I had my 3 yr old female cat put to sleep and I feel awful and cant stop thinking about her.?

Question

I loved this cat, she had the same routine every morning when I woke and followed me to the kitchen to get feed. She was a very happy cat. My other cat was very close to her too.
One morning last week I woke up and she was not at my beside as usual. She was in the living room and lifted her head slowly. She seemed very sick. She did not come out to the kitchen all day to eat or drink. I was not sure what was wrong with her so I took her to the vet. At the vet she was checked and they said she had diabetes. They said she had hope if I gave her treatment, but they said the treatment would be very costly. I asked if there was any other way. They said they could do some calling to see if someone could adopt her. When they came back they said there was no one who could take her in. It took a while but I decided to put her to sleep. It was tough making this decision because I loved this cat and I felt bad. Almost a week has passed and I still havent really gotton over it yet.

I could not afford the expensive treatment for my cat.

Answer 1

I will lend to you for a while
a kitten, God said.
For you to love while she lives,
and mourn when she is dead.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years,
Or Maybe two or three.
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care for her for me?

She´ll bring her charms to gladden you
And should her stay be brief,
You´ll always have her memories
As solace for you grief.

I cannot promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught below
This kitten is to learn.

I´ve looked the whole world over
In search of teachers true,
And from all the folk that crowds life´s land
I have chosen you.

Now will you give her all your love,
Not think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
My kitten home again?

And my heart replied,
"My Lord, Thy Will Be Done."
For all the joys this kitten brings,
The risk of grief I´ll run.

We´ll shelter her with tenderness,
We´ll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we´ve known,
Forever grateful stay.

But should you call her back
Much sooner than we planned,
We´ll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.

If by our love we´ve managed
Your wishes to achieve,
In memory of her sweet love,
Please help us while we grieve.

When our cherished kitten
Departs this world of stress and strife,
Please send yet another needing soul
To love for all her life.

-Author unknown-

This helped me through when I lost my girl a few months ago. Love and prayers to you. ♥

Answer 2

A pet who has diabetes will suffer greatly even with treatment... and cats are such proud and beautiful creatures, they really do deserve the best life possible ... and a painless death if a good life is no longer possible. By putting her to sleep you did the right thing, even if she didn't live a long life, at least it was a good life. It's natural that you miss her and keep thinking of her, pets tend to become like a member of a family and you grow attached to them. But be confident that you did what was best for her, you offered her a happy life full of love, and you will always cherish her memory. As for getting over her death... it won't happen too soon. No matter how many pets you have, they are each different and you will miss each and every one of them once they are gone. It's only natural that you are sad and unhappy, but please don't feel guilty...
What I can tell you from my own experience is that, if you want to feel a little better, you can try doing some good deed in memory of your cat: feed stray animals, volunteer to work for a shelter or something similar...
I had a cat who died at the age of 4 because of a medical error (a poor vet !).. felt horrible for weeks after his death, but started feeling better with each stray dog or cat I was able to help, even if only with a tiny gesture...
You could try that too....

Answer 3

You have done the right thing. I know it is hard and heartbreaking, especially with a young cat. I have had a dog with diabetes and had a relative with MS whose cat had diabetes. I know that both animals hated those shots of insulin. Also, in animals, they don't do the blood sugar testing as often as humans do, so the dose of medicine is not very exact. Both the animals I know had kidney failure and had to be euthanized.

I hope you can make peace with this loss soon. Your kitty doesn't hold it against you
that you loved her enough to let her go. The way you describe her sickness, it sounds like she had a severe case for whatever reason. I am glad you weren't so selfish that you kept her alive while she suffered so that you wouldn't feel sad.

Answer 4

I'm sorry for the loss of your cat. It is understandable that due to the medical expense of the care for the cat, and no one to adopt her, that what you did was the best for her. A pet becomes a part of your "family"-that is normal. So grieving for the loss of your cat is normal. In fact, the other cat is probably missing her, and feeling depressed a bit too. If you can, see about going to a shelter and getting a new cat or kitten. Adult cats need to be adopted into a loving home as well. Not just "cute kittens". This will help you, and your other cat get to feeling better soon. Take care.

