If I hadn't taken my little cat....

[TinySongstress]

...to the vet's this morning he'd still be with me now.

I've had him 14yrs, through everything. Every day. The sweetest, most gentle little cat.
He'd developed bad breathing this week, noisy, like snoring while being awake and this morning had a coughing fit, I was scared so I took him down to the vets and she said he had fluid on his lungs and a murmur on his heart (probable heart failure). She said I could take him home but she couldn't guarantee he'd have a comfortable or peaceful death.

I stayed while he was put to sleep. He had no idea what was happening. He'd had some breakfast... a normal morning.

I feel like I've betrayed him. Taken him to die. He'd still be here right now if I hadn't. I know it was the best thing to do but I feel so, so awful. The poor little guy.

Please talk me down. I'm in bits.

Better too early than too late. He had a peaceful end and it’s the last gift we can give our pets.
You did the right thing I promise. Would you like to tell us about him?

I’m so sorry for your loss it sounds like you are a lovely caring owner so he must have had a very happy life with you. Such a hard decision for you but much better that he slipped off to sleep being stroked by you and knowing he was loved.

There is a memorial thread here if you would like to post some photos and tell us about him. So sorry op.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/3965838-The-Litter-Tray-Memorial-Thread?msgid=102366370

You did absolutely and entirely the right thing

Thank you for being kind PP's. I will head to the memorial thread.

He was called Bear and was a rescue kitten initially. He was an American Bobtail who had been found on the sand dunes near me and had been presumed lost. He was so gentle, the first time I went to meet him he reached out with his paw and touched my face when I picked him up. I loved him instantly.

The vet said it could be hyperthyroidism which is common in older cats and could lead to these problems. I had no idea.

You so did right by him.
You got him medical attention when something was clearly wrong.
You were brave enough to let him go before he was suffering too much, when the vet told you that his condition was not curable.
So many owners hang on to animals until they are clearly suffering a lot, before the owner is willing to give them a peaceful death. This involves animals suffering, and is not kind.
14 is a good age for a cat. No point in hopeless treatment , when there's only one possible outcome.

It must be such a shock, if you really weren't expecting this.This will pass.

I'd just like to say again, well done you, you did right by your cat.

Oh my gosh, struggling to breathe is one of the most awful things and he absolutely would have been suffering if you'd let him go on and on like that. You did 100% the right thing and he only knew love and kindness right to the very end. What a lucky boy he was. A long life, a happy life, loved and safe every day and spared pain and suffering at the end. He couldn't have wished for any more, he had the world with you.

Such a lovely cat. You were both lucky to find each other. You have done the right thing for your beloved Bear. Big hugs. Thinking of you. X

Thank you so much for your kind words, everyone. You've made me cry in a good way. 💝🐈‍⬛

What a beautiful cat!
It’ll be awful for a while then the good memories of him will be the ones that last.
It’s such a hard thing to do. He was clearly very much loved. Big hugs.

The kindest thing you could have done. Hes utterly gorgeous. Lots of love x

I'm sorry @TinySongstress

It was a final act of kindness for Bear. Even though it hurt you, you did what was best for him.

I had a cat with hyperthyroidism. It cost me a bloody fortune in meds and special diet (almost £100 per month once each additional related illness fell outside of insurance renewals) but was worth it while he wasn't in pain and had quality of life.
But the second he started to mope that was it. No way I was letting it slowly kill him off.
I promise you've done the right thing. His life ended on a high.

I'm so sorry for your loss. If you look at it a different way the fact he had a normal morning and wasn't aware is actually a blessing although it won't feel like that now.

You did the moral thing and the most loving thing. This was your ultimate act of love for your beautiful cat- you have acted selflessly. Very sorry for your loss.

Better a week too early than a day too late.

As PP said, he had a normal morning, and it was over and peaceful. He wouldn't have felt a thing and would have just slipped off to sleep. The alternative is a distressing gradual deterioration and then quite often a rush to the vet with a very poorly animal. And that is horrible for them and you.

You were with him til the end and he had a lovely life. Never feel guilty for doing the right thing for your pets. Too many people let them suffer.

He WILL always be with you, hold those memories close x

@VladimirCutiePutiPie

You did the moral thing and the most loving thing. This was your ultimate act of love for your beautiful cat- you have acted selflessly. Very sorry for your loss.

This is beautifully put, and so true.

You did the right thing, you hurt because you loved him but you saved him from suffering. This was your last act of love for him

The same thing happened with my 19 year old boy Grover. Came down that morning and he was slumped on the rug, didn't want to move. My partner took him to the vet as I had to go to work and he called me to say the vet needed to speak with me. I knew in that instant that there was nothing they could do for him and had to make the hard decision to say goodbye while not being with him. It broke my heart and for a long time I couldn't come to terms with how quickly his end was, but looking back now, I'm glad he didn't have to suffer on for weeks on end. I vowed never to let another animal break my heart but my house didn't feel like a home without a fur ball waiting at the door. So six months later we adopted Ozzie who has brought joy back into our hearts. We had Grover cremated and har his ashes put in a wooden casket and Ozzie likes to sleep next to his "big brother".

You did the right thing for your fur baby, it's not right to let them suffer for our selfish needs. Sending love and hugs xx

You absolutely did the right thing, without question. Being blunt, if he had died at home it would not have been a peaceful passing. The last thing he'll have known will be being with you and gently drifting off to sleep. The alternative does not bear thinking about

So sorry OP, my 11 year old cat also has fluid on the lungs and a heart.

Sending you lots of love

Thank you so much everyone, he was my first cat and the only one I've ever had to put to sleep.

I feel like I have to go and pick him up, that he's waiting for me to collect him and then remind myself he's not coming home. The house feels very empty tonight. Maybe I'll settle more when I have his ashes.

I will consider another cat but just not yet... @always2ndbest your baby is beautiful 😻

Thank you everyone, your words have genuinely helped me this evening.

So sorry for you loss @TinySongstress , that must of been such a shock. but I echo what pp have said , you did the right thing for him at the right time .

So sorry for your loss OP
It sounds like you had many happy years with Bear and he was lucky to have had such a great life with you too. I saw a quote earlier today that read, 'what is grief if not love persevering?' - I hope you can take comfort knowing how much love you gave to Bear over the years and not allowing him to suffer pain was the final act of love you could have done. You did the right thing and thats a lovely pic you posted. Xxx

You said yourself he had no idea what was happening. That is the best thing you could have done for him x