AIBU about complaining about the vet who put my cat to sleep?

[Silvercatowner]

My lovely cat was put to sleep on Thursday. She was much loved - we'd had her since she was a kitten, and her loss is felt acutely. She was very poorly and it was the right thing to do. We asked the vets for a home visit as the cat absolutely hated being put in the cat box. However.....

• the vet and the nurse arrived at our house and realised they had forgotten the Pentothol. They had to return to the surgery.
• the nurse (who was about 12) seemed unable to restrain my (very poorly and very weak) cat whilst the vet was siting the catheter (isn't holding a cat basic vet care????. Cat got upset - which was just awful. Eventually the vet suggested a sedative - though why the heck she couldn't've done that at the beginning goodness only knows). At that point I actually took my cat from the nurse, else cat would have made a run for it. I held her while she was injected then had to hand her back for the catheter to be sited.

It was just awful, a complete mess. Plus these two youngsters oozed fake sympathy. My husband compared it to a French and Saunders sketch.

We wanted a James Herriot look alike to come into our house, tahe control of the situation, do the job with gentleness, sensitivity and professionalism, and leave. What actually happened was quite nightmarish.

Am I BU to not pay and write a strong letter?

I'm so sorry for your loss and that it wasn't how you had envisaged it :(

I think it would be helpful for you to contact the practice in writing, detailing your concerns. It is likely that they will be able to go through it with you and offer apologies or explanations where necessary. It sounds like you need that.

I am a vet and putting cats to sleep at home is a job which can be very difficult. Experienced and confident staff help lots but plenty of things can 'go wrong' even when the staff are very skilled. Cats often need firm handling which can be distressing for owners - but if they are inadequately restrained it can make the situation worse, as you've seen. Until you start any procedure you don't know how they will react so you have to do your best and be prepared to change tack, all the while thinking of minimising the distress to the animal and owner. Sometimes it goes wrong :(

I hope that in time you can take pleasure from all the happy stuff you shared. It sounds like you made the right decision, hard as that is.