Putting cat to sleep

[Thewinedidit]

My boy has had serious health issues this year which have been controlled by medication until recently. He is now no longer keeping well and realistically our kindest choice is to PTS. I'm obviously devastated. In preparation if anyone has done this what was involved? How long did it take? I deal with things much better when I'm prepared, although I know I'm going to be in bits.

@Liz38 Sorry I missed your post and so sorry for your loss too. They make us love them so much don't they?

RIP dear puss

When FerociousCat was pts at home, there was no catheter into a vein! The vet gave her a sedative injection, she wandered around a bit, brought up the chicken she had just eaten and she gradually went to sleep. The vet tested to see if the noise of the electric shaver roused her - it didn’t, so the vet gave shaved her leg for the final injection. That did not work as the vet said her veins may have collapsed, so she injected into the kidney. The cat died. The cat’s only suffering was the initial injection and being sick, which must have been less than dying of cancer.

I used to watch our cats pts as a child. I found it reassuring to see their end with no suffering, other than the pain of the injection! Seeing people dying of cancer is far worse, imo - and its barbaric in comparison!

I had my old boy PTS two weeks ago today. He was only ill for a few days but deteriorated so rapidly. It was the vet's assessment he wouldn't last more than a few days and he was on morphine to manage his pain.

He'd been in the vet for 3 days so there was no difficulty in finding a vein as he'd obviously already had lots of injections in those few days.. He looked a bit bedraggled but knew who I was and I spent about 20 minutes with him first. The vet and the nurse were both brilliant. They gave him the injection as I held him and he was gone within a minute. There was no reaction at, it was incredibly peaceful. They gave me time with him afterwards and let me leave his carrier there until I picked it up with his ashes the end of last week. They also let me leave the back way so I didn't have to go out through the waiting room.

After nearly 17 years I miss him so much but know I did the right thing.

Well I feel a bit of a fraud. We actually had an appt to have him put to sleep this evening but the vet then thought it might be his thyroid and wanted to give him another chance. (It was a different vet from the one I'd discussed euthanasia with). He's now on tabs for a bit to see if there's any improvement. Talk about a roller coaster...

Oh Charlotte I hope it is just thyroid. My old girl had it and it was easily controlled with medication. Fingers crossed.

I haven't had pets since I was a child but this thread is making me sob.

Sorry for all your losses on this thread

No need to feel a 'bit of a fraud', Charlotte. You're just going the full mile for him is all.

Oh it is sad when you have to do this - I made the decision to have my 17 and a half year old frankie put down on the Thursday before Christmas - the day before we cuddled up and he just looked at me and I knew I had to do it - he had been losing weight and had had lots of not too invasive tests - the time was right for him but not for me. The vet came to our house but I couldn't be there so just sobbed my heart out in the kitchen. His ashes should be back tomorrow. I've had a dozen cats and a couple of dogs (and a darling horse) and it doesn't get any easier. First time in my 60 years that I've not had a pet and it doesn't feel right - they are part of your family - sending big hugs - it hurts like hell.

And now I'm crying again - RIP all the very much loved animals that have sadly left us - for me, never again - probably xxx

I always just know I'll open heart and home to another, Val. Relax.

So sorry, Val. You must be terribly sad. Maybe you'll be ready to have a little furry friend again, in time

Thank you everyone and for all of you x