Had to get my cat put down today

[55Test]

I had to get my 2 year old male cat put down this morning. Saturday night I noticed he was having a little trouble walking in a straight line, but at the time I thought nothing of it. Sunday afternoon I heard him howling from a corner of my room, and I found him flopped onto his left side. I tried picking him up but he just fell back down. It seemed like his front legs weren't doing anything or holding him up. I also noticed he couldn't move his head and it was just flopping around. I laid him on my bed but I guess he wanted to get up and run away, he pushed himself with his back legs off my bed onto the floor and was just howling like he wanted help. That continued all night, so this morning I took him into the vet and she told me he probably had terminal kidney disease and a possible low potassium situation. She said there was a small chance he could bve saved, but that it would costly and quite stressful to him. He was an outdoor cat and never liked staying inside too long. Knowing that, I made the decision to have him humanely put to sleep. The scared look in his eyes as he laid there on the table was just painful to see but I wasn't going to look away. After he had passed, the vet put him in a cardboard box and I took him home and buried him in my back yard.

 

[Astro14]

I am very sorry for your loss.

Pets rely on us to care for them, that care includes making the right decision about their suffering.

 

[01rangerxl]

Very sorry to hear that.

 

[oldmaninsc]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Sadly I've been through it more times than I care to remember. My condolences.

 

[Smokescreen]

 

[Tdbo]

Very sorry to hear that. My condolences also.
Pets certainly become an integral part of the family. We have a 17 year old Seal Point Siamese and I dread the time we will be faced with that (yet, I know that it is coming.)

 

[AandPDan]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Nick R]

I'm so sorry, we have two cats and they really are part of the family, I don't even want to think about what it's going to be like someday when we eventually have to do this.

 

[morepwr]

Losing a loved pet is one of the hardest things to go through. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[scurvy]

You did the most humane thing for your cat. My condolences on your loss and thank you for being a responsible pet owner.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

We had to kill our 15 yo Coon cat as he was near death. A sad time, indeed. It really reads like you cat was poisoned either intentionally or by accident.
BTW, most all commercial cat food is garbage including Science Death and IAMS. Stay away from anything using corn and rice brewers byproducts - cats dont need high amounts of starches and carbs - mainly instead, quality proteins. Wellness (old mother hubbard)is a good brand.

 

[scrier]

Really sorry to hear about your loss. Anyone who has had to put a pet down knows your hurt. But like Astro14 said, our pets rely on us to make the hard decisions to end their suffering.

 

[ottotheclown]

Amazing this web site: We talk about all aspects of life!! I had to put down my perfect dog Teddy 16yrs old. What a loss!! I know how you feel. I found that I had to make the difficult decision the hard part. It was over in less than 30 minutes. That fact I thought was enough to deal with it. WRONG, it was in April. You just get use to it but it still hurts.Hang in there I feel for you!!

 

[Drew99GT]

Most people say a cat is a cat, but the title of one of my favorite songs is "Don't know what you got, till it's gone". Sorry you had to put him down. Hang in there.

 

[Whitewolf]

You know you have to do it but it still hurts.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
It really reads like you cat was poisoned either intentionally or by accident.


At 2 years old, I agree. Having said that I do know someone who had this happen (from ingredients made in China in the cat food) and they used the fluid injection (Administration of fluids subcutaneously) and they did this for over a year before the cat basically said "no more" and they stopped, and the cat has been fine ever since. That doesn't happen often though.

The best way to deal with it is to just get another cat ASAP.

 

[Donald]

Sorry for your loss. Over the years I have had to put down a few dogs but not a cat. Still they are part of the family.

I have an orange cat that needs a good home. He was a stray that adopted my cat food. Then my house then me. Unfortunately my black cat fights with him so he hangs out with me and the dogs. But the Mastiff puppy pulls the orange cat around by his fur. Not mean, but the puppy is 70+ lbs and the cat is 13 lbs. A month ago he came back from hunting outside with a large red eye. After a week the vet said it needed to come out. So he had surgery and now is a pirate. Has not slowed him down one bit and he was spayed also and is now more affectionate and seldom goes outside. But I am afraid the puppy will hurt him.

 

[2oldtommy]

A cat is not a cat, is not a cat, it is a family member. So many stories, so many pictures, so many good times together. We have lived in our home for 53 years and have 3 kitty graves in the back yard. we do not have a cat at present, but share a female tiger cat "Stoney" with our neighbor. Our daughter has 5 cats(2 of which are Stoney's offspring). Sometime this week make a trip to a local shelter. I'm sure you can provide a home again for a wonderful friend that will again fill your day with pleasure and lauhter. FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[typ901]

Always a tough aspect of life...went through this in January for the 4th time. Had to put down my favorite dog ever. Real sweet and you could walk him without a lead, hardly ever barked, but was very protective of the family. Spinal disease took him at 9 years-and I do not think I will ever be able to replace him. Griffin was a great dog, and he taught me more than I dare to admit.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I'm such a softie. I love our cat dearly and I would be devastated if/when we lose her.