Oh God, I Killed It.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Hi Zut-

I used to raise siamese cats, and in the 19 litters I raised, I only lost one kitten. He was also the only “runt” I ever had.

He looked normal when he was born, but failed to thrive. The other kittens got bigger and fatter, but he stayed so small and skinny that his big ears made him look like a bat.

I named him Radar. I had really long hair (I could sit on it) at the time, and he used to climb up and go to sleep underneath my hair, curled up in the nape of my neck. He was such a doll.

One night I decided that the reason he wasn’t growing was that he was too timid to fight for a place on mom’s nip factory. So, I called the vet and got a recipe for supplemental food. I fed him myself for one day, and when I got home from work the next day, he was lying limp and lifeless on my pillow. I sat with him in my lap, and cried until I was all cried out. I was just about to call my BF to come over to help me bury him, when he twitched and had a sort of convulsion. This started me off again, (crying) and I called BF who suggested that I tap him on the head with a hammer. You probably know how I reacted to that.

This went on for awhile, me starting to calm down and thinking he was gone, then a convulsion and more hysterics on my part.

Finally, I called my friend Lisa, who suggested I put him in a tupperware bowl and burp the air out, suffocating him and putting him out of his misery.

You know how when one of your friends has a tupperware party and you feel obligated to go, the first thing they do is ask what your favorite piece of tupperware is, and what you use it for? Lisa and I attended one about six months after the incident, and no one could understand why we were both hysterically laughing. Of course it wasn’t at all funny at the time of the death, but a little black humor helps to get through the aftermath.

Anyway, this was probably 20 years ago, and I can still remember how awful the whole thing was.

I feel for you, my friend, but you had to do what you did. The kitten was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and there was nothing you could do to prevent it. The kindest thing you could do was to give it eternal rest.

BTW, the vet said that what probably happened was that Radar’s internal organs were defective, and that when I fed him by hand, he ate enough to overpower them and cause them to completely malfunction. Major guilt trip.

Scotti

42

(((Zut))) You did the right thing! wiping tears aside

I hit a dog once. He shot out of the bushes and right in front of me. He took off running down the road so I went after him in my car and followed him home. I knocked on the door of his owners and told them what happened. They put the dog in the garage and seemed annoyed with me. He was probably fine but I felt they least they could’ve done was hug the poor thing and look him over. Maybe they were just uneasy with my presense… who knows.

My husband said they were probably worried I would sue them for damages to my car (which I never even thought to look at my car and didn’t care anyway). I thought he was nuts for saying that but sure enough, I saw on People’s Court one time a person sue for damages to his car when he hit someone’s dog. He won on the basis that the owners “Failed to control their animal”. Sad…

~Tracie

43

but wanted to empathize nonetheless.

Of course, you did the right thing, zut.

I’m one of those who doesn’t think he could kill an animal, even if it was the right thing to do. Maybe, as zut says, I’ll find a way to do it should it ever become necessary.

All I have to say is, I hope to hell I never have to find out.

I thank God for people like Michi, who often have to do what I cannot. It is not a lucrative profession, and often not enjoyable either, as her “animal emergency” threads have often illustrated. But I do hope it’s occasionally fulfilling and rewarding when you actually do something to help an animal.

44

{{{zut}}}

You did the right thing, zut. Not to put anyone down, but I think it’s a sign of emotional maturity when you realize your own discomfort at having to do such a task is nothing compared to the suffering of that poor creature. You did the right thing.

~~Baloo

45

Could very well be. But if there weren’t any other signs, such as the packing up all your stuff Michi referred to, there’s no way that her “telling” the dog she was going away caused the dog to be ill. Sheer coincidence.
Now, if you were dismantling your entire room, thus seriously altering your cats habitat, sure: the cat might freak out and hide, believing you to think it is depressed. What it really tells us, is that cats are attached to their environment more than they are to people. Which is why you can easily take a dog on holiday, but not a cat. I’m sure there are exceptions, but cats usually don’t travel well. After you move, they can even run back to the old house, depending on how far that really is.
Some cats DO attach to people somewhat. My parents cat still responds enthousiastically when I visit them: it was always in my room when I lived there permanently, which is now nine years ago. So in a way, it favours me and likes it when I come by. I have no idea why, but I do know that it would NOT have appreciated me taking her with me when I moved out.
In short: habitat over people for cats, the other way round for dogs.

