Should I put my cat down or not?

Question

My cat Oscar of 4 years was recently diagnosed with feline AIDS. Im gutted and devastated. The vet thinks i should put him down as his quality of life will be poor suffering from one infection after another. He is quite i'll and has a tumur on his leg loss of appitite etc. The thing is i don't think i can bring myself to put him down.

Answer 1

a couple months ago i started working at an animal hospital as a vet tech, and i have seen a few cats come n with feline aids, as much as i hate to say this, putting the cat down would probly be the better choice for your cat, if he is already very sick, he will only get worse as time goes on, overall i honestly think he would appreciate doing so. before working at the vet i would have told you not to put him down, but now that i understand how the cats are affected by this disease, and seeing the cats that come in with it, i realized that its either put him down now, or let him suffer and continue to wear down. i am soooo very sorry to hear about your cat, and i know this has to be hard for you, but just keep in mind that what ever desicion you make, u made it because u felt thats what would be best for your cat.

Answer 2

Hello

A cat does not have to be put down if it has feline aids, fair enough it will cost you more money as your cat will more than likely get ill more often, but it can still lead an almost normal life.

Vets usually always advise putting them to sleep, but if your cat is not suffering you don't have to.

Have a look at this site: http://www.catchat.org/fiv.html

If your poor cat is suffering though and there is nothing that can be done for his tumour and his quality of life is just going to be horrible then it is for the best.

Think very carefully about this as you need to make sure that if you decide to disagree with the vet that it is for the right reasons, and not just because you love your cat and don't want to lose him.

Believe me I know exactly how you feel as I have been though something similar.

I hope this helps.

Take care x

Answer 3

I had 2 take my cat 2 be put down on Monday. He was 22 and i had him from when I was a child. Like your cat he was ill and I knew the time had come to have him put down, the vet agreed with me so I had 3 take his professional advice. It was really peaceful he just went 2 sleep and I gave him a hug and said goodbye. I was glad that the descision was taken out of my hands. But, i can't pretend it was easy. I have had a pain in my chest since monday, and there have been lots of tears, but as an animal lover I couldn't see him suffer. I think u have 2 take the advice of the vet.

Answer 4

Sorry but like the others I think you should have the Vet put him to sleep. It may seem wrong but It will be easier on you in the long term and far kinder to the animal.
Aids is a devastating thing to watch some-one or something suffer. I wish I'd been able to help my Brother in the same way but society doesn't allow us the choice!

Answer 5

This is tough i know but for your cats quality of life (or lack of it) you have to do the correct thing and have him painlessly put to sleep. This for any pet owner is the most difficult decision to make because we cling on to them for many reasons perhaps hoping agaisnt all odds the vet is wrong in their diagnose,s. But you have to put your feelings to one side and purely think of his suffering knowing that it will get worse and as a loving caring owner which you sound as if you are please let him go peacefully.
Remember all the reasons why you love him ,all the good times you shared together, the pain and tears will go away but his memories will stay with you foreverl
When the time is right after your greiving just think charlotte there will be another bundle of fluff waiting for a kind loving home.
My thoughts are with you both.

Answer 6

OK - he has feline AIDs. That's not a death sentence - he can live very happily for a long time. The only drawback is that he cannot socialise with other cats who do not have his condition, so this means that he'd have to become a housecat.

If you look at the entry on Wikipedia, you'll see that it says that the secondary infections are treatable, and that many cats are put down unnecessarily.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIV

If you check some of the cat charity websites, such as the West Lothian Cats Protection, you'll see that they offer FIV cats for adoption, and they expect them to lead long and fulfilled lives.

Unless your cat has some other secondary infection which cannot be cured, I would disagree with your vet.

I hope that your kitty recovers from his tumour, and that you have lots of time left with him.

Answer 7

You have to look at his quality of life. Is he in pain? If he is, the kindest thing you can do is call the vet and have him euthanise Oscar. I know how devastated you must feel -- My Somali girl of 14 had to be euthanised last year after a mass was discovered in her abdomen.
You gave Oscar 4 good years. Do what is best for him, and in a while think about adopting a successor for him.

Answer 8

I am very familiar with your situation. I have had 2 cats in the past I had to put down. It's unfortunate, but you have no other choice. If you don't, your cat will loose bowel and bladder control, loose ability to walk because of the virus attacking the nervous system, etc. I know it's heart-wrenching but don't be selfish by keeping your cat alive just to suffer. There is no cure I am sure your vet has told you. Think of it this way, which is worse...putting the cat down or watching it suffer in agony until it dies on its own? I really feel heart heartache.

Answer 9

I know it's hard when my cat got sick my mom said we might have to put him to sleep I was so sad and I never cryed so much. But honey if he is that bad off I think u should put him to sleep just remember he is going to be in a lot of pain and even tho u love him u don't want that u don't want him to suffer and if u can't do it then do u have someone who could take him 4 u am so sorry about Oscar I know animals are the best gift god gave us b/c they loves us no matter what they just want to love someone please do the right thing and put him down.Best wishes honey

Answer 10

That's absolutely disgusting! If they knew what she was coming in for she shouldn't have had to wait very long-our vet came to the house for our cat and we sorted out the payment later. For rabbits I was treated very compassionately and taken through to a private room until I was composed enough to leave-I went to the desk to pay and the receptionist said "just go-you can pay next time you are in". the cat should have been sedated first so there's no way it should have been screeching-a good vet will always try and make the experience as bearable as is possible. You should definitely complain and report it to the State Veterinary Medical Board (USA) , the RCVS if you are in the UK, or the equivalent for the country you live in.