I am trying to gather up the strength to put my very old cat down. Everything is failing, his liver, kidneys, heart, thyroid etc. He hasn't eaten in two days and this morning he couldn't walk. I know its time but its so hard. I am trying to be strong for my kids who are having a really hard time with it so I needed to come here for some support. I know its not like losing a child but it is so very hard. I have had him since he was a baby and we have gone through a lot together. I am really going to miss him. He is/was a great cat and a great friend.

Yes, it is very hard to lose a pet but it sounds like you are doing the right thing for him. Since you have had him for 21 years it will really be hard, I will keep you and your children in my thoughts and prayers.

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I know it's hard but please, please do it. Stop and think how much pain your beloved pet is in not to mention the loss of dignity. In our 30 yr marriage we've had to put down 2 dogs with the first being done when the first baby was only 3 days old. Talk about a basket case, I was a mess.

Wow, 21 years old.....he's had a long, happy life with your family. It's going to be hard but its the right thing to do for HIM. Just take comfort in the memories you and your family have/had with him. That's what got us through when one of our cats passed. We miss Spanky to this day. It gets easier and now we can talk about him and laugh.........because he was always into trouble. I will pray for you, your family, and your kitty.

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#1 Red Wings....Stanley Cup winners 2008

You've shared a wonderful life with him. Be strong and someday you will seee ach other again.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

This poem was sent to me by the vet when we had to put down our 16 yr old dog. I hope it helps you too.

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Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

Oh, that is a long time for a cat to live, so you must have taken wonderful care of him.

I would not be so worried about being strong for your kids.....let them see it's OK to be sad, even adults get sad and cry sometimes. We had to put down one of our cats, he had been thru a LOT, and it was just time to let him "go rest". The kids weren't happy about it, of course, nor were DH and I.....we'd had that cat since he was a kitten. In fact, we had his Mom and Grandmom, too. His Mom had a litter and he was one of them.....we were almost ready to take them to the pet store to sell, and I just couldn't do it. I'm so glad we waited.....a few days later, I noticed him straining to pee, and rushed him to the ER vet. That woman was a WITCH.....our kitten was 7 weeks old and was diagnosed with FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome - kidney stones), and she said "I don't know if you want to put that much money into this kitty" Well, DUH......what kind of doctor are YOU????? Anyway, we DID put that much money into him, and MUCH more......he was the most beautiful kitty.....long black and white hair, and GREEN GREEN eyes......he'd take his paws on either side of your neck like he was hugging you.....and knead your hair. Anyway.....we had to put him down when his time came. Ah, the memories.....

We had two other cats that died at home of old age.....it's hard no matter what you decide on, but,it sounds to me like your kitty is trying to "get there" and you may not make it to have him put down. Funny how animals just know when it's time, and just what to do.

Sorry for your impending loss.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

It is done. I am devastated.


Thank you for the kind words. I really needed them.

It gets better......really, it does.....give it time, tho. Do you have other pets??? Maybe in few days you will want another kitty to love on???

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

So sorry to hear about your kitty. I know how hard it is to lose a pet and my animals are my children.

He must have been a great member of your family. And, as stated above, you must have taken great care of him to have lived 21 wonderful years.

When we lost a loved dog, we blew up a few pictures and sprinkled them around the house. It seemed to help.

They make some really nice memory stones for pets, perhaps purchasing something like that might help ease your pain a bit.

OP, I'm sorry for you and your family. Our animals are like family to us, and it is so hard to let them go. The house just seems empty when we lose a pet.

We had our 19 year old cat put to sleep last year. I bawled like a baby. A week later, I went out and got a kitten. People thought I was crazy for getting one so soon. I love animals and it made me feel better to have another cat.

ahh I am so sorry about it. We talk about our cats as if thety are our children. I can't imagine the paid, but would hope it would only lead to happy memories.
You are in my prayers

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-Kristi

I am very sorry for your loss, at least he isn't suffering anymore. I know how you feel, I had to put my almost 18 year old Yorkie down on June 14th. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but I know it was best for him. He was also in bad health, blind, deaf and could hardly walk. I am still having a very hard time, he was my best buddy and rarely left my side.

Take care,

Dianne

I'm so sorry. I'm afraid I might be facing the same thing soon. It's so hard.

Try to remember that you gave him a long life and now he is in peace.

I've been through your pain 2x now and it sucks, no way around it. I am so very sorry for what you all are going through. I will keep you in my thoughts. (((((HUGS)))))

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WAHM to DS (11)and DD (8½)

You are doing the absolute right thing. About 3 months ago my sweet 17 year old cat was in the same position. I had been giving her water with an eye dropper helping to make her comfortable so she could die peacefully at home. Well, it didn't work out that way. She had a huge seizure and died in my arms. It was horrible. I will never, ever again let a pet die on it's own if I know it's time.

My heart goes out to you in this sad time!

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Mary

Our 14 year old cat stopped eating as well. I let it go on for several days because he was still drinking water. On the 4th day he could not even lift his head and I could not see him like that for another minute. I knew he was suffering. I wish I would have done it sooner. It sounds like it is the right time for your cat too, time to let him go although it is going to be hard. I am sorry you are having to deal with it.

