The worse part of cat ownership
Discussion
Having spent everyday at the vet since Friday with our 17 year Tonkinese, Phoebe, today we agreed with the vet that she has reached the end and we have to decide over the next couple of days when we want the vet to come and do the deed.
She has the most wonderful life but now is on 8 hourly painkilling injections just to keep her free of pain which leave her dopey and spaced out, not the cat that she was.
She is currently sitting on my lap as I type this and it is heartbreaking.
Some cats are just very special and she really was, even if she was only sold as a kitten as "pet grade"
I will miss her stealing my tea
She has the most wonderful life but now is on 8 hourly painkilling injections just to keep her free of pain which leave her dopey and spaced out, not the cat that she was.
She is currently sitting on my lap as I type this and it is heartbreaking.
Some cats are just very special and she really was, even if she was only sold as a kitten as "pet grade"
I will miss her stealing my tea
Edited by Blue Cat on Monday 5th August 14:19
Had this a few times with ailing cats. My overriding concern was not to prolong the suffering of the cat. Yes it can be very upsetting but ultimately, jabbing a cat every few hours to make it spaced out and pain free is no life for a cat. At 17, she's evidently had a very long life and I guess, a very good one. Give her the dignity of dying peacefully with you next to her. It really is very quick.
So glad your having the vet come out to your cat, I cannot imagine anything more stressful than a cat going on a car journey to the vets, they hate travelling and to do so when they are ill is even more of a reason to get the vet out to our house.
Lost my old girl (23) the other month and miss her like crazy.
It's going to be hard saying goodbye but she has had a wonderful life and take comfort that she must of been well looked after to reach her age.
Lost my old girl (23) the other month and miss her like crazy.
It's going to be hard saying goodbye but she has had a wonderful life and take comfort that she must of been well looked after to reach her age.
So glad your having the vet come out to your cat, I cannot imagine anything more stressful than a cat going on a car journey to the vets, they hate travelling and to do so when they are ill is even more of a reason to get the vet out to our house.
Lost my old girl (23) the other month and miss her like crazy.
It's going to be hard saying goodbye but she has had a wonderful life and take comfort that she must of been well looked after to reach her age.
Lost my old girl (23) the other month and miss her like crazy.
It's going to be hard saying goodbye but she has had a wonderful life and take comfort that she must of been well looked after to reach her age.
Awe so sorry to read this. Such a hard time but it sounds like you know what is going to be best for your friend.
Re home visits versus vet visits it's not as stressful as you'd think for it to be done at the practice esp if done in a calm and peaceful way. We rarely do home visits these days and we rarely have a distressing pts for the patient at the surgery but that's because we ensure the time is given.
OP will be thinking of you at this tough time.
Re home visits versus vet visits it's not as stressful as you'd think for it to be done at the practice esp if done in a calm and peaceful way. We rarely do home visits these days and we rarely have a distressing pts for the patient at the surgery but that's because we ensure the time is given.
OP will be thinking of you at this tough time.
Sorry to read this OP.
Agreed, it sucks when you have to make that decision. We went through a similar thing 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks, on, we've got our cats ashes in a nice little box, he's sat on his chair where he'd normally be right now, while we decide where to bury him the garden.
It was an awful feeling to decide what to do, but we knew he was really poorly, he was struggling to walk, so we had to do what was the kindest thing. He'd given us 17 years of happyness and good memories, to put him to sleep was the nicest thing we could do and totally the right time.
Agreed, it sucks when you have to make that decision. We went through a similar thing 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks, on, we've got our cats ashes in a nice little box, he's sat on his chair where he'd normally be right now, while we decide where to bury him the garden.
It was an awful feeling to decide what to do, but we knew he was really poorly, he was struggling to walk, so we had to do what was the kindest thing. He'd given us 17 years of happyness and good memories, to put him to sleep was the nicest thing we could do and totally the right time.
We found that the vet coming out was the way. None of them liked the car ride and would get very stressed, it is hard to go there in those circumstances. Our cats didn't have a clue and were very peaceful to the end. The previous weeks they had had enough as the inevitable visits were made.
It was an incredibly hard day when the time came to put our family cat to sleep.
He was the same age as me at the time, 24 years old.
He had become confused, incontinent, deaf and partially sighted. But he still purred when you stroked him and according to the vet, that was a good sign.
We made the decision as a family that as soon as he stopped purring or was in pain that we'd do the kindest possible thing for him.
Weird feeling as I'd grown up with him in a way.
He was the same age as me at the time, 24 years old.
He had become confused, incontinent, deaf and partially sighted. But he still purred when you stroked him and according to the vet, that was a good sign.
We made the decision as a family that as soon as he stopped purring or was in pain that we'd do the kindest possible thing for him.
Weird feeling as I'd grown up with him in a way.
Just wanted to say Thank you to everyone for their kind words, it is really appreciated.
We have had a cat put down at the vet in the past and they were very kind but Phoebe hates the vet and I don't want her last moments being her trying to get back in to her basket.
It funny but I didn't realise how much our friends and family loved Phoebe as today it's just visitors coming to see her.
We have had a cat put down at the vet in the past and they were very kind but Phoebe hates the vet and I don't want her last moments being her trying to get back in to her basket.
It funny but I didn't realise how much our friends and family loved Phoebe as today it's just visitors coming to see her.
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