To put my four elderly cats to sleep even though they are not dying?

[Turningtiger]

DH lost his job and we've had to move to a cheaper area of the city we live in. The house we have found to accommodate our family and within our price range does not allow pets. We will also probably have to move abroad next year because most of the jobs that DH can get are in Europe.

We have gone through periods of boarding our cats while we have been looking for somewhere new to live and all the turmoil it has brought about. It has been expensive boarding as each cat has a different health condition which needs a lot of attention, giving meds, vet visits etc, so we've had to pay extra for the very kind lady at the boarding to do that too.

I have volunteered for animal rescues in our area for 20 years, and I know what pressure they are under. I know that most people abandon their animals without a second look, and if they do make a donation to the shelter before they disappear, it's usually just enough to cover the initial vaccinations and perhaps a spay. I've also had these cats so long that I don't feel I could trust someone else to look after them in a way that they wouldn't suffer. I know that doesn't sound rational, but I've just had them for so long, I know them so well.

There is also an element for me of feeling terribly embarrassed, after all these years of volunteering and donating, to present the same story as everyone else who we have rolled our eyes at over the years. In the "rescue" world I volunteer in, there is no excuse to abandon your animals.

I am temped now to put them down, so that I can know that they had a fantastic life and that they did not suffer. It will save me a lot of anxiety (yes I'm aware I am thinking about me). I know also that this doesn't sound rational either. But to me it feels like the right thing.

What do you think? The cats are all 16 from the same litter.

Ignoring any emotion your title might stir up. I'm not sure a vet would put an animal down for anything other than a health reason.

I agree with you, OP. I think there are far worse things that can happen to an animal than being PTS-for example being a frail elderly cat in A rescue centre. But Mumsnet does not agree. Brace yourself.

If it was me and my cats I couldn't put them down unless I knew they were on their last legs. I would find somewhere to rent which allows pets and also take them with me abroad. I have moved country with my cats before. My cats are practically like my children. I think when we take on pets we make a commitment to them even if times are tough.

I don't understand the rationale of thinking putting healthy, albeit aged, cats down rather than have someone else take care of them. Plenty of people look after cats well, and it is naive of you to think no one else can do so as well as you. It reads to me that you would prefer to have them out to sleep for your own selfish reasons only - embarrassment, not wanting to think of them with someone else. The cats will be fine if you act now and put the effort and resources required to re-home them together. Whatever you do, do not put 4 healthy animals to sleep.

Your anxiety is not a reason to put healthy cats to sleep!

you wouldnt put a child to sleep for becoming an inconvenience, so dont do it to an animal you chose to have in your life long term.

Going against the grain here I do respect where you are coming from op. You know that they would never get rehomed at their age and that the travel would probably do more harm than good with their medical conditions.

In your situation it would be a serious consideration.

I'm not sure a vet would put an animal down for anything other than a health reason.

It happens sadly. Particularly to greyhounds that aren't useful for racing anymore

OP no, this is just... no.

Have you tried to negotiate with the landlord? Mine said no pets but I offered to put a 'pet deposit' down and they were happy to oblige.

No and no decent vet would agree.
You can't kill four things to spare your bloody blushes

My grandmother in law had her healthy cat put down when she was dying, because she didn't trust anyone else to look after her, the vet didn't raise any objections. I don't think it is any more morally dubious than eating meat.

Is there really no other option in terms of accomodation that will accept animals? I know it's not easy to find rented places that accept animals.

What are their health conditions? Do they affect their quality of life?

Do you have kids who would be traumatised by the euthanasia of their pets? What does your DH think?

I understand why you would rather put them down, at this point in their lives, than put them into rescue. If they are all healthy and fit, though, it's a pretty drastic solution.

They aren't healthy though. They are all elderly and each has a health condition requiring medication and maintenance.

Suggest you take them to a shelter you trust like a responsible owner. Putting them down because they've become an inconvenience is wrong and you know it.

I don't think it is any more morally dubious than eating meat.

Oh there's always one.

My vet put my 16yr old dog to sleep for us recently due to old age. He wasn't in pain but was uncomfortable and had a lipoma threatening to dislocate his leg. He had lipomas all over and his mobility was deteriorating rapidly. We wanted him to go when he was peaceful and not in pain.
I still feel it was the kind thing to do for him. I've heard so many stories about animals that are suddenly beset by pain, or in distress because they are suddenly unable to walk. We were devastated to lose him, but my gut feeling is that it was the right decision.
It sounds like you have given your cats a good life. You should trust your gut feeling. It's a really hard decision to make and an upsetting thing to have to do

As a rescue greyhound owner just wanted to say it's nice to see another person who knows the horrors of the racing industry @Titanz.

OP, please don't have them PTS. Even in a rescue centre they can still have quality of life, even if your experience with them has maybe led you to believe they can't?

Sorry about your dog distractotron, this seems a bit different considering OP would not be considering putting them down if it were not for the house move.

What sort of life would they have in a shelter? In your position OP I'd put them down rather than inflict lots if disruption and stress on them in their last years.

Makes me sick to my stomach mumma, I donate regularly to Greyhound charities because I hate how we use them them throw them away when they're not fit enough anymore.

It's four very elderly cats with various health conditions, who would probably be very stressed going in to a rehoming centre and are highly unlikely to be rehomed. YABU.

You think no one could look after them like you could and yet you think looking after them means putting them down?

I wouldn't do it and I'm not overly fussed on cats. You wouldn't put your kid to sleep because needs must but happy to do it to an animal you decided to get. I know there is a massive difference between a cat and a kid but I would do it to neither

I'm usually one of the absolutely outraged posters on these threads and my position hasn't changed but I do have a question.

Why are you posting? You say you are embarrassed to be thinking of such a thing and rightly so. But if you are considering something so morally abhorrent to many then are a bunch of strangers on the internet going to convince you YABU?

There's no way I could rest easy if my cats had to live out their last years in a rescue centre. Far better to save them from the distress and have them pts if they are being kept alive or comfortable by medication.

I don't see anything wrong with it. It's much better than abandoning them.