Euthanasia?

Question

Have any of you ever had to have a cat put to sleep? I did several years ago...an 18 month old Himalayan that I rescued from my other cat's vet after he was attacked by a pack of dogs and bitten all over his butt, back and hind legs. He looked so pitiful in the back of a cage, shaved and stitched up that I just fell in love with him and took him home. He was about 6 months old at the time. When he was 18 months old (name was Harley), he got sick and I took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with FIP. There is no cure for it and the treatment is very expensive and rarely sucessful. I took Harley home for one more night where I said goodbye to him. The next day, I left work early, went home, took Harley back to the vet and he was euthanized. I stayed with him, holding him in my arms as he died. I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried the whole time. He was so young...he should have lived a long and happy life. I kept his collar and favorite toy.

Do all you cat owners look at your cats as family? It's really sad when a treasured pet dies...especially so young. How do you feel when you have to make that sort of decision? I know it's a hard thing to do. Do you believe that you will see your lost cat in Heaven someday? I know Harley will be there waiting for me. It's hard to thing about my current cat dying...she's 15 and showing signs of aging. I dread that day.

It has been several years since Harley died. What brought it all back is the card I had received from his vet saying how sorry they were and that a donation had been made in Harley's name to the ASPCA. I was searching through my desk for something and there it was. All I could do for several minutes was stare at Harley's picture and pray that he had forgiven me.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, over the many years I have had animals, I have had to have a number euthanized, and believe me, it NEVER gets any easier! It is always the hardest decision to make. I also had a cat with FIP, and since he was only 7 months old at the time, it was devastating! That was 4 years ago, and I still am affected by his death. Somehow, his death affected me more than all the others, most of whom were older cats and dogs. I do believe that we will be reunited with our departed pets one day, and I believe that they will thank us for helping to end their suffering. In my mind, the only thing that makes the act of euthanasia a little bearable, is the fact that we are doing it to save the animal from further suffering, and that in the end, it is the kindest, most loving thing to do.

Answer 2

yes, i had to have my cat euthanized a few weeks ago and i made the decision right away as soon as i could see that he was in pain and was having trouble breathing, there was all kinds of test they could have done on him but because of the breathing problem they would have done the test without any anesthetic and that would be painful and the treatment would only make him comfortable and he would have died anyone in little time so i made the decision to end his suffering and i am not sorry because it was hard to look at him that way.

As for my two new kittens, they are my family, i tell people at my new job i have to go home and see my babies and they ask me how many children i have and i say two beautiful adorable kittens.

yes, your 18 month old was young to die, my cat was 4 years old but god had other plans for them and everything happens for a reason and it will come to you in the future.

I have discovered that my poor cat got sick and had to be euthanized because these two kittys were waiting for me because if not they would have been separated by two families instead of just one, they are inseparable and do everything together, I got them when they were just 8 weeks old and i have them spoiled , i got them a few weeks ago , plus they were born on my birthday so that is some coincidence, they were meant tobe mine and i love them.
you need to get past the fact that your 18 month was to young to die, go to petloss.com and post a question and you will be surrounded by answers and help from wonderful pet lovers and it will help, i have been there after my cat died.

good luck and maybe you should consider getting another cat or kitten , I am so happy i did.

keep us updated
Maureen

Answer 3

It is very sad, but when an animal is suffering, I suffer with them. I have had to have four dogs put to sleep from old age and disease and not as many cats. My cats are allowed outdoors and they have died of being hit by a car or several died outside and I had to search weeks to find their bodies. I don't know why they died.

I have had to have a horse euthanized and almost another yesterday, but couldn't do it yet. He is so old he has trouble eating, but the spring grass and dandelions are so appreciated by him, I thought giving him even another week or month is OK. He just gets thinner and weaker though.

The hardest thing about having animals is when they get sick or old. That last decision and carrying out is the hardest thing. I am so sorry for your loss. You are a normal, feeling person. It hurts so much to have to make that decision. You did the right thing. I had a kitten with FIP. I had to have her put to sleep. She was a blue point Siamese only around six months old.

Answer 4

A few years back, my little terrior dog had to get put asleep. She had heart problems and she kept on collapsing. She was 13 years old. One time, she was parallised and could only crawl on her front legs. This got worse to the point that she was crying. It was so hard, looking at her like that. The vet said, it would be impossible for her to stay alive, and if she was not drugged, she would be in so much pain. If this occurs to dogs, it must also happen in other animals. I miss her heaps and i don't think any other pet could replace her.

Answer 5

Euthanasia is never an easy choice, but I like to think that it can be the most humane at times.

We had to put my beloved Basset Hound Sam to sleep two years ago. The veterinarians had found a tumor and had it removed, only to find out a few months later that he had cancer.

We tried to treat it, but it spread at an alarming rate. It got to the point where you could see pain written all over my dog's face. His attitude had changed, and he was very inactive. Rather then let him continously suffer, we decided to euthanize.

I still miss him, and I cry when I see basset hounds at times. He was a great dog and I've never fully gotten over it - but I've learned to accept it as a part of life.

My mother and I would get these strange dreams after he passed. He would be watching us, active and running around in these dreams. I still like to think that he looks over me.

It's weird how the human psychie works. The last time I went to my mother's house (a few mos. after he passed), I kept expecting to hear him running and barking at the door to greet me.

I had to keep reminding myself - oh yea, he's gone.

It's never easy. I'm sorry about your kitty <3

Answer 6

Had to put my dog to sleep. I was living in colorado at the time. I came home to find out they put Tad down. He had cancer, arthritis, eye problems etc. I was kind of glad they ended his suffering. Still miss him though. Sorry for your loss. Good news is, there are pets o plenty!

Answer 7

Your story broke my heart....Its hard to lose a pet that way...making the decision is very hard...We recently put our dog of 17 yrs to sleep....I cried like a baby and miss him to this day

Answer 8

What gets me is that we put our cats and dogs to sleep, claiming "quality" of life over "quantity", yet my various relatives have been left in agonizing pain for days, weeks, and sometimes months due to unoperable cancer slowly eating away at their bodies. So much for their "quality" of life.

Answer 9

Had a cat with cancer put down a couple years ago. Yeah you get pretty attached to them.

Answer 10

I'm sure he has, you did what was best, and did it with all the love you have, which is lots, he understands that.