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Original poster

My poor old boy

30 replies

putthatdownsteve · 16/06/2023 17:50

He’s 17. He has clearly had a stroke today. Head listing to the side, can’t walk, he goes around in circles.

Got an appointment to put him to sleep tomorrow morning. We are all so gutted.

My eldest has had him since he was a toddler, my youngest is just a toddler and calls our cat her best friend. My 9 year old has never known life without him and is just distraught.

Sorry, I don’t know what I want from posting this. He’s been the most wonderful cat. Only ever wanted to sit and be stroked in a child’s lap his entire life, so gentle with children.

He’s had a long life, I knew this was coming but I’m just gutted.

OP posts:
CatChant · 16/06/2023 18:02

I would get the vet to check him over first.

I don’t want to get your hopes up too much because your lovely boy is elderly, but I have had two cats make very nearly complete recoveries from what seemed to be catastrophic strokes and go on to live happy, healthy lives for a good few more years.

But if it is time then yes, it is very, very hard to say goodbye. It is always too soon and it is always heartbreaking. Knowing you gave them a good life and an easy passing helps.

whirlyhead · 16/06/2023 18:05

I am sorry. It’s so sad watching them age and get ill. If possible I would get him put down at home as it’s less stressful. The vet will do the prep work at the surgery then come around and you can be with him as he drifts off.

Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 16/06/2023 18:14

There’s been other issues. He’s not been right for a while. last few weeks his vision has gone and so has his hearing. He walks into walls.

It wouldn’t be fair to keep him going any longer.

OP posts:
Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 16/06/2023 18:16

whirlyhead · 16/06/2023 18:05

I am sorry. It’s so sad watching them age and get ill. If possible I would get him put down at home as it’s less stressful. The vet will do the prep work at the surgery then come around and you can be with him as he drifts off.

We can’t afford to do that. We wanted to, but it’s just not possible. I called round and got quotes and even if we could afford it, none of the vets could do it until into next week.

It’s not fair on him to leave him any longer than we have to.

OP posts:
Sunnydaysareuponus · 16/06/2023 18:18

I hope you manage to be with your boy for his final journey op.

Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 16/06/2023 18:26

Sunnydaysareuponus · 16/06/2023 18:18

I hope you manage to be with your boy for his final journey op.

I’ll be there with him with my eldest.

OP posts:
bonfirebash · 16/06/2023 18:28

You're doing the kindest thing. I said goodbye to my old boy a couple of weeks ago and the lead up to it was the worst part. Gave him thousands of kisses and it still wasn't enough

ilovesooty · 16/06/2023 18:30

I'm so sorry. He's obviously so, so loved.

Blackbyrd · 16/06/2023 18:40

It is the hardest thing to have to take your beloved pet on their final journey, definitely one of the worst things I have had to do as an adult. My 17 year old girl was put to sleep last year. We took a soft old pillowcase to put her in afterwards and ceremonially marked her passing.

Looking back at the pictures of her I took the night before, I can clearly see how different she looked compared to younger days and am comforted by the fact that we did the right thing. And crucially at the right time. What a lucky boy he is to have had a life filled with such love. Wishing you both strength for tomorrow

Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 16/06/2023 18:42

ilovesooty · 16/06/2023 18:30

I'm so sorry. He's obviously so, so loved.

He is.

I’ve never known a cat like him. He’s always been so patient. Always wanted to be carried about by a child purring away, sits next to them while they play. Even as a kitten he was never interested in roaming around, just wanted to sit with someone and cuddle (and eat).

He’s never scratched anyone or hissed once in his life. We were very lucky to have had him, it was one of those times when you strike absolute gold and find a wonderful animal.

OP posts:
Kucinghitam · 17/06/2023 06:36

I'm so very sorry OP Flowers He sounds like a wonderful cat.

A couple of weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our beloved 18/19-year old girl and we were utterly heartbroken. We miss her so much. Our house feels so cold and empty without her.

CatChant · 17/06/2023 10:51

Ah, poor boy and poor you.

He sounds a darling. The kind of cat it’s a privilege to have had in your life.

Be kind to yourselves.

Mxflamingnoravera · 17/06/2023 11:19

Sending best wishes. My two old boys had to pts at a similar age and my son came with me (he's 28 and we'd had them since he was 11) it's very hard.

What helped us hugely was after we came home from the vets, we got out all the photos we had of them over the years and remembered their daft exploits, we had a laugh and a cry and it felt better.

Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 17/06/2023 11:23

We are leaving in a bit. It’s been a shit morning just sitting here with him. I’ve been trying to distract myself on the internet while sitting with the younger two and my poor cat.

My almost three year old doesn’t understand. She keeps trying to make him better with her drs set. Which is the daft old sods favourite game - he lays there and purrs while she checks his heart and puts bandages around him, he’s happy for hours like that.

My 9 year old dd wants to come to the vet with me and my eldest ds. I’m going to let her.

OP posts:
bonfirebash · 17/06/2023 12:17

It was very quick and very peaceful for my boy
Godspeed Flowers

Original poster
putthatdownsteve · 17/06/2023 13:19

bonfirebash · 17/06/2023 12:17

It was very quick and very peaceful for my boy
Godspeed Flowers

He’s gone now.

Ds and dd were cuddling him when he died. The vet was lovely. Then they left us and ds sat holding him for 15 mins.

Poor old Archie was so calm. He was purring away when he died, snuggled on ds arm.

Heart wrenching as ds was only 3 when we brought him home as a tiny kitten and he always snuggled up to him like that from day one.

My 9 year old was glad she was there with him.

Bloody animals and the way they make you love them.

OP posts:
shockthemonkey · 17/06/2023 13:24

😭😢

Fileexplorerrrr · 17/06/2023 16:03

Oh, I’m so sorry 😢
This had made me cry so can only imagine how you all feel ❤️

He sounds like he was a very special boy ❤️

Sunnydaysareuponus · 17/06/2023 16:05

So sorry for your loss op.. We got a dcat planter and put some of dcat's ashes under a lovely plant..
Dd got a necklace with some in also.

viques · 17/06/2023 16:07

He sounds like a very special boy op, I am pleased you had the joy of his company for so long, and that his last moments, like his life , were spent surrounded by his people.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 17/06/2023 16:10

💐

StrongTea · 17/06/2023 16:49

Really sorry. Sounds like he had a lovely long life.

Thursday11 · 17/06/2023 20:17

Hi @putthatdownsteve Hope you and your family are doing OK.
Well done for doing the right thing for your old boy. Your DC are so brave and special to have been with him at the end.
We’re two weeks on from having our wee girl PTS at 15, but it’s a comfort to us that we were with her at the end and we didn’t let her suffer. Be kind to yourselves ❤️

Pudmyboy · 17/06/2023 20:58

So sorry for your loss, so glad Archie had people who love him, be with him, till the absolute end. I hope you can comfort each other 💐

Gatekeeper · 17/06/2023 21:06

Im leaking hot tears reading this so goodness only knows how you must be feeling. What an absolute corker Archie sounds. Beloved family friend..sleep peacefully ❤️