Right or Wrong

Question

I made the decision to have a cat of mine put to sleep. I ask myself did I morally have that right? Should I have just let Misty go to sleep on her own after who knows how many days? I couldn't bear to watch her just laying there day after day wasting away. Without going into all the details she had many problems...should I have opted to put her through a drawn out process of prolonging death with all the IV"s and torture she would have had to endure. I feel so sad. I gave her the best home I could. It was a no win either way for me. Does everyone go through the mental torture with a decision like this too? I wish I could know what she would have wanted.

KLT218 · Accepted Answer

I just had my kitty euthanized last Wednesday.  It was the toughest decision ever.
But she was definitely suffering and it was only going to get worse per what the doctor said.  It was tough listening to her simply get bloodwork done. She was screaming.
I could not imagine the pain she'd go thru having to have IV's and medication and the like.
To me, it would be selfish to keep her going that way.
I don't think you made the wrong decision. Like folks said above, if she could speak, she would have told you to let her go.  She's much better now, and while the grieving process is always super difficult, your heart would be breaking ten times more watching her in pain.

RIP kitty. and take care of yourself as well. :-)

dominosarah · Answer

I am so sorry about the loss of your baby.  I think you did the most honorable thing we can do as pet owners.  I know you are grieving as losing a pet is losing a family member.  She is running pain free now and thanking you for a wonderful loving life you so richly gave.  May you find comfort in your memories~~~~sara

swagger39 · Answer

Man I can so relate. I had a cat for 13 yrs and he was my best freind, he would come to me when I clicked my fingers and so many other great things. He got diabietes and held strong for 3 yrs but the day before I had to bury my stepfather of 44yrs my little man went into semi coma and was having seizures etc. Iwill never ever forget that cold november day when I held him as he took his last breath of life and how nonchalantly the vet acted and then having to bury his still warm body in that cold ground and placed my rosary w him, it was sad and I get teared up just writing this. I since have rescued another but he is aloof and a loner and have 3 other strange ones and none will ever equal up to my little man. wish i found this post sooner, swagger39

kellie90 · Answer

MJ, I understand exactly what you are going/went through. I had to make the decision to put my 17 yr old baby girl down exactly one month ago today. I had her since she was 4 weeks old and she would have been 18 yrs old in a few months. It was sooo very hard and I still miss her as much today....but I know deep down that I did the right thing. I had someone write me the following: "I know your heart is breaking but you took wonderful care of your beloved girl and then, when you could help her no longer, you freely accepted pain yourself in order to spare her any - that is true love". You did the right thing because I am sure you seen the look in your baby's eyes that told you that it was time. Take care in knowing that your little one is probably chasing butterflies painfree and waiting for her daddy someday to join her.

Piparskeggr · Answer

Hey MJ;

It isn't ever an easy decision, nor should it be.

What we do is love the little critters with a passion, which surprises us in its intensity.

Giving the Final Grace is like cutting out a part of your heart.  BUT, it isn't, really, gone...nothing is forgotten, and nothing fully dies, which is in our hearts and memories.

Safe journies to your cat, wherever they go, that we do not follow at this time.

Lavish attention on the others, and let all of those you love know it, now.

take care - Pip

PrettyKitty1 · Answer

Everyone goes through the same thing. Everyone second guesses themselves and feels horrible for making decisions for their pets. But you made the right decision.  I’m sure she wanted some peace and you gave her that. It was her time to go and now she is in no grief. I am so sorry for your loss. I know how hard t is to let them go. Just remember even if they can’t talk to us…they can still communicate with us in a way we can understand when they’ve had enough. It is our responsibility to insure they are going through what is best for them.  Euthanasia was very humane in this case. You are a very good owner. Don’t you doubt that!

Again I'm so, so deeply sorry about your kitty....

HUGS!

PK

SassyLassie · Answer

Hello, my sympathy on the loss of your beloved kitty. No, you did not do wrong by putting her to sleep. I know you feel horrible about it, and that is normal as you loved her so, but, she was obviously suffering, and you should the supreme act of love by taking that pain away by putting her to sleep. I think if she could have talked, she would have asked for you to do this.  It hurts so badly though, I know. I put my dear dog to sleep last year, she was suffering so and there was nothing more we could do, but it still hurt and for awhile, I felt like I had done a bad thing.

Our pets are such a part of us, and when they die, it hurts just the same as when our human loved ones die.

AnnieBrooke · Answer

What she probably wanted was relief. Given that there was no further relief to be had any other way, what you did was correct. That does not make it any happier, and you wouldn't be normal if you did not find "playing God" really distressing. I have had to put down two pets in the last three years, and I sure wish I would never have to do it again. Yet we went the distance for them (the IVs and the rescuing from death time and again) to the point where if we had kept doing it, it would have pained them much more than was kind.