Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Will a vet put down a healthy cat?

33 replies

CuckooSoup · 15/06/2023 17:53

My neighbour has had a tough time; divorce, DV, etc.

She's now moving on and has to downsize. The new property is rented and has a strict 'no pets' policy.

She thinks it is kinder to have her 7 year old cat pts by a vet rather than for him to go through the trauma of being re-homed.

Will a vet actually do this?

It seems extreme to me, but I would like to see what others think before raising it with her.

He's a lovely cat btw and I can't take him as my son is allergic to him.

OP posts:
Happenchance · 15/06/2023 17:56

They can and will because pets are considered property. They can also refuse to.

Some vets will try and persuade the owner to sign the cat over to them so that they can rehome it or find it a rescue space.

canfor · 15/06/2023 17:58

I rehomed a 7 year old cat, and the circumstances were perfect for the cat, so no upset after the first couple of days. She should advertise locally to see if she can find a new home.

upyoursgrandad · 15/06/2023 18:05

The trauma of being rehomed?! Lots of cats are rehomed for one reason or another. Your neighbour is horrible. Has she at least tried contacting some rescue centres? Poor cat.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 15/06/2023 18:07

Cats often rehome themselves! So your neighbour is being ridiculous and cruel to not even attempt to find it another home, poor cat.

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/06/2023 18:09

She needs to rehome the poor thing, not have it pts.

L3ThirtySeven · 15/06/2023 18:10

It’s legal, but most vets will refuse. She should rehome her cat.

Theunamedcat · 15/06/2023 18:10

What area are you in im sure someone knows a rescue

FloofCloud · 15/06/2023 18:20

I'd rather find a different home than kill a beloved pet that was healthy!

Original poster
CuckooSoup · 15/06/2023 18:22

Thanks all.

She's not a bad person, has just had a very bad time and probably not thinking straight. If I told you what she's been through in the last few years you'd sympathise. She does love the cat too, but is stressed at moving and sees him as one more problem she hasn't got the capacity to deal with.

I will offer to help her with re-homing the cat. I need to do some research first and will then go and see her with wine and a plan!

OP posts:
ShesSingingThatSongAgain · 15/06/2023 18:27

Honestly, I’d tell her to sneak the cat into her new place and see how it goes.

DogsvsCats · 15/06/2023 18:33

OP, encourage your neighbour to look up the renters reform bill : renting with pets

Trinity69 · 15/06/2023 18:34

I’d like to think any vet would refuse. They shouldn’t put down a healthy animal ever.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/06/2023 18:39

After my was pts 15 years ago (cancer 😢)I had a call a few days later from the Vets. I thought my card had bounced or something. No, someone had taken their 8 year old healthy cat to be pts as it was stressed (due to renovations in the house). Vet refused, kept her there for a few weeks and ‘advertised her’ in the reception. She was all set up for a new home but then they had a family emergency and it fell through. So, to cut a long story short, she came home with me a week later and lived another 9 years in utter bliss. This was the little princess. Miss this cat so much.

Will a vet put down a healthy cat?
WannabeKittens · 15/06/2023 18:41

Yes they will.

It’s not palatable but vets do it all the time. In some instances the animals can be signed over to the vet but vets aren’t rehoming centres and don’t have the resources to take on that many animals.

DP works with someone whose partner is a vet nurse, and she said that sadly people bringing in their healthy animals to be pts is common. People with litters of unwanted kittens because they couldn’t be arsed to get their cats spayed, dogs when they’ve bought a new puppy and the older dog has lost its appeal. People moving abroad, and the list goes on.

And the vets are in an impossible situation. Because what happens if they say no? Risk the person taking the animal and dumping it on the side of the road? Or poisoning it?or killing it some other inhuman way?

Because anyone who is prepared to put a completely healthy dog to sleep because of their own selfishness isn’t someone with animal welfare in mind.

WannabeKittens · 15/06/2023 18:44

maddiemookins16mum · 15/06/2023 18:39

After my was pts 15 years ago (cancer 😢)I had a call a few days later from the Vets. I thought my card had bounced or something. No, someone had taken their 8 year old healthy cat to be pts as it was stressed (due to renovations in the house). Vet refused, kept her there for a few weeks and ‘advertised her’ in the reception. She was all set up for a new home but then they had a family emergency and it fell through. So, to cut a long story short, she came home with me a week later and lived another 9 years in utter bliss. This was the little princess. Miss this cat so much.

The vet could only keep the cat and rehome it if he owner had signed it over to them.

Clearly they said they did’t want to put the cat to sleep or they encouraged the owner to sign it over.

But if someone brings in a cat to be put to sleep then the vet either has to say no and if they don’t want to sign it over the. Vets are powerless.

Lamelie · 15/06/2023 18:50

😭that’s so lovely.
I have a similar ddog next to me now. 13, came to me a year ago from Battersea when bestdog died.

Hedgehogscanclimbtrees · 15/06/2023 19:44

I foster for Cats Protection. Whereabouts are you?

maypoll · 15/06/2023 20:01

I thought landlords could no longer ban tenants from having pets.

mondaytosunday · 15/06/2023 20:07

I've adopted adult cats, one as old as 11, and they settled in fine. Please try and get her to stay sign cat over to an appropriate shelter. I'd be tempted to take it off her hands and do it myself if she won't.

BunnyBettChetwynnd · 15/06/2023 20:19

I've rehomed several cats and they settle in so easily and quickly. Please don't try to persuade your neighbour not to put a healthy animal to sleep.

thecatneuterer · 15/06/2023 20:23

ShesSingingThatSongAgain · 15/06/2023 18:27

Honestly, I’d tell her to sneak the cat into her new place and see how it goes.

Absolutely this!!!

tsmainsqueeze · 15/06/2023 20:49

WannabeKittens · 15/06/2023 18:41

Yes they will.

It’s not palatable but vets do it all the time. In some instances the animals can be signed over to the vet but vets aren’t rehoming centres and don’t have the resources to take on that many animals.

DP works with someone whose partner is a vet nurse, and she said that sadly people bringing in their healthy animals to be pts is common. People with litters of unwanted kittens because they couldn’t be arsed to get their cats spayed, dogs when they’ve bought a new puppy and the older dog has lost its appeal. People moving abroad, and the list goes on.

And the vets are in an impossible situation. Because what happens if they say no? Risk the person taking the animal and dumping it on the side of the road? Or poisoning it?or killing it some other inhuman way?

Because anyone who is prepared to put a completely healthy dog to sleep because of their own selfishness isn’t someone with animal welfare in mind.

This is not my experience of working in a very busy vets for over 30 years ,it is not common for people to request healthy animals to be euthanised and we do not often have litters of kittens and old dogs that have lost their appeal being euthanised.
But if once in a blue moon we do get something dumped on us or what we consider to be an unfair euthanasia request -even rarer ,then we do get the animal signed over to us and we rehome, we usually have enough connections between us and we have been known to call current clients and ask them if they would like to give a home -usually its a yes !
'It’s not palatable but vets do it all the time.' -we do not.
I hope this little cat ends up safe and loved.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 16/06/2023 06:48

That poor cat 😞

It's only seven! It could easily live another decade or more - please encourage your friend to get it rehomed. It really won't be that traumatic.

We have an 8yo rescue boy who we rehomed and he now has a fantastic life with us.

SallyWD · 16/06/2023 07:00

How bizarre! My cat was certainly traumatised when he was eehomed with us. It took a couple of months for him to settle but since then he's been very much at home and very content.

xoomer · 16/06/2023 07:15

What the hell. Such an odd thing to think about doing never mind actually telling someone you're thinking of doing it.