Author Topic: I Hope I Have my Cat Put to Sleep at the Right Time. (Read 2343 times)

Truth is Eternal · « **on:** May 19, 2014, 02:56:47 PM »

My 10 year old cat was ill a few weeks ago with what seemed like the flu. He appeared to be getting better as he was gaining back some strength again and eating. All of a sudden a few days ago he got weaker and started not eating again. I took him to the vet today and found out he most likely has terminal cancer and will live from 1-2 weeks- 2 months.

I will be so heart broken when I have to put my buddy to sleep. He would, many times come up to me to get a hug before I leave for work, greet me when I came home, lay on my lap while I am surfing the internet, sleep next to me at night.

My cat has got me through some tough times in life.

Please pray that I get through this and see the good in this as I am already tired of dealing with this life.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2014, 03:17:50 PM »

Tiffany · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2014, 05:16:58 PM »

Truth I'm so sorry about your dear kitty. Prayers & hugs

soulguard · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2014, 05:23:04 PM »

Quote from: Truth is Eternal

Please pray that I get through this and see the good in this as I am already tired of dealing with this life.

I pray for you, but also say that you can get another cat which will be a source of great joy.
What is stopping you from getting a kitten, or 2 kittens! or 3! or 4!

Thus is your solution:

Get 5 kittens and lots of cotton wool and tinfoil.

You will enjoy watching these minature tigers claw your furniture and invade and conquer your house.
They will take it over, and it wont be your house anymore.

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2014, 06:48:39 PM »

We've rescued more strays than I can count, finding homes or adopting them, so we've had our share of deaths. Each are heart rending, as it should be. Grieving facilitates healing, so grieve away, it's normal and good for you.

Above all else, remember these these aninals are God's creation and gift to us. When the time comes, return them to Him with joy, thanking Him for the gift of their life, bringing laughter and love to our vale of tears.

btw, Souguard's advice is good. You don't have to wait to adopt another - it's not a betrayal or "too soon" thing - get another as soon as you can. There's one waiting at the shelter right now, looking for you to provide a home before it's too late.

Sigismund · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2014, 08:15:13 PM »

I am really sorry. It is tough to lose a pet you care about.

I would actually disagree with Soulguard's advice. Take the time to grieve for this cat before you get another one.

claudel · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2014, 12:31:07 AM »

Quote from: Sigismund

I am really sorry. It is tough to lose a pet you care about.

I would actually disagree with Soulguard's advice. Take the time to grieve for this cat before you get another one.

Poor advice from soulguard is nothing new, alas.

The single most striking characteristic of dogs and cats is their individuality, their capacity for forming bonds—individually differing bonds—with ~~their owners~~ the humans they share their life with.* No other cat will ever provoke quite the same response of affection and, unfortunately, grief from the OP because she (to make a guess about the OP's sex) will never have another cat who is quite the same or who interacts with her in the same way.

In this limited sense, pets are no more fungible, no more exchangeable, than one's friends or one's siblings or one's children. And whatever the joys and fufillment that children bring to their parents' lives, there is a quiet happiness in the realization that no pet will ever become the sort of adolescent who tells Mom and Dad how they have ruined her life by being so uncool!

Pets aren't persons, of course. That's just the point. First and foremost, they don't have an immortal soul. Yet doesn't this fact make grieving over the death of a dearly loved pet all the more reasonable and understandable? After all, he or she is gone forever.

Grieve all you need to, OP. You've lost a friend, and you'll never have one exactly like him again.
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*Except in the legal sense, to speak of the "owner" of a dog or a cat is to display utter ignorance of why people have for centuries valued these animals above all others—frequently for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the "contributions" they make to a household as work animals or vermin controllers. Besides, as everyone who has ever had a cat knows, the cat owns you far more than you own him or her!

Truth is Eternal · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2014, 08:39:21 AM »

Quote from: claudel

Quote from: Sigismund
I am really sorry. It is tough to lose a pet you care about.

I would actually disagree with Soulguard's advice. Take the time to grieve for this cat before you get another one.

Poor advice from soulguard is nothing new, alas.

