Pet Bereavement Support Group
The loss of a pet or animal to which one has become emotionally bonded can be an intense loss, comparable with the death of a loved one. Whilst there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this community focuses on human feelings, when an animal is lost, dies or otherwise is departed.
I have to make the decision today or wether I want to put my cat down or not. I don't want to have to choose. It's not fair that such a big decision as his life is in my hands!
He's only 8 years old. But he has a liver infection, and it's severity is increasing in leaps and bounds. As it is right now he lays still all day in a kennel(in the kennel so the dog leaves him alone). I force water into him with a plunger syringe. He does not eat. I was blending food and water together and putting them in him but he started to cry when I approached him with the syringe and cower. He just pees where he lays, he does not move. He is bony and skinny, except his sides which are bloated. He was on medication...I was giving him 2 pills twice a day, but now when I pry his mouth open to medicate he vomits. So there's no point in putting the meds in and causing him that stress.
The vet said I could send him to a city a few hours away, for a biopsy so they could find out what the infection was exactly. But that would be over 1000 dollars. I have a 9 month old daughter. I don't have 1000 bucks just kicking around.
So I take him back to the vet, again, today. And I really think they are going to suggest euthanization. I don't want to make that call. I have had other pets put down....but always because there was no other choice. I had a ferret who was paralyzed and her heart was failing that I put down....a kitten who had been sat on heavily by the mother cat and it's spine snapped in three places. A dog who was blind, deaf, and who's stomach was twisting inside and causing excruciating pain, and the dog was just to old to operate.
But my cat is 8 years...8 years! He still acted like a kitten before this. Now he just lays there and looks at me with pain and sadness. I don't want to do this. My grandmother just died last week, my best friends mum died the week before, and this week I have to kill my cat.
He's only 8 years old. But he has a liver infection, and it's severity is increasing in leaps and bounds. As it is right now he lays still all day in a kennel(in the kennel so the dog leaves him alone). I force water into him with a plunger syringe. He does not eat. I was blending food and water together and putting them in him but he started to cry when I approached him with the syringe and cower. He just pees where he lays, he does not move. He is bony and skinny, except his sides which are bloated. He was on medication...I was giving him 2 pills twice a day, but now when I pry his mouth open to medicate he vomits. So there's no point in putting the meds in and causing him that stress.
The vet said I could send him to a city a few hours away, for a biopsy so they could find out what the infection was exactly. But that would be over 1000 dollars. I have a 9 month old daughter. I don't have 1000 bucks just kicking around.
So I take him back to the vet, again, today. And I really think they are going to suggest euthanization. I don't want to make that call. I have had other pets put down....but always because there was no other choice. I had a ferret who was paralyzed and her heart was failing that I put down....a kitten who had been sat on heavily by the mother cat and it's spine snapped in three places. A dog who was blind, deaf, and who's stomach was twisting inside and causing excruciating pain, and the dog was just to old to operate.
But my cat is 8 years...8 years! He still acted like a kitten before this. Now he just lays there and looks at me with pain and sadness. I don't want to do this. My grandmother just died last week, my best friends mum died the week before, and this week I have to kill my cat.
I made a last attempt and we hooked him up to an IV and fed him nutrients and hydration. At 505pm today he died. He just, went, the vet said. They went to do their last checks of the day before they close up shop and he was gone.
So tomorrow I go make arrangments for his body and settle up the bill.
Tonight I'm going around cleaning up everything that reminds me of my cat. It seems silly but I don't want to wake up