Aa
desperately seeking comforting & supportive words
Tomorrow I am taking my cat to be put to sleep. He is dying right before my eyes and its happening so fast. About 2 months ago he went outside in a new neighborhood and attacked a cat that pass our window everyday since we moved in. He damaged his toe nail pretty bad. He had to take antibiotics and pain medicine. It seemed like his foot was healing but he was sleeping all the time. So after taking off the pain meds and switching antibiotics 2 times he got to the point about 2 weeks ago where he wasn't eating and barely moving. I took him to a different doctor that did blood test and he said he's sure he has one of two Lymphosarcoma or FIV. This was told to me on Christmas Eve. I told him I would make the appointment to have him euthanasia. Tomorrow is the day and I feel so bad. He definitely is getting worse. Right now his brother is lying on the bed next to him as if he knows something major is about to happen to his best friend. They are only 3 years old. What should I do about sick kitty and his brother?
I am glad to hear that Clyde was not put down.
I had a 11yr old cat that was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer - had already spread to his bones when we found out. There was no hope but to wait for the right time to put him down.
At the end of his life, he was so weak and could hardly walk but I took him for walks as he loved the sunshine. We gave him codeine to rub on his ears as he could not tolerate the pain medications given even if was specially mixed by the veternary pharmacy. My cat also had problems swallowing in the end that I thought giving him the meds was putting him under more pain and stress.
I had always asked others and myself when was the right time to put him down. One day, I carried him to his food and he tried so hard to eat but could not eat his food .... his breathing got worst .... something told me that it was time to let him go .... he died the next day at home. We never had to put him down which I thank him very much as it would have broke my heart to have to set the day and time of his dead.
I hope that Clyde will get better or if not .... when it is time to go, he will let you know somehow ... in his own way .... like the way he told you that he is not ready to go yet ...
Good luck and enjoy those precious moments ....
Kiong
I had a 11yr old cat that was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer - had already spread to his bones when we found out. There was no hope but to wait for the right time to put him down.
At the end of his life, he was so weak and could hardly walk but I took him for walks as he loved the sunshine. We gave him codeine to rub on his ears as he could not tolerate the pain medications given even if was specially mixed by the veternary pharmacy. My cat also had problems swallowing in the end that I thought giving him the meds was putting him under more pain and stress.
I had always asked others and myself when was the right time to put him down. One day, I carried him to his food and he tried so hard to eat but could not eat his food .... his breathing got worst .... something told me that it was time to let him go .... he died the next day at home. We never had to put him down which I thank him very much as it would have broke my heart to have to set the day and time of his dead.
I hope that Clyde will get better or if not .... when it is time to go, he will let you know somehow ... in his own way .... like the way he told you that he is not ready to go yet ...
Good luck and enjoy those precious moments ....
Kiong
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am so sorry about your cat, but I think that you are making the right decision.
It is important that the sick cat's brother understand what is happening in a way that he can understand. The healthy cat may already know that his brother and friend is dying, and desires to spend as much time with the sick cat as possible in the time remaining, to comfort the dying cat. Some animal behaviorists and veterinarians would say that I am anthropomorphizing (ascribing human characteristics to non-human animals), but I believe that anyone who has ever had a close bond with a non-human animal knows that they have feelings.
There is not that much that you can do to shield the healthy cat from the pain of experiencing death of a loved one. Time will eventually heal the wound to an extent, but he will go through a grieving process. To help decrease the severity, you can give him extra love, and care.
Closure is also very important. After the euthanasia please bring home some of the sick cat’s fur, and the blanket that he died on for the healthy cat to smell. Healthy cat will be able to tell from the scent that his friend is gone. He may still mourn, for awhile. If it lasts more than a month it may have to be addressed with an antidepressant medication, or if it is very severe even earlier than a month. Finding another companion for the healthy cat may also help.
It is important that the sick cat's brother understand what is happening in a way that he can understand. The healthy cat may already know that his brother and friend is dying, and desires to spend as much time with the sick cat as possible in the time remaining, to comfort the dying cat. Some animal behaviorists and veterinarians would say that I am anthropomorphizing (ascribing human characteristics to non-human animals), but I believe that anyone who has ever had a close bond with a non-human animal knows that they have feelings.
There is not that much that you can do to shield the healthy cat from the pain of experiencing death of a loved one. Time will eventually heal the wound to an extent, but he will go through a grieving process. To help decrease the severity, you can give him extra love, and care.
Closure is also very important. After the euthanasia please bring home some of the sick cat’s fur, and the blanket that he died on for the healthy cat to smell. Healthy cat will be able to tell from the scent that his friend is gone. He may still mourn, for awhile. If it lasts more than a month it may have to be addressed with an antidepressant medication, or if it is very severe even earlier than a month. Finding another companion for the healthy cat may also help.
wow , plz make sure hes that sick and no meds will help him, hes very young to have to be put down. if it comes to that know your doing the best thing for him, your showing him you love him and dont wont him to be sick and suffer. am sure hes had a great life and you have spoiled him rotton so dont feel bad about doing what you need to do,. i had to put my baby of 17 years down this year very very hard and so sad but i knew it was time. hope all goes ok for you and you can enjoy rest your holiday.
