I need some wholesome shit right now.
My cat is dying. She stopped eating her dry food over a month ago. I tried some canned food we had, but that was too solid, so I bought some liquid food. She licks a little bit, but never finishes it.
Hey ability to make it to the litter box is gone. We now have piddle pads all over the house.
Just the other day she wanted to go outside, and she spent longer out there than she had ever spent, and slowly made her way out of the yard, further than she has ever been.
She can't walk that well now, she can only make it a little way before she needs a break.
I think she only has a week or two left, and I want to spend as much time as I can with her.
I just want to hear some good stories from you guys about the last few times you had with your pets.
When I had to make this decision for my beloved dog, I found a vet who performed in home euthanasia services. For us, it was easier doing it at home where she was warm and comfortable and in a familiar environment. Good luck. It's hard.
^^^ THIS ^^^ a thousand times over.
Let her have peace in her final moments, in the environment she calls home. Having done it both ways (traditional vet office vs in-home) it is much better.
We all have our time, it is the curse of mortality. You, as her Person, can make the call to end the suffering. This is not to make light of your agony nor hers, just to say it happens someday to all of us. What you described, such as unwillingness to eat, likely means she has made the call herself. While I've never owned a cat as an adult, I don't regret the decisions on any of my dogs over my life; it was pretty the line between being sick and needing help, and being sick and searching for the Rainbow Bridge.
Her spirit shall live on, and may you be strong in these hours of her need.
Well, it’s just sad when they approach the end. I just don’t let them suffer, so when it looks like they are suffering, I have to let them go. There is no happy solution, because we love them. But usually, I was able to get another one before the older one had to go. But this was about my pain, not theirs. Sorry for your situation.
No more pets for me. I don't want to go through this again.
Love is always a risk you take. But, it is better to have love in your life if only for a short while than to never have it at all.
Beautifully said!
That’s akin to what I told my children when they were little and their Grammy died. It’s the risk of loving. If you choose, you don’t have to love, but then you will miss out on the best part of living- to be loved and loved in return.
Oh I’m so sorry! As a cat owner my entire life I know what you’re going through. It’s hard to watch them go and it’s hard to take them to the vet to help end their suffering . I have to say, the vet visit was easier for me. It’s peaceful and quick. Once they stop eating it’s their way of telling you they are ready. Sending Prayers and good energy To you both.
Some of the saddest days of my life were putting pets down. When it becomes evident you are keeping the animal alive for you instead of them, it is time. If the animal is suffering, it is time. My wife and I have had rough collie dogs for the past 20 years and she grew up with the breed. We love them. They are the most intelligent, sensitive, loyal breed I have come in contact with. This past fall our tri color, Cole was unable to get up anymore. It was obvious he was in pain. He was only 11 but had a tough life. Auto immune disease ate at him for 6 years and his hips no longer did what he wanted them to do. We went to our vet and gently let him pass. The dog was ready, you could tell. I cried and whimpered like no 51 year old man should. His brother, a rough sable collie who is healthy went into a depression. After 4 months of watching that, spoiling him and not seeing any improvement, we got him a little sister. In the span of 2 weeks an amazing transformation took place for the better. You are in my thoughts. I feel for you.
We rescued Rough Collies for years, at one time we shared our home with 13 of those magnificent creatures...In my opinion, they are the finest companions a human could ever want for...There is something very special about a "Coalie Dug"....
That is great to hear. They are special dogs, no doubt about it. Such expressive faces.
It's their eyes, they look into your soul....
Thanks for that story. Thank you for getting the brother another friend.
My last dog was a pit mix. Followed me everywhere constantly. We adopted her with a bum leg, a bad tooth, and heartworm, but once she got the leg off, the tooth out and the worms gone she was such a happy joyful dog!! Had her almost 7 yrs until she went out with a bang: while chasing a squirrel (she was fast for a tripod!) her heart gave out and she died in my late husband's arms.
Four months later Willie Nelsons daughter (my husb worked for Willie) called and said "Come on over pkease. I have a new dog for you." Ha. Yes ma'am. She gave us a little blond deer-headed chihuahua. She went into heat and after a lifetime of rescue dogs but no kids of our own, we decided to have puppies. Just once. So I found a male deer headed chi and I swear he knocked her up within a week of us bringing him home!
Now I have three little yappers who keep me laughing every day. They got me through losing my husband. I love them like they were my kids.
