Putting Kitty to Sleep :(

[JM517]

3 days ago we had to put our 13 year old tabby, Max, to sleep.  He was vomiting at least twice per day, could not keep any food down and went from 11 lbs to 7 in a very short amount of time.  We tried medication and all sorts of tests, special foods..you name it we tried it and he just wasn't getting better.  The vet could not figure out the issue and we just couldn't see him suffer any longer so we made the decision to put him to sleep.  Has anyone else been through this?  I don't regret the decision I know it was for the best but I still feel awful.  I miss him so much, I stayed with him while it happened and I can't get the images of him taking his last breath out of my mind. This is the first time I've had to put an animal to sleep. We have 2 other adorable kitties at home so that helps a bit but Max was my shadow, always had to be with me and its hard that he's not here any longer.  I know time helps to heal I suppose I am just looking for support for others who have been through this to see how you made it through the grieving process.

Thanks!

[me236]

I am so sorry to hear about your beloved Max :( I had to put my dear cat, JJ, to sleep on 9/9/09; it wasn't easy but I know it was the humane thing to do.  I still cry myself to sleep. He was my best buddy, my little loverboy baby. Being a ragdoll cat, he loved to be held all the time and cuddle alot. He'd purr so loud, he'd wake me up! I know what you're going through and my thoughts are with you.

[rouxmaker]

You cry a lot and then you cry a little more but as they say It Gets Easier

[Jade59]

Hello...again, I'm so sorry you had to make this very difficult decision for Max.  He sounds like he was a very sweet boy.  I've been through this myself several years ago with our first cat and while we know it's best for our babies, we still feel so bad about it.  Thank God though it is an option to put our friends out of their misery when the time becomes clear.  I hope you're doing a little bit better today.  It does take a long time to get over such a thing.  Even though you have other cats, I know you're missing Max terribly :(

Your kitty in your profile pic is just gorgeous!

[FurballsMom]

I'm so sorry you had to put your fur baby to sleep.  I know how awful it feels, even when you know you made the right decision for your Max.  I went through similar feelings when I had to put my Siamese to sleep.  We went through a lot together with my trying so hard to help her through a chronic illness.  She had Colitis, and the vet and I tried everything we knew how to do to make her feel better and hopefully even stop the inflammation that she obviously had in her colon.  I didn't want to part with Ivory, but I knew that putting her to sleep was in her best interests, too.  I know what you mean when you say you know you made the right decision regarding putting your cat to sleep but still feeling awful.  It's only natural that you miss your precious fur baby.  Reaching out to others who you know will understand is a very helpful thing for you to do for yourself, because you are grieving the loss of your furry family member.  I went through much of what you're experiencing now when I lost my Siamese.  

[JM517]

Thank you :) it helps to hear from someone who has also been through this

[opus88]

Oh I am so sorry to hear this had to happen. but so happy you made the decision to be with Max to the end, I've had many that died in my arms it isn't an easy choice to ever make but does help our babies feel comforted and loved right to their last breath....Its hard to make that final call, but ultimately its in their best interests not ours isn't it.
Saying goodbye especially in those circumstances haunts all of us pet owners....believe me we all understand here.
grieve for your darling Max it will take awhile to not look for him each time you turn around...but slowly it will get less and less painful.
You did a very unselfish thing, you tried to heal him and were unable to do so, therefore we do have to let them go....bless you and RIP Max.