I think I have to put my cat to sleep

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I love my cat and my dogs. They are my family. My cat, Morticai, has had a tough history:

He was hit by a car and lost his leg.
He was torn open by a dog who got into my backyard.
He was poisioned.
He has kidney stones.
He had agressive cancer and had the majority of his stomach removed. It will most likely return in two years.
Now, he has a scarred and blocked uretheria. He can’t pee, and they have found crystals in his urine. The surgery to fix his uretheria is $1200. I don’t have it, but that doesn’t matter. If I thought it would help, I would do it. The vet says it might help, but the kidney stones would continue to cause damage. He is really hurting right now.
I don’t know what to do. He hates the vet, is scared to death of it. He is very needy and loving.

I think I might let him rest now, but I don’t know if I can be selfless enough to do it. I’m torn up. I don’t know what to do…

Here is a picture…

http://homepage.mac.com/wiselp/morti.htm

2

That sucks. Had to put down my cat a few years back and can’t look at my dogs without thinking that I’ll have to do it for them, too. (However, if you were to meet me you’d put a side bet on the dogs outliving ME!)

Do your kitty a favor, no matter how much it hurts you.

{{{{{blastfurnace and Morticai}}}}}

3

I’m sorry. :frowning: Some vets will come to your house, so your kitty’s last moments wouldn’t have to be in the vet’s office.

::goes to hug fur-kids::

4

Man, that is one bitchin’ cat!

Don’t know what to say Blast. Talk with your vet. Find out what the alternatives are for your animal’s quality of life. You might be able to give him pain killers and other medicines that will allow for a few more years of companionship.

The prognosis is grim, but if you are able to medicate away the pain for your animal, share some more time with him. I was lucky enough to never have to face this decision with my last pet, “Bear Dog.” My vet helped me to provide the medicines that made his last few years bearable for us both.

If you are unable to do anything else, try to understand that your cat wouldn’t be happy without you, just like you wouldn’t be happy without him. Give him his well deserved rest if he needs it.

When Bear Dog passed, I took him back to the Berkeley hills and buried him at a spot overlooking the house he was born in. Do what you have to and know that you did your best.

My heart goes out to you.

Chris

5

blast,

I sympathize with you in many ways. I recently had to put down my male cat, one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.

He had bone cancer in his knee, lost half his weight in a matter of a week or so and even though I could have taken him to an animal oncologist in Ft. Collins (the Mayo clinic of animal cancer and other veterinary medicine) with my vet’s advice I decided that it was probably best to put him down.

I waited on the decision for a few days hoping that he would pass away naturally, in the comfort of his home with my female cat and dog here with him. Unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen as he was a fighter.

It was a very hard decision for me and even now I cry over him. He was my first baby but I know he is better off but my heart aches because of my selfishness.

Anyhow, here’s his website if you care to look.

http://www.cwcm.net/sam

I hope that my experience will help you make the right decision for your kitty. There is no easy answer and you will need to look to your heart to make the right one. I knew in my heart it was the best thing, called the vet and cried to the receptionist before I backed down and prolonged his pain and suffering.

6

::wipes tears::

Thanks techchick.

That was one cool kitty.

::runs to hug Piewackit::

7

blastfurnace - I’m sorry for the loss you are about to face. I went through it this year with my 13 yr old doberman/pointer cross. My heart still aches. I would agree that perhaps you could ask your vet to come to your house, or give you medicine you can use to sedate him at home, so his passing won’t be filled with fear. Please be strong for Morticai, and do what you know is best for him.

StG

8

(((Morticai & Blast)))

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. The thought haunts me, I almost lost my kitty Bo this past summer, he had a lump removed that tested to be malignant. So far so good with Bo (no regrowth), but even thinking about making that decision was scary. The best to both of you.

9

blast,

I am sitting here crying because of what you are going through. My heart is in pain for both of what you are about to deal with and after rereading over a thread I started about my kitty because of the support I got from this board.

Please know that you will have a lot of support here, as experienced in my situation. If you want to read through the thread and know that even in times like these, your SDMB friends will be there for you every step of the way.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39801&pagenumber=1
God I love my SDMB friends!

If you feel the need, email me and I will do my best to support you through your difficult time.

10

It sounds like your vet is suggesting your kitty have a type of surgery called a PU, where they totally reform his urinary tract and penis. This is a very complicated surgery. And it also sounds as if your vet is not giving him a good prognosis, even if the surgery is done. You have to seriously consider his quality of life at this point. Unlike Zen’s situation, you can’t prolong your kitty’s life with drugs and such, if his urethra is scarred shut and he is unable to pass urine. If you think he is suffering, you are probably correct. Don’t prolong it. I agree with the person who suggest tranqs before the vet visit. It will make things go smoother.
Michi

11

Zenster, you made me laugh! He IS one bitchin’ cat!

I wanted to thank you all for your kind words, thoughts, and wishes. I can’t quit crying over this, but you have made this night pass by much easier. If it comes to it, I will have my vet come to the house…

Gosh, I wish you could meet Morti, he is such a wonderful kitty.

