old cats

I'm sorry to hear about your cat...I know how you feel. It hurts me so badly whenever I lose one of them. Just you know, think that your cat will be peaceful after that.

You sound a lot like me. My neighbors once asked me how you knew it was time to let go of the furry buddy. I told them that when the animal was going to lose its dignity from the pain and suffering of what ever ailment that old age has brought it. Sometimes you have to weigh how much time is gained from surgery against quality of life. Obviously the extension of your cats life wasn't worth the surgery. It amounts to loving a furry buddy enough to let go and allow them to cross the bridge through a humane manner of the end. I agree totally with your feelings. People get so involved with what they want, they don't take into consideration what might be best for their furry buddy. It is very selfish on the owner's part to keep the cat alive because they can't stand to part with the critter. Hopefully they won't decide to have the cat stuffed after the cat passes on.

I agree, there is no point in allowing the animal to suffer a minute longer than needed. I know how painfull it is to let go, but it is more humane.

I am sorry about your cat, it is a sad shame! As you probably know I lost my beloved black cat of 13 years to cancer and I too did everything in my power to help him; it cost me a lot of money, time and heartache and I tried to hang on to him as long as I could until the day came when I knew it would have been selfish and cruel to keep him going as he was and I made the difficult decision to end his life which to this day I don’t regret although I miss him terribly. You did all you could for your cat, it is obviously his time...

It is so hard to part with a well loved pet that some people don't think about the pet. They are thinking about their lifeweithout their pet. Take care.

I had 4 cats that had cancer. I agree it is selfish to let them suffer just because the owner doesn't want to part. When my cats got sick, at first I did anything I could to keep them around. Then it got to the point that I couldn't stand to see them suffer anymore, so I had them put to sleep. I probably should have done it sooner, but at that time I was thinking more of me and my loss than of them. I regret that now.

The cancer would have been painful for him I expect. If that was the case and if the surgery releved him of that pain, than I'd say that it was worth it. The alternative of course was to have him put down as soon as the cancer was diagnosed, but I suppose that it was always possible that he would have recovered and enjoyed a few more years of life. That's my view anyway.

I'm so sorry to read about your cat. It's a difficult decision to make when we're faced with the news of something like that - you want to give the pet every chance for recovery, but we also need to weigh quality of life. Sometimes we don't know that answer until in hind sight, which you are dealing with now. I went through something similar about 2 years ago with our cat. In the end we chose what would be the least painful for her. It's not always so clear cut; veterinary practices can lead you to believe a treatment will give you more time, when in fact it's only a matter of months or even weeks. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is let them go. Again I am so sorry you're dealing with this right now - I know how hard it is.

Giving cats and dogs radiation and chemo treatments is a horrible waste of time and money, but more importantly, their lives are usually miserable from the treatments. A man my son knew gave his dog chemo treatments. The little beast lost all of its hair, just as humans do, and was so sick from the treatments, it could barely walk. Pain killers or putting him down would have been so much more humane. Keeping pets in agony just so we can have a few more days of their company is awful for them. They look to us for love and comfort. They do not understand when we take them to the vet for normal checkups. What do you think they wonder when we subject them to horrible treatments like chemo? Do they wonder how they displeased you to warrant such agony? Yet, they love us, even when they wrongly believe they are being punished.

I agree to let our beloved pet go to better place when they would be suffering a lot if they are alive. I had a cat in my childhood that she wasn't happy at all in our new home. Some says cat missed their old home a lot and would be unhappy in new place. So, me and my mom put her back to our earlier neighborhood to make her free and happy. Saying farewell to her was one of the toughest thing I got through. Until now, when I recall our precious moment together, still I wet my eyes remembering her meaow. I would say for a pet suffering from deadly disease , all what we should consider is only for his or her happiness and peace.

If I had been in your shoes, I think I would questioned the Veternarian on whether or not the surgery would've kept him alive for a few more years, and whether or not his life would have been a good one. If the Vet could not have given me some reassurance of any of this, then I may not have had the surgery perfumed. Why put anyone thru Cancer surgery or treatment, only to die a short time later. Maybe a few pain pills to get him thru the day without pain, could've given him better life until it was time for his passing. At least that's what I want for my own life....if that ever happens to me.