Well, duh. I never suggested the contrary. I merely noted that your remark about “talking to cats” was particularly unscientific. In the sense that you can’t prove that your remarks affect your cat psychologically. When I’m thinking of Behavioral Psychology for Animals, I’m thinking about Pavlov, not about the joys of conversation with felines.

I’m not calling you a nut. As stated above, he merely might have reacted to changes in his environment. Or are you suggesting your cat does not only understand you, but uses telepathic abilities to understand you?

First you tell us you told your cat you were leaving. Then you suggested you didn’t tell it in English. Now you tell us you didn’t talk to him at all in any normal sense. So what gives, other than the changes of habitat? Something else we’re missing here? I have trouble following your reasoning.

46

I remember when I was 17 I was in the front yard of our house when some jerk came barreling down the road and ran right over our little brown mutt Sam. She was running to get off the road, but he didn’t even touch his brakes or stop afterward to see what happened. It’s just as well-I probably would’ve killed him. Anyway, I was looking down at her and crying (the whole thing happened so fast-less than five seconds. And I LOVED that dog.) when her whole body spasmed. I was INCREDIBLY freaked out by this. I ran inside and got my .22 rifle and shot her through the head. I knew she wouldn’t have lived, but I couldn’t bear the thought of her suffering. I buried her myself that night.
Since then I’ve shot a lot of wild animals when they became pests, mostly groundhogs. It’s not killing them that bothers me, its NOT killing them with one shot. Animals are animals, but they don’t deserve to suffer. The OP did the right thing, IMO. It’s harder the cuter the animal is, though.

47

Am I the only one that noticed that he also took responsiblity for running it over from his wife?? I think that relieving her guilt is just as wonderful a thing as helping that poor baby. He said even though he isn’t nearly sure HE did it, he TOLD HER he was sure he did. Your wife is one lucky woman…

48

amen, dragonlady!

Scotti

49

Well this is probably because a horses brain is NOT right between its eyes! I mean if your gonna shoot an animal SHOOT IT RIGHT! Lets not just shoot it in the nasal passages or sinus cavities.
My story, I was rabbit hunting, probably 14 years old. Shot a rabbit on the run. I came up to it and it was only hit in the rear. It was cowering in a patch of grass visibly trembling. Huge bunny eyes, just sitting there huddled up. It looked scared shitless. I raised my shotgun to shoot it again when my brother in law (who took me hunting) told me not to shoot it or there wouldn’t be anything left. When I asked how I was supposed to kill it he told me to step on its head. I should have used the butt of the shotgun and cracked it hard but I did what he said. Not sure how to do it I placed the heel of my boot on its head and slowly added more body weight until its skull suddenly popped and collapsed. It still leaves me with a sick feeling when I think about it.

Its funny though, I’ve rung the necks of lots of ducks that wern’t quite dead after being shot without a thought. The rabbit just looked so scared.

50

Zut, I can’t even imagine how you must have felt, having to do that.

A big hug to both you and your wife, and some cuddles for the rest of the kitties, too. :frowning:

51

Coldfire:

“First you tell us you told your cat you were leaving. Then you suggested you didn’t tell it in English. Now you tell us you didn’t talk to
him at all in any normal sense. So what gives, other than the changes of habitat? Something else we’re missing here? I have trouble
following your reasoning.”

I visited my cat this weekend… I wanted to bring him with me, and I in fact had to make him get out of the truck when I left because he kept jumping in with me. My cat loves me. Live with it.

Why must you be such a snooty jerk about the whole thing?

52

I beg your pardon? A Snooty Jerk? Because I am curious as to how you elaborate on statements like “I told my cat I was going away in two weeks, and that made him depressed”?

