when should I let my cat go ?

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Cherish

my poor cat has felv (feline leukemia) I have known this since he was around 7months old. We bought him and his sister (who we lost back in feb of this year) from a lady who had an addy in the local paper.

We had them both checked into the vets ... boosters and all ... we had them both neutered and chipped ... and then we found out they were both felv positve when the female cat became very ill back in late Jan of this year .... Sadly she had to be put down as she was so ill.

Now our lovely male cat is very ill. He has been to the vets lots of times lately ... He has had steriod /antibiotic / appetite injections .... he is now onto his second lot of injections .... We know for sure he will never get better .... & the worst thing is, over the last couple of days I can see him becoming increasingly lethargic.

I wouldn't like to keep him longer than is good for him (if you know what I mean) ... I wouldn't keep him for my own selfish reasons .... I know I've got to let him go, and probably sooner rather than later .... and I'd hate to see him suffer like his poor sister did, bless her.

It's such a difficult thing to decide ... when is it time ?

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Jen-StarMember VIP10 yearsModerator

I rekon only you and your family will know the right time, it's tough but he wont suffer anymore afterwards

10/21/096:00 AM

CherishMember

I probably should have added, he is not in pain or anything, and he is just about eating if I entice him enough. Today I had to put a litter tray in which he would usually do everything and everything to avoid using, but I just don't think he has the energy to go outside anymore

10/21/096:01 AM

Former Member

awwww cherish

how sad

only you can decide when the time is right but reading your post i think you may have already prepared yourself

this must be a really tough decision for you, i had to make a heartbreaking decision last year but it was instant (the vets found an inoperable tumour on my cat barney when they knocked him out to investigate why he was being sick) he was 17 years old and they phoned me and recommended that it was the kindest thing to do

perhaps you could take advice from your vet too?

for you

10/21/096:03 AM

DarthhoobMember

it's hard to know when the time would be best. for me it's when you can see an animal no longer enjoying life. i've not yet had to put a cat down but as i've kept rats for 13 years...and they only live for about 3..i've had to out down many of them. usually due to tumours. although i try an operation and everything they usually come back and operations are alot of stress for an old/small animal.

soon as it becomes a struggle to do simple things like eat, or they cannot get comfy enough to sleep, or they are in so much pain that painkillers dont do much to help. that would be the time for me

just want to say well done for loving him and his sister so much and providing them with so much veterinary care

it's sad but not many people seem to bother.

10/21/096:03 AM

stonksMember

Oh gawd Cherish, I really feel for you..you will know the time when you look at him and see he is too weary to go on....

10/21/096:04 AM

PussMember

Cherish i'm so sorry, you will know when

10/21/096:07 AM

JennyMember

How sad

. I would say when he is no longer getting anything out of life. It sounds like he may be near that stage now, with the need to entice him to eat, or not wanting to go outside to do his toilet.

I don't envy the position you are in. You sound such a caring person, giving him all that treatment, even though you know how poorly he is.

10/21/096:08 AM

Teddy BleadsMember

It's a really difficult problem and to be honest it's something only you can judge. If he's uncomfortable and has little or no quality of life then I think it's time. I was in the same boat recently. Out 17 year old paws has kidney disease and had water on the lungs. Earlier this year it got to a point when he couldn't sleep because he was so uncomfortable. Mrs. Bleads didn't want to take him to the vet fearing the enevitable but it turned out we changed his diaretic ( well doubled it ) and it's like having the old boy back. ( though he's costing us a fortune in litter). In summary, i'd maybe take him to the vet and see if anything further can be done and go from there. I think if you love your cat you'll make the right decision.

10/21/096:11 AM

CherishMember

Thankyou kind people for your replies

I suppose I will know when, it's just I find myself wrestling with my own concience thinking, am I being too hasty if I take him today? ... I don't want it to seem like I am rushing him off

but you are right, I guess I will know when.

Thankyou for your repiles , and sorry for all of you who have lost beloved pets too

10/21/096:16 AM

PussMember

Cherish, make the most of the time you have together. Some people don't understand the love that you can have for an animal, it really is like losing part of the family. I hope you have someone to talk to, please pm me if you are having a hard time.