The single most striking characteristic of dogs and cats is their individuality, their capacity for forming bonds—individually differing bonds—with ~~their owners~~ the humans they share their life with.* No other cat will ever provoke quite the same response of affection and, unfortunately, grief from the OP because she (to make a guess about the OP's sex) will never have another cat who is quite the same or who interacts with her in the same way.

In this limited sense, pets are no more fungible, no more exchangeable, than one's friends or one's siblings or one's children. And whatever the joys and fufillment that children bring to their parents' lives, there is a quiet happiness in the realization that no pet will ever become the sort of adolescent who tells Mom and Dad how they have ruined her life by being so uncool!

Pets aren't persons, of course. That's just the point. First and foremost, they don't have an immortal soul. Yet doesn't this fact make grieving over the death of a dearly loved pet all the more reasonable and understandable? After all, he or she is gone forever.

Grieve all you need to, OP. You've lost a friend, and you'll never have one exactly like him again.
___________________________________

*Except in the legal sense, to speak of the "owner" of a dog or a cat is to display utter ignorance of why people have for centuries valued these animals above all others—frequently for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the "contributions" they make to a household as work animals or vermin controllers. Besides, as everyone who has ever had a cat knows, the cat owns you far more than you own him or her!

I am a male.

My cat does not bond as closely to my brother as he does me. Yesterday, My brother estimated this cat has been on my lap an average of at least 1/2 hour per day for the past 10 years. That is approximately 76 full days worth of time. :shocked:

He sure looks like he feels miserable. This morning He threw up most of the food and water he drank yesterday. He still did manage to great me this morning when I got up.

He has a healthy brother cat and we have a female cat about six years old. We are sure going to miss him.

I will see how the next 2 days go for my cat. If he is not eating well and drinking enough water, I will have to have him put to sleep soon.

Tiffany · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2014, 09:03:56 AM »

So sorry he had a rough morning, it's hard seeing your little cat suffer and being helpless to fix it, hugs

Truth is Eternal · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2014, 09:18:10 AM »

Quote from: Tiffany

So sorry he had a rough morning, it's hard seeing your little cat suffer and being helpless to fix it, hugs

My two oldest cat are both Somalis. They are very quiet when they meow. When I got the wet cat food for him a little bit ago he meowed and came up to me because he wanted food but then he started meowing because he couldn't eat. :cry:

I am going to have to put my buddy to sleep soon. I have to go back to work Friday. If he doesn't improve I might have to put him to sleep Thursday.

shin · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2014, 10:31:05 AM »

Prayers!

crossbro · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2014, 10:48:57 AM »

Everyone has to deal with this in their own way.

I remember my cat Tommy a big intimidating orange tomcat.

He was declawed, fortunately.

I would tell guest not to pet him because he bites. He would jump on the couch next to the guest purring and acting really sweet.

I would say, "Don't pet him he bites."

They, thinking they were doctor Doolittle would continue to pet Tommy taken in by his innocent act of love.

Then he would suddenly roll over and clutch him with his imaginary claws and then sink his fangs into a finger or thumb.

I would hear a scream as a blinding orange flash would fly by and out the doggy door. He new once he administered the bite to run like heck- he would not be home for a couple hours at least.

"I told you he bites."

Truth is Eternal · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2014, 02:48:51 PM »

I tried one more time to give my cat food and water and he would not eat or drink. I called the veterinary clinic and the doctor told me since the medicine is not working as he is not eating or drinking it is time to put him to sleep.

I set up the appointment for 11:30 tomorrow. I will get through it.

claudel · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2014, 08:17:25 PM »

Quote from: Truth is Eternal

I am a male.

Sorry.

I picked California Chrome to win the Preakness. So one bet out of two right ain't bad.
____________________

My last cat died at 13 of abdominal cancer exactly twelve years and one week ago. I haven't adopted another cat in large part because I simply couldn't endure that much grief again.

You may or may not know that certain "alternative" vets provide various life-extension treatments that might well keep your friend alive for another month or two without a marked increase in his pain. The cost is high, however—four figures easily; I had a very well paying job back then, when I was seeing such a vet, but it still took me several months to pay off all the bills—and the outcome is, sadly, just as inevitable.

Tiffany · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2014, 09:26:57 PM »

{{{Truth}}}