[raspberrytorte]

I posted awhile back about how my cat was dying of liver failure and only had roughly a week left to live, according to the vet.

Well, he's still around.

He won't eat by himself anymore, so we've been syringe feeding him. He pukes up about half of the food we give him. He spends a lot of time hiding in the closet. He is not happy. He's so sick.

When do we say goodbye?

We've been talking about going to the vet and having him put to sleep, because he seems so miserable and is terminally ill and is getting worse by the day.

The only problem is that I don't want to say goodbye! I love him so much. I'll never be ready to say goodbye to him. He's my buddy. This is so hard.

[Travelinglady]

I know what you mean. I tried to hold on to my cat Misty when her body was wasted from uncontrolled diabetes--but the vet said she needed to be put to sleep for her own sake. Your poor kitty sounds miserable and has no quality of life, it sounds like. It is very hard, but...

I'm sorry. I still miss my kitty.

[Victoria'smom]

No one can tell you when to say goodbye. It's going to hurt and you have to look after yourself when it happens. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

[RedDawn]

There's a great saying when it comes to parting with a pet.

Better a week too early than a minute too late.

Don't let him suffer. It sounds like it's time.

[Gabyunbound]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I posted awhile back about how my cat was dying of liver failure and only had roughly a week left to live, according to the vet.

Well, he's still around.

He won't eat by himself anymore, so we've been syringe feeding him. He pukes up about half of the food we give him. He spends a lot of time hiding in the closet. He is not happy. He's so sick.

When do we say goodbye?

We've been talking about going to the vet and having him put to sleep, because he seems so miserable and is terminally ill and is getting worse by the day.

The only problem is that I don't want to say goodbye! I love him so much. I'll never be ready to say goodbye to him. He's my buddy. This is so hard.

Oh this is heart-breaking! I know what you're going through, I just went through this decision-making process with my kitty of 17 years a couple of months ago. I hadn't been in so much pain, felt so much sorrow, since I can remember.

I would say: think about what she would want. Hiding is not a good sign at all, and often indicates pain/discomfort. Is she ready to go? I was never ready to say goodbye, there just came a time when she was 'telling' me that she needed to go. Listen to her carefully. Look at her closely.

I would also say this: what has helped me, in saying goodbye, have been rituals. Candles, photos, her favorite things... Placing them in front of me, crying my eyes out, and getting ready to say goodbye.

Afterwards, more rituals: a scrapbook with photos and butterflies from a scrapbook store, writing to her every day -about how much I loved her and still do, about our relationship and all the times we had together. I write about my mourning process. All of this is in the first person, as if I were writing to her. I've done this with my last two cats and it has been very therapeutic. I write until I just don't need to anymore.

Finally, and I know this sounds premature, but getting a new kitty, when you're ready, can be extremely helpful. It certainly has been for me. My new kitty looks nothing like my old one and this helps as well. He has comforted me immensely and I think he's happy here.

It's a heart-wrenching decision. My mother, who adores animals and has had to euthanize many in her day, has always told me that your pet will 'tell' you when they're ready to go. As I said before, just listen to her carefully.

I wish you and your kitty the best. It's awful what you're going through. Be strong, but mourn and cry all you need. I bought boxes and boxes of tissues for the days following, and used them all.

I also wanted to add something my vet told me: you don't want to wake up one morning and find that she has passed, or get home from work (if you work) or just from being out, and find her gone. If you euthanize her, you will have the opportunity to say goodbye and to be with her when it happens: she won't be alone.

[Guiness187055]

It's never easy making a decision like this. I was told by a vet once that the animal will let you know when its time. It sounds like your cat is letting you know. Sorry you have to go through this.

[bizi]

I put my kitty down when she stopped eating. It was the humane thing to do. I still miss her 4 years later.
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

[~Christina]

I’m sorry

Losing a furry loved one is hellish.

I do think it’s time to ease the babies suffering

((((( hugs))))))

[liveforsummer]

Sending hugs Raspberry

I had to put my cat to sleep Aug. He was 15. Diabetes that we couldn't get under control which created other problems.

I knew it was time bc he looked miserable. His **** gland had ruptured and so he was wearing that cone. He was losing weight rapidly and was so thirsty. He just was in misery. After about 3 months of trying to get his blood sugar levels under control, and still not able to, i decided it was time.

I think it's time for your kitty. I'm so sorry

I have 2 other cats. Maybe when it's time, you can go get a baby kitten. It's so hard and I'm sorry.

[tecomsin]

So sorry you are going through this. That's a tough decision.

[hopeless2015]

So sorry, sending hugs!!

[emgreen]

I have a 13-year-old German shepherd, so I skipped most of the posts. I've had dogs my entire life & it's never gotten any easier. The pain will remain for a while, but fortunately, we're pretty resilient...Loss is just hard. Peace & good luck, no matter what you decided.

[piano97]

I'm so sorry about your kitty. Kinda silly but I think of my kitty as one of or my best friends. I've have lost others in the past and it's so hard. It does sound like it's time to say goodbye though, I'm sorry to say. It may be awful at first but it will get better. Letting kitty go may be the most loving thing you can do now.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I had 2 senior cats last year and kept telling them to let me know if the time came. Both did, 9 weeks apart. I knew in very different ways but both made it clear. I had to euthanize both; I hoped they would just pass away in their sleep but it just doesn't work that way a lot of the time. I have no regrets about it as both were very ill and either had no quality of life or would have lost it within a day or two.

Losing them both was incredibly hard. I started feeling ready to think about adopting kittens about 2 months after the 2nd one died and brought home my brother-sister pair of fluffballs 5 months after the 2nd loss. They've been very healing for me although I definitely needed to wait as long as I did to be ready.

It's a hard way to lose a pet but it's not horrible to experience. I thought I could never be there for it but it was peaceful and extremely fast and I'm glad I was there for both.

[Deejay14]

I am going thru this myself with my 17 year old. A couple of weeks ago we gave up trying to medicate her because she clearly let us know she had had enough. For the last week she has vomiting up even small amounts of foods enough four hours after fed her. She is not drinking that we can tell. Today she was able to keep down baby food, but not eating much. She is not purring even when I talk to her and ha not gotten of the bed for two days. Tomorrow we are going to the vet. I cannot put her through anymore, since our last try was so difficult and she was so upset. So no more pills medicine of any kind. If she cannot be helped with a shot and the vet has no doable ideas. I will euthanize her as better a week early than a day late. It has been absolutely gut wrenching to come to this decision, but she is having little if any enjoyment in her day. She has been such a good friend; I can't bear to not have her with me,but even more so cannot let her feel like crap everyday. It's not right and I think very selfish of me. Yet I amso sad.

[raspberrytorte]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Night before last we asked him if he was ready to go, and, in his own way, he let us know that he wants to spend some more time with his family. I told him that I love him and it was okay if he was ready.

Thanks for being so supportive everyone. I love you all.

[Sunflower123]

I’m so sorry. Enjoy this remaining time with your kitty. Thinking of you and your cat.

[Unrigged64072835]

Sorry that you have to go through this. I've had to put cats down as well. Both of my cats are in their prime, but one has medical issues so she may go sooner than later. They know and you know.