Was it as painful as it looked when I put put down my cat?

Question

Yesterday I took my cat to the vet after finding out she had breathing problems, she has having heart failure. Vet collected some fulid from around her heart and said the cause was a tumor. We could reduce the fluid giving her some more time, but we don't know what else the cancer would do to her, or how long? So we put her down. She was meant to just close her eyes and drift off. She didn't! seconds after she was given the injection she jumped backwards trying to escape, the look of sheer horror, shock, fear and pain were in her eyes as she looked directly at me for 30 - 45 seconds before finally dying. This is hauting me, she was a real fighter and I feel I let her down - I wish I could go back and do all last week again. Why did she not go peacefully? I am so sorry. Full of guilt and Regret. Sorry China - I was trying to do the right thing.

China was taken around the back and a needle placed there, it was only when the medication was administrated that she reacted.

Answer 1

Awww bless you - that is awful.

I've only ever witnessed my friends dog be put to sleep - and that went so peacefully I'd have no qualms on having any of my pets put to sleep when the time comes.

You did what you thought was best - your cat probably was just frightened of the vets rather than in pain or knowing you were having her put to sleep. Please try and console yourself, you stayed with her and saved her from a painful, lingering, dreadful illness that would have got worse.

Answer 2

You are not to blame at all. That should have went smoothly. Unfortunately the only person that can be blamed here is the veterinarian who administered the euthanasia solution. The initial jump the cat had could have been the needle piercing her skin. It should not last that long, though, for the euthanasia solution to reach her heart. The veterinarian unfortunately must have either went outside of the vein or didn't give a high enough dosage. This is why our animal hospital takes the animal back to a quiet treatment area prior to putting them to sleep so that the vet tech can put in an IV catheter. We then bring them back in with the owner and let them have their time together before the veterinarian comes in and simply injects the euthanasia solution right into the IV catheter that's already placed so that it goes very smoothly and quickly. Don't hold yourself responsibly and I'm very sorry you had to go through with that. Think not about how agonizing putting her to sleep was but how she would have felt had she had to battle cancer and heart failure. You did the right thing.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry your last moments with your kitty weren't more peaceful.
The injection used for putting pets to sleep is actually an over-dose of an anesthetic agent.
The way it works is your pet will start to become anesthetized (fall asleep), then the breathing will stop, and finally the heart.
Sometimes in cases of severe illness, especially heart disease, the solution takes longer to act. There can be an "excitement phase", which sound a lot like what you describe. Your cat wasn't in any pain, she was just freaked out by the drugs. I really don't think she registered looking at you before she finally went. Cats and dogs do not always close their eyes with the injection, so while her eyes were open I am pretty sure she was anesthetized and not really with it. You made the right decision. Please don't regret letting her go, it was easier for her to get freaked out for a couple seconds than to go on feeling so crummy and having breathing difficulties.

Answer 4

I am so sorry for the loss of your little cat! My little kitten died last weekend so I know how you must be feeling!

You did what in your heart you thought was best! You poor little cat would have suffered if you had not have done that!

Focus on all the wonderful times you had with China! China would not be made at you or blame you becuase as a loving and responsible cat owner you did not let her suffer!

Dont feel guilty, just remember all the love you had and still have for her! She is looking down on you now, and sending you ***** cat purrs and kisses! and she will always love you and be a part of you!

I found it a comfort to plant a tree in memory of Lilly, so I could go and visit and talk to her, perhaps you could do something like this?

I hope this brings some words of comfort to you!

Sending you hugs xx

Answer 5

I agree with the person about the temp of the liquid in the shot. I've had shots before when the liquid sent a bit of chillness into me and rattled a few nerves. Not painful, just probably caused your cat to freak a bit, because it was a new feeling.

You did the right thing. What haunts me more is that I had a beautiful dog once, that I took to the vet, because I thought she was dying. The vet told me to give her some liver and feed her that 'till her strength got better. I did this for 3 days while she suffered, and finally died. Later the vet told my dad that he new my dog wouldn't make it.....he just wanted to give me hope. Can you believe that?

I would never have let my angel suffer if I knew there was nothing to do.

Don't dwell on her last few minutes....focus on all the good times.

Answer 6

It sounds like your vet did not know how to properly put an animal down. I recently had to have two older cats put to sleep within a two month time frame. The first thing a vet does is to give a cat a needle in the back of their neck which is a tranquiller. The cat gets very dosey. They then shave a bit of hair off of one of the front legs and inject a drug which causes the heart to stop beating very quickly and painlessly. I am so sorry you had to go through that horror. Try and find confort in knowing your cat is no longer suffering. I know it is hard believe me I have just been put through this. If you want to email me and talk further about your grief you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 7

We were there when they did this for our cat who was in renal failure. The vet put a tube into his vein, and then as we held him the vet injected the overdose of anesthetic in and listened with a stethescope. Our cat didn't jerk or get wild, he just lay there quietly and went to sleep, but his tail did bush out completely. Once he was gone his bladder relaxed and he lost all of that, but that was a few seconds after his heart stopped.

It's possible the injection wasn't warmed or at room temperature so yours felt it going in. It would have felt very cold (I give insulin to one of ours, it's only a drop at a time, but if I don't warm it between my fingers first he always reacts).

I don't think ther was pain, I think it was the temperature of the fluid going in that your cat reacted to. I know that doesn't help much at this point in time, and it's tramatic enough just having to do this with a pet, but being there with ours and having the vet do this right with us, I'd say no pain, just stress for the cat. I don't think she had more than pure startlement about it because she'd not have experienced something cool going into a vein before without sedatives being involved first. It's not supposed to hurt.

Answer 8

I feel for you. You did the right thing. When I had to put my kitty down I was so full of guilt and regret just like you. The vet offered me a kitten to replace the one just gone. I thought about it for a few days then took him up on his offer. It was the best thing I have ever done. I show my new kitty more love and attention than I thought I ever would.
My advice would be to go out and get another kitty soon.
And enjoy your new friend.

Answer 9

I am sorry you had to put your cat down.It is a hard thing to do.I really don't think it was painful.I think it might of just took her longer and she freaked out.I am sure the vet and you made the right choice ,if she was in pain this was better for her.I think anytime you put a animal down you question yourself.This isn't something people want to do.Our animals are like family.

Answer 10

I think u did the right thing instead of her suffering, if it was painfull 45 seconds is better than weeks or however long before she died. And by the way why sorry china?They eat cats.