I had my 12 year old cat put to sleep a couple of weeks ago and just feel terrible about the whole thing. He had been struggling the last couple of years limping and unable to go downstairs. He also vomited and poohed a lot around the house. He went to the vet for regular cheeks but they didnt find anything wrong. I asked for medication for his joint pain but the vet thought it would make his slab worse. We were due to go away for 5 nights over half term. Before we went I noticed he was looking swollen around his front legs and was breathing a bit fast, but I didn't think much of it. We went away for 5 days and had our regular pet sitter. She said she didn't see him when she visited but this isn't unusual as he also used to go off to the neighbours to get food! When we came back I found him in the garden really struggling to breath and with s swollen tummy. We rushed him to the emergency vet who drained fluid from his heart and lungs which made him feel better but he still couldn't cope without oxygen. They ran tests and said it was most likely cancer and they could treat him but most likely the fluid in his lungs would return quickly and we would have to bring him back in to be drained again. I made the decision to put him to sleep but feel terrible i made the wrong decision and we should have tried treatment. I also feel.terrible I didn't notice how unwell he was before we went away and that he suffered alone for 5 days. I had noticed he wasn't eating but thought it was because our elderly neighbour was feeding him. I found the process of putting him to sleep horrid as he was walking around on the table with my stroking him. The vet injected him and he dropped dead with his eyes open. I wish I'd picked him up now but was scared of hurting him. I can't stop crying and miss him so much.