Yet Another Cycling Forum
Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Lady Cavendish on 23 November, 2013, 05:52:15 pm
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We have a 16 year old cat. He is the best cat of all cats.
He has been ill for a while, has a tumour in his belly, been on medication to keep fluid out his belly and stop him having fits for maybe 18 months at a guess.
Last week his breathing was really not right, vet said it would be a legitimate time to end things but we could try an injection and upping his fluid tablets. He is eating a bit again but wobbles rather than walks, he's all over the place, belly looks quite swollen, still looks like he is struggling to breathe a bit and isn't really doing much.
How do you know it's definitely time? I think it's time but its so hard to know for sure. My eldest daughter is totally distraught at the idea (we have all discussed Monday)
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Horrible situation.
I think we just knew with Sir Scoville.
There was just a point where we could see he was suffering. He had been to the emergency vets the night before, and we knew he wouldn't get better. We woke up, took one look at him and simultaneously said he needed to go to the vets.
I know that is no help at all - "we just knew". But that was how it is.
When their quality of life isn't high and has little chance of improving, then sadly, it is the right time.
Horrible.
I hope you can all look after each other and come to the same decision.
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It is when it is right for him, rather than you. Easier to say than do, but we've been guilty of delaying the journey to the vets a bit too long.
The other thing is that pets deteriorate far quicker than we do - a day can make a big difference.
Best wishes, it is such a sad thing to have to do, but ultimately right for him.
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I feel for your and your family and as marcusjb said a horrible situation to be in, all the best to you all.
Now this is truly honest and please do not take any offence. I have had to put three of my dogs down for various reasons, so I have be come somewhat harden.
If the vet things there is nothing to do to better your cats life, I think it is time to put him to sleep. Is it really worth it having him and you suffer any longer. It is better to remember you cat in better days than remember him while he was suffering/sick.
Big hugs and remember the good days.
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He doesn't seem in pain but he isn't purring any more and I just don't think he is all that comfortable. I don't think he will improve either, so I think we will take him Monday.
The should we/shouldn't we isn't great for the kids either, eldest (14) is hysterical at times, younger is dealing with it better, although I think my fiancé is actually more of a mess than them and just prolonging it won't help anyone. Harry really is the best cat in the history of cats though. There are other reasons why I think this is hitting them hard and it's just time for him to go :(
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Cats are supposed to be very good at hiding pain too. Sorry he's so poorly :(
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Poor Harry :-[.
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He doesn't seem in pain but he isn't purring any more and I just don't think he is all that comfortable. I don't think he will improve either, so I think we will take him Monday.
I think that's what I'd do too. If it gets worse you can always go sooner. If the vet doesn't think its reasonable on Monday they'll say. Its never nice and I feel for you.
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His breathing isn't any better. He is eating a bit now and moving around a little, although he tends to fall over, but mainly sleeping. But he just looks like he is gasping for breath a bit. So me and OH are going with Harry at 6pm tonight :( Kids are ready now, OH is totally not. I know how much he loves Haz, but he is totally in pieces over it.
It's the kind thing to do though.
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It is the right thing, too, much sympathy. Also remember that these sort of events can trigger all sorts of links in our minds that we don't even admit are there. I know that it was only when I lost a dog that I finally ended up grieving the loss of my mother some years before. It was a very intense time.
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Poor chap.
Very sad.
Much sympathy to you and your clan Lady C.
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Poor Harry. I hope tonight is as unhideous as possible and that you all get space to grieve as you need and don't feel it's wrong to do so.
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RIP Harry :'( :'(
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Hugs ...
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Time is all that will separate you. Love will continue. He will be remembered. Hope the kids are okay. Thinking of you.
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Best wishes, LC.
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You did the right thing for him. Tea and hugs to you all.
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It's a sad time and it hurts, but the good memories take over and remain. Take care.
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Condolences to you all at this difficult time.
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Having recently performed the same task on my 16-year-old cat, you have my sympathies.
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Hugs, LC.
Sad times.
We are facing this soon ourselves.
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Ahhhh thanks.
