Absolutely heartbroken and furious

[calzone2018]

We had to put my cat to sleep around 2 hours ago. He was an old boy and he was clearly suffering, wasn't able to go to the toilet this morning so we guessed his body was shutting down but it was still a shock for it to be so sudden. I have had him since he was a kitten but the past few months he's lived with my mum and dad when I had my baby.
My dad phoned and made the appointment and I took him alone. When I got outside (with mask) they told me they had to do it indoors and there was no way I would be able to go in - I didn't know this as my MIL recently had her dog put to sleep but they did it in her car so I figured they would do something similar. I burst into tears at the thought of him being alone and scared but I handed him over and waited in the car. It was a young lad who took him and he was saying some really harsh things about what would be done, basically stuff I didn't want to think about. We've just gone to bury him and my dad asked how it went and I said I couldn't go in, only for him to tell me that the vet on the phone said I could go in and be with him as he passed. I'm so heartbroken and furious that this man said different when all I wanted was to be with my boy. I am so angry that people can go and get a takeaway and get their hair done but I couldn't be with him when he's been my whole world for the last 15 years. I got him when I was 7. I don't been know why I'm posting this, I guess to see if someone can help me to figure out what to do, I know they can't bring him back but I'm so beside myself that I could have been with him. I'm going to be calling in the morning ASAP to hopefully stop someone else going through this. I know this is nothing compared to what some people go through but I'm just so upset. Sorry it's so long.

I'm so sorry. He was a beautiful cat

Calzone, I am very sorry for the loss of your dear kitty. He was such a handsome boy! It sounds like you gave each other much love and devotion.

Take comfort that your sweet fellow found relief quickly. I would definitely call the vet who spoke to your father to inform him/her of your experience. Hopefully other families won’t have to go through the same torment.

Your gorgeous cat would have known he was well loved and you can take comfort from the fact you gave him the best life possible. I’m so sorry you were treated so badly. As an aside, our fantastic Vet doesn’t charge for euthanasia. He says it is sad enough having to part with a much loved cat without having to pay to have it carried out, They do have a voluntary donation fund, if you feel you want to contribute, or not, and the monies from that are used to help people who would struggle to pay the vet fees.

How awful! I'm so sorry that happened. I always stay with ours. It feels like the last loving care I can give them and part of the responsibility that we take of caring for them. You must be devastated and so angry.

Definitely follow up with the vet. Once we had a lovely dog who we had to take when she was 16 and her liver failed. The vet was a cover vet and he was awful. He had no interest in her or sympathy for my mum and me and how upset we were, or patience and care for our lovely dog. He was really unpleasant and just seemed bored and dismissive. I was really angry and felt I had let her down. I always regretted not complaining.

Your boy knew how much you loved him and he had a long, happy, looked-after life with you. Hold on to that and all the happiness he gave you. It hurts so much to lose them because we love them so much. It's the price of loving them.

Your cat was gorgeous. I’m so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you gave him a great life and I’m sorry you couldn’t be there at the end 💔

Ah, that's awful

So sorry to read this, it reminded me of my horrible vet in Isleworth many years ago, we found out he was an alcoholic when we left the area. Do complain, loud and long.

I hope you can find a lovely spot in your garden for him, and buy a nice rose bush that will flower around this time.

You poor girl. I am so sorry you had to go through that. The main thing is you gave your gorgeous boy the best life ever.

Oh god I’m so sorry. I have no advice but my heart broke for you xxxxx

Probally not the right time to say this but its obvious you loved him to bits but i hope its not too long before theres another little bundle of fur needing a very good loving home.

I doubt anyone would treat a cat any better:)

God, this is so heartbreaking. I’m sorry, calzone

When you feel up to it, I’d definitely complain about your and your poor boy’s treatment. This is not ok.

I am so sorry OP.

So sorry.
Surely theres a way for it to be done outside or as you said your car etc. Maybe they find it hard as you are then so close together?

