Pet Lovers

[MalteseMomma]

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@Puppy Lips wrote:

So sorry you are going thru this.  I never had the heart to put any of my dogs down.  But two of them died in my arms and they do suffer at the end.  Sometimes it is best to take them to the vet and follow their recommendations, as hard as it is.

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@Puppy Lips 

Thank you so much for saying this.

For 9 yrs I have beating myself up and telling myself that I killed my beloved Barkley because I was so afraid he was gonna die.

His quality of life was gone and he was the same as this kitty on his finale day.I had lovely vets come to my home and he passed  peacefully. He never even woke up when they came.

But weeks and months later I kept wondering if i had made a mistake and then began to believe I killed him because i was afraid he was dying. I still say that to myself.

So God Bless you and thank you again,your words have lifed the guilt I have secretly  carried for years. 

@Scooty 

I will keep you in my prayers.Whatever you choose ,I'm sure your precious kitty knows you love him  {{{{hugs}}}}}

[lynne6was7]

Sending hugs to you @Scooty , and tears for dear Joe.  Take care.

[Catty2]

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat.  As a cat Mom for decades I have been through this many times.  The worst was when my 19 year old cat had to be put down.  I took 2 days off work to spend time with her before I took her in.  Please know that you will be ending his suffering and what a loving home you gave him.  Take care. 

[geezerette]

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@MalteseMomma wrote:

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@Puppy Lips wrote:

So sorry you are going thru this.  I never had the heart to put any of my dogs down.  But two of them died in my arms and they do suffer at the end.  Sometimes it is best to take them to the vet and follow their recommendations, as hard as it is.

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@Puppy Lips 

Thank you so much for saying this.

For 9 yrs I have beating myself up and telling myself that I killed my beloved Barkley because I was so afraid he was gonna die.

His quality of life was gone and he was the same as this kitty on his finale day.I had lovely vets come to my home and he passed  peacefully. He never even woke up when they came.

But weeks and months later I kept wondering if i had made a mistake and then began to believe I killed him because i was afraid he was dying. I still say that to myself.

So God Bless you and thank you again,your words have lifed the guilt I have secretly  carried for years. 

@Scooty 

I will keep you in my prayers.Whatever you choose ,I'm sure your precious kitty knows you love him  {{{{hugs}}}}}

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@MalteseMomma 

I have been a dog "mom" much longer than a cat mom, but I can say through my own experiences and what I've been told from others, that cats hide their illnesses and injuries much more than dogs or other animals.  I always know when my dogs don't feel well.  Not so with my cats many times.  They can be suffering greatly, but we might not be able to tell.

Don't feel guilty about your kitty.  You lived with him and you knew his quality of life was gone.  Just because he may have acted like the same kitty, doesn't mean he still felt like the same kitty.  It's never an easy decision, so I'm sure you didn't enter into it lightly.  

I'm sorry that you've felt this way for so long.  And if you were at all premature in your assessment, I'm sure your vet would have told you so. 

[Abrowneyegirl]

You are kind person with a generous heart full of love.  Your dear cat with not suffer while comforted by your love.

[Moonlady]

It's always a sad day when we have to say goodbye to our pets, even when they're sick.

When cats retreat like your Joe is doing, that's often their way of communicating that all is not well. Take him to the vet to see if this is, in fact, the time to put him to sleep.

You gave him a good life. Who knows what might have become of Joe, had he not found you!

[Puppy Lips]

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@MalteseMomma wrote:

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@Puppy Lips wrote:

So sorry you are going thru this.  I never had the heart to put any of my dogs down.  But two of them died in my arms and they do suffer at the end.  Sometimes it is best to take them to the vet and follow their recommendations, as hard as it is.

---

@Puppy Lips 

Thank you so much for saying this.

For 9 yrs I have beating myself up and telling myself that I killed my beloved Barkley because I was so afraid he was gonna die.

His quality of life was gone and he was the same as this kitty on his finale day.I had lovely vets come to my home and he passed  peacefully. He never even woke up when they came.

But weeks and months later I kept wondering if i had made a mistake and then began to believe I killed him because i was afraid he was dying. I still say that to myself.

So God Bless you and thank you again,your words have lifed the guilt I have secretly  carried for years. 

@Scooty 

I will keep you in my prayers.Whatever you choose ,I'm sure your precious kitty knows you love him  {{{{hugs}}}}}

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@MalteseMomma I hope I did lessen your guilt, because you have nothing to feel guilty about.  Both of my dogs were near the end and I just could not bring myself to do what was best, thinking that I would feel guilty afterward like you did.  Both of them passed in the wee hours of a Saturday night, so help was not readily available, at least nowhere nearby.  They were in obvious stress and it was not pretty to witness.  And frankly, I feel a bit of guilt for letting them suffer like that.  It is a hard decision either way, and either way, we just have to take comfort in their memory and know that we did the best we could for them.  All my dogs will forever be in my heart, as I am sure it is with all the pet owners on this forum.

[Foxxee]

@Scooty 

My answer reflects what I would do, not suggesting you do it, or would I be influenced by what others say.  What you do is your decision.  

After looking up FIV, some reputable websites are saying  it's not necessarily a death sentence with the proper treatment.  Often, instead cats die of old age.  Do you have any idea how old your cat is?  Old age would be an important factor.  

Some vets give up too easily or don't know what else to do, but other vets do.  Often owners accept whatever their vets say.  I would take your cat back and ask if there's anything else that can done.  If the vet says no, I'd see another vet for a second opinion.  Have all of your cat's medical records sent to this vet.  

It would be great if all of us had veterinarian specialists in our areas.  If you do, I'd take your cat to an internist. 

One of my 12 y/o dogs appeared to be on the brink of death...so her vet said.  I took her to a specialist.  She lived 4 more years. 

A doctor told me to put my mother in hospice 5 years ago.  She's alive and doing well.  Thanks to specialists.  

Without knowing more about your cat, indeed, it may be time for him, but I keep pushing doctors until I feel comfortable nothing else can be done.

But, that's me.   

[MoonieBaby]

My whole heart breaks for you.

Honestly, just breaks.

If he is still hanging on by the time you read this Scooty - I also agree with other, a vet home visit might be a good plan.

HE WAS BEYOND BLESSED - YOU EVEn MORe SO BECAUSE HE PICKED YOU ATO BE HIS ADORING MOM.

REMEMBER THE LOVE - THE SWEETNESS YOU SHARED, NOT THE LAST DAYS OF HIS LIFE - BUT ALL THE DAYS THAT CAME BEFORE.

[denisemb]

@Scooty 

I've been watching all night for any news about Joe.  Like everyone here, my heart is heavy with shared grief which we've all experienced.  It's probably especially distressing to you, as Joe chose YOU.

It is SO hard to let go. But like others here, I'm in the camp of holding my pets close at the vet, all the while telling them calmly/quietly about what a "good boy/girl they've been" and how much their love meant to me.  (And then DH & I go to the parking lot and sob.)

I believe it was @geezerette who mentioned cats are better than dogs in hiding their symptoms.  In fact, cats have been known to "PURR" at times of pain/distress in a self-soothing method.

I doubt you'll believe me right now, but eventually you will be beyond this most painful of times (and sometimes longer than others), but you'll find a day that you will think of Joe and smile...and rejoice in having shared his life with him.  Please be well and take care of yourself.