How can I find the courage to take my cat to the vets?

Question

My cat is 17 years old. I have had him since he was 10 weeks old. He is terribly thin, vomits a lot and is incontinent. I know I should have him put to sleep. How do I find the courage to take him to the vet?

Answer 1

He's an old guy and you've given him a good life but if he's vomiting and all, he needs a vet to check him over--might be something that can be medicated. However, if it isn't something a vet can treat, you need to ask yourself: if I were 100+ years old, frail, getting skinny because everything I eat I regurgitate back up, have a bladder problem, probably have arthritis and other things that come with living that long, would I want to just go on and on and on? Would I still be enjoying my life, doing most of the things I always loved to do? Or would I be slowly starving to death, maybe having abdomenal pains, sleeping most of the time, not really being alive much anymore anyway? Just from what I've heard from a lot of very old humans who are still fairly mentally aware of themselves, there comes a time when being in a decaying body which won't respond the way you want it to gets to be too frustrating and defeating until it isn't worth the pain and suffering and aggravation to keep going on, that getting to that final rest becomes so appealing. You're little buddy may have reached that time and it would be a kindness to him to allow him to give up his old body and let his spirit fly free. It's part of the pact you made with him when you took him in as a kitten, you'd take care of him, make sure he didn't suffer and hurt, and make the hard decision when the time comes. He'll understand and be grateful for your loving kindness.

Answer 2

I've had to do this three times with three cats and it's a massively hard decision to make. All I can say is if you are in any doubt don't do it. If you've known an animal for 17 years you will know when it has had enough. Having loved and cared for a cat all its life it's only right that you are there to give it a proper departure at the end. Your cat trusts you and knows that you won't let anyhting bad happen so your presence at the end will be the greatest gift of consolation and care the cat could have. You will need support as well so take someone with you, if only to make sure you get there and back safely. Whatever you do, avoid driving as if you are distracted this could be dangerous. I send loving thoughts out to you as I'm sure very many people reading your question will. God bless you and your cat.

Answer 3

Please take a while to look seriously at your cat, could this be an infection that is hitting him hard because he is old ?
Take him to the vet - he is the one who can tell you the best way forward.
I was convinced that one of my cats was dying - he lost so much weight and could hardly walk but it turned out to be an infection after all and 2 weeks of antibiotics sorted it.
If the vet confirms your suspicions though and suggests putting the old boy to sleep do it there and then, do not take him home to think about it. It is always a very hard decision to make but it really is the very best thing you can ever do for a beloved pet.
Stay with him and stroke him while he goes to sleep then he will drift peacefully away knowing that you love him.
( I'm crying here)
It is very upsetting but far far better than the alternative of watching him die slowly at home - believe me I have seen them die at home and would never put another pet through that.

Answer 4

This is one of the hardest decisions that we make for our pets. They are our friends and companions and giving up just never seems to be an option but sometimes it is the only choice. You find the courage by understanding that he is in pain and if the vet has recommended this course then be brave.
I know that staying during the needle is sometimes frightening but when a dear companion that I had euthanized became scared because I was leaving the room, I opted to stay. It was a very gentle procedure and it was the first time that I wasn't haunted by giving up a pet in this manner. He relaxed as I held him and then just went to sleep. Think about staying with your cat when you make the decision.
Not fair, you made me cry.

Answer 5

Can he be treated? I have an old cat too, as long as there is a way to treat his ailments, i will not put him to sleep. My 12 year old cat had liver disorder, UTI, plus many other ailments not too long ago. (my work at that time requires me to travel so much, i asked a friend to take care of him; which resulting in my cat being undernourished and stressed). The animal hospital decided to keep him for a while to run multiple tests on him. He ended up in hospital boarding for 3 months and he gets better and better every week. He was the longest staying patient of the hospital. Now he is healthy and happy curling up next to me. I cannot imagine life without him.

Answer 6

My dear friend. Please let me tell you that there is nothing to fear. I was also afraid to face putting my beloved kitty to sleep. And so because I did not want to cause him upset during his last moments, I did not take him but rather let him die at home (the vet would not do a house call unfortunately). It was extremely difficult for me to watch and very uncomfortable for him to go through. I shall spare the details but I can only tell you that it is truly the most loving and generous thing that you can do for your beloved friend to make things easier for him by putting him to sleep. We just had to put one of our other cats to sleep last week and the experience was so profoundly different than the previous where I watched my cat die "naturally". It was so gentle and the vet was sweet and understanding. I never had a second thought about it afterwards - it was the right thing all the way around and it was done out of love and compassion for him. It's never easy, but I can tell you that you won't regret helping your friend leave this world in the most peaceful way that you can. Please believe me, and its best not to wait til the last minute where the cat can't move or eat or walk. It's best to do it sooner than later before there is great suffering. Taking a trusted friend or loved one with you for this moment is certainly helpful.

Answer 7

The courage will come from knowing you loved him since he was young and you love him now that he's old... you love him so much so that you'd rather he not be in constant pain.

If it helps you any, I used to work at the Humane Society as a young teen (I volunteered from 12-15, I'm now 22), and I would do everything except put the animals to sleep. I accidentally walked in during the time where some of the animals were being put to sleep and my boss asked me to go ahead and stay because I was bound to see it happen eventually. She held my hand and told me to count to 3... as I pet the dog, I started to count and did not even get to "2" before the dog gently closed her eyes. She didn't whine, she didn't yelp... it was painless. She was dying of cancer and was in more pain than medicine could help. It was sad, but it would have been worse for her to continue living in pain and dying a slow death.

I didn't tell you that personal story to scare you or upset you at all, I just think it's important to know that by loving your pet, it also includes loving them enough to let go when it's needed.

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, no one ever wants to say goodbye to a loved one, including pets. Sadly, we all must at one point or another. I sincerely wish you the very best.

I thought I'd come back to add a note. I don't mean to sound crass, but if you decide to put your cat to sleep, always remember that there are modern ways to cherish your bond with your cat. Again, I don't mean to be crass, I just thought I'd try to give you a bit of goodness to hold on to as an idea. Here are some links if you'd like to look at them some time.

Answer 8

Your courage will come from within. ANd no matter how difficult it may seem you MUST do what is best for your cat who has given you unconditional love for the past 17 years. It is now your turn to show just how much you care for him by doing the right thing. The kindest thing you will have ever done. Dont wait til it too late and you come home one day to find he has died all alone. You have been through so much together you owe it to him to go through this for him. Wish you well it never easy and is painful but not compared to the pain he may be in right now.

Answer 9

I'm not being heartless as I have suffered many losses and know exactly how you feel!
If you don't take him are you sure you can cope with the alternative? The cat will either wander away and die alone and you might not find him or you will find him curled up on your bed! It may still be treatable but if not the vet will tell you. If you can't face being with him yourself the vet will understand so perhaps there is someone who would do it for you. It may help you come to terms with it better! It really isn't a bad way to die and I'm 100% certain that they don't know what is happening!

Please be strong, for his sake, do it. I'm sure many more symphathise as much as I do! Feel free to Email me if you want to talk!

Answer 10

its not a case of having courage if your cat needs to go to the vets even if its means having the cat put down but the vets will only do it if needed you might find he/she just has an infection that can be treated but i do know how hard it is my dog died in the vets on the 12th of december last year and its still hurts now when i thibk of him but he was so ill but they tryed there best for him althhough he was only 5 but my mother-in-law is a vetitation and she has had patients and has got them back to a healthy animal even though they were very old