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Check out my homepage http://julie.mycoupons.com/

I am sorry for the loss of your pet.My sister recently lost her dog of 18 years. She made a collage of him and hung it in the corner of her living room.Maybe something like that would help. That way you can always remember the good times you had with him.

fafardsmommy, I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. I've been through this as well, 3 times. Two were just within this past year (Sasha 11-15-07 & Skooter 4-18-08). I know how much it hurts, I had such a hard time mourning Skooter. Probably because I had just lost Sasha 5 months before. DH suggested getting a new kitten, but I told him Skooter could not be replaced. (Although we ended up adopting 2 strays just a few weeks later.) It really hurt to see Skooter's pictures without being able to snuggle his little head against my neck. So, I used my homepage here at MC as a little memorial to Skooter. I uploaded his pictures and wrote about how great he was and how much I missed him. I think the process of writing out my feelings for him and being able to read it and see his picture every day really helped me to mourn him. Maybe it could help you too.

.

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No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

{{Hugs}} I am so very sorry....... Even when we know it is the best decision for our beloved family member, we struggle with the guilt over being the one who had to decide the right time. My last loss was over a year ago and I'm still grieving. I knew my Dallas was going whether I liked it or not, so the best thing I could give him was a controlled environment in which to say goodbye. He left pain free w/his family around him...I whispered thank yous in his ear and told him how much we loved him as I said goodbye. We remain here with a piece missing from our hearts........ having taken on a burden of a decision to free them.... I don't regret it, but it is painful just the same.

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

I hope you will rest tonight knowing that you did the right thing. Not the easiest thing but the right thing.
Trust me when I tell you, it never gets easier. But you obviously gave kitty a wonderful home for him to have lived such a long life.
Peace.

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved cat. Hugs to you and the family.

I've never seen that before -- it is truly wonderful.

OP, my prayers are with your whole family. As you can see, most of us have been in your situation -- and we feel your pain

Sorry to hear about your beloved cat. He had a very long life with you.

It is so hard to lose a pet.

I know how hard it is. We had to put mine down at 19. Maddie was going through kidney failure and the look in her eyes said it was time to go and she wanted out of the pain. As much as I hated to do it, I knew it was the right thing to do. Her sister, lasted another 2 years and died in my DH's arms at almost 22. It was very emotional for us. We have no kids, so to us it was like child passing. I promise in time it will get easier. I still have my moment, but it does get better.

I am so sorry. Its hard to know how to help someone ease the pain. Just know that there will be no more suffering for your kitty. Just take one day at a time.....

No, there's no way this is crazy. When you lose an animal, especially one you'd had and loved for so long, it leaves a huge empty space in your life. There are so many creatures who desperately need homes, who you could give your love and care to, and receive so much goodness in return. It's not about replacing an animal, since there's no way you can do that, but about doing something positive with the goodness you have. If you had a cat for 21 years, yours is obviously a good home for a kitty.

I'm so sorry. That is so hard - the most loyal friends we can even imagine are always our pets.

I hope you can bury your cat's remains someplace special on your property, and have a place to sit and contemplate/pray.

When we had to put our older cat to rest, we were in the process of moving. However, we had not yet closed on the new house (in same town) so it was too awkward to ask the sellers if we could bury our little cat on their property. So we asked our old friends/neighbors of 8 years, and they were glad to let us. In fact, they even suggested a spot - right next to their late dog. That really brought us comfort. Hugs.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

You know, my cat died suddenly last summer of a heart attack and I want another one so badly, but I just don't feel that I can go through that heartache again.

It's been a year and I still miss her terribly.

I'm so sorry. He was your darling baby and there's really nothing that anyone can say right now to take away your pain. The sense of loss never completely disappears but the grief does ease. It will take some time but later, you'll see that he had an unusually long life and thanks to you, a good one. He was loved and you'll miss him and though it seems impossible to believe right now, the sharp grief will subside and you'll be able to look back and treasure all the wonderful memories you had together. Just try to remember that it was your love for him that wouldn't allow him to suffer. I think he was a very lucky kitty that you took that burden onto yourself instead, The day will come when you can remember the love without the grief and I hope it comes soon.

HOn I have been there also and i had to put my beloved sheltie Bambi to sleep she had cancer but believe me she hated to go to the vet and that day she jumped in the car and I knew it was for the best I held her hand and she simply went to sleep she was at peace and not suffering anymore to have the love of a animal is truly one of gods work, to have been blessed to have your baby for 21 years is all also a blessing put his pictures all around and just like the rainbow bridge which i believe it one day we all will be reunited with out loved ones they may be animals but its much more then that we are there moms and dads and thats why we love each other so much my heart and prayers are with you and your family . peace catherine

I am so sorry. ((hugs))

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KellyJef...we are all so different. I guess I'm abnormal. Although I still miss Pockets, I take great joy in the the antics of my new kitty. For me, it's healing. I feel good about giving a kitten a good home. I actually have 2 rescue dogs and I got the cat at the shelter. I truely believe that pets are theraputic...and I need a lot of therapy. If you really want another one so badly, I feel that when the time is right for you, it will happen.

Thanks everyone. I am reading this through eyes so swollen I can barely see. It really means a lot to me. Thank you.

I feel so badly for you. I'm a huge animal lover and I've been through what you're going through before. You feel like your heart actually aches. I'm so sorry about your beautiful baby... ~Lisa

I am so sorry for you & your family. You know in your heart that you did what was best, but I know that didn't make it any easier. Last month I had to have one of my cats put down too. This is the first time in my life that I've had to make the decision & take the actions all by myself. Like your cat, she had stopped eating, drinking & lost the use of one of her legs. At the end she had no quality of life, so I knew she was better off, but that doesn't make it any easier.

This afternoon I found that one of the neighborhood strays had been ran over by a car. So now I am back to bawling my eyes out again too....

Just last week I adopted 2 new kittens. Went to see about one & got talked into two. They are so cute & fun and by me taking them in, that meant 2 unwanted kittens that didn't have to be put down.