My kitty is 19 years old. He has lost his vision. He seems healthy otherwise except for the things that go?

Question

with the aging process. He is an angora/persian mix. He has always been an outdoor/indoor cat. Last year I had to begin keeping him outside exclusively because he was using the bathroom everywhere. He never in all the 19 years went anywhere but his litter box. He has always been a well behaved,very smart cat.Well he is for the most part blind. This is a new occurance and I have talked to a vet about releasing him to kitty heaven. Yes I think they will be with us.My question is what is the best way to do this. I would like to stay with him and hold him in the transition.My heart is breaking to have to do this and I don't want him to have pain in his last moments with me. Can the vet give him a shot to sedate him before shaving his paw to start the i.v. I know it can be hard to get the vein sometimes. Please give me the experiences that you have had and a nice way to memorialize him. I'm going to bring him home to bury him. This really hurts.

I don't think it is possible for me to give a best answer. You all have been so kind and understanding. I thank Sunshine for thr info on Rainbow Bridge.Aravyhdr thank you for the suggestion of using gas to sedate first.She,I read your blog and thank you for your prayers and support.Two Bit,I can tell you are also very sincere and appreciate your support.I thank Lizzy9,Silver,Kayty,ClassyG and Cokeroky for your kind,tenderness. Phoebhar,I agree with you and Frank R that if their were other options,I would take them. I live in the country and have to be gone several days at a time. My neighbor feeds him and sees to him but there are raccons,possums,skunks and snakes around. He goes in circles running into everything trying to find his water and food. I think his sense of smell and hearing are diminished as well.So,I know he feels lonely and afraid and I have labored over this for several weeks and feel it has to be done.I don't think I'll get another pet because I feel so guilty.

Thank you Jumpin J for your very kind words of encouragement .I,in turn,am so grateful for the kindness you all have in your hearts. Believe me,all of your comments have been a God send at this very hard time. Dear Queenbree,I am taking the cat tomorrow for a check up and evaluation before I do anything. My vet doesn't believe in euthanasia as long as there is reasonable hope. As I've said,I think his hearing and sense of smell and kidneys are failing too.He is eating 1/10th of what he was eating before.I've put protection on my bed in case he wets and in 6 hours didn't go once.I've kept him close to me and loved on him as much as I can but he is failing and I don't want him to die alone and chance him falling and breaking something or an animal hurting him. Please understand,he has been with me for 1/3rd of my life and it has taken me a lot of convincing to even get to this point.I can't bear to see him so lost and afraid.This is and will not be a decision made thoughtlessly.

Thank you Jumping j for your most thoughtful words. queenbree,I will be sur it is hopeless before I do anything.God bless you all!

Nidia,thank you for your concern. I really appreciate everyone's kindness.

Dear Silverde,Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I so appreciate your encouragement.God bless you.

Dear lettice,Thank you so much for sharing with me. No doubt,this has hurt me so deeply and will for sometime to come. I took Tommy to the vet today who has cared for him over the years and he felt this was the most humane course to take so I released my baby Tommy today. It was very peaceful and no pain and I held him through the whole process. I've talked to him alot the last few days and told him how very sad I am that this is really the only recourse. He slept on my chest last night and never moved and finally woke me at 6am. He never went to the potty the whole night. I know his body has began shutting down and I decided this was better than him dying alone The floodgates of my eyes and heart have worked overtime in the last four days.However, I feel the peace from everyone's prayers and am content this was the right thing to do.I can't imagine him not being here anymore.I think,in time,I may heal enough to get another little spirit again but it will be some time before I'm ready

To George h, I looked on your answers and you don't seem to give everyone consistantly evil,cruel answers though your answers arent very deep. I don't believe you were 14 on the 17th of this month because I can't imagine somone so young having so much violence in their spirit.I'm sorry for you that someone has hurt you so deeply to make you so angry or it could be a chemical imbalance. Your answer was dreadful and sick.My prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit will move in your heart and lead you to forgive and begin finding love and peace in your heart. God's blessings George.

Dear Gotcha 2 ,Thank you so much for that wonderful story. Cats are really intuitive.An elderly friend of mine came to live with me in her last days. He was as old as my cat . Neither my dog nor cat were the least bit territorial with him. They sensed that he and my friend were dying and showed great respect for them both. They both died in my home. He started going down during her long hospital stay and seemed to know he wanted to go with her and did. God bless you and yours.

