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.

You did the right thing by following the vet's advice. The cat won't have known and it will be out of pain now.

As an aside, if possible, I'd always avoid using the RSPCA (if there's another alternative available).

This is someone's cat. They're going to wonder where he/she is aren't they?

Had they chipped it or made any effort to ensure it could be traced to them, they would have had that choice themselves. Are you really suggesting the op should have left a cat suffering and in pain just to protect its feckless owner's conscience?

My 16 year old cat is looking scruffy round the edges but is deemed healthy by the vets based on recent blood tests

She’s chipped with these details so if there was an owner the vet would have found them. You’ve done nothing wrong OP it should have been chipped

Better to go with love than alone outside

Only think I would say is I personally would ring Cats Protection over RSPCA.

If people chipped their cats then this wouldn't happen. I have zero sympathy for people who don't chip their pet and then might wonder what happened to it.

Boo fucken hoo. I have taken several cats ( found by the side of the road casualties) to our local vet over the years and the FIRST THING THEY DO is check for a chip so they can notify owners.

*Also, who are YOU to say the owner is feckless? How fucking nasty. hmm

It's more than likely the owner LOST the cat. And now they will never ever know what happened to her/him ... They will probably be heartbroken. How vile to say they are feckless.

Maybe the OP and the vet should have made more effort to try to find the owner!*

Maybe owner should have had the cat chipped ao they actually can be found when their cat is sick or injured....

Thank you for your kindness

You did a kindness 💐💐💐
To the person that was offended that the owner has been called feckless - of course they are feckless. Microchipping your cat is the most basic level of care.

You did a very kind, brave thing.
If everyone cared as much as you the world would be a much better place.
Thank you.

I help out locally collecting cats that have been killed in road accidents etc. and taking them to a vet so they can be scanned for a chip and the owners can get closure.

It's heartbreaking how many owners just don't love their cats enough to get them chipped ...

IMO you did absolutely the right thing

@HOkieCOkie

@XenoBitch that’s really rubbish! My friends cat went missing for a week and he came back with a collar
^^
My apologies @HOkieCOkie
The biscuit was for the people who put the collar on someone else's cat. Love cats.

My three are indoor cats. Still chipped because it’s the right thing to do. Spayed as well just in case 😊

@MariaAngustias you did the kind thing. Thank you

As a child we always put collars on our cats as proof of owner ship- mind you this was 50 years ago.

Thanks to everyone who offered support. I still feel very teary thinking about her. My Mum offered to keep her at her house in a box but she would not eat or drink and was in a very pitiful state - she could not walk because she was so thin and week and had some pus coming out of her mouth. The nurse at the vets said 'oh you poor thing you are really suffering aren't you' and I am sure they are quite hardened to these things. I feel I did the only thing I could reasonably do but still feel sad. x

You did absolutely the right thing, OP. You should be proud that you stepped up and did what needed to be done. Even though it was unpleasant for you, it was the kindest thing for the cat.

Agree. There is just no point to prolong suffering juat for the sake of keeping the animal or human alove to spear our feelings. You did the right thing. Absolutely fight thing

Oh heck I hit yabu - but to say you are being unreasonable for feeling guilty. Of course you did the right thing.

@Porcupineintherough

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

My cat was chipped his chip is "lost" and needs to be redone so don't assume that the owner didn't care enough to chip

You did the right thing op. The cat is no longer suffering and had kindness in its last moments.