Enjoy your last times until your furry friend is in pain and ready to move on. After a while your heart will be ready for another friend (or more!) in your life.
Our rescue Jack was diagnosed with a heart tumor. Thankfully, medication is keeping him stable. My family and I hope he goes the way your pit mix girl went, with a bang, chasing a squirrel♥️
I've had many, many cats. Once they get to the point you describe, my experience is that they can't really enjoy anything anymore. My take on it when an ill or old cat starts wandering to places they've never gone before is that they're looking for someplace they can feel comfortable, and they keep moving around looking for a comfortable place, which says to me that nothing feels good to them. Once an old one gets to this point, I can't find anything to enjoy with them because they can't enjoy anything with me, and then the only most loving thing I can do is help them peacefully end the pain and discomfort.
I'm sorry I can't give you what you want. I have horses as well as cats, and over the years I've have had to put many to sleep, so I understand your feelings, but my first duty is always to the animals and what's best for them, and so I speak on behalf of your sweet kitty.
Fren, we are going through the exact same thing with our kitty Emily, age 18. Very rough days we are having, and nights. I could have written what you wrote. So none of us are alone, this is a universal pain among animal people. So I want to tell you something. Whether you believe in spiritual matters and hearing God or angels, or not, I will still tell you this. Someone close to me who really does commune with angels and is most beloved by God, has asked for confirmation before that an animal we love is passing in peace and that they will be looked after, to make the transition without being distraught. Reassurance that we were making the right decisions. This person has not only been given the name of the angel who will accompany the animal through transition and be lovingly holding them as they arrive, but the fact that as we waited for the end, they "are already there with you".
Thanks fren. Sorry to hear about Emily.
We had to send our 20 year old Rat Terrier, Scout over Rainbow Bridge last month. We have had many loyal and devoted canines over the years, but Scout was something "special".
I think the only reason he held on so long was that he loved my wife so dearly and did not want to leave her "unguarded". Ultimately, when he faded into a situation very similar to what your beloved cat is experiencing, we knew it was time...
The last few weeks of Scouts time with us was filled with sunny day walks, rib eye steak dinners and lots and lots of love. In his last days, he refused even the steak dinners and would look at us like, It's ok guys, I am ready to go."
My wife insisted that she alone would take Scout for his last vet visit because he would sense something was wrong if I went along. Scout crossed over in my wife's arms hearing her voice in his ear whispering how much we loved him...
She brought him home and we wrapped him in a tattered American flag we where saving for the Boy Scouts to dispose of and laid him to rest under an ancient Walnut Tree in our back yard...
My Grandmother would say," a life filled with love has it's thorns. but a life void of love has no roses." We pay a very high price for all the love that is "given' to us....
God bless you for having a kind soul...
I'm so sorry for your situation. Losing a pet is never easy, especially when they've been a part of your life for such a long time.
When I lost my son at birth, I adopted a puppy as an attempt to cushion the grief a bit. He didn't come close to replacing my child, but he managed to fill that empty quiet in my home that a baby's cries and laughter should have filled.
I had nearly 15 years with that dog and I dreaded the day I would have to say goodbye to him because I didn't know if I was strong enough to do it. But, the time finally came - he was old, he was barely-mobile, and all the things he used to enjoy were becoming a chore for him. I kept thinking there was no need to do anything drastic as long as he was still enjoying life, but it was clear that was no longer the case.
When I made the call to the vet to ask about scheduling his appointment, they asked if I would prefer a house call euthanasia to make things less stressful for both my dog and me. I hadn't even realized that was an option and decided to opt for that over having his final moments being in a place he always dreaded going, surrounded by strangers.
He got to be in his favorite spot on the bed, comfortable and warm. I held him until he was gone, assuring him he had been such a good boy and thanking him for everything. It hurt so badly to feel that emptiness in my home again, but his pain was far more important than my comfort.
Thank you for your story
I’m so so sorry, I just lost my best friend 4 days ago. He was a 14 year old wire haired dachshund. It’s been so hard. He too was ill for last 2 months of his life, I tried everything. I miss him so much. Spend as much time as you can with yours, it’ll mean the world to him.
We've been through that, it is heart-breaking. I hope to never take an animal to have it put down again. I will use homeopathy to help them go gently and at home.
