# I've got to put my cat to sleep. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159 "2004-08-16T23:46:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/1 "2004-08-16T23:46:51Z")
We’ve had Clapton for 20 years. He’s developed a large lump in his side, and shits & pisses all over the house. He’s been doing this for a year or so, now. I’ve cleaned up after him regularly. More & more often, he vomits all over the house. Hairball medicine doesn’t help any more. Today, he vomited six times. He doesn’t even _want_ to walk around outside any more. He just lays on the floor, & sleeps. He’s stiff, & finds it hard to get around. He’s lost 1/3 of his body weight from 2 years ago. He’s my best friend, & it’s becoming obvious that his life is coming to an end. We’ve made the decision, & I hate it. But, I don’t think there’s anything left to do. I cried when I held him today. I’ve got to put my cat to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/2 "2004-08-17T00:00:05Z")
☹ I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/3 "2004-08-17T00:02:51Z")
I’m sorry, **Bosda**. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/4 "2004-08-17T00:09:39Z")
Damn. Hugs, Bosda. That’s such a hard thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/5 "2004-08-17T00:35:25Z")
i’m so sorry bosda. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/6 "2004-08-17T00:40:35Z")
I’m sad for you. But you know what you have to do. He can’t tell you how much he hurts right now. Soon, he’ll feel no pain. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/7 "2004-08-17T00:54:33Z")
I’m sorry too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/8 "2004-08-17T01:21:44Z")
I am sorry to hear you sad news. Sending supporting thoughts your way. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/9 "2004-08-17T01:26:42Z")
I keep asking myself: Am I rationalizing the need to put him down, because of the shitting in the house? Or, have I been trying not to notice how far he’d gone? Or am I just beating myself up with guilt? ---
**Author:** ![J.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@J.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.Me)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/10 "2004-08-17T01:32:10Z")
I feel bad for you, **Bosda**. Twenty years to have a friend whom you love and who loves you is a blessing. If I may, I’ll hug and pet my friend in the honor of you and yours. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/11 "2004-08-17T01:41:30Z")
Oh no. I feel so bad for you. I just went through that with my dog and it sucked totally. It’s been 11 days since I said goodbye to Bandit, and yesterday was the first day I didn’t spend in tears. I wish I could give you some helpful advice, but the pain will still come. I don’t think there is anything more painful than having to make that decision - even if you know it is the right thing to do. I just got Bandit’s ashes back today, I’ve made a little memorial to him, that helped a little. Know that he will live on in your heart. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/12 "2004-08-17T01:42:36Z")
Ending a friend’s pain and suffering is a blessing. I’ve had to have several of my cats put to sleep, and cried for each one. Do not feel guilty. You’ve done all you can. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/13 "2004-08-17T02:01:44Z")
**Bosda** , your cat wouldn’t have survived for twenty years if you had not taken wonderful care of him. He has no way of telling you how much he hurts, but his body is telling you. No one likes cleaning up, but you know deep down that that is not the reason that you are going to let him go. If that were the case, you would have done it a long time ago. You are going to do it _because_ you are his best friend and you are the only one who can take him out of his misery. I’m so sorry. I almost didn’t read this because the thought of having to go through this haunts every pet owner. Then I saw that it was you. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/14 "2004-08-17T02:16:27Z")
**Bosda** , I am so sorry. It’s the hardest thing a pet owner can do, but is also the last, best gesture of caring. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s not about the messing in the house. As has been said, Clapton wouldn’t have lived this long if you hadn’t loved and taken care of him. May I offer a point of practical advice? If you are going to bury Clapton on your own property have the grave prepared ahead of time. It’s what we do in my family, it helps actually. When I buried my cat Baby four years ago I placed his favorite blanket in first, along with his food dish, his leash, his favorite catnip mousie, and he had a St. Francis medallion at his neck. Ritual helps pave the way. My sister just put her cat Max to sleep this weekend and I’m still a little bummed myself. I loved that cat too, the first Scottish Fold I ever met. Take care of yourself, we are thinking of you. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/15 "2004-08-17T02:30:11Z")
You are showing **Clapton** one last expression of your love for him. Try not to second guess your decision and reasons. It is obvious in the care that you have given him for 20 years that you want what is best for him. He knows. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/16 "2004-08-17T05:42:14Z")
I’m so sorry. When I lost my cat, my namesake, my heart was broken. She was my sweetest, dearest friend. It’s a heartbreak, and I feel for you. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/17 "2004-08-17T06:26:22Z")
I’m so sorry, **Bosda** , and **Boscibo** , and everyone else who’s having to go through this. I had to do the same for my beloved 18-year-old cat last summer, and it still hurts to think about it. Having dealt with the final illnesses of six very loved pets in my lifetime, I can tell you that there’s always some doubt. At different times, I’ve beat myself up worrying that I’m giving up too soon, that I’m not doing enough, or that I waited too long and made them go through unnecessary suffering. Because we love them, we think we should be able to do more for them, but we can’t always do anything more, no matter how much we want to. If love could make them live forever, then none of us would have to go through this. Try not to give in to irrational feelings of guilt. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/18 "2004-08-17T07:58:26Z")
So sorry to hear about your cat. I just had this happen a couple of months ago with the family dog, a large and lovable beast that we rescued 9 years ago. He had similar problems, incontinent, snappish from the pain, unable to move, all the symptoms of old age. We kept trying to put it off, trying to delay the inevitable until we finally realised that we were doing it for us rather than for him. I had the vet come by the next day. He’s in the back yard now with some blooming plants growing over him and some rocks around his grave. All the best wishes to you and I am sorry for your troubles. Tetsy ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/19 "2004-08-17T08:12:52Z")
Do it, **Bosda.** Do it for **Clapton.** At this point, it’s more cruel and selfish to keep him alive and suffering. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/20 "2004-08-17T13:09:31Z")
**Bosda** , I am so very sorry. My mom’s cat, Josie, is 19 and is slowly winding down. The vet says she’s not in pain but she’s under 5 lbs now so it won’t be long. I hate that you’re going through this too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159.md?page=2)