. Second, he has also had his left rear leg broken before (we have no idea how that happened).

We also found out he has kidney stones in both kidneys (the doctor says that although he’s only around 10, Anubis has the kidneys of an 18 year old cat). In fact, there’s a stone that has completely blocked the ureter that leads from his left kidney to the bladder. I guess it was too big for him to pass. The vet isn’t sure if the kidney has completely died yet, but even if it hasn’t, it would only be a matter of time.

Because of the stones, he has chronic infection in both kidneys that antibiotics couldn’t help. In fact, he’s gotten worse since he started them. The doctor said that we could hook him up to an antibiotic IV drip to see if that helps, but I told him that I didn’t think that it would help, even in the short term. He agreed, and he said that he felt, in all honesty, my decision was the correct and most humane one.

When we had to put Chauncey down, I posted about it in the pit. I didn’t do that here, because if you read the link, just replace “age” and “passage of time” with “disease”, and you’ll get the same thing.

This doesn’t hurt nearly as much as when we had to let go of Chauncey. We haven’t had Anubis anywhere near as long. He’s rather aloof, and although he does let you pet him, he doesn’t really actively seek out attention. And I know that I’ll be doing the right thing by ending his suffering.

But, knowing that doesn’t help. Despite not having him for very long, and despite his aloofness, he’s STILL a part of my family. And losing a family member hurts. It also makes me wonder if it’s really worth having pets when you know what’s going to inevitably happen.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to have them do a community cremation, or if I want to keep his remains. I’m leaning toward keeping them, because I don’t want to regret not keeping them later on.

I know that after it’s done, after I’ve convinced my heart that I DID do the right thing, and a little bit of time has gone by, I’ll be better. But right now, I’m bitter.

cardsfan1975

2

I’m sorry about your kitty. These situations are always so hard, and they always hurt so much. No matter how short a time you’ve had them, it’s always hard, and it always hurts. I wish there was something someone could say to make it better, but I know there isn’t.

3

We had to put down two in TWO WEEKS last year. It was awful. We used a woman who does housecalls for the first one. But she does a two-shot process, and the cat was very bummed about it. Not such a good death. The second one was taken to the vet where he did the standard one-shot death. Much better, as that sort of thing goes.

Sorry for your loss. It’s difficult to do them so close together.

I hope you’ll find another kitty to warm your heart.

4

Actually, I don’t think we are getting any more pets for a while. Having to put two down within months of each other is really taking it’s toll. I hate seeing animals in pain or in ill health, it breaks my heart.

Thanks for the kind words though. I am really sorry for your loss as well, it’s never easy to put a beloved pet down.

5

I’m so very sorry. We recently lost one of our cats to a very similar disease (or it sounds that way, anyway; they never did figure it out for sure). He was only four. The pain of losing a pet is terrible, to say the least. I know that it may take some time, but I hope that you eventually will feel ready to love—and be loved by—another pet. The rewards truly outweigh the pain, IMHO.

6

Sorry to hear your news. The loss of a loved pet is a very deep sadness. Sending warm thoughts your way.

7

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I know how tough it is. We had to euthanize our Boston Terrier, Buster aka Poonther, less than two weeks ago. He was 15 and was starting to have cluster seizures and was blind and deaf, BUT that still did not make it any easier on us. I did find that coming to the decision to do the process was much harder than actually doing/watching the process. We had his vet come to our house and it was a simple one shot deal. I was surprised at how peaceful the process was on him.

We also lost our other Boston, Bo, 17 months ago to cancer and now we are dogless.

The thing that upsets me the most is when people (usually non-pet people) will say “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that…are you going to get another dog?” WTF? What even remotely gives you the right to ask this question? I always wanna reply with, “when you lost your grandmother, did you go out and get another one?” Listen people, I’m not looking for a quick replacement. I think and have read that you need time to properly grieve and should not run out and get another pet ASAP. Also I’ve read that you should not make definite decisions in the few weeks after your pet’s death about getting another pet. You’ll know in time if and when it’s right for you to get another one. So folks in here and in the outside world, lay off with the question “are you going to get another one.” It’s a rude and disturbing quesion to me and probably to others.

Again, I’m sorry to hear about your kitty. In my research about euthanasia, I did read from many sources that most people wait too long to euthanize their pets because it’s a tough decision or they are hoping that the pet will get better or die of natural causes and in the end the pet suffers more than it should.

So here’s to Anubis and I hope he has a peaceful passing and a wonderful journey to the next realm.

8

I’m sorry to hear about everybody’s critters. It’s so sad when you have to do this.

Poonther, as insensitive as youfind it for people to ask if you’re going to find another dog (or cat, or fish, or whatever), I’m one of those people who can’t imagine an animal-less house. I’d find another one right away, not as a replacement, but because I need a critter to love on. The people who ask this may feel the same way, and I honestly don’t think they’re trying to be mean.

9

Whiterabbit let me clarify my comment. I understand that we are all different and that some of us will go out and get another pet ASAP. That’s OK, to each his own and I respect that decision of yours and others. But what I am saying is that the question is rude and disturbing no matter what the intentions are. You know the old saying about the road to hell and what it is paved with don’t you? Anyway, even if you are thinking this question, don’t blurt it out unless you are extremely close to the person and if you are, you probably don’t even need to ask the question because you already know the answer. Just keep your mouth shut about this question and let the pet owner tell you his/her intentions about getting another pet either at that time or in the future. Can you imagine people asking this question to someone who has just lost a human family member especially a child. “So are you guys going get busy and have another one?” Ha, I think the people asking that question would be shot on the spot.