Dear Gotcha 2 ,Thank you so much for that wonderful story. Cats are really intuitive.An elderly friend of mine and her old cat came to live with me in her last days. He was as old as my cat . Neither my dog nor cat were the least bit territorial with him. They sensed that he and my friend were dying and showed great respect for them both. They both died in my home. He started going down during her long hospital stay and seemed to know he wanted to go with her and did. God bless you and yours.

Joe j and monty t,Thank you for your kindness and support. Everyone has been so supportive.God bless.

Answer 1

I'm so sorry for your kitty... Well, if you want something nice to remember him from, I have a really good site. You can set up a memorial on line with his name and picture and everything. It's about Rainbow Bridge. Just looking at the site makes me cry. It's got nice music and you won't believe how many pets are on there. You get to write a remembrance speech and a eulogy. It's really good and I hope it helps. I'm sorry for your kitty. I've had more than 4 cats die at once. That was a really big shock for me. My beloved kitties. They were all old, and so is yours. He has had a long and happy life, but now it's time for him to move on. Anyways, you're going to meet him in many years. Just don't forget him. I send my condolences.

Answer 2

Most vets will allow you to be there and hold your cat as he is being euthanized. Do be aware, though, that sometimes it is difficult to get a vein in an old, sick, or dehydrated cat...it can be hard to watch repeated attempts and the cat may struggle. Once the euthanasia solution is injected into the vein, it is all over almost instantly. We have had quite a few cats who were still purring as their hearts stopped. They just simply stop living.

Yes, the vet can give your kitty a sedative injection, then after it takes effect, find the vein for the euthanasia injection. I think that would be the best course. The cat wll be calm, often will purr, and there will be no struggle. Just talk to the vet beforehand so he or she will know your wishes.

Nineteen years is a very long life for a cat. At the vet hospital where I work we have had only a few cat patients that old. You have taken very good care of your cat for him to live to such an age, and the last gift you can give him is painless, dignified end to that life.

Answer 3

I am very sorry to hear this..........is there a way you can just keep your cat in a small outdoor enclosure. Aslong as the cat is not in any pain, then just keep him in an large fenced in area that has shelter.

The vet can just be very carefull if you ask him to. This will not cause him much pain. And once the needle enters the cat that will "release him" the cat usually "leaves" very fast........and it usually dosn't cause the animal that much pain, just a little discomfort, and this is basically the only way to do this. And most vets let you be right at the cats side the whole time to comfort it through the expierience. I am very very very very very very very very very very very SORRY to hear this....I am sure that the cat is a BIG part of you and his departure will be painfull for you. I have gone threw this three times, and it is the best way to let your friend go................

But remember that your cat is never really gone, he will be with you as long as you remember him. He is just leaving his body to enter a better world. One where he can be free, and not in any harm.....one where nothing bad happens, and pain is non existant. A world that you will enter and able to see him in due time......so dry your tears, and remember that your cat will NEVER really be gone from you. You should not say good bye.....just say "see you later"........I am very sorry.......you have my sympothies, and your cat has my prayers......

Answer 4

When you are ready to make the decision to Euthanise, know that you should not feel guilty for making that decision.

Some people let animals suffer so that they don't have to go through the heartbreak of putting them down.

Euthanasia is a very quiet way to pass. As a vet technician I was present for more than one Euthanasia... They go to sleep, and after they are sleeping comfortably, the vet gives them an overdose of meds to stop their heart

its not painful, its not as scary for them as suffering and not knowing what is happening to them as they get sicker and sicker. Its a very peaceful transition process, and the last act of love you can show your companion when the time comes.

A vet can sedate a pet before the procedure to keep them calm and relaxed. Most will use a gas sedation which is the less stressful.

Most people opt to be with their companions when its time. And Vets are very sensative to that and will accomadate to your needs.

For memorials- I have a cement slab buried in my back yard... before the cement dried I placed 2 tablets with the names and dates of birth/death of my dog Henry and 8 year old bunny Gabby. Then between the two tablets, I placed a statue of St. Francis of Assisi.

That's my way of memorializing.

Another good way is donating to your local humane society in your late pet's name.

Answer 5

I am, unfortunately, in a similar situation to you, my cat, Griselda, is an 18 year old moggy and shes gorgeous. however, we fear that she has kidney problems as she drinks water all the time, whereas a few years ago, we never used to see her drink and we would worry that she wasn't drinking enough. however, it is expensive to even get a vet to look at her and she doesn't seem to be in pain, so we are saving her the stress. I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling, as she is the only pet i have ever had, and she's 6 months older than me!
i couldn't bear to be without her.

sorry, it's not really much of a reply, is it?