I think this is especially difficuly because my other cat, Mary Magdeline, was hit by a car a few months ago. It is hard to lose two so close together. It least with her it was unexpected. Not that that is a consolation, but the shock covered a lot of greif at first. I wanted to show you her picture, too. She was sweet…

I’m sorry I sound so pitiful, but I know you know how I feel right now. Thanks again for all your support.

Mary: http://homepage.mac.com/wiselp/mary_and_fish.htm
Obidiah: http://homepage.mac.com/wiselp/shnoobers.htm

(Obi is one of my puppies. He is a “giant Malimute”…135 lbs and very furry. Rescued from the pound, if you can believe it. He thinks he is a lap dog!)

12

Obi “wan” my heart over in an instant.

Fear not blast, Obi will see you through. If I didn’t have a 135 pound lap dog as beautiful as that, I’d worry too. Don’t you fret. Do what I did and have a wake. Get toasted and toast all of the moments you love so much with both of your furry pals. Write them down and share them with your friends. (Take lots of pictures right now!)
[sub]PS: I know that it’s d@mn hard to let go. I was so lucky with Bear. I was just smart enough to kiss him on the head the morning of the day I came back from work to find that he had died.[/sub]

13

Losing a pet is a trying and painfully sad experience as Im sure most of us realize… But its important to realize that theres alley cats out there who get hit by cars or torn up by dogs every day that never had the opportunity to be loved and protected and cared for. Cats who’ve never slept in a warm livingroom on a loved ones lap. I cry most for the kitties who werent as lucky as Morticai, Sam and Mary. Its still going to hurt but remember that you made his life a wonderful, loving experience and he’ll live in your memories forever. Despite everything, a truly blessed little guy.

14

No offense malk but what you said:

is not the issue here. I agree, I freak out every time I see a dead animal on the side of the road, including deer but please don’t put feral cats in the same lines as the kitties that have given us unconditional love as the stray cat that feels nothing for anything but to reproduce and the need for food. Our house cats do have a connection with us in their cat like ways.

Yes I feel for those animals but as a pet, dog or cat, it becomes a part of our family you can not compare the love, the soft fur, the bonds, the personalities that are a part of your relationship to your pets than that of the wild cat, dog or any other animal that you are not emotionally involved in.

Sam, as you brought him up, was a huge part of my life. Why? Because he was one of my family. Do I feel sad when I see a wild cat out there? Yes, but my animals are as much a part of my family as my human counterparts.

There are many humans that I don’t look twice at, because they aren’t a core part of my life and daily living. I don’t ask that anyone cares about me, I can only hope that I have given something to have them feel they need to care for me. I think the same for animals.

I have neighbors with animals. Most of those animals I could give a crap about, but my animals are the end and be all of who I am, they are my kids.

As for the OP I think you are being unfair with that statement. Still fresh in my mind and even crying tonight and hard tonight over my cat Sam, I find that statement to be out there.

Look, blast needs comfort and support not a reminder that there are others that are worse off.

So please…I realize there are many animals out there that may need a home but to tell a grieving pet owner that there are worse issues is like telling a parent with a terminally sick child that there are children dying and they can always think about the children suffering in very poor countries.

It doesn’t soften the blow. There are emotional ties that get the parent of an animal to where they are. For many of us our animals are better than our own families.

I am sorry if I seem defensive but your comment was rude and frankly out there for me.

I am sorry that blast has to go through this. It is like loosing a family member, in fact it is loosing a family member. I cry with blast because it is difficult no matter what the situation.

15

You have to be strong for him. He does not understand why he hurts; and you, his god & friend can’t stop it from hurting. And so you have to let him go. I am so sorry- Rajah, Sirdar & Dove send their best kitty wishes also.

But, see if you can do it at home.

16

Well, I’ll be leaving work shortly and going to talk to my vet. I’m a total wreck right now. I don’t know what to say except Thank you all again. I’ll write back later…I know Morti appreciates all your thoughts, too. If you have a moment to spare, just think good thoughts for him…I’m I’m sure that whatever happens will be for the best.

17

Sorry, blast… I’ve got a few moments to spare, so I’ll be sending them your way. And Morti’s.

18

Sorry Blast. We had to have a cat put to slep a few years ago. He was extremely old, (over 20 yrs old) and he’d developed an immune disorder that threatened to spread to out other cats. So we had to put him down. He was a good ol’ cat.

19

blastfurnace, your morti is a cutie. i’m sure you will do right by him. i hope that your vet will help make things as easy as possible for the both of you.

20

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Blast, and Morti. We’ve gone through this in our family with three cats and one dog at various times, and now it looks like we’ll be going through it again soon. One of the cats is almost 20, very feeble and hates cold weather, so winter will be very hard for him. The other is 15 and still vigorous for now, but he’s slowing down, too.

Meanwhile, do what is best for Morti, take the time to grieve and eventually, down the road aways, perhaps you’ll find another small life to share yours.

Bast be with Morti, God be with you.