So why is this an acceptable question to ask a greiving pet owner?

10

When Chauncey (our 22 year old) hit his 18th birthday we adopted a few more kitties. So our home is far from animal-less. :slight_smile: We started out this year with 4 cats and the dog. Tomorrow afternoon will leave us with 2 cats and the dog. The dog is getting up in years, so I know we will have to face her demise sometime soon.

I really appreciate the kind thoughts of everyone. I personally am not ready to adopt any more animals right now. My concern is for Sebastian and Sabrina, the two that will be left. They are/have lost two of their playmates, and I am sure it isn’t easy on them. I would hate to stress them out by adding a strange cat into our house right after Anubis goes away. I think right now they need much more snuggle time to help them through their loss as well.

11

And let me clarify – my apologies, I didn’t mean that it is an acceptable question to ask, only that for some people finding a new pet is the obvious thing to do when they lose one, and maybe they simply don’t think that it isn’t for everybody. I know it isn’t, and I wouldn’t ask somebody that unless I knew they thought along the same lines I do. Not thinking is the cause of a lot of hurt in this world.

I am sorry if I hurt any feelings, especially in a thread like this. I am as big an animal lover as anybody, and I would hate to cause anybody grieving a pet to feel worse than they do already.

12

I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. It is a very tough thing, and nature can be so cruel.

The one thing that comforted me when I went through something similar with my all-time favorite ferret was the reminder from an email friend that my Blue had trusted me his whole life to make health and medical decisions for him, and that when the time came, I owed it to him to help with this one, too. I wasn’t letting him down by doing this, but continuing a trust.

(I know, he didn’t “trust” me in the literal sense, but you know what I mean.)

I love my furkids, but I still miss him all the time. But I also feel happy that I got to know him.

Best wishes during this sad time. Best wishes to your other pets, too–everyone will feel the loss.

13

Actually, yes. And yes, they should. But I didn’t have the nerve (or the ammo) to do so.

My condolences, cardsfan1975, on your loss and on the heartache you must now be feeling. Knowing you did the kindest thing you could do does not make the emptiness full.

14

Thank you everybody. The kind words help, and it also helps knowing that this is something that just about everybody goes through. I know that people don’t have to tell me that they’ve gone through it before for me to know that it happens to other people. But the reassurance is comforting.

Anyway, I think I realized today what makes this one harder than I would think it should be. When I look at Anubis, and watch his mannerisms, he’s still showing life. That’s something that my wife and I didn’t see with Chauncey, and because of that, it made the decision for him easier. I guess though, that Anubis is young enough to still live, even though his kidneys won’t let him.

Again, thanks everybody.

cf’75

15

I think it depends on how it is asked.

I make a habit of gently suggesting that when they are “ready” (and I know not everyone is right away) that they consider getting a pet from the pound. Save an animal from death, in the memory of their much beloved animal that they recently lost. No one, so far, has been offended by that.

But no, I wouldn’t assume that everyone is going to rush out and get a “replacement model” right away. All I know was that when I was griefstricken after suddenly losing a beloved kitty, the only thing that helped was saving another kitty from the pound, the very next day. It was the best choice for me.

cardsfan1975, it is so hard. Take it easy on yourself.

16

My deepest sympathies. It always hurts when you have to make this kind of decision, and the pain will not go away for a long while. I don’t know who said this, but it’s true: “I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.”

I still grieve for the loss of my last dog, Lollypop, in 1991 (can’t take care of one now, so I’m alone). I think that those of us who love critters and share our lives with them have richer lives than those who don’t, but there is pain and grief when they go, and for a long time it seems greater than the joy, especially when you have to put them down. But when the first piercing pain of loss eases, we know that we have received more than we have given.

Do you believe in the Rainbow Bridge? There are about a zillion copies (some incomplete) of it on webpages, nearly all of which say it’s anonymous (but I’ve found it attributed to Paul C. Dahm), including one that’s reformatted into a poem, and one that I dare anyone to read without getting water in the eyes: Rainbow Bridge (the other one). I can’t quite persuade myself, but it is a very comforting idea, all the same. And one thing that cannot be taken from you is the memories you have of the time you have had with your beloved critters.

17

Tygerbryght, thank you for this. This is exactly how I feel towards our pets. Cardsfan and I spoil our “kids” rotten, and I would literally do anything for them. But when I reach the point where I can not do anything for them to make them feel better or to ease their suffering, I love them enough to let them go.

The Rainbow bridge is a wonderful story, thanks so much for sharing it with us. (The poem link is broken I think)

18

You’re entirely welcome.

:confused:
It worked when I posted it, and it’s working now - for me, at least - as I post this. Rainbow Bridge poem

19

My deepest sympathies. I’ve never had to make this decision for one of our kitties, but we’ve had to put a couple of our gerbils to sleep. Even gerbils can break your heart.

20

I’m so sorry about your poor babies. :frowning:
I hope I never have to do this. I love my furry bastards so much!

{{{{{cardsfan1975}}}}}