Answer 6

Your vet can give a shot that will bring life to an end and there will be no pain for the cat. Just yours. You will be doing a great justice. He's not using the litter box because being blind be can't find it. Keeping him outside is cruel, he can't see an attacker approaching. I know it's hard to let go, but you must. I am sorry.

Answer 7

I know exactly what you're going through and I pray for God's peace for you. I went through this very thing on 10/18/2006 with my little Goliath he was 16 years old. You're doing the right thing if he's going to the bathroom all over he's probably experiencing kidney failure. Please please do have your vet sedate him before euthanizing. I had a friend who didn't because she didn't know and he pet suffered so much because of the euthanasia. Take someone with you to drive, I am so glad I did because there was no way I was able to drive after that. Put a collage together of his favorite toy, collar, stories about him, pictures stuff like that. I also have on my yahoo 360 page a story that was written up in the local paper about him. I've also seen people start web pages about their pets who've gone on to kitty heaven.... yes they'll be there too.. they're living beings God created them too and they're ministering spirits. You're welcome to visit my 360 page the link is in my profile, the story is in my blog..."Heroic Felines."

Answer 8

I thank god for people like yourself who have so much love inside of their hearts, I know what it is like to be in your position as I had a 25 yr. old cat, that stopped caring for itself, and on the night we took him to the emergency clinic ( he was bleeding from his mouth ) and put him down, it was an intensly painful and sad time for me. This was a Halloween Night at 12am no less, yet, something else happened that night too, when we went in with him, there were "three" kittens in a cage, meowing, and I knew "one" of them was coming home with us. He is now 4, and is part of our 6 cat family. Nothing will replace memories of loved ones, furry, or otherwise, however, we took the 25 yr. old cat, and put his ashes in an awesome Urn, which is really a great piece of signed pottery, and he is now on our Mantle. There are many other such Urns, throughout the house, as a reminder of the love and understanding that all of these "family members" showed at the end of a long day, without waiver, constant companions. If you havent already read the book, "Angel Cats" I think it is a great book and one you will find helpful. Hugs to you on this difficult time in your life, there will be others, as long as you continue to Love, which I hope you never cease to do.

Answer 9

My Dr. Evil kitty went to kitty heaven in August of 2006. He was blind and was suffering from the dry version of FIP. It was extremely difficult to make the decision to euthanize him, but as a hospital lab tech, I see suffering every day, so I knew that he needed this gift from me. I wish that I had known to ask about sedating first, because the vein wasn't accessed the first time, and Doc cried out, which of course made me cry that much harder. But at the same time, when he was finally injected and I was able to scoop him up, if he had been sedated, I wouldn't have felt his paws wrap around my neck in his signature way that one last time. He died very quietly like that in my arms. I drove home with him on my lap and petted and talked to him the whole way, telling him my favorite stories of his life. I have him buried under a huge Oak tree in our back yard with a very large slab stone as a marker. This spring, I have planted creeping phlox around the stone. Just writing this has made me cry again, but although it still hurts, most of the tears are of happy memories. This was my first experience with my own pet and euthanasia, and so I was very surprised at the strength of my grief and guilty feelings, even more so than when my father passed. I think it was because I felt as if I had murdered an innocent life, but after reflection, and asking many friends who had gone through similar things, I found this to be normal. It also probably didn't help that I was 5 months pregnant and so was already hyper-emotional!! Best wishes, and remember that you have tons of emotional support out here.

Answer 10

on march 28th i had to do the same to my 20+yr old Ginger, she had kidney disease and she was suffering...my vet was the absolute best....they had a grieving room which had candles etc...i had her wrapped in a pink baby blanket and the vet gave her some pain meds and weighed her so they knew how much of the actual meds to make her sleep...we held her the entire time and it actually only took less than 30 sec from the time they injected her until she was "asleep"...we also buried her in the backyard with a pretty little grave and inside we have memorial to her as well with a lovely picture of her that i had enlarged to 8 x 10, a card from the vet, the rainbow bridge poem and several other smaller pictures of her...also the vet sent me flowers for her several days later which i dried and saved...it was a peaceful ending for my beautiful girl that we loved