Putting Down a Pet
 

Just found out from the vet that my cat only has 2-4 weeks left before we should seriously consider putting her down. She is 15-16 years old and has bone cancer. The cancer is getting progressively worse and she is struggling to eat. This sucks. I like her more than 99.9% of humans. Does anybody have any experience with putting a cat down? When do you know it's the right time? Do they show any signs that indicate they are in great pain? I had to put my dog down 5 years ago but have yet to put a cat down. Just wondering if cats are any different. Thank you all.

Sorry for the position you find yourself in right now. This is never an easy choice.

My wife and I have to do the same thing today with one of our dogs, his system is just shutting down after his immune system went into overdrive and started killing all of this red blood cells. We've tried everything but to no avail.

The way you can tell if it's time is that your pet will stop doing anything, eating, playing, etc., that it normally enjoys. So if your cat loves to play with string and stops doing so it's a good indication that it's time.

Considering that she is not eating would indicate that she's ready to go. This is never easy and I wish you and your family the best in this tough time.

That sucks, dude...sorry. If she's struggling to eat that probably means she is (or will be soon) suffering. I wouldn't delay too long, for her sake.

Sucks to lose a friend.

Yeah, don't let her die in pain. Quicker the better for her.

A friend of mine just went through this with his 16 year old cat. Brief periods of chemo pills, but it stopped eating.. and that was the clear sign that it was time. Do the right thing, and don't let the poor thing suffer. I have had to have 3 of my dogs put down over the years... very hard to do.. so I sympathize. Focus on the good in its life that you gave it instead of the sudden loss.. :(

god...I don't even want to think about that day with my dogs. I have 2 that are 10 and 11 so they're getting 'up there'. I'll be a mess.

hang in there bud

Thanks for the support it means a lot. I'm hoping for the best and am trying to think of the last 15 years opposed to this shitty last month of her life.

when mine have to go, I 'hope' I'll be aided by the fact that he/she have giving me unconditional love for X-years and that it would be selfish of me to keep them alive if they're in pain, simply so I 'feel' better than putting them down.

Don't let her suffer Mr. Giggity...At least in humans, bone cancer is an excruciating disease.

I know it breaks your heart, but you have to think of your old friend first.

I'm very sorry you have to face this...My condolences...

My deepest condolences

I had to do this with my good pal Mr. Kitty. We got him as a stray, and found out early on he had liver disease. Vet told me he'd probably live six months. He made it six years. At the end he was weak, too wobbly to make it to the cat box. the last few days I was feeding him baby food through an eye dropper.

Having to take him up and sit in on the procedure was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It still makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

But he was in a lot of pain, and wasn't going to get better. Sometimes you can keep your beloved pet around for selfish reasons, which is tortuous to the pet, because they just want to be released from the pain.

You'll know when the time is right. You just have to sack up and do it. You'll feel terrible for a long time, but eventually you'll be able to reconcile it because its the humane thing to do.

Picture of my old friend Mr. Kitty attached. I still miss him. He was my pal.

:(

I agree with Mikey.

At this point, you know what's going to happen. Prepare yourself emotional and then go ahead and do it. There's no sense in prolonging your cat's suffering.

Very sorry you have to go through this.

Great post. We got the okay from the doctor to keep her alive for 2-4 weeks as he seemed to believe she wasn't suffering. We went in with the mind state that we may have to put her down today. Obviously if it worsens we will do the right thing and end her suffering. Just a shitty situation all around.