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.

gah buggerit interestingly I was going to make the kid comparison so glad you did. I'd choose exactly the same as you. However, ethically, I would not have made a superior choice ( the value I attach to my child's life vs another child's is totally subjective) and therefore I'd have no right to judge someone that chose differently.

It's like that thread about the bengal cat and the owner hadn't (apparently) looked into behavioural solutions before discussing its imminent death-by-vet on AIBU.

I think we're all hypocrites in some way tbh, I dont feel at all uneasy about feeling differently about pets as I do about my burgers

Would I kill an animal myself to eat? Fuck no unless it was the apocalypse. If I had pet chickens would I eat chicken again? No, because they'd be pets to me. Would I save my pet over a random pig? Hell yes. Do I love and value my pet more than a cow? Of course.

Am I a hypocrite for thinking someone who PTS when there are potentially other options is, how can I say this, questionable, while I eat a bacon butty? I dont think so, because my view is pets are not animals bred for food so its apples and oranges. Your opinion is Im a hypocrite but a hypocrite though who would never PTS a pet on a whim and without trying other options first. Im absolutely fine with being that sort of hypocrite.

"However, ethically, I would not have made a superior choice ( the value I attach to my child's life vs another child's is totally subjective) and therefore I'd have no right to judge someone that chose differently."

Im confused, is that not what you and others have been doing regarding mine and ohthers opinion on this?

Arent we all judging arseholes then in that case?

Yes YABU if they have non life threatening illnesses and still have quality of life-Id never do it and recently lost my 20 year old cat who I was lucky to have had for so long.

I dont judge you for that Ivy, I have a friend who kept them and ate chicken still because she thought like me = one is a pet and one was food. Just dont think I could do it. Probably the same reason why the Yulin festival gives me the rage every year

(although I guess thats different because of how the dogs are treated, not necessarily because they eat them)

I would put them down

As someone who has rescue cats and dogs, and wouldn't dream of putting them to sleep unless absolutely necessary, I don't think you'd be a bad person to do it. My elderly cats hate moving and the last one had a heart attack from the stress of our last move four years ago. I've also taken my pets overseas, and know how stressful and expensive that can be. If these were young pets I'd be telling you no way, but 16 is a good innings, and they have health issues.

We're not discussing the meat industry here, as a PP has said, it's like apples and oranges. Breeding farm animals for food could be compared to a cat hunting a mouse, it's part of the food chain. We've been doing it since we lived in caves.

You could also ask, what's the difference between a pet rabbit and a wild rabbit, which a lot of people are quite comfortable with eating. (I'm not.)

French people eat horse meat, we wouldn't do that here.

In China, cats and dogs are seen as a legitimate food source whereas for us they are beloved pets. I don't judge them for that, though the idea is repugnant to me as they are pets.

This moral debate is pointless, so there's no point in arguing about it. It's just very sad to think that these cats look like being PTS without the OP having explored other options, some of which have been suggested on here.

Moving 4 elderly cats overseas will be extremely stressful for them.

Being PTS isn't the worst thing that can happen to an animal.

So find one that does or spend more money, simple

Spend more money? Oh why did no-one ever think of just spending more money? Just one tiny tiny thing you haven't told us: how to magic up more money out of fucking nowhere?

Your attitude is absolutely disgusting, bordering on murder

Murder is for PEOPLE. Specifically. Not cats. Cats are not people.

Find one that does, it's not bloody difficult

Type something like that and yes I suggest you are totally hard of any reasonable thought

There are some shameful posts on here but none of them are from the OP, who clearly loves her pets and is in turmoil at the thought that she can no longer give them the care they need.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of putting the cats to sleep, there is absolutely NO NEED to be so heartless and cruel to the OP. She is obviously struggling with this decision. Do you really think she would be even considering this if she thought there were other simple options?

Waving your pitchforks and getting hysterical is in no way helping. Have some fucking empathy ffs.

Have you even tried to rehome them OP? My neighbour recently got rid of her cat as she had been in and out of hospital so often and didn't feel she could cope. I wish she had asked me!

Where did op say she hadn't already tried finding friends or an approved fosterer to have them? Or are people so stupid they think she should try and find a stranger to take them?

I had an elderly stray put down last autumn. It was a right mess, although in a loving home it probably wouldn't have deteriorated to that point. Instead it was half starved, crippled with arthritis, injured and some cunt had thrown it in water and previously no doubt belonged to some cunt who 'cared' to much to put it down and gave it the gift of taking months to die instead. But yeah, op is evil to want to spare her cats that.

No, but it's not likely op is deliberating this decision because she can't be arsed asking her animal loving friends and family if they can help.

Lurkedforever1 yes it does seem that people are that stupid.

Whereas imagining shelters will just have homes or foster carers lined up to take on 4 old cats, that op can magic an alternative flat from her arse and that putting them down is murder is really constructive and realistic?

Who knows whether any op is genuine? But either way it's still a realistic problem many people face.

there's some doubt as to how genuine the OP's story is

That's standard procedure for most threads. Take it at face value or just ignore it, how about that?