I feel like I sentenced a poor old girl to death!

[SoYo]

Last week I was walking up my road and there was an old cat sat at the end of a driveway. I stopped to pet her and she was purring. She was very thin with matted fur and when I went to leave she tried to follow me but couldn't straighten her back legs so was stumbling a bit. I knocked on all the nearby doors but there was nobody in. I was worried she was lost and poorly so rang the RSPCA who couldn't come out to her as they were busy but asked me to take her home until they could. We have a young dog so I couldn't take her in but carried her home, wrapped her in a blanket in a box and drove her to my vets. She was always very friendly to me but scratched and spat at the vet and they felt she was probably very old and ill and if she wasn't microchipped they would put her down. Very sad but I felt I had probably done the right thing.

Today I was walking home and there was a poster outside the house looking for information about their lost cat with a picture of the old girl. They had had her for 21yrs. I knocked on their door and told them what had happened. They were lovely about it and thanked me for looking after her but I feel terrible. They were only out for the day and if she had been my old girl I would want to have been with her and either keep her at home or take her to the vets myself. It's made me really teary and I just feel terrible. Should I have done something different? Is there anything I could do for the lovely couple who have lost the cat they loved so suddenly?

[MrsPeeWee]

You did the right thing, please don't beat yourself up.

I understand how upsetting it must be for her owners, but she wasn't microchipped, so unfortunately couldn't identify her - that's maybe something they should of done to prevent something like this from happening. You did what you thought was best for the old girl, which is more than what I think a lot of other people would of done and is probably why her owners are being so nice about it.

She lived a good, fulfilled life if she's over 21 years. Please don't beat yourself up over this.

[thecatneuterer]

Oh how awful, but don't be hard on yourself. You did what you thought was right and were trying to help.

I did something worse once, accidentally, while trying to help an injured cat. I cried for two whole days and I still get upset about it now. So I know exactly how it feels. And rationalising that my intentions were good didn't really help me.

So even though you are a nice kind person who was trying to help, which is more than most people would, it's perfectly understandable if you're upset. But you shouldn't blame yourself and the owners obviously don't blame you. I just wanted to say that I understand how you feel and it's awful - but you did nothing wrong.

[SoYo]

Thank you both. It's good to know from an unbiased opinion iT doesn't sound like I did something awful. I still feel terrible though as I know they will too. Hopefully it'll just take a few days for it to settle.

[SilverApples]

You did what you thought best, you thought you were being kind.

That's why I'm not letting our old cat out without close supervision. He is thin and his back legs are going due to arthritis, but he is happy and in no pain, just reduced mobility. His appetite is good, he likes to potter out and sit in the sun in the herb bed, but we are in the final straight I feel.

I'd hate for a well-meaning stranger to put him out of his misery.

[GetStuffezd]

I can see why you feel terrible but you absolutely did the right thing. The family would much rather a peaceful ending for a much-loved pet.
Please be kind to yourself.