I've been thinking about this for 6 months and it's time. She's 17 years old, got her when I graduated college. She was a rescue kitten. She has one eye and her name is Fang! She had a rough start in life but she had it pretty easy once we found each other. She's been through many boyfriends, apartments and excepted my husband and kids without complaint. She was diagnosed with diabetes and with her age the vet said that is expected. I can deal with her daily vomitting but she's peeing on everything and losing weight dramatically, now weighing abiut 4 pounds (she used to be my fat cat) My appointment is not until 5:45pm so I'll keep myself busy at work. I haven't told the kids yet...that's the hardest part...

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I am so sorry. It is a hard thing to do. We have had to do 2 of our dogs. We was able to be with them, that helped us because we was able to hold them and saw it was very peaceful for them. {hugs}

Oh Ellen I am so sorry
As a cat lover and mom, I do know what you are going through and how hard it is. If you need a shoulder or just feel like freaking out a little, please feel free to PM me.

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I totally understand since i have a 17 year old cat also. We need to take ours to the vet soon also to see exactly what is wrong with him as he is also so very very thin. It is so hard when we have to make decisions like this and so heartbreaking. I will keep you in my thoughts today.

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beth

We have also had to put 2 of our dogs down in the past two years. It was very hard to explain it to my 4yr old. I just told her that "Rocks" was sick and he was hurting too much to fix it. I told her that he was going to fall asleep and not wake. Even for a four year old she understood. Enjoy your last day with her and know that she will be better off. Stay Strong.

I am so sorry. I had to go through that with my cat a couple of years ago. She was also 17 years old and dh and I took her in as she was a stray a few months after we were married. My cat, Sparkles, had not been sick though. Just one Saturday morning something happened to her. I thought it would be cruel to start putting her through a lot of testing and poking, prodding and all since she was so old. It was the hardest thing I've ever done thus far in life. I still miss her like crazy.
I know you'll get through this and your kids will too but I know it's also so very hard. Many hugs and good thoughts to you and your family today!

My sympathies to you and your family. We had to do the same to our 16 yo miniature poodle BoBo on September 12. It got to the point where we realized we were holding onto him for our own selfish reasons. He had numerous old age related ailments and it was just cruel to let him go on. Life after BoBo was difficult to adjust to because he'd always been here. But time helps.

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ellenboll,

My heart goes out to you!!! I had to put my 14 yr. old dalmation dog to sleep about 6 weeks ago and it was soooooo hard!! Then my 5 year old cat had to have 3 surgeries within 2 weeks (we had to end up getting his tail amputated ).

Pets are sooo very important to us and are a part of our family. I know my dog greatly helped me thru my divorce. She just let me cry and cry and cry. Animals have a way of understanding us sometimes better than other humans can!

You will be in my thoughts and prayers! If you need to talk, feel free to email me.

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Melissa
SAHM--the toughest job I will ever love

I Am So Sorry. I Know This Is One Of The Hardest Things You Have To Do.....but Also Remember It Is The Right Thing To Do. You Will Be In My Thoughts Today.

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I am so sorry to hear about this.
I have 2 babies and could not dream of the pain that this would cause.
Take care.

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{{{{hugs}}}}

hugs to you and your family during this difficult weekend

((hugs))i;m so sorry to hear aboutyour cat. I hope your kids are understanding..

Ellen, I too know what you are going through. I had to put my cat of 12 years down last February. She was the one constant companion in my life. I looked forward to her coming out form behind the TV every night after the kids went to bed. She would jump up on the couch with me and lay there while I watched TV. I know this sounds weird but she really helped me through a difficult time(going thru divorce). I cried like a baby when the Vet put her down(I went in while he did it). 8 months later I saw a cat on the news needing adopted(looked just like my Pebbles). I ended up getting her. She is super sweet BUT I have no name for her. I look at her and all I can think of is calling her Pebbles(she is seriously identical). It's hard but you will get through this. If you need to talk, PM me.

{{{HUGS}}} to you. I'm so sorry for what you have to go thru today. Dh and I had to put our beloved black lab down last fall, she was 14 and for the most part couldn't even get up to go to the bathroom. I told dh we're just keeping her here for US not her. I couldn't do that to her anymore. It was the hardest thing I've had to go thru, and I will be thinking about you and your family tonight.

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Oh honey I'm sending a hug to you. It is so tough to make that final decision but you have given her a wonderful life and you are giving her a wonderful passing.

see here i am crying again i am so sorry i will keep you in my thoughts and prayers today

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Losing a pet is so sad.I hope you can take comfort in knowing that you put it out of its suffering.I remember some years ago when my favorite kitten in the whole world died ,I was so utterly depressed I went around the house for days calling her name. Baby, ...baby...where are you baby.. Then I'd cry my head off.

Don't you hate though,when you start crying and you can't stop ,and you get mad at yourself cause you can't stop crying and you want to because your totally sick of blowing your nose every 3 minutes.

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I do feel your pain. I am sorry about your cat.

My cat of 8 years went missing on Oct. 31 last year. The neighbors heard me looking for her and told DH they say a coyote take off with her. DH debated on telling me but finally did (he didn't want to ruin my Halloween). I freaked out so bad he called one of the pastors of our church. It has been over a year and I still cry when I think about her. When I get upset over normal stuff like bills I miss her and start crying. But it does get easier. And maybe one day you will find a place in your heart for another pet.

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I laugh at you because you are all the same.

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Sending big hugs to you. We had to put our cat, or should I say my little shadow, to sleep last August. She was 19 and going through renal faliure. We could've done something, but we didn't know if she would've accepted a tranfusion, they could find a blood match for the transfustion, and it would've be a minimum of 3 at the high end of $3000. The worse thing was to do nothing and let her suffer. There was NO WAY I could do that. We took her home and then the next night we had her put to sleep. The DH was in the room with her when they gave her the shot. There was no way I could be in there. After it was all done I went in and gave her a hug and kiss. Right now she's in her tin, in a Christmas stocking hanging on the wall with her favourite toy and brush. Her sister, Annie, went through a month of depression after we had her sister put down. Right now she's back to her so called normal self. One of these days we'll get another one, but right now I'm not sure how Annie would react to another cat since she's the "Queen B" right now. Some days are better then others still. I deliver pizza and it's hard when I go to a customers house and I see a cat that looks like Maddie. Or I'll go to one of the local vet's offices and see one up for adoption that looks like her. Sometimes I'll come out of the office and just cry my head off.

You are in my thoughts. I have 2 cats 13 & 12 yrs old and I tell you I dread the day we lose either one.
Jen

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Here is the Rainbow Bridge poem for you. It has helped me through a lot of pet deaths.


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...

I am so sorry for you. I do know your pain. It's like loosing a member of your family.
But just remember....you're doing the best you can do for your loved one. It would be cruel not to let it be at peace.

We lost my dd's Lab right after Thanksgiving. He was 13 and had suffered a back injury 2 years ago. He could barely get around because of it and the arthuritis that set in following his injury. He did make it longer than the vet had predicted.
Even though he wasn't mine, I felt a terrible loss.

{{{{{{ BIG HUGS }}}}}}}}

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