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Original poster

Put to sleep at home or at vets & do they just drift off?

13 replies

elvisgirl · 06/08/2010 05:16

Please can anyone offer me some thoughts on the horrid decision of whether to have my beautiful, sweet girl cat pts at home or at the vets? I initially thought of having it done at home as less stress for her but now wondering how we decide which actual place in the house or garden to do it, and selfishly whether it will make it even more painful for myself and DP to see the place all the time & it being a constant reminder of her death rather than just a place where she would have slept.

She is now at the vets being stabilised on a drip until Sunday so we can bring her home for a final day or two of precious home life before she rapidly declines again due to kidney cancer & we have to do the inevitable. After she comes home it would presumably be better for her not to have to go in again but I don't know.

Also what happens when it is actually done? I've heard it's two needles & they just drift off - is this right? I don't want anything even more traumatic happening like her fitting, struggling for breath, etc.

OP posts:
nooka · 06/08/2010 05:25

I can't help you on the decision about where, but in terms of how it's fairly similar to an anesthetic, so for an onlooker it really does look like they go to sleep. I guess part of your decision depends on how traumatic your cat finds going to the vet. If she is very ill she might not really notice too much where she is, so then it's more about how you feel. Are you thinking of burying her at home, or will the vet cremate her? That might affect your feelings too - all our family pets were buried in the garden, but my dh didn't want any of our cats home after they died, which I guess was a part of why they were put down at the vets.

BollockBrain · 06/08/2010 07:01

Sad sorry you are going thru this. We had our lovely old boy pts in january.

We did the vet option. The whole process, (I am told by dh and ds) took just a minute or 2. The vet shaved a little piece of his forarm, put one injection in, then a second and it was all over within about 10 seconds after that. Very peaceful, but heartbreaking all the same.

sockadoodledo · 06/08/2010 10:22

Sad sorry you're going through this as well - and thank you for replying on my thread.
From other pets I know it is very peaceful, literally like they are sleeping.
I'm sure you'll decide where you want her to be when she goes, but just from when I googling last night it did mention that pets can be more agressive at home as it's their territory. She may be quite weak and docile but it's just a thought if she's the type who likes to bite the vet anyway etc as I'm sure you want it to be calm for her.
Hope you enjoy some lovely time in these coming days

Lizcat · 06/08/2010 16:54

The vast majority of the time it's one injection into the vein and they drift off quite quickly. They may then take a couple of deep breaths, just air leaving the lungs. Occasionally it can be difficult to find a vein and occasionally some animals can go through an excitement phase.
If I go to an owner's house (I often do) I take a nurse to help me so even at home the owner does not have to be in the room if they don't want to be.
If any animal looks like they are going to get distressed I always sedate them.
Have a chat with your vets the receptionists will know the drill and will be able to take you through all the options and their different costs (house visit will be a lot more expensive).
In my personal opinion this is the most important job I do as a vet and I do everything in my power to accomodate my clients and make it the least stressful it can be.

Original poster
elvisgirl · 07/08/2010 02:50

Thanks for your replies. You sound like a lovely vet Lizcat. It's so very difficult cos a lot of people don't appreciate the special relationship you can have with a pet & can be very blase about it. Already two people have asked if I will be getting a new kitten. I guess they feel like they don't know what to say as well, as always with death.
I think we are tending towards the at home option. I don't mind about the cost. I'm a SAHM mum with no family or friends around & my cats have been dear companions through an overseas move, a difficult pregnancy/birth & being not the happiest SAHM the last two years. We will still have her brother tho, who is actually in the best of health & will keep her ashes to go with his later on. Anyway, thanks again.

OP posts:
Flighttattendant · 07/08/2010 07:47

I'm really sorry to hear about your puss. Sad

I've had several cats put to sleep, and most of them did just drift off. One became distressed, which was very upsetting. I'm sure sedation would have helped though, for her - I don't think any was given.

I hope your lovely old girl goes very peacefully - she is lucky to have such a kind owner.

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 07/08/2010 07:55

We had our old lady cat put to sleep at home, as I didn't want to stress her out by going to the vets. I just sat with her on my lap, and the vet injected into her kidney, it took seconds. :( They can also inject into a vein on the back of their paw, but they need to first shave the paw to find a vein, I didn't want the added distress of this.

Tilly is now buried deep in the back garden and all of us go for a chat now and again.

We got 3 new kittens about 2 months ago, 18 months after Tilly.

BelleDameSansMerci · 07/08/2010 08:03

I had to have my lovely old lady cat put to sleep a while ago. I, like BoiledEgg sat with her on my lap while the vet injected her kidney. My cat did then just, quite quickly, drift off to "sleep".

The only thing you need to be aware of, if you aren't already, is that your cat's eyes will not close when she is no longer with you so she won't look quite as if she is sleeping. I truly hope posting this doesn't distress you further. I completely understand how upsetting this is for you and I would never want to upset someone in your position. Just didn't want you to be surprised or upset at the time. x

oxocube · 08/08/2010 19:10

So sorry. I had my dog put to sleep in February (cancer) at the vet's surgery. It was peaceful, painless, I sat on the floor and held him while he died. My lovely vet left us alone for 10 minutes afterwards so I could say goodbye to him privately. The whole process was gentle and caused my dog no distress although obviously traumatic for me.

Honeywitch · 09/08/2010 17:44

I've had two cats done at home, on my knee. One was terrified of going to the vets, so it made sense, the other I was so upset I knew I wouldn't be able to drive home.

The remaining old boy is still going at 18, and has since ben joined by an Oriental, and her 7 siamese kittens - they are a new lease of life for him.

Duritzfan · 10/08/2010 19:13

My beloved cat was put down at home, on his favourite blanket on the sofa with me right next to him ... It was relatively untraumatic .. I also worried that I would see the sofa everyday and be reminded but ime it doesnt happen that way ..
I felt it was nice for him to have his last breath on his sofa ..after all if it was me I would want to be at home -

Whatever you decide, Im sorry you are going through this - its a very sad thing ...

Hugs to you and yours..

ilovesprouts · 11/08/2010 17:46

i had my dog put to sleep at pdsa and i stayed with her ,and they left me in the room for 10 mins ,she just wagged her tail and went to sleep :( i will never forget that day and i came out sobbing to a room full of ppl x

themachinist · 16/08/2010 11:46

Home if possible.

Had both for cats/dogs, and would always do home again.

And yes GENERALLY they just drift off. IS sad, peaceful, but obviously very emotional.

Sniff. Sorry x

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