My husband and I had to put our cat to sleep today?

Question

I'm having a realy really hard time with this. Dose it ever get better?

Answer 1

I am so sorry for your loss..It will take a long time, everything will remind you, but good and happy memories.
Be thankful for the time that you did have together...wonderful memories...God bless you.

Answer 2

My heartfelt sympathy to you and your husband on the loss of your cat.

The pain of the loss does ease, but give yourself time to grief. Our emotional response to loosing a pet is very much like loosing a human family member or friend.

The stages of grief are shock & denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. It is normal to go through the stages and then move on or go back to a previous stage. The link at the bottom gives more information on the emotions and feelings you will experience in each stage.

Pet grief counselors suggest doing as you would a human loss, such as writing poetry and stories, making a photo album, creating a special place in your home or garden.

I started reading a book by Linda Peterson called "Surviving the Heartbreak of Choosing Death for Your Pet". I was preparing myself to euthanized my oldest furry companion who was fighting CRF, but she crossed the rainbow bridge quietly the night before I had planned to take her to see her vet. It answered many of my concerns. The other book I want to get is "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" by Gary Kurz.

I had her cremated and wanted just the perfect container but not a funeral looking urn. I found a ceramic basketweave with lily of the valley container with a matching lid and that is were her cremains are resting. Putting her in there gave me the most peace I've had since she died. I am also looking for a locket that I can place some of the fur I clipped.

There are many pet loss/grief websites, but my favorite is petloss.com. They have a candle memorial service, a place to add a tribute to your cat, stories and poems, suggested book readings, and links to pet grief counseling sites.

I know the difficult time you are going through now and my heart grieves for you. Please give yourself time to cry and mourn and reminisce the happy and healthy times you had with your cat.

Purrs and Prayers for you.

Answer 3

I am sad for you. After more than thirty years of a wonderful life surrounded by a "gang of dogs", as you might imagine we have gone through many goodbyes. We loved them all so much and the partings were painful. But we have always consoled ourselves with the knowledge that we gave each of our loved ones a life filled with love, comfort and fun, and that when that time came we played our part by giving our precious friend and companion the final gift of love that they cannot do for themselves.... the gift of painless release from further suffering. In the office of our Veterinarian, we would have a last few minutes together of caresses and tender talk, and then, when we were ready, as our loved one's eyes slowly closed, he or she went into the next world with the last moment of knowing that we were there.

You did the right thing, and your cat, I am sure was ready to go after a life of loving with his "mom and dad". If you can, don't waste any time bringing home a new pet. So many of them are out there desperate for a loving home. We aren't as young and chipper as we used to be, so as each of our remaining four pass on, we don't feel able to take on any more. But when the time comes, we will comfort ourselves in the way we always have, by remembering the fun-filled days, the joy, the laughter, and the abundance of love that flowed in both directions throughout the journey. We remind ourselves too, that for the sake of the pets we have loved so much, we gladly accept the burdon of losing them, rather than that they would have lost us.

Answer 4

Yes , it will. We just lost our lovely Labrador-cockerspaniel mix Sarah about three weeks ago. It was very hard breacking. Even so we know it was coming , her health went down slowly the last two years. I surely miss her so does her right full owner. She could not stand it any longer not having a bed companion.
She went and got a new , smaller breed .

Perhaps after you're ready go to the animal shelter and find a loving cat.... Sorry for your loose.

Answer 5

It will get better, it's very early days for you to get over it. I suspect that if you had it put to sleep then there was a good reason for it. Keep thinking on this and that the cat is happier and better off. Probably chasing mice and eating all the cat food it wants in catty heaven!! xx

Answer 6

Oh I am so sorry. Yes...it will get better, I promise. My little pom passed away 2 years ago and I still cry over her but the pain is not near as bad, I just think about all the loving memories of her. I bought a glass cabinet and put all of her things in there. It really helped me and my husband.

Answer 7

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Hope this helps

Answer 8

Yes it does, but it will take time hon. And don't try to get another to take its place because it just isn't the same. Yes it will find a place in your heart, but it's a completely different personality. Take your time and when the time is right you'll know it. So sorry for your lose and I can say with experience it will get better.

Answer 9

A pet is the closests thing to having a child. And is your child if you don't have any. It is very hard.. let you and your husband grieve. Know that your cat knows that you loved him or her very deeply.
I am so sorry for you loss... may you somehow be comforted during this difficult time.

God Bless

Answer 10

I am soooo sorry for you...I had to do the same thing in march of this year to my sweet Ginger...you are going to be fine ...strange as this sounds this is what I did...I found my favorite picture of her and had it blown up to an 8 x 10, I got a copy of the Rainbow Bridge poem (look it up) and some smaller pictures i had of her and my vet sent me a bouquet of flowers and I kind of made her a little shrine with a candle that I lit for her for 1 week...then I dedicated a shelf to her with all of the above on my entertainment center...this makes me feel good to look at her pictures ( I was just looking at her larger picture a little while ago) I miss and love her but I will never forget her...and praying made me feel at ease as well...good luck may god be with you in your time of need

Answer 11

I am not going to patronize you. It does NOT get better, ever. Eventually, it will hurt a little less. It will take some time, but after awhile, you'll be able to start remembering how much you loved your cat without bursting into tears and feeling that heart crushing pain. I know that you may want as answer that is going to make you feel better, but no answer will. As much as it hurts though, it is really important to make sure that you grieve. Don't hold it in and don't let anyone make you feel bad about feeling sad. If anyone tells you to "just get over it, it's been ___ weeks", don't listen to them. No one can tell us how long our pain should last. There is no way to tell you when the pain will be lessened, but it will happen. However, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, it isn't going to "go away". Even years down the road, you will get a twinge of sadness every now and then. It's okay and totally normal to feel this way, don't let anyone tell you any different. Do not try to get a replacement cat right away, it will only make things worse. But after awhile, it is not only okay, but it's a really good idea. It will give you somewhere for all that love you have inside you that you gave to your kitty. If you do it too soon though, it will only remind you of the one that is gone and could keep you from bonding with your new kitty b/c of fear of loss or just because it hurts too much. That's not fair to you or the new kitty. Just take some time to grieve and remind yourself why you loved your kitty so much. Try to think about all the happy memories, the way your kitty used to cuddle with you, or the way she played with your toes when you weren't paying attention. Not because it will make you "feel better", but because it will help the grieving process. If you don't get it all out, it will stay there forever as a lump in your chest and you will have no chance of making the pain lessen. I'm sorry if this makes you feel worse, it isn't meant to, but I'm not going to lie to you about it and I'm not going to say what I think you want to hear, because that just isn't going to help you at all.