had stray cat put to sleep... :(

[MariaAngustias]

Just that I found a stray cat in a very very emaciated condition - and took it to the local vet on advice of RSPCA. It had no chip and they said it was an old cat and probably had renal failure - it was very underweight and they said they could run blood tests and see if it could be treated but it would need ongoing treatment and the poor thing was really suffering.

I said I thought it best if they put it to sleep and offered to pay - and honestly if I thought the poor creature had a chance of having a painfree and normal existence I would not have said that.

The cat was put to sleep in my arms and I feel bloody terrible about it - and wondering if I did the right thing. The vet and nurse said I had made the right decision.

Don’t feel terrible, the cat died with kindness and cuddles instead of alone in pain on the streets.

It may have lasted days/ weeks in that condition in tremendous amounts of pain and just wondering the streets instead of being pts quickly and humanely. Hugs OP as it must have been an awful experience

I had a cat who was on meds and a special diet. The local cat hoarder kept feeding him nice food so he fucked off to her house. She took him in, took him to the vets, and he got PTS because he was not thriving.

Am not saying you did the wrong thing.. it sounds awful all round. Just reminded me of my old cat.

You took the guidance of the the vet, don’t feel bad.

Thank you for caring. And making such a hard decision.

You did a kind thing op, you put an end to its pain and suffering.

@XenoBitch that’s really rubbish! My friends cat went missing for a week and he came back with a collar on!

If the vet and nurse said you made the right decision then you honestly did. Please don't feel terrible, you showed compassion, love and kindness. You saved him from an undignified and lonely end. Thank you

[quote HOkieCOkie]@XenoBitch that’s really rubbish! My friends cat went missing for a week and he came back with a collar on![/quote]
Same with my parent's cat. He vanished, and came back with a new collar on.
I hate this whole thing about cats choose their owners. No, they don't. They are still pets and property of someone else.

You did the right thing

@XenoBitch - so sorry that happened.

@HOkieCOkie

I guess most cat owners would have their cats chipped if they were planning on letting them roam and wanted them back though?

It was the right thing to do. He passed away being comforted by you instead of lonely and in pain. RIP fur baby

It had kindness in its final moments, I think you should feel proud not sad. Written as a mad cat lover.

It's ingrained in us to an extent to save live no matter what.
Sometimes, more often than not, the peaceful death is much kinder and more humane. As sad as it is, death can sometimes be the most appropriate solution.
You did well.

@Robin233 why did I get a biscuit?

@XenoBitch yeah me too! Some cats are roamers and my friends cat is a naturally thin breed so ppl assume he’s homeless.

I did the same thing several years ago, we found an emaciated tortoiseshell going through him bags, I took her in thinking she was just starving and could be reunited with her owner, but when a litter tray I overflowed with urine it was obvious something was badly wrong. You did the right thing, absolutely.

An upsetting experience for you, but pps are right. You know that the cat will not suffer now. A similar thing happened to me with a pigeon many years ago. I intervened when I heard some lads planning to take a very ill-looking pigeon and push it down a hill in a shopping trolley . I took it to a local vet who simply put it down. Felt bad but at least it wasn’t tormented by anyone.

As for people deciding to feed other people’s cats, special diets are precisely why anyone with any sense knows not to do this. Bloody ignorant.

There's usually enough food around that even an oldish stray missing a few teeth can manage reasonably OK. If they are really emaciated rather than just a little bit on the skinny side they are usually absolutely stuffed with end stage kidney disease or cancer or FeLV or something like that.

Well done for caring

You are very kind

The vet advised you and you did the right thing. I know it wasn't your cat but what else could you do ?

If you hadn’t made that decision, I bet the vet would have. It was likely the right choice. I do work for a local vet and they often have cases like this (a couple a week at least).

You did a good thing.. and you stay with them until the end. Many would have walked away .