There was a lovely stray cat in my neighbourhood, and I used to feed her. For some time I noticed she was not well, she had a serious flu, so I started giving her medication for that. Turns out she had a kidney failure I didn't know about, and the medication killed her. The vet says that the medication I was giving her could not hurt her, that she died because of her kidney failure, but I know that it was no coincidence, perhaps she would have died either way in a few months, and the medication would definitely not have hurt a cat without her kidney failure, but the fact remains that if I hadn't been involved the cat would be alive now, not healthy but at least alive. I am devastated and I can't get over it. Do you think I am over-reacting? And how do you deal with this feeling?
2007-02-23 03:03:34 · 15 answers · asked by cpinatsi 7 in Pets ➔ Cats
I would have taken her to the vet, but she wouldn't let me catch her. I managed to catch her when she was getting worse, and she was not so active, but that was too late, the vet only managed to do blood tests and give her an IV to try to save her, but she died.
2007-02-23 03:25:00 · update #1
About her last days, I am afraid I didn't make them better, she was so scared when I caught her and took her to the vet clinic, and she was getting worse and I think she blamed me for that, because I took her there. At least she died in a warm dry place and not in the streets.
2007-02-23 03:27:41 · update #2
By the way, thank you all for your comforting words.
2007-02-23 03:28:49 · update #3
You did all you could. How could you have know that she had bad kidneys?
2007-02-23 03:15:23 · answer #1 · answered by And King Cotton said, " 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not going to tell you that you're overreacting and get over it. You feel bad because the cat died and that's certainly normal. Any creature with kidney failure is going to die without the right treatment (I don't think they do dialysis for animals). Some die even with the right treatment. The medication you gave her either made her feel better in her last days or did nothing at all, in which case it was harmless. You can't know for sure how much longer she would have had, even if you had taken her to the vet when you first noticed she was sick.
You gave her love and attention, which is more than she had been getting. Her last days were better because she was loved and she knew that someone was looking after her. Try to take comfort in that.
2007-02-23 11:21:22 · answer #2 · answered by Jo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't feel bad, that cat was suffering and you tried to help make her well. Taking her to the vet would have been a good thing but we don't all have money to pay for stray cats to be checked over, it could be expensive. But you didn't know what was ailing her so you couldn't possibly have known that what you were doing was not right, besides, she most likely would have died because of her kidney failure over the meds that you gave her(If they had any effect on her at all).
You did your best to help a cat that was suffering and even if you didn't do anything to kill her, she was put out of her misery. Don't be sad, things like this happen a lot, all we have to do is try to keep our pets happy and healthy.
2007-02-23 11:20:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry to hear that I know what you are going through. I tried to help a stray once and it died too. To this day it still upsets me. So now to help alleviate the pain I help save many lives...I started a non-profit rescue for cats. It has really helped me.
I have learned from my mistake and found an excellent vet and do lots of research before I do any treatments. I still lose cats but I feel good that they get some good care and love that they did not have before. I know that they are grateful and have many rewards doing it.
So the point is to do something to help another homeless cat in the honor of the one that died and it works wonders. You did the best you could and the kitty knows that. She was happy in the end to have you so that is great it died peacefully and loved.
2007-02-23 11:32:08 · answer #4 · answered by kathyk214 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I think you are over-reacting but that is only human. You are a good person to help the cat out by feeding it and keeping an eye out for it. Also I agree with the vet that the medication didn't actually kill the cat. At least now the cat is out of its misery and pain and he's happy wherever he is. Don't feel bad about this at all, you did nothing wrong.
2007-02-23 11:12:57 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine And Manus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should have taken her to the vet but what you have done is nothing reaalllyy bad you were doing what you thought was right and that you were only doing your best. Everyone makes mistakes, but if the vet said the cat died of kidney faliure and not because of the medicine why are you upset, or is there something i am not understanding?
2007-02-23 11:34:14 · answer #6 · answered by Tink 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK.....I know you feel bad, but let's look at this situation. This was a stray cat. They don't live long anyway...they are prone to all kinds of sickness because they can't get proper care. Kindey failure was going to kill this cat...and probably soon. The vet knows what he/she's talking about. The main point is that the cat is no longer suffering and that is a good thing. Don't feel bad! Animals die sometimes....it happens.
2007-02-23 11:14:34 · answer #7 · answered by puppyraiser8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, your WAY overreacting. The animal would have died anyway without being teated for the kidney failure which would have involved a transplant. No one is going to penny up thousands for that proceedure for a stray. How do you deal with it. Its just an animal. You did a good deed and tried to help, didn't work out, move on.
2007-02-23 11:12:44 · answer #8 · answered by Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you did the best you could for that animal, you treated the condition you knew about, kidney failure is extremely common in cats and not treatable, she would have died anyway and if you hadn't been feeding her she would have probably died much sooner.
2007-02-23 11:13:49 · answer #9 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just remember, you were trying to help it. You probally made its last days great. The bad feelings will pass with time. Maybe get a new pet. Go get dinner and a movie to forget about it for at least some time. The hardest will be the first week or so.
2007-02-23 11:14:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was a accident. Forgive yourself. I once gave a baby squirrel (caught ina trap) that appeared to be shock - water thru an eye dropper. It drowned! My intentions were to help it. In the long run, it died and I guess I did help it. Bothered me for awhile too, but my intentions were good so I learned by it and let it go. And no, you're not overreacting - you love animals. Maybe it was going to die and suffer, so I think you did help her.
2007-02-23 11:16:25 · answer #11 · answered by KATHY A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