Thank you for your reply to my post. I really like what you said about humans and animals operating on two levels especially at the end of life. That explains me being torn between my decission what's best. I surely didn't want to have him put down if I knew he would prefer to be with us until he went on his own. And I didn't want to keep him around if he was asking me for help. I had tried everything within my power and means and he kept getting worse. Thank you. That was definitely one of the hardest experiences I have encountered in my life. I try now to focus on his brother and what to do to keep him happy. They were definitely company for each other. Thanks again
This is such a sad and moving post. Do not worry about whether you did the right thing for him. You did. I think animals (particularly at the end of their lives) are (like humans too) -operating on two levels. One, the deep level, which knows instinctively it is time to leave, and two, the everyday level, which is trying to do all the usual normal things. But I was convinced by reading your post that your Clyde was trying to communicate with you at the end, asking you to do whatever you could to take him away from what he was suffering. And you did. Oh yes, the everyday part of him was thinking about going home....but the deep part of him was asking you for your help. You fulfilled that unspoken promise all loving pet owners make. To do the best for their loved one right to the end. And you did. Bless you.
On Thrusday January 8, 2009, two days after my birthday. I took Clyde over to the vet. and had him put to sleep. That was the hardest thing I have ever done. Eventho he was very very sick. He couldn't walk or eat anymore. When we got to the vet I saw in his eyes him saying to me "please don't" " I want to go home". What brought me to the decision to have him taken out of his misery was him being in distress that morning and the afternoon when I got home from work. That morning he was wining (meow) and begging me to do something. And when I came from work he managed to get down off the bed and ended up behind the front door. I heard him as a approached the door from outside. Very loudly meowing (help) I am stuck her. I quickly picked him up off the floor and put him back in the bed. He stopped. Then I gathered him in a basket and took him over to the vet. After all that it was still hard. I miss my little Clyde so much. I can't stop thinking about him and if I made the right decission. I have his picture in my livingroom. I just hope he is comfortable now and able to run a play the way he loves to. Thanks for all the support and encouragement.
I'm sorry you're going through this. It's so hard to watch. I do want to add don't be afraid to allow your vet to euthanize Clyde if he seems to be in pain or suffering. I know for most people it's a horrid thought to do such a thing and keeping the pet at home seems to be the kindest. But when the animal is in pain, euthanasia is a kinder choice.
I have euthanize animals quite often at work. It's quite peaceful, a general relaxation and the breathing slows down and finally then end. For a pet, I think many people choose to be there to offer comfort for their animal during the transition. Some vets even are willing to come out to the car to avoid the stress of strange smells and activity in the office.
I hope you have many more days with your cat and that his end is peaceful.
I have euthanize animals quite often at work. It's quite peaceful, a general relaxation and the breathing slows down and finally then end. For a pet, I think many people choose to be there to offer comfort for their animal during the transition. Some vets even are willing to come out to the car to avoid the stress of strange smells and activity in the office.
I hope you have many more days with your cat and that his end is peaceful.
SO SORRY YOUR GOING THROUGHT THIS , I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO WATCH HIM SUFFER , IF HE IS DYING I THINK IT WOULD BE TIME TO HELP HIM OUT AND LET HIM GO TO SLEEP, AS HARD AS WE WANT TO KEEP THEM HERE ITS HARD ON THEM AND THEY DONT UNDER STAND WHY WE ARE NOT HELPING THEM. I WOULD AT THIS POINT TAKE HIM IN AND HAVE HIM PUT TO REST. WE DONT KNOW WHAT KIND PAIN HE IS IN, HE PROBLEY WANTS TO GO ON HES NOT LIVING LIFE ANYMORE AND HES TIRED AND IN PAIN SO PLZ TAKE YOUR BABY IN AND SHOW HIM YOU LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO LET HIM REST.
That is just the kind of story I have been wanting to hear. I know my little Clyde will be gone soon. He is not eating at all and is losing weight by the second. He still has an opinion and tries to move around a bit. I think his brother is having a hard time, because when I leave home he is in the window meowing when I get back. We are both so helpless. This is a difficult thing to go through and it happened so suddenly. I also appreciate the input about the pain medicine. Why would the vet. give us some medicine that the animal won't tolerate. I also read that one of the side affect is loss of appetite. That doesn't make since to me. It is really hard to pick him up because he feels like bones. I feel so sad right now. I am trying so hard to get him to eat something. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad if he could keep some weight on and pass on from the disease. I feel really sad right now. I am so helpless. Sometimes I think I should give the other cat away so I won't have to risk going through this again. Thank you again.
Thank you both for responding to my post. I did not have clyde put down that day. Funny he meowed all the way to the vet as if he was trying to tell me that he's alright. So we postponed until we a sure he is not coherent and in extreme pain. He is still not eating much. The doctor gave me some pain medicine (pills). I have been trying to desolve it and squirt it in his mouth or mix with food, but I think it taste so unfamiliar that he can't stand it being in his mouth. I am afraid to force a pill down his throat because he is having difficulty swallowing. I don't know what to do. The little bit I did get into his body caused him to salivate and drool excessively. Please help. After the drooling stopped he was ok and began to vocalize and eat and walk around more.
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