Well, the time has come for me to say goodbye to my 16 year old domestic short hair cat, a female named Patches. Late summer/early fall, she stopped pooping in the litter box, suspected reason being persistant diahrea. She was taken to the vet, given medication, treated, and sequestered to a room without carpeting. Her poops firmed up, and I was hopeful that she could be released to the rest of the house, as she was using the litter box provided, and was generally improving in attitude. The past week or two, however, she has not only stopped using the litter box again, but also has begun to urinate in her bed. I'm not even sure she realizes that she's urinating, as she will continue to sleep in the bed, and I have actually woken her up in a puddle of pee. The final straw came today, when I went into the room and it reeked of urine. Her bed was completely soaked, she was completely soaked, and she attempted to attack me when I touched her. Something is obviously wrong here, and due to her age, and her poor health in the past, I have decided that it would be best to say goodbye. The last few months with her have been very trying, both for her and for myself, and though I don't really want to say goodbye, I feel it is best to.

That being said, I could really use a hug right now.

here is a big, Chesapeake Bay Retriever sized hug((( HUG )))
It is hard, never gets any easier. You cat will forever be in your heart, and that is what counts.

ah {{{{hugs}}}} it is hard.

Im soo sorry.big Hug.

((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))))))))

It is never easy.

Every time I have to say goodbye to someone, I hope it'll be easier than the last time, but it never gets easier, does it?

I've known her literally since she was born, and I was 12. She was born to my cat at the time, who has since past. My grandmother took her, but when she moved to a retirement building, was told she could only have one pet(she had a cat and a dog). Gramma opted for the dog, so I took Patches for her, since Patches isn't the prettiest cat, and has severe allergies. That was 12 years ago, we've had her ever since. Got her through her allergies, found out what they were, had her hot spots clear up and stay away. When she was 9, she developed an eye infection that nearly cost her her life, as the vet wanted 1200$ to remove her eye. Luckily it cleared up with intensive antibiotics, though her eye clouded over, and she has reduced visibility in that eye. I will be calling my dad soon to discuss this, as the cats are his, and I am here to take care of them(he moved to a condo and couldn't take the cats, I had to quickly change my living situation, and he let me move here).


Patches(on the left) and Indica(on the right)


Patches(on the left) and her uncle(younger), Dumas(on the right)

*hugs*

Awwww!!! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

It's very hard... I dread the day Marilla reaches that point (she is 9) and I just hope when the time comes that I have the courage to do what is best for her.

(((HUGS)))

{{{{HUGS}}}} So sorry....

(((HUGS))) So sorry you're losing her, Bad Habit.

Maggie, hopefully it won't be an issue. Mac, the cat I grew up with just suddenly called out one day. My mom had never heard such a cry before, and called my dad, and they both rushed to him. They found him lying on the floor, and they cradled and petted him his last few minutes as he died. Very fast and merciful.

Cats seem to go down very quickly when the end is near, as opposed to dogs who can linger for a long time. There are exceptions, of course.

Hubs had a cat with cancer, and he got skinny as a rail. "He'll never make it until Christmas", I said. And said it again the next fall, and the one after that. It became a kind of joke. That last year, he also became incontinent, but was still eating, drinking, and purring... so I cut a hole for his tail in a newborn sized diaper and changed it several times a day. When Christmas day arrived, he was covered in urine, and I just couldn't have that, so I gave him a bath... and he died in my arms while I was drying him off. In hindsight I believe that since he had absolutely no fat reserves on his body, he could not regulate his temp when wet.

We should have had him put down before that, but we were too weak. Sometimes out of our own selfishness, we let our pets linger too long. Or maybe it is guilt... "He deserves every effort!"...

Cats are so fastidious that being covered in their own urine has got to be very degrading for them, as well as uncomfortable.

Hard as it is, you need to say goodbye. Try to remember all the good times you had with her, and know that she had a long fulfilling life.

I am sorry to hear of your looming loss- it is very hard to lose a pet, and making the final decision is never easy. I always felt it was my duty to be there in the final moments with my pets, but a lot of people can't do that. If you cannot, from my personal experience working in veterinary hospitals, the staff was always there for the pets. I can't tell you how many animals I have stroked as they lay dying- most were well known patients of ours, but even those that were strangers to us got the same loving care at the very end. I think you will find that to be true at most vet hospitals- the staff chose that line of work because of their own love of animals, after all.

Thank you all for your kind words. When I am home, I will have to thank each post seperately but at the moment I am sitting in my mums truck waiting for her to be done with a test. I really dont have words right now, I knew it was coming eventually, but it is still very hard to deall with. The last pet I had put to sleep, I went with him because he was so special to me, and it was a hard death for him. The vet assured me he felt no pain or fear, and I tend to believe her, as they gave him gas before the injection, but it was very hard to watch. To be honest, after that, I am not sure I can even go with her to the vet. Have yet to talk to my dad, I called before we left for the city but no answer.

I'm very sorry (HUGS)
I'm almost at that point with my cat Tommy, he's approaching 13 years old and his mind seems to be going...

Maggie said it well - it takes courage to do the right thing. I give you credit for doing what is best for your friend, hard as it may be for you.