My sympathy at your loss. I know how it feels. Ask yourself this: Did your cat enjoy a "quality of life" for those extra 4 months? If you can honestly answer "yes" to my question than you did the right thing. A few years ago, I had a diabetic cat that I took care of. Her quality of life was good for her last few years, and the love she gave me for those last few years was well worth the effort it took to keep her healthy. My feelings are that if your pet is not suffering, do the best you can to make their last days happy and fulfilling.

cats are pets and pets are special, savypat. cats, as pets, have a different way of expressing warmness. we love and cuddle them when they are still kitties. and when they grow to maturity, they become part of our household -- we feed and take care of them. and you're absolutely right that when our pet cats get sick, we should give them the best attention and care. but when they get old and cranky, they should not be treated differently. the more we should care for them... as a way of expressive gratitude for the joy they brought us, as our beloved and cared pets.

well i too dont agree with you.. as tou are like a guadian to the cat and you feel that its a waste of money to save your own pet??..... I suggest you be happy that you pet is with you for all the 4 months....and i expect emotions to be strong with you pets.... do not always be a business man... try to be human atleast in des aspects.. :)

I have three elderly cats. Two boys who are 13 (almost 14) and a girl who is 12. The boys have some balancing issues, and the oldest tends to have the most health problem, but they are not severe enough to put him to sleep. He has allergies, arthritis, a urinary tract problem, and he sometimes gets disoriented (that's why everything in my house is now floor level for him, and I have made things as comfortable as I can for him). We have non-allergenic items for him, blankets and the heat on for his arthritis (I live in California, so the Winter is the only bad time of the year for him, and I have managed to keep the house at a normal temp. so that his arthritis does not act up), he eats special food for his urinary tract problem (he has not has a problem with this since he was three), and I will use things that he can easily keep his eyes on if he feels strange (again, old age, but he can still see and he can do all the normal things, he just feels awkward at times). My vet has told me that it is "old age", and that there is not much that we can do. Medication will not work for him and it will just aggravate him since he hates medication. He is lucky that he has been alive so long. My other cats help him out a little bit and they will go so far as to letting him eat first. My mother and I take the cats to the vet as often as we can, but the vets say that they cannot find anything wrong with him, only that he has hit old age. We are not putting him down any time soon. We are just letting him live as long as he feels he can live. It is not that I am afraid to part with him, but I feel that he should live out his life as naturally as possible. If he gets diabetes, cancer, or anything deemed "life threatening", my mother and I will humanely put him down. If your cat has something "life threatening", then do the humane thing and put them down. They are suffering and they do not deserve that.

Hi savypat, I'm so sorry to hear that the cat is dying and you are probably right, but it's difficult sometimes to let them go. I had my cat of 13 years put down but I just couldn't handle watching him suffer, it was terrible. Blessings.

Oh dear, I am sorry for your loss, Pat. This reminds me of when we euthanased our last cat. I could't bear the thought of putting her through the trauma of going back to the vet, so we got him to come to our house. My son was there with me. I won't go into details but I think it was much more traumatic for us humans than it was for her. I do think we should always put their suffering first in our consideration.

I do understand how you feel concerning that. At least the cat is no longer suffering. But yes, it is not always kind to keep a living thing alive for oneself. Karen

I think that your point of view is right. I faced a cancer scare recently too, my dog. But it turned out to be fat cells, I think if it happened I'd put him down. I love him so much, but I don't think animals should have to suffer just because their owners are too selfish to let them go. Also I don't think I can afford the care he'd require.

Hi Savypat I am kind of on the fence with this one I feel as though keeping a terminal cat alive can be looked at as selfish of the owner because they are not ready to part with their beloved pet and I can understand that however on the other hand I can understand now wanting to look at my pet in discomfort or just not being themselves meaning as energetic and vivacious as they used to be . So for me I am not really sure what I would do in that situation I have a 4 year old tabby named Jinx and we love him and treat him more like a part of the family than a pet he is spoiled rotten and he knows it When it is his time to go I would hope I would be able to make the right decision which is what is best for him