We had a pekingese. I married into it. That was the sweetest most wonderful dog I have ever seen, and I've had many in my lifetime. I became her favorite, (well, I WAS the one with the food...), like, waits for the family to come through when we return from vacation to get excited only when I finally come in the door. I took Pickles for granted, and miss her badly. Worst of all, at 18 years old, yes, 18 YEARS, her hips failed and we put her down. We had the pads all over the house too. I still regret it, but I don't know how else we could have handled it. The marriage was bad, over now, and I was pretty much carrying the weight of the whole household...
We just put our cat down a little over two weeks ago after going through pretty much the same thing. She stopped eating dry food back in January and started throwing up more often (she was long haired so was always barfing up hairballs). Brought her to the vet and they ran tests and couldn't find anything wrong. She seemed to have trouble swallowing or digesting food, not sure what but she didn't want to eat very much. She ate some canned food, the softest we could find, but kept losing weight. At the end she only weighed a few pounds. She was 13 so we knew the end was coming. One day she threw up, including some blood with a big hunk of something from her insides. She then laid down like she wanted to die and we made the decision to bring her to the vet to be put down.
Not going to lie, it was tough. It still is, it was hard just typing that out. But that was our 4th cat over the years so we've been through it before and eventually like any death you get over it with time.
I’m so sorry ? All I can tell you is what I’ve learned: Cats don’t fear death at the end. My beloved Ivy passed away last October. She fell asleep in the sun and didn’t wake up. She was my heart for 14 years. But she wasn’t afraid. She was tired, yes. She was sore, yes. But she wasn’t scared. And there’s a reason for that. Because she knew she was returning to her Maker, and it was peaceful until the end.
Just be with her, love her, but know that the only fear she feels is what you project onto her. It’ll be hard to let her go, but you WILL see her again. Someday. Love to you. Be strong.
My little princess died Jan 6. She was 14 and had the softest fur of any cat. we had long battle with chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. I used to think it was embarrassing how many pictures and videos I had of her; now I wish I had more.
2 things I would recommend:
• a home hospice that offers more than euthanasia
• a private cremation, allowing for viewing
Prayers for you fren! ❤ I am in the thick of the same thing with both my 15yo cat (1 month+ of diarrhea all over the house and no solid diagnosis) and my 13yo Great Dane ( severe arthritis, massive lumps all over, little to no appetite). I'll be having the conversation about next steps for kitty with the vet tomorrow. I may have another month or so with the pup. Neither are really comfortable at this point. It's heartbreaking but I take solace in the fact they they were both rescued from horrible conditions and had over a decade of nothing but the best from us. I doubt I will ever go down that road again. I'm getting older myself and don't want to be the one to leave them behind. Much love to you during this painful time.
My dog died a few years ago. We couldn’t bear seeing him suffer anymore so we had him euthanized. His last day I took him through the sonic drive through and got all his favorite treats like french fries and chicken nuggets. Things we would only give him every now and then. Then the family fed him until he was a happy but dying pup. We all cried like babies because he was having such a good time eating his treats, oblivious that we were going to the vet afterwards. I feel your pain. Losing a pet is hard. I don’t want to even think about my cat dying. He’s my favorite pet ever and is 6 years old so I hope I have awhile more with him.
She is telling you it is time. Look at her in the eyes and let her speak to you. My baby let me know when it was time and she did not want to fight anymore. We must honor that. My vet's office has a special room for just such things. There are no examination tables or medical stuff around. It looks like a room you would find in anyone's home. There is carpet on the floor and soft chairs. There is even a rocking chair. No bright lights and soft music. My baby was not anxious and I believe she actually thanked me. She was in pain from severe arthritis. I knew it was the right thing to do. Prayers to you to have the courage to let go. They are so precious.
We just watched one of our dogs close her eyes for the final time just two weeks ago, was a very hard thing to do, she had an aggressive cancer that took her down in a very short time, wont lie, it is not easy at all. The vet place has covid restrictions for appointments however, are respectful of our furry family members and allowed us to be there for her and to say goodbye. Since you are a loving family to your fur friends, when it feels ok to do so, please adopt another, I am sure your cat has had a loving life, soo many dogs and cats never get to have, tons more out there who would love a solid family to feel safe with.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It’s so hard to say good-bye to a fur-baby. My heart goes out to you... Hugs
All you can do is remember all the times they were there for you, and just try to be there for them in the end when they need it.
