We said goodbye tonight

[PinkSparklyElephant]

Some of you might remember that I was adopted by William, the elderly local stray. He had arthritis, was losing his eyesight and various neurological problems but my Mum took him in and he's lived with her for the last 5 months.

Mum phoned me this morning to say that William had fallen over a couple of times yesterday and he was hardly moving. He brightened up and was eating but I made an appointment to take him to the vet this evening. It turned out that he was completely blind and the vet thinks he had a brain tumour so we made the awful decision to have him put to sleep.

We were told he could have had a steroid injection but that would have only bought him a couple of weeks and that would have been for us and not him. DH and I stayed with William - he been left to fend for himself to much so we couldn't leave him on his own at the end.

I knew he was elderly and he had problems but I really hoped he would have longer with us. He only adopted me 6 months ago but it's so bloody hard. I keep crying and thinking did I do the right thing. Deep down I know that I did but he was a lovely boy and I wish I could have done more for him.

Run free little William.

Just wanted to say I am thinking of you how lovely you were to offer William a home xxx

You poor things, he sounds like a really special boy.

Take comfort from the fact you and your mum gave him a lovely five months. He was loved, cared for and I bet soiled rotten.
He died in the kindest way, slipping away with those who loved him.

I'm so sad for you all. It sounds like he had a very loving home at the end of his life. Bless you for taking him in and being with him at the end.

Sweet dreams William.

It may not have been long but at least he died having known love and wasn't alone.

He won't ever forget you for that.

So sorry for your loss

Aw, sorry to hear your news

Thank you. He was a lovely boy and it was a privilege to have been adopted by him. He had a good day today but I'm glad that our memories are of him eating and being reasonably content, not of having to rush to the vet because he was in pain and distressed.

Of ccourse you did the right thing, your last post says it all. He had a happy last few months thanks to you.

He left peacefully, in love, and after some of the best (if not the best) months he's probably ever had. You all did well, Pink.

RIP William.

Bless him. He was happy and loved and you kept him company at the end. You could do no more. What a lucky William that he adopted you.

I remember your previous posts about William, I think you bought him a kennel to protect him from the weather when he was still a stray, didn't you?

Really sad to read your update but you absolutely did the right thing and I'm sure his months with you and your mum were so happy & comfortable. If you hadn't rescued him & he was still living stray, he would have been in a truly awful situation today so please don't feel guilty about having him put to sleep. Always better in these situations to be a day too early than an hour too late. Thoughts with you all.

RIP William

We still have the kennel in the garden timtam. I might have to move it behind the shed so I can't see it. I was in floods of tears driving past the vet this morning - unfortunately I can't avoid it. I kept thinking of him in there on his own.

He lived with Mum for five months and one day. Although last night was horrible, it was better than finding him dead in the service road at the back of the house - he had his dignity.

I know I'm soft (and some people will think I'm stupid) but the vet is taking his paw print and it's going to be made into a keepsake. I haven't got many pictures of him as he couldn't lift his head properly so I wanted something of him to keep.

Thank you for all your kind words and making me feel a bit better.

Pink, I think having the keepsake is a lovely idea.
You're not soft at all, and William was so lucky to have found you and your family who ensured his final months were full of love and care.

I think cats that choose you are extra special.

Thank you. I can't believe what an impression William has made on me. I lived with my Mum's last cat for years and was nowhere near as upset as I am about William. There was just something about him. Even my boss (who doesn't even like cats!) was upset.

There was definitely something special about him and he'll never be forgotten. We were talking about him earlier and I remembered that he went missing the day before I had my gallbladder out. Before I was going to hospital DH and I were walking around the roads looking for him. The local vets must have thought I was mad when I phoned up to say the local stray had gone missing! One of my first questions when DH came to pick me up after the op was had William reappeared. He turned up at 5am the next morning and we were in the garden feeding him (well DH was, I was struggling to move!).

Sorry, I'm reminiscing now!

How sad, I'm genuinely very sorry.

As others have said, take comfort knowing that you gave him a few months where he was well cared for, loved and no doubt spoilt rotten! You did the right thing, he died peacefully surrounded by people who love him - a death everyone deserves but so few of us get.

I'm very sorry he's gone, you gave him a lovely last 6 months though. He was loved & that's the main thing.

You will get memories flash into your mind.

Sorry for the loss x.

I think the keepsake is a lovely idea, I still have the caskets with the ashes of my 2 old cats but a paw print keepsake would have been special too (although I would never admit to this in real life as people would think I was a total mad cat lady!)

You gave William a happy time at the end of his life, try to keep remembering that amongst the tears

So sorry pink. It's an awful decision but you had to make it to save future pain. I hope you have lots of loverly memories.