Answer 5

I know how you feel. I lost my cat (age 15 and a half) who we had since I was 4. You shouldn't feel guilty - you made an incredibly tough decision which looking back probably seems like the easiest decision because you knew it was the right thing to do for him. You will miss him but time is a great healer. I feel good about deciding to put my cat down because she was suffering much like yours. But he is no longer suffering, he had a great life with you and you helped eachother through the tough times. It's not a bad thing that you can accept that you made the right choice by him - you should feel proud for that. I still miss my cat so much but I no longer cry when I think of her or mention her. Don't rush about and get another - you all need time to grieve. I wrote down loads of little things about my cat - nicknames, silly things she did, where she slept, what food she ate - a little scrap book of our life together. Gone but never forgotten.

Answer 6

You made the best decision you could given the information the vet gave you.
You have to come to terms that you didn't have any other way to save her.
Please if this ever happens again do a Google search on illness of the cat. I am not rubbing in or scolding or making you feel bad just protecting your other cat. Diabetes is not expensive if managed at home. The intial outlay for tests, insulin and supplies is about 400 dollars after that if feeding a diet NOT told by the vet and testing at home your costs are minimal. Many cats with diabetes live for years. The oldest I know of is 14 years with diabetes.
A young cat is rare to have diabetes. If she had steriods like prenisone for an allergy or something she might have gotten it that way. I was told to put down my 12 year old she was to old and to ill and her diabetes would be to expensive. I brought her home and called other vets and then found a feline diabetes board. They told me the food to feed her as the vet was 100% wrong. They help people with dosing as my vet gave my little cat more insulin than my husband started at! I am a nurse and dropped it from 6Units to 1/2 a unit after the first shot. She almost died.
She is now diet controlled on only wet food high protein and low carbs under 10%.
Why don't vets know about FD? They get very little study on it in school and in the last 10 years treatment for FD is completely turned around. They listen to the pet food people who want to sell mega amounts of special dry food for diabetic, overweight, indoor, outdoor, elderly, young, middle aged. etc Just to get mega bucks. They pay pennies per ton and we pay 100's per ton. Vets are taught nutrition in school by pet food companies. Vets earn up to 20% of their yearly earnings selling prescription food. The wet canned is not very good quality either. Another way for the pet food companies to save money.
Your cat knows that you were told what you were told. She loves you and felt the love you had for her. She will meet you at the Rainbow Bridge when it is your time to go and she will not be angry that you did the best you could.
For your other cat please read the link I give you and then choose a food from the other link following the guide lines.
America has about 500,000 diabetic cats at any one time. Why? Being fed species inappropriate food. Meaning dry. Also the wrong wet. High carb can be in wet with thick gravys and sauces they are bad. I fed my girl lots of the wrong canned and lots of dry. I believed all the crap they tell us. How can we know unless we know to study and find out and why would we when we think we are doing great!
http://www.catinfo.org/
This is written by Dr. Lisa a DVM
who is an expert in cat diets.


http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetic-cat-diets.htm
Choose a canned food high in protein and under 10% carb (not fish)

If you want to talk to me please email me. I am so sorry for your grief. It is so terrible to lose our babies and you sound like you were a super parent to your baby.

Answer 7

I'm very sorry for your loss, and I know it was a hard choice. What you did was better than letting her suffer untreated diabetes. Take your time grieving. Cry your eyes out if it helps. Again, I'm so sorry. I know how it is, loving a cat (or any other pet), and how hard it is to make the decision to put them to sleep. We've had so many animals, we've had to go through it a few times (with one cat, one dog, and two horses). It sucks. :(

Answer 8

I think you made a very brave & wise decision. It is going to take some time to get over your loss. You will never forget her and the joy she brought to your life. I am glad she had a owner like you and that she didn't suffer for to long. That is a sign you really care for her & loved her and you weren't just thinking of yourself. She has no more troubles and think all the birds and mice she is chasing now up in Heaven !

Answer 9

over here cats protection help,or pdsa will pay a one of treatment,i had my cat put to sleep age 11,but there was nothing they could do and he was not eating or drinking as was in pain,as kidneys,but its 6 years now the pain has eased but even now i feel bad as i was there when he took his last breath

Answer 10

It is a tough decision but I think your decision was the right one for both of you. It will take longer than a week to get over it, though. Feel your grief and slowly heal.