I'll never forget holding my gsd in my arms for the last time. I didn't know dogs could cry like that, but sure enough both of us were balling our eyes out.
Maybe we fish?
My parents were watching my 13 year old dog that I'd had since I was 12 while I was on my honeymoon with my wife literally right after our marriage. While I was gone she had a huge seizure for about 5 minutes straight and they didn't want to ruin my time away by calling and telling me, and it was so bad that they chose to have her put down. Even after moving out, she would still spent alot of time at their house so I wasn't going to pick her up until after work the first day I got back home but I had left my work keys over there. I swung by in the morning to get them and the second I walked through the door my mom looked right at me and said, verbatim "We had to put your dog to sleep while you were gone". Talk about getting hit with a ton of bricks. She explained to me how she didn't know how to tell me and how painful it was to watch and how obviously animals have no clue what is going on when they have strokes and seizures. They didn't want to see her have to go through anything like that again. Ultimately, it was my dads call. I was pretty upset.
But I will tell you this: as much as it hurts that I didn't get to formally say goodbye, I have absolutely no memories of her being anything but happy. The dog I will always remember is wagging its tail and howling at sirens and putting her paw out for me. It seems you have some time with your cat. Make the most of it. Think about the things that make her happiest and, if possible, spend time giving/doing those things. And find comfort in the wonderful life she's had with you. She is a part of your life but you are her entire life. Judging by how much you care, she has probably always been fed, always had shelter and always had love. That's all our pets ask of us and if we've provided those, we've earned the unconditional friendship that they have given us in return.
Also, after giving yourself an ample amount of time for healing, if you feel up to it, there are always more animals that are looking for that loving home it sounds like you have. And if you choose to go that route, don't think of it as a replacement; obviously one pet can never replace another. But think of it as your cat now would want another cat to experience the same blessings she has...and would be proud that you've chosen to give that to another animal. Peace and strength be with you my friend.
Main goal should be to make sure they are not suffering. If he is not eating enough and hungry, putting him to sleep may be the way to go. My cat, Blackfan had a stomach tumor. You could tell he was hungry but vomited everything up. He was 16 and lost some weight. Obviously suffering we had him Put to sleep. I chose to hold him and look in his eyes as he went. Jeez that was hard, but he was calm because I was holding him. I put two other cats to sleep that way. Both had strokes and we're starting to have bad symptoms. Blindness, unable to walk, poor appetite, soiling themselves. Blinkie and Max were awesome cats. The end of the line with a good pet REALLY sucks, but all the great times before then make it so worthwhile. Stay strong. Times will get better
Oh when my cat Booter was in the same situation in 2018......we tried everything. Turns out he had toxoplasmosis, which we had treated, that was masking dry FIP. He was only 7 years old. I spend a couple thousand between scans, meds, and the final decision to end his suffering.
I have a clean conscience. I tried everything and in the end, he was beyond saving. I was in credit card debt for several months from it, but I could afford it, and I have the peace of mind that I exhausted all avenues. No "But what if?"s. But not everyone is so fortunate.
If your beloved cat is this ill, you should stop the suffering and have her euthanized now. You will grieve - - anyone who truly loved a pet goes through this heart wrenching process, but there will come a time remembering her will make you smile instead of causing pain. The only advice I will give you is not to rush out and adopt/buy a replacement pet. Allow yourself to grieve before doing so and you are more likely to find a great companion with no regrets.
https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielleMacKinnon/videos
I'm not sure what to tell you but I do know how you feel... I recently lost my dog who was having problems of his own. Thankfully he passed away due to old age.
I've lost a 4 dogs already and I have taken comfort knowing that I've given them the best that life has to offer...
It might not seem like it now but things will get easier and maybe one day you'll find a new little kitty or a pup who knows. Right now just spend time with your cat the best way you know how and let things go from there.
God Bless
Get her liver function tested. If she ate something poisonous outside it can cause those symptoms. It can be treated by a vet if the damage is not too severe.
You don’t want my advice...I’m sorry to say but it’s just a pet... put it down it the most humane way you can..... I’ve been through it and it’s sucks, love it, give it a nice day and then do what’s best for the animal.....have an Irish wake and move on to the next one a few months down the road...
May sound crude but it’s true, I’m sorry for your loss
shovel to the neck is quick and painless. It's a cat.
buck up and be a human.