Saying goodbye

[Pianofish]

We're having to say goodbye to our beautiful Maine Coon today, as he's in congestive heart failure.

We'd like to take the children (6 and 9) to the hospital to say goodbye but not for the actual euthanasing.

Has anyone done this, and do you have any tips on how to handle it best?

I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. I think at ages 6 and 9, it’s too young to accompany you to the vets.

Thinking of you at this sad time.

My daughter was older when we had our cat put to sleep and it was very very peaceful although heartbreaking. She wanted to be there and understood it was the best thing for our beautiful girl.
We brought her home in her cat basket and I remember dd covering cat up once we were home in case she was cold.

Meant to add your children are younger so may struggle. You know your children but might be best for them to say goodbye when cat is still alive.
Thinking of you I still cry about that day now and it was 6 years ago. I loved my cat so much she was by my side for 21 years but I knew it was her time.

We took the girls to see him at the hospital to say goodbye (while he was still alive). They were very upset but DH took them to McDonalds while I stayed with our lovely cat while he was euthanised.

I think it would have been harder for them to come home from school and he be gone forever without the chance of saying goodbye.

He had heart failure and fluid on the lungs - whilst the vet said we could remove the fluid and put him on diuretics, he was 13.5 and I felt it would be unpleasant for him and wouldn’t be likely to extend his life by much. I hope I made the right call.☹️

We took the girls to see him at the hospital to say goodbye (while he was still alive). They were very upset but DH took them to McDonalds while I stayed with our lovely cat while he was euthanised.

I think it would have been harder for them to come home from school and he be gone forever without the chance of saying goodbye.

He had heart failure and fluid on the lungs - whilst the vet said we could remove the fluid and put him on diuretics, he was 13.5 and I felt it would be unpleasant for him and wouldn’t be likely to extend his life by much. I hope I made the right call.☹️

You absolutely did make the right call. It would've have been painful to have that done. You were totally unselfish and the best and kindness owner as you put your cats welfare before your own needs. I've had to make similar choices for my cats and whilst it's heartbreaking to let them go, its best for them. Sounds like your cat was loved and cherished.

I think you handled it very well. Sorry for your loss.

Thank you, he was. It's very hard thinking maybe he could have had a few more months though. So difficult to know if I was making the right decision for him, or for us (expense and making him take daily meds).