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Original poster

should I take my sons with me to the vet when we have out cat put to sleep?

28 replies

tigermoth · 14/02/2005 09:08

She's old, terminally ill and the vet can do no more for her. When she gets too weak to stand or eat (it will happen any day now) I know it will be time to say goodbye to her. My boys know the score and the 10 year old realises the end is coming. My 5 year old isn't as upset as his older brother.

It's half term this week. If I have to make a vets appointment soon, should I take my boys with me? Neither of them seem to know what they want to do.

I was thinking they could say a final goodbye to our cat in the waiting room and wait there while I go in with the vet.

OP posts:
Cod · 14/02/2005 09:09

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Enid · 14/02/2005 09:10

would it be possible for your vet to come to you - ours does this although its a rural practice so may have more leeway for this kind of thing.

Original poster
tigermoth · 15/02/2005 08:18

I don't think the vet will come to us, sadly. I think I will take my sons along and they can sit in the waiting room.

OP posts:
maddiemo · 15/02/2005 08:26

Take the boys along. I think I would let them say goodbye to the cat in the vets room rather than the waiting area as it is more private, then give them the choice of going back to the waiting area or staying.
If they are unsure I would probably send them back to the waiting area.
We had one of our cats put to sleep in November, it was terribly sad and I miss him very much.

lilibet · 15/02/2005 08:26

if you do that will there be some one with them in the waiting room?

Really sorry about your cat

Kelly1978 · 15/02/2005 08:28

Have you asked them what they want? We lost various pets while I was growing up and I never wanted to go. I prefered to say goodbye at home.

jangly · 15/02/2005 08:35

I wouldn't take them. Let them stay at home, preferably doing something nice. They're too young to have to face nasties full on. Cushion them. It goes too deep at that age.

LapsedGymJunkie · 15/02/2005 08:39

NO no no

I was 35 when we had my DH's cat put to sleep, he had had her forever and I had only had her for 5/6
years and I cried for days. And I am not a cat person.

Should say she had us not we had her.

lockets · 15/02/2005 08:44

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Beetroot · 15/02/2005 08:45

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Original poster
tigermoth · 15/02/2005 08:46

I thnk I'll ask them again. Problem is, if I go alone, there is no one to look after the boys at home this week (half term and dh is working).

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 15/02/2005 08:48

I'd take them and leave them in the waiting room tigermoth. It doesn't seem you have much option really. Could you promise them something nice afterwards to take their minds off it and to remember the cat by? I don't know what though. A picnic? It's a lovely day here.

lockets · 15/02/2005 08:52

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oops · 15/02/2005 09:05

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Original poster
tigermoth · 15/02/2005 09:09

I definitely won't be taking my sons into the surgery itself, oops. They will be in the waiting room.

I'm going to phone the vet to make an appointment.

OP posts:
oops · 15/02/2005 09:21

Message withdrawn

Original poster
tigermoth · 15/02/2005 09:26

exactly, oops. It's so difficult to know when enough is enough.

When I last spoke to the vet, he said he'd book us in when the surgery was quiet.

Good idea about the cat basket - I will ask the vet if I can pick it up later.

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 15/02/2005 17:56

I remember taking my rabbit to get put to sleep when I was about 6 it really really upset me and affected the way I felt about vets for a long while. I didn't see it being done but it still upset me no end. I also remember my dad taking one of the dogs to the vets and coming back with the empty basket heartbreaking as well. I thought if a pet went to the vets that was it (probably because ours only went when they were at deaths door no jabs or anything).

So sorry to hear about your cat (((hugs)))

Socci · 15/02/2005 18:02

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lilibet · 16/02/2005 11:21

How did you go on Tigermoth?

hub2dee · 16/02/2005 12:17

I'd suggest either getting a sitter, and leaving them at home, or in the waiting room at a push. Whilst often the animal will be quiet and trusting at the end, the opposite can sometimes happen and it's therefore possibly not appropriate for them.

(Volunteered at a vets when much younger).

If the cat has been a long term family pet you may want to consider what happens to the body after the cat dies too. The vet can dispose of it, but your family may want to bury it or have it cremated etc.

Hard time, I know.

Original poster
tigermoth · 16/02/2005 15:51

We went this morning, everything was ok. The vet, and his assistant in the waiting room with the boys, were both very understanding. Our cat, in her weak condition, did not put up a fight or make a noise when she had her injection. We decided to have her cremated.

I have been through this 3 times before, as we originally had 4 cats - now the last has gone
This is the first time the boys have come along to the vets. I did as suggested earlier and had a planned treat lined up as soon as the appointment was over. We went straight on out, and that has helped.

I am really glad for once we did not do thinngs in a rush this morning. We all got ready in very good time before leaving the house, so everyone got the chance to say goodbye to our cat in their own time.

Very strange not to have an animal in the house, now. dh, who has a very soft spot about his cats, will take the longest to get over it.

OP posts:
Newbarnsleygirl · 16/02/2005 15:53

Hope your all ok.

hub2dee · 16/02/2005 19:17

Didn't realise it was today, Tigermoth, and very glad the end was peaceful and that it worked out OK with the kids.

lilibet · 16/02/2005 19:23

really sorry at least she had a good long life with you