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.

The reason why the vegan argument doesn't work, at all, is because when you have pets you are making a commitment to them to care for them and have them as part of your family. No such commitment is made to an animal raised for food.

Its also a bizarre argument usually trotted out by vegans which makes no sense because you'd think Vegans would just be pleased that an animal somewhere is being 'defended' (cant change the world but you can change the world for one animal and all that), instead they seem to prefer that someone who eats meat shouldn't care that a pet is going to potentially be PTS when there are other possible options to explore first. So odd.

I think you sound sensible and I'm sure its not a decision you have taken lightly.
We had our elderly horse put down when his companion was. This was advised by his retirement livery as best for him

The reason why the vegan argument doesn't work, at all, is because when you have pets you are making a commitment to them to care for them and have them as part of your family

That's pure projection though - our designation of some animals as pets and others as food is just social conditioning. In the Middle East dogs are seen as vermin, not pets. A life is a life so either it's wrong to have the cat PTS and to eat the pig, or neither is wrong. My argument is therefore much more consistent than yours.

It's contradictory to worry about a 16 yr old cat being PTS whilst continuing to support the meat and dairy industries.

You have no argument as the fact is pets are treated and thought of differently to animals for food. Apart for some vegans it seems who are happy to see an animal be PTS when there is potentially no need - again, very odd and I dare say the contradiction is on them.

It is very stressful for elderly cats to be rehomed if they're not well. I really did look at rehoming my lovely cat and had contacted the cat shelter she had come from - the Peter Mayhew charity at White City in London. She just couldn't cope with my DD1, who was a very lively toddler.

My DM took her on but immediately her health deteriorated completely and she refused to eat. So the vet told me that she wouldn't cope with rehoming. Fostering wouldn't work as she needed to live as a single cat. (There was a younger cat at our house but she had been much younger when that cat had joined us as a kitten.)

My DM travels a lot so she couldn't realistically take her on, as she needed a lot of care.

My biggest regret was my delay in rehoming her, I kept hoping she would adjust and I couldn't bear to part with her.

But I explored all the options first before very sadly deciding to have her PTS, and the vet herself said there was no other decision that could be made. I was with her at the end.

You need to explore all the options, and it's clear that there are people who would take your cats on.

I too work in animal welfare, have done for over 20 years and it would be the kindest thing that you could do for your elderly cats. Putting them into a rescue centre at their age would be incredibly stressful. I would do exactly the same. It is a responsible action to a horrible situation. And there are vets who would agree with your decision.

Does it matter if it's thought of differently as a pet? Your feelings about an animal don't make it any more or less dead.
I agree with the other poster, I don't really see why it's the worst thing ever to have a pet put to sleep if it's completely acceptable to kill other animals for your food. Dead is dead.

I'll repeat: The reason why the vegan argument doesn't work, at all, is because when you have pets you are making a commitment to them to care for them and have them as part of your family. No such commitment is made to an animal raised for food.

If you cant see my view then theres no point in arguing because you will not convince me that your opinion is right and I wont convince you that my opinion is right so I think thats whats called a stalemate :)

Yes, I know that is your opinion, but I don't agree.

WHY is it ok to make a commitment to an animal to be a part of your family and the thought of killing it is abhorrent AND also make a commitment to your diet to kill many many other animals?

Think deeper. Don't just tell us it is different, try to tell us WHY.

Ive explained why? Twice. Not sure how I can explain it any simpler for you tbh :)

I have an elderly cat. If our home circumstances changed dramatically for any reason (for example having to move abroad which nearly happened two years ago), I'd seriously consider pts. Fluffballmookins would never have been able to come with us (Canada) and having volunteered for a rescue, she'd have been miserable in a cage all day.
However, some vets might not pts for your reasons.
It's an awful position for you to be in.

@grandOlejukeofYork, it is obviously a cultural thing. In China, for example, in China cats and dogs are seen as food whereas it's abhorrent to us.

Here people have rabbits as pets whereas others see it as 'rabbit pie', so there is a wide difference in attitudes even in this country. Some people won't eat lamb because lambs are cute and cuddly, but have no problem eating chicken. Some veggies eat fish, others see that as inconsistent.

Farm animals are mostly bred to sell as meat, not pets to become part of the family.

It's not logical, so there's no point arguing the toss on here where the OP is agonising over what's the right decision to make in relation to her own cats who she views as part of her family.

thewideeyedpea, in your 20 years in animal welfare have you not come across rescues that use fosterers?

Posters keep saying that the cats will be unhappy in rescue, it will be stressful for them blah blah are not helping the OP.

A LOT OF RESCUES USE FOSTERERS. Can I make it any clearer? I have taken on elderly cats. They may have been a bit stressed when they first came to live with me having lived with their owner all their lives but they settled very quickly. They ate from day one and the second day one came and sat on my lap. It took the other one slightly longer to come and sit on my lap but she was the shyer of the two

The house we have found to accommodate our family and within our price range does not allow pets.

So find one that does or spend more money, simple. Your attitude is absolutely disgusting, bordering on murder. Killing four animals because you can't be arsed to accommodate them any more.

A LOT OF RESCUES USE FOSTERERS. Can I make it any clearer?

And a lot are at full capacity. Is it THAT hard to understand?

For example around here there are three main rescues around here - they've stopped taking new animals and are constantly begging for new foster carers because they have nowhere to put animals. At least two of the shelters are on their last legs because their vets bills are so astronomical they can't afford to take any more cats for treatment.

It's all very well saying to use a fosterer, every single fosterer I know is currently over capacity, they are turning away young, healthy, cats in droves, there simply aren't a multitude of spaces for four elderly cats with issues.

There are instances where putting to sleep is in the animals best interests, and creating unnecessary stress in an elderly animal that may or may not adjust to a new environment, even if that environment can be found in the first place is not always the right way forwards.

I've had to euthanise a poor cat with late stage kidney failure that had been dumped on the street, people tend to just not want them anymore when they become ill; euthanasia would have been far kinder than just turfing the poor thing out to try and eat what it could from bin bags. That is a risk that I wouldn't want any cat of mine to be faced with.

The op knows her cats and how they may/may not adapt and I would suggest a frank and full discussion with her vet will help any decision making too.

I still regret and find it very upsetting when I had to put my pets to sleep when they were seriously ill and dying. I still wrestle with the decision I made. I just can't comprehend on any level putting an animal to sleep needlessly. I
If I didn't have a dog I'd offer to take your cats and give them a good home to live out their years. Please consider other options.

I agree, @fenneltea, it was only by having that full and frank discussion with the vet, that I was able to make the decision I did. I couldn't have gone through it otherwise.

But it isn't needlessly! The cats are facing an uncertain future and have health issues.

Putting an animal to sleep IS awful and upsetting, but by not doing it you've got to question if you are saving your feelings or the animal's?

Id rather face the pain of the loss than expect my animals to suffer a moment longer than necessary for my sake. Most vets will agree with better a day too soon than a day too late, mine has voiced that he wished more owners would act earlier to prevent suffering.

Considering and looking for other options is one thing, but realistically euthanasia has to be seen as an option.

Mydogisthebest...can I make this any clearer. You are obviously very lucky if you foster for an organisation that can help every elderly animal that can no longer be kept with its owner. Any fosters that we have are full to capacity and that's a situation that is unlikely to change. You appear to have a very idealistic view of animal welfare. It is incredibly stressful for an elderly cat to be put into foster care or an adoption centre. The Op asked for advice and I gave my opinion. You may view it as unhelpful, I believe it's the best decision for those cats.