Welcome aboard, Farris. You’ll learn that making unfounded statements on these boards will provoke questions. As in this case. I see absolutely nothing wrong with me asking you to explain yourself on a matter like this, although I do feel kind of bad for hijacking this thread over it. But hey: we’re still fighting ignorance over here!

Sure man, your cat loves you. Like I ever disputed that. Now, go back and read what I said and asked. Nothing snooty and jerky about it. And give us some proof that states cats understand human conversation other than conditioned responses (intonation rather than content), and visual signs such as changes of habitat. That’s the least you could do before calling me a snooty jerk.

If you can’t or won’t back up your claims, that’s fine. Just don’t expect to be taken too seriously, then. Especially if you combine it with calling curious people names.

Sheesh. The nerve of some people. :rolleyes:

53

Your curiosity came across QUITE snooty, whether it was meant that way or not. I don’t even want to fucking talk about it anymore.

Oh, and I suppose you’ll claim rolling your eyes isn’t snooty now, either, eh? Thanks for turning my innocent, warm post – in which I was trying to share a personal story with people who might want to hear – into such a ridiculously futile arguement.

54

It wasn’t meant to be snooty, obviously. And generally, we keep profanity restricted to the Pit. One of these rules you might wanna look in to.

At this stage, you bet it’s snooty. But don’t tell me that’s my fault. As explained, people here are curious and opinionated, and generally like to see proof for things they are sceptical about. It’s the way things go around here, Farris. I’m just the first example you’ll meet along the way. If this sort of thing doesn’t appeal to you, you might want to reconsider your choice of message boards. Seriously, I mean that without any sarcasm or hostility. It’s the way things work here. Getting mad about it when you’ve just arrived is not the way to blend in nicely.

Oh, puh-leeeeze. I did not say anything about the human component of your post. As you may have noticed, I posted a story myself in this thread, way before you. I was just curious about that remark of yours, so I asked.
As for this “argument”: you are the one responsible for it being ridiculous, not me. Had you come up with some decent evidence, it would not have been laughable.
Which just about covers “futile” as well, I guess.

Try harder, Farris. We’re trying to maintain a quality standard here.

55

<Oh, puh-leeeeze. I did not say anything about the human component of your post. As you may have noticed, I posted a story myself in
this thread, way before you. I was just curious about that remark of yours, so I asked.
As for this “argument”: you are the one responsible for it being ridiculous, not me. Had you come up with some decent evidence, it
would not have been laughable.
Which just about covers “futile” as well, I guess. >
Jesus Christ… “He started it!”

< Try harder, Farris. We’re trying to maintain a quality standard here. >

Nah, you’re not a jerk at all, are you?

56

As I said, I very well might be a jerk at THIS stage, Farris. I advice you to leave the matter alone now before you embarras yourself beyond repair. Unless you want to learn what the Pit is like during your first week aboard.

57

You’re trying to school me as if you think you’re going to show me up or something, like I give a rat’s ass what argumentative assholes on here think about me… I’ve given an received a fair amount of flaming in my 12 years of electronic message boards, on boards with people much more abrasive and intolerant as you. If you feel the need to “show me what the Pit is like,” then by all means go ahead. You can’t embarass someone unless they’re willing to be embarassed. Continue with this “I must have the last word because you’re ‘new’ and I’ve been here longer than you” mentality and all you’re doing is wasting time and proving you really enjoy wasting other people’s time.

So, my reply to you (do with it as you wish) is: “Fuck off.”

58

Any proof yet on that cattalk business, Farris? If not, drop it. Really. You’re not impressing anyone.

59

Neither are you. Seems we’ve cleared out this thread.

Petty motherfucker.

60

Since your disagreement has almost no bearing upon the OP, I would suggest you start a new thread about it in GD or the BBQ Pit and continue it there. Either that or exchange email addresses and continue it privately.

You both are showing a great deal of disrespect for zut by engaging in this extended hijack.

~~Baloo