I’ve had my kitty for 14 years…the vet diagnosed her with both diabetes and the onset of kidney failure. THat, plus her age, equals a long, degenerative, uncomfortable process, inevitably resulting in her death. I made the decision to have her put to sleep, and the vet assured me that I was making the right choice. I still feel like a huge piece of shit. I just don’t want her to suffer, I owe her that much. She’s on my lap, purring and loving me and trusting me…god this is awful. I had a bad feeling about her condition, but I didn’t know I’d react this badly. I can’t stop crying.
Goodbye, my sweet girl. I’m so, so sorry. I just want to do what’s right for you, as much as it hurts me. I love you and will always remember what a wonderful friend you were for so many years.
I am so sorry. I have had to do the same with other pets of mine; the most recent being the cat I’ve had since the day she was born next to our bed. She was also 14, but riddled with cancer. I believe she will know that you do this out of love, and a wish to spare her any more pain. I’m also sure that she knows she is loved. Doesn’t make it any easier to do, though. My hubby went with me, and held me while I cried; the vet let me hold her while she died from the shot. I looked up at one point, and saw tears in my dear husband’s eyes.
Do what is best for her, cry all you need to, and ask if you can hold her till the very end, if you would like. It helped me some, to know she didn’t die alone with strangers on some cold metal table.
Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m sorry you are faced with this. {{{{{Alexxanddra}}}}}
I’ve had to do this more than once. Last time, both kids went with me, so Bogart would be loved and talked to and petted and touched right as he went. We were all crying, it was pretty awful.
It’s also important that kids learn about this. Loved ones, no matter what species, don’t just “go away”.
I’m so very sorry for your loss, the pain is awful. It sounds like your baby is a great family member. Don’t feel like a shit because she’s loving you and trusting you. My feeling is that you are fulfilling that trust. You are caring for her and making a choice that will avoid a prolonged and painful death. You are doing the best thing for her. The beauty, in some perverse way, is that she has no idea. You do, and you’re mourning. She will simply go to sleep.
Well, the deed is done, and kitty is gone. I’m going to miss her, but I’m glad to have spared her the discomfort and pain of a degenerative illness. The vet and receptionist were wonderful…when I broke down in tears they were very kind and understanding. I’m sure that it’s something they see on a regular basis.
Thank you for the sympathy. I hope she knows I loved her. Thank you for saying that I’m a good mommy, Cartooniverse. I really tried. The vet telling me that I was making the right decision meant a lot to me as well. It was a hard choice to make, but I’m confident that it was the correct one. It still hurts, though.
Now I’m off to clean up all the toys and mouses and scrub out the box and dishes and put them away. For now. I know that I can’t stand being catless for very long, and that someday soon I’ll visit the shelter and adopt a new friend. Nothing can replace my little sweetie, but I know I’ll miss the companionship and company that a fuzzy little face can provide.
I feel for you, I know what that’s like, I’ve done it for my own cat, long departed.
I hope it is of some comfort that your cat lived a long life and you were doing it a kindness in the end. There are so many bad ways for your kitty to have left you be glad that it was painless for her and you looked after her well.
I am so sorry for your loss. You did the right thing, though. And I’m so glad that you had a supportive vet. As Cartooniverse said - you were a good mommy.
Says you. I think she’ll remain with you as long as you remember her. We still talk to Miss Emily, and she’s been “gone” four years. As Mr. S said back then, “She’ll never be a past-tense dog to me.” I’m quite sure that’s true for beloved kitties too.
I’m sorry you had such a bad day. But I’m glad you’ve got plans for all that leftover love that involve another kitty. It’s the best way to pay tribute to one that went before, IMHO.
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. But, at least you are sane, which I was very concerned about when I first read your title. I misread cat as car, and then on rollover, when I read kitten, I thought that was a very strange pet name for a car. Then I read the title again, and it all became clear.
Cats don’t deal well with slow, degenerative diseases. They quit eating, and they become less social. They get bony. They look worse and worse. And if you’re the kind of person who can read a cat’s facial expressions, you can SEE the agony there.
Growing, day by day, until they finally die.
I know it hurts, but believe me, you made the best decision you could. Best wishes and hopes.
We just went through this at the end of January. It was so hard holding my cat in my lap, thinking what I’d be doing in a day or two. I concentrated on telling her how much I loved her, and how much I didn’t want her to suffer.
Alexxandra, it will get better over time. You’ll stop looking for her in a few weeks, you’ll adjust to not having an animal around, but you won’t ever forget her.
Vlad/Igor, getting the house ready for a cat or two in the near future…
It sucks, in plain english. It ain’t never easy, and it never feels like you’re actually “doing the right thing” at the time.
But you did. It was the right thing to do.
With a little time and distance, you’ll be able to accept that a bit more readily. It seems that you do understand it was the right way to deal with the situation. Down the road a bit, you’ll feel that way, as well, as others have mentioned.
Thanks again, everyone. I logically know that I did the responsible thing, but I still expect to see her around every corner. Sleeping without her was very odd.
My boyfriend came over last night as soon as I told him the news. I think he took it almost as hard as I did. He loved her too. We did a lot of "remember when"s and laughed at her old antics, and both cried. She adored him.
I think that I might go the way of whiterabbit…I can’t wait too long to get another kitty. My apartment, catless, seems strange and empty. Sometime next week I might go visit some shelters. We’ll see.
I’m discovering that I miss having a furry beast around a lot more than I thought I would. I wanted to shampoo the carpets before getting another cat, and thought about doing that at the end of March. Now we’re going to shampoo this coming week-end.
I’m so sorry for your loss, you are very brave to let your kitty go. I know I will be faced with the same decision soon - my dog Bandit is very old, has mobility problems, and isn’t getting better. He had a bad day today, and I just know that one day he won’t be able to get on his feet. I am so dreading that, he was my first dog. I have other pets, but the loss will still be great.
{{{{{{Alexxandra}}}}}}