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.

Imagine just disposing of children or elderly people in the same way

Leave the children out of it, but many elderly people would rather be humanely pts than stuck in a care home or left to endure terrible pain.

You really think, OP, that you'd find people on AIBU who'd be able to give you general opinion on having had four cats euthanised.

She has found exactly that, a range of opinions. So your problem is.....?

I would probably make the same choice. When we moved we had one of our cats PTS. She was 12, miserable, depressed, unhealthy and would have coped very badly with the move. She was going blind slowly and probably pretty uncomfortable and we'd failed to cure her eye problems. My 12 yo DD whose cat she was felt it was the kindest thing we could do.

Depending how you do it it's ok. Our vet was fabulous and gave her a general anesthetic before stopping her heart. She purred until the end. (Which was very sad). Both the vet and I had trouble keeping a dry face. But I don't feel bad about it.

I would talk to your landlord and ask. You may be surprised. Maybe don't say how many there are though.

and whether anyone else has done it

Put down four cats that were, to date, healthy? Not your general behaviour, no, grandOle

I work for a rescue and we currently have 3 17 year old cats in - from two different homes. They all have various health issues that need an eye kept on but all are happy and up for rehoming and we have had interest in them. We very recently rehomed an 18 year old. We don't put to sleep if they have quality of life and you would be surprised how well they adapt. With the experiences I have had with these cats and others, I wouldn't be co sidelong pts.

Considering

As I've said upthread, I'd take them in.

I wouldn't treat all four as a group - maybe being PTS is right for one (or two, or three) of them, but not necessarily all of them, given that you say they have various health conditions.

I would have a frank conversation with one of your colleagues at the shelter or a vet about what the likely prognosis is for each of them, and make a decision from there.

Are you sure that you can't have them with you, perhaps if you pay a higher deposit?

OP where in the country are you? Someone here may be able to help take your cat in. (I would have used Litter Tray rather AIBU for this thread)

I think you are doing the right thing OP

I can't judge as thankfully I've never been in your situation and I think I couldn't possibly have an animal PTS where it wasn't wholly necessary but our local shelter would likely take the 4 cats, the donation and they'd be PTS on the next vets round anyway. You'd have to find a shelter that guaranteed it wouldn't do it, and trust them. I think realistically you either keep them or they're getting PTS one way or another. Will hope some kind soul out there will take them on though.

If it's the only alternative to a shelter then yanbu. I'm not slating shelters, but it's not the same as a home, and given they are crammed with healthy cats they can't home, I don't rate the chances of 4 elderly cats with health problems having a short adjourn before being happily rehomed together.

It's far kinder than passing them on to the unknown just because it makes you, the human, feel better. And I have far more respect for someone who puts the animals needs above their own.

However in your case I would try asking the landlord first or trying to find a rental that would. Although I accept it might still be impossible.

That's really sweet Olennas. Maybe PM her?

BulletFox - I think you mean Lineys

I would happily consider taking in an elderly cat or two, but given I'm not in the UK, it's probably not really feasible....

Oops, Lineys!!

I don't think some people on here realise how stretched rescue centres are. Change animals for a second and imagine if these were horses, many many people i know, if not all would agree much better to pts than give them an uncertain future. It's a horrible decision to have to make but it's the most important one owners of animals will ever make.

It's quite common for horse owners to put an older horse to sleep for example if, they think they may struggle with another winter, always better a week early than a day late.

I think if Lineys was actually serious she'd have PM'd the OP by now...

But the OP isn't saying they would struggle through another winter. And elderly cats hardly live in a field. Not comparable.
I would rather pay for the upkeep of my pet than pts for no reason. The OP hasn't mentioned any decent reason for pts or any other avenues they have considered.

This happened to our neighbour. She went into a care home and the family made the decision to have the car put to sleep. I could see that it would have been a really tricky adjustment for an elderly cat. It's a shame someone in the family couldn't look after her, but given the choice of a cat home or rehoming with stranger I think they made right choice.

sorry Colour I shouldn't laugh! I can just imagine a car given the lethal jab.