Should I consider Euthanasia?

tankgirl1

Hi

I just wanted to say, that as the owner, you know best when the time has come. Its devestating, and hartbreaking, but if lil cat has a poor quality of life, then perhaps the time has come.
Remember though, that a lot depends on the individual temprement of the animal. Some pets cope tremendously well with daily medication, and regular trips to the vet, and still have a good quality of life. Others get so stressed and traumatised, that it is kinder just to let them go.
If you do decide to let her go, perhaps ask the vet for some painkillers for her last few days- these will make her kidney failure worse, but will make her more comfortable while you spend your last few days at home with her.
Most vets are more than happy to carry out euthanasias at home.

Also, this may sound awful, but it is best to decide in advance what you would like done with the remains. There are usually a few options, including home buriel, standard (communal) cremation, and individual cremation with the ashes returned to you. I'm really sorry if Ive upset you by mentioning this, but all to often owners havent considerd this, and then have to make a decision at the time, which can be really difficult.

I know you'll do what is best for your cat, and my thoughts are with you both.

xxx

geminilady

tiff wrote:

I am going through this at the moment, my dog Sam is 14, has cataracts, is deaf, has arthritis quite bad in his back legs, is almost incontinent, ie has lots of accidents. He was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur and on a scale of 1 to 6 his is a 5.

My husband is getting fed up with soiled carpets and during my sons 9th birthday my dog pooped and peed on the floor in company which my DH found embarrassing although they understood.

I just dont know how i will know when is the right time. I havent had a discussion with the vet about it and feel guilty sometimes because I find it hard to cope with all the cleaning up but dont want to let go either.

I have been in the same situation as you,my dog barney was 16 incontinant and hardly able to walk,i just knew he had had enough he looked so tired and could not even manage to get on the couch(his favourite place)it was the hardest thing i have had to do.The vet came to the house and beforehand my son and i lifted him up onto the couch and i just gave him lots of cuddles.When the vet came i just turned his head towards me and stroked him while the vet gave the injection.It was very peaceful his breathing just got slower and slower until it stopped.I think if you love your dog and put him before your own fealings you will know when the time is right for him.

blossom30

Hi Everyone, Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my posting. The people on this board are really the nicest of people and it is like a wee community.
I found the links from tigs particularly helpful and I give a special thankyou for that. Sophistica your advice was also very helpful.
Tankgirl thankyou also for mentioning cremations and I have looked into this as the wee soul is a member of our family and when the time comes we will have her cremated ,there is a company in south lanarkshire who will do this at a cost of £110. It is carried out with dignity and the ashes are put in ornamental containers of cats sleeping etc which would be a fitting memorial. Once again thanks shrewdalx

stas4949

Hi
Just had to let you know about my recent experience.

My gorgeous ginger Tom aged only 10 years fell ill in August of this year, he got very poorly very quickly and couldn't walk properly, it was absolutely awful to see as he was such a big fun loving cat. At first the vets weren't sure what was wrong and thought maybe it was just the onset of arthritis so after a steroid injection I took him home and hoped.

2 days later I took him back as he still wasn't right, then the heartache really began. Piglet (my son named him) was kept in and given various blood tests, x-rays etc. He had developed diabetes so over the next few weeks he was kept in and given daily insulin injections although he wasn't stabelising very well. I was visiting him every day and learning how to give injections.

During this whole period he just wasn't the same cat and it broke my heart to see him like it.

The vet let him come home for a few days to see how he got on but he just slept the whole time. When I took him back I realised that the vets wanted to see if he perked up. I knew while he was at home that he was dying and his time had come. I told the vet how I felt and they agreed that the time had come. I held him while he was put to sleep.

Its the most devasting thing I've ever had to do, but I knew it was the right decision. You just have to follow your heart as you know your cat better than anyone.

Its still hurts and I still cry (am now) but I know I did the right thing. I felt really guilty at first but I know he was suffering.

Worst part was telling my 12 year old son who had watched Piglet being born.

Sorry I have waffled but sometimes you don't realise how much you have bottled your feelings up.

Good luck and hope all goes well

blossom30

Hi all you pet lovers, I thought I would let you all know that I had to put my beloved wee cat to sleep on the 19th August 2007. She got nearly a year out of being on medication but she was going down hill when the antibiotics stopped working, so we decided (very quickly as I would never have done it had I thought much about it) to have her put to sleep. As previous posters have said it is all very dignified and gentle. As the vet said that is theway to go....no more suffering. We had her cremated and I have a memorial casket.
The sad thing is my other cat (17 years) has been diagnosed with liver problems. I am giving her a chance as I don't want to lose 2 so soon. Thanks everyone for your comments before. Shrewdalx

sandy2_2

hugs to you at this sad time.

seven-day-weekend

Glad you had her for a year more than you expected and hope the same happens with your other cat.

At least you know how/when to make the decision next time.

Thinking of you.

SkintSazzie

My 16 year old cat died 2 weeks ago - he had got an infection in his mouth which the vet gave him antibiotics for and that cleared up the problem but the vet checked him over and said he had a heart murmur and a lump in his bowel, she asked me to think about any more treatment which I read between the lines to mean my lovely old cat wouldnt be with us for much longer. He seemed to recover from the infection and the vet was very impressed with him, we decided not to have any more treatment but that when it looked like it was getting too much for him we would take him to be put to sleep. We didnt get chance to make the decision - a week later his health nosedived and I decided to take him to the vets after the weekend, but I got home from work and he had got even worse, he died overnight.

On a nicer note, there is a Pet Crematorium not far from us and we have the most beautiful casket holding his ashes bearing a plaque with his name on - It has pride of place in the hall(that was where he ate and slept). His cremation was handled with utmost sincerity and tact. The vets were fantastic.

I know its hard, but take the plunge and take your cat to the vets, both you and your wee cat will be better for it.

Good luck - thinking of you.

blossom30

Dear Skintsassie, so sorry to hear about your wee cat.You truly tried your best and I sympathise with your loss ,it is now over 2 weeks since my cat was put to sleep and I still get tearful.I found the website rainbow bridge very helpful where you can post a memorial online for your wee darling. They are called furbabies on this website. It does help to post these online memorials,it's saying your wee animal was loved.
I hope time is a healer for both of us shrewdalx

sandy2_2

There is a site called something like Light a candle. Have a look at it