I’m so sorry for your loss.
I would call tomorrow and ask to speak to the boss and outline your concerns. They need to know where they went wrong so that they don’t do it to someone else and it may help you to get closure.
I wonder if whoever you spoke to was muddled and was thinking your cat was a dog. It’s very hard at the moment, we can’t let anyone into the building as the risk of the whole practice shutting in the event of track and trace not only has the usual financial implications but also leaves 100s of pets with no veterinary cover.
We have managed to come up with a workable solution to allow owners to be with their dogs outside but cats are a different matter. You really can’t risk a cat loose in the car park or in a car, imagine if they escaped, that would be awful. Cats also aren’t very reliable with sedation.The best we can offer at the moment is a home visit.
rest assured, your lovely cat won’t have known anything Was up and would have been cuddled by a vet nurse.
Try not to let the last sad memory cloud all the happy ones x

I’m so sorry you had go through this. I hope you get some answers from the vet practice. 💐

So sorry to hear this You absolutely should complain

I’m so so sorry you went through this ❤️
You gave him a wonderful life and you were always there for each other 💐 What a beautiful boy he is ❤️

I'm so very sorry, OP. What a gorgeous cat.

If it helps, animals often want to be alone at the end, that's why they often slope off somewhere. But the vet sounds really unkind.

That's really awful op my parents had their dog PTS last week and they did it in the garden outside the vets. They they gave him the injection then backed off and my parents came over to see him slip away. I would definitely fees back about they way you were dealt with even so they can change how to speak to people in future.

So sorry for your loss♥️

I am so so sorry your pet had to pass in this manner. Veterinary professional here who yesterday was assisting owners and their pets say goodbye to each other. For what it is worth regardless of what you were told on the phone, each vet in the practice I work in has the choice of not allowing anyone in to a consult room, even for euthanasia. It could have been the issue that one vet agreed you could and without discussing it, another vet took over for whatever reason. Lack of communication could have played a huge part here. Vets are not great with feelings and discussing things, so thank God for nurses.
Currently, in our practice we are allowing one person in for the final moments and they have to wear a mask. However, it certainly could have been handled far more gently and sympathetically than it was. I find a lot of owners appreciate the process being explained gently to them step by step helps and will always tell them that even if they cant be there in person (covid or feel they just can't) that I will mind their baby and talk to them and stroke them until they leave us. We then wrap them in a blanket and return them as gently as we can to the owner, making sure we are kind.
Please do complain to the practice manager, head vet or whoever is in charge of your practice, it will mean. as you said, another owner might benefit from the sad and awful experience you went through. No, it won't bring back your beloved cat, it won't change things for you or him, but that vets bedside manner needs addressing and how he deals with clients who are facing a loss. I am so sorry once again and I hope you remember him in his hey- day and the happy memories you have that make you smile. xx

@calzone2018 Your cat was beautiful bless him. I am so sorry this happened to you, your boy knew he was loved and you eased his suffering in the end. Sometimes pets really affect us and touch our lives. I lost my boy Salem last year, I had to have him PTS and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done as like you, he had been there for me through some awful times. You did a brave thing letting him go.

In terms of the vets, I would perhaps express how you feel but don’t dwell on it too much as it will only make things harder.

I'm so sorry. You did the right thing for your fur baby, but the vet's bedside manner was appalling and his lack of compassion totally shit. I'd write to the practice manager and complain.

I had a foot health appointment today - the therapist was touching my feet for an hour. And you couldn't be with your cat? Ridiculous.

I'm so sorry for your loss

Almost 18 months ago we had to let our dcat go after a sudden Illness-a matter of four hours from symptom to crisis. He saw me through homes, jobs, partners, a marriage and a child. He was everything and I wasn't there when he passed (it was midnight, DH was with him though). I didn't feel right until he'd been cremated on his own and he was brought home because I didn't know when he was rushed to the vet I should have been saying goodbye.

It wasn't right how the vet spoke to you. Our vets are taking animals inside and leaving owners in the car park but it's made very clear different arrangements are made for final goodbyes.

I can't believe how this was taken away from you. I hope you feel strong enough to tell them how it should have been, to stop another loved creature passing away on their own. But mostly I hope you have a lovely resting place for such a handsome cat.

Our black and whites ashes are in our lounge surrounded by photographs and hand drawn pictures and a poem from our ds. We wouldn't have him anywhere else.

This made me so sad. I'm so sorry for your loss. The way he was treated was unjust.