And to anyone else who has to go through it, I can't recommend Dignity Pet Crematorium enough.... individual cremation and a nice little urn with his name on a silver plaque plus they keep a bit of his fur and do a little pawprint on a framed card. Lovely people who really make your pet feel like family :)
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Very sorry for your loss, Lady C. :'(
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We went through this recently with our beloved Bella, she was 16 and we had to make the extremely hard decision to have her put down. Reading through this post has me welling up a bit and I know how hard it is so my thoughts are with you.
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As a follow up to this, the happy news is that this afternoon I am picking up my fiance's xmas present (his of course, nothing to do with me and the girls wanting one ;) )
A little 12 week old ginger Kitten. We will be welcoming George into our house today :) :) :) :)
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\o/ top news :)
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Don't forget the daily contribution to the gratuitous cat pictures thread. It's a requirement for new kittehs
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Hurrah for Ginger George!
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The last couple of weeks our cat Cannelle had not been eating properly, and we took her to the vet yesterday. That morning I noticed that there was a thickening of the skin over her tummy. The vet noticed that she had difficulty breathing, did an X-ray and said there was secondary metastases in the lungs. She could have had palliative treatment but it would have been weeks rather than months. She was ten years old and until a couple of weeks ago still behaved like a young cat. We were devastated but we both agreed that she should be euthanised then rather than struggle on. We had two cats previously, one we got at the same time as cannelle but he was much older, who had to be eventually put to sleep, but in retrospect we think we hung on for too long and they suffered as a result and even if they were not in pain which I think they were, they lost a lot of their dignity and joie de vivre. As a result Christmas eve was a washout. In France normally the blow-out meal is on Christmas eve. We had cheese on toast - we weren't hungry. We will have the steak tonight and the turkey on Friday. It was a decision which we didn't want to make but were content to have made.
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Condolences djmc.
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Sorry for your loss.
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Sorry for your loss, a hard time of year for any death. It sounds like you did the right thing though.
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How do you know it's definitely time? I think it's time but its so hard to know for sure.
Yes it's difficult.
Dear old Pearl took her final visit to the vet last Friday. It was her second appointment. We'd rung up the vet and cancelled on the morning of the original mid December booking as we couldn't be sure we were doing the right thing. The vet was very good about that, I guess that probably happens a lot.
I'm afraid this time it was most obviously time.
My advice to anyone is, don't allow your animal to suffer. When it's time, you'll know.
Happier, albeit, grumpier times last summer.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/51ad5781-a66b-4524-a9d6-741269d00beb_zps61989ddc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bloke_on_a_bike/media/51ad5781-a66b-4524-a9d6-741269d00beb_zps61989ddc.jpg.html)
Good bye Old Lady. :-*
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So sorry to hear that Basil.
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So sorry, Basil.
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Sorry to hear about Pearl. I am glad you managed a last Xmas with her and that you were able to know when it was time.
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Awh, po' ol' Pearl.
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That's very sad Basil. Have a whisky on me, to her memory.
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Thanks all.
Pearl, I forgot to say, Thanks for all the vole heads. You looked after us well. :-*
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It is a very tough situation and one I have been through twice so far plus two lost in accidents and my much loved lurcher Nikki is heading down that final road too. I know though that in return for 15 years of total love I haver to brace my emotions and take him that last time. It is the price we pay and I think it is a right and proper price to allow our loved animals to go with dignity and leave pain behind. If only we could do it for humans.
And you know, after it happens I can near guarantee I will be looking for another animal to love as I cannot stand the emptiness in my life.
Mean while we take the days as they come and some days he is not bothered and some he still runs like the wind. I will find a pic or three to put up.
PH
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Poor old deaf kitteh has started walking into things now too. Wondering how much longer he's going to cope for :-\
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That's very sad. You'll probably know when enough is enough, but hope he's happy for a while longer.
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Well, we had a bit of a mishap this morning. I let him out to enjoy the sun's rays. It had already been decided that outdoors was to be supervised but I hadn't really appreciated how much.
He was sitting on the top step, I turned my back for 2 secs and when I looked back he was gone. I found him on the ground floor covered in the leaves he'd presumably just fallen into (we are 1st floor). He must have walked straight through the railings. How bad did I feel? :(
Poor old dude.
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Aw that's sad. How is he?
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He's not showing anything obvious physically but he was in the wardrobe for a lot of yesterday and I woke up in the night to find him going round in circles beside my bed, though a bit of a tickle seemed to reboot him.