10/21/096:28 AM

Yogi19Member 10 years

Cherish, I really feel for you because you obviously want to do the best for your cat.
When our first golden retriever was diagnosed with kidney failure, we had to decide whether to keep her going for a few extra weeks or let her go. She wasn`t they type of dog to complain, even if she was in pain, so it would have been very difficult to know when she was suffering. My husband asked our vet what she would do if it were her dog, and she said she`d put her to sleep. The vet also sent us a lovely letter, telling us we had done the kindest thing by allowing her to die without pain and with some dignity.
I`m sure you`ll make the right decision, when the time is right.

10/21/097:02 AM

Dame_Ann_AverageMember VIP10 years

I'm sure you will know in your heart when you have to let go, to be fair to your pet I'm sure you'll make the right decision, even though it's going to be very difficult for you

10/21/097:34 AM

SarumMember

It's always difficult to know when it's the right time.

A few weeks ago, I had to make that decision for my favourite cat. She has always had spinal problems; she was injured at or shortly after birth, and always had trouble walking properly, couldn't jump at all, and spent almost all her life with us indoors because of it.
One day she climbed down off her favourite chair, and fell over; her spine had finally failed and she couldn't use her back legs at all. She was very distressed, so we took her to our vet, who told us she probably wasn't in any pain, but would never walk again, and would lose bladder and bowel control. He recommended putting her to sleep, so I held her while he did that; I was bawling like a baby (and I am again now, just thinking about it), but she just closed her eyes and slipped away.

Sorry, not much help really am I...

10/21/091:31 PM

♥PinkBabe1966♥The Angel under the tree!Member

Just want to add my sympathy as well and say it's a heartbreaking descision to have to make and one I dread having to make for my beloved cats and dog, but when the time comes, I will know and if I have to, I will make it because I love them so much and they are part of my family, that I could not bear for them to suffer.

My brother had to make that heartbreaking decision for his dog a couple of weeks back, her kidneys failed and she had a stroke and went off her legs, she was 13 and the vet said there was nothing that could be done, so he made what he said was the hardest decision he has ever had to make and have Holly put to sleep.

I am thinking about you and your cat.

10/21/092:58 PM

Teo PuffMember

Cherish that is such sad news, when the times right you'll do the right thing.

10/21/093:53 PM

Soozy WooMember

I think you instinctively know. If he's not in any apparent pain - just make a fuss of him and enjoy the time. Sometimes cats simply take themselves off to a quiet place to die ................it may happen - you may have to make a decision for him.

Whatever the case .............I'm quite sure you'll know when he is in pain or discomfort.

10/21/094:08 PM

LoriAdministrator 10 yearsModerator

Cherish:

I'm so sorry. I know how you feel: I've had to put down a cat (many years ago) and a dog (5 years ago this month). You worry that you'll do it too soon/too late, but the truth is, you'll know. And then you'll never second-guess yourself afterwards. I've seen a lot of people say what I agree with: when it's more work for your beloved pet to exist on a day-to-day basis than it's worth for them. The day my cat was so dehydrated he couldn't get up from the floor. The day my dog couldn't walk up the 3 steps to go outside. I just knew that was the day. So will you.

I'm so sorry....

10/22/0912:48 PM

Former Member

I knew I shouldn't have clicked on this

I'm so sorry Cherish - It's awful hearing about the suffering of someone's pet - it brings back the memories of losing some of my own.

We just have to let them go and as has been said, you will know when.

10/22/091:04 PM

KaterinaMember

Hugs to you, Cherish.

I've had to make this decision three times in the last three years....they've been the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but every time I've known in my heart it was the right one, even though it has broken my heart to do it.

I really feel for you x

10/22/093:03 PM

LaceyMember

Cherish, the little cat will look in your eyes and you will know when he wants to go. xxx

This made me cry too, I had to take my childhood cat to be put down when she was 18, she was riddled with cancer. I also had to say goodbye to my mums cat who was 16 a few years ago, my mum said she just knew she needed to take her because her little eyes told her she wanted to go to heaven.

10/22/093:08 PM

Former Member

I don't envy your position Cherish but as the others have said, you'll know when the time is right

10/22/093:29 PM

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