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.

^^ I would like to add that I wouldn't consider somewhere to live unless I could take my cats or have them live with a close family member till I could have them back

I always read on here that vets will not put healthy animals to sleep. This is not true. You can simply ring up a vet and request to have your animal put to sleep and they will make an appointment.

Oh good Lord, what a horrible situation, you must be devastated. How elderly is elderly? I think there's a huge difference between, say, a 13 year old cat, and a 19 year old cat.

Can you not find them homes with friends or family, particularly if you offer to pay the costs of any treatment and food? I do think that's very different to rehoming an elderly cat without such support.

I would speak to colleagues at the rescue centre too - I think by being honest and open about this you are more likely to find a solution.

I adopted 2 elderly cats 10 years ago. 1 sadly died but his sister is still going. She is in her 20s and is a little wobbly but loves her life.
I was at a removing centre at the weekend there was a 17 year old and 2, 15 year old cats. All 3 had been reserved.
People do rehome elderly cats and dogs.

Op why did you chose to rent a property that doesn't allow pets?
It is like renting a property that doesn't allow children when you have 4 children.
There are landlords that allow pets.
Even our local hotel allowed pets when we were moving and stayed there for 3 weeks.

I think I'd have a conversation with your vet OP and ask for their opinion on how long they are likely to continue to live with their current managed healthiness. How much time do you have before the move? Might it be possible to ask a rescue if they could look for a home while the cats still live with you? Are there any that specialise in rehoming elderly cats (I think there are some for dogs).

Difficult situation. You clearly don't want to have to move and you love your cats but life has thrown you a serious curve ball and you have to make the best of it. We used the same rationale about providing a happy life when we put down one of our cats I think it's fair, especially if they were rescued in the first place as opposed to bred to order.

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.

Good grief, get a grip. They are cats not babies. Stupid thing to say.

I agree that there are worse things than being put down. Generally I am of the school that says that euthanasia is often the kindest option.

However

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

This I cannot agree with. The cats are your family, and I know the difficulties of finding a house that will take pets, but it is possible and I cannot find much sympathy with people that consider difficulties in finding housing an acceptable reason to give up on their pets. Housing can be found. I am not trying to imply that it is easy, but i know I would make all the necessary sacrifices to accommodate all my family- and that includes the pets that I am responsible for.

Removing=Rehoming

My experience of cats is that moving them causes them a really large amount of distress, and the older they are the more difficult moving is for them. They are very territorial and not good at change (like some people....!). I think putting them in a rescue centre at this age would not give them a good quality of life. I also doubt that it would be possible to rehome them at their advanced age. 16 is really very old for a cat.

So - you have a real dilemma, OP, and I completely understand why you are considering having them PTS as an option. I don't know the answer, but I think you should follow your gut instincts as to what's right for the pets you have looked after for such a long time.

Sorry I think YABVU.

And I don't think a vet would do it. I was in the vets reception the other day and a lady rang up wanting to do exactly the same thing (just the 1 cat) and the vet said no and there was widespread outrage amongst the staff.

I honestly don't understand how you can make the decision to do this to your pet unless it is in severe pain and distress.

I'm very sorry for your situation but I personally would have to find another solution i.e. a house that would accept pets.

(In terms of the future, it is possible to relocate with cats- taking pets out of the UK is much easier than taking them in)

I do sympathise with your situation though OP- I'm sorry to hear that you're going through such a tough time. I just don't agree with the solution you are considering I'm afraid

It makes sense to me.

I'd do the same OP, MIL is taking her 2 old dears to be PTS this week, they're 18, old and frail but not about to die, but they have no quality of life, and one is incontinent.

I'd do the same, it's hard enough to find homes for the young and fit animals in rescue centres. Part of having an animal is knowing when to let go

I know it's tough but when you took those cats on you took on a lifelong commitment. You need to try absolutely everything, from finding them a good home elsewhere to ultimately finding somewhere else to live. Could you really be comfortable putting them to sleep?

It's not entirely true that all cats struggle to adjust - I moved two at the age of 15 and they were absolutely fine. One romped on to 17, the other is still with me and is now 18, though really slowing down. It really depends on the cat, to be honest - they are so different, like people are.

Put an ad out for someone to take them all in, someone may take pity and want to give them all a nice life - at least try something!

BTW I would happily arrange my life and job / home around my cats they are my family and I wouldn't of had them if I didn't feel this way

It doesn't sound like the OP has got much choice in where she can live, though. If she is making a decision based on love for pets she has cared for, for 16 years (including vets appointments and medicines), how can she be being selfish? They would be unlikely to find a new home together or separately. Shelters are underfunded as it is. It's not the OP's embarrassment that counts here but the consideration for shelters being overwhelmed with younger and healthier animals. The cats might get pts soon enough anyway due to lack of money and space.

All necessary sacrifices perper? You'd change your kids schools, take them away from friends, abandon your elderly mother, move to an estate with a high crime rate and a big drugs problem (what's exposing your teens to a bit of casual gang membership and risk of stabbing)? You hero.

If it was her child she wouldn't be allowed to put it down even if it was suffering unendurable, incurable pain and everybody knew it was going to die a slow, agonising death. If it was an animal in the same situation, she would be berated for not doing so. So all that teaches us is that animals are not children.

The OPs pov is that moving to a rescue centre, and then possibly (but also quite possibly not) to a new home is likely to cause these elderly and not very healthy animals distress. It's not about her own convenience or some arrogant assumption that only she can look after cats. She nay be wrong in her predictions or she may be right, but as far as I can see she is coming at it from the pov of the potential suffering of the cats.

Cats are very territorial and become attached to places rather than people. Being moved around by being boarded/new homes/in the vets is probably stressful and upsetting to them. They are also very, very old (the equivalent of late nineties in human years) and unwell and I am sure the medical interventions are not pleasant for them. I would let them go now rather than dragging it out. And I think a lot of vets would agree, sometimes it is quality of life that is important not length of life.

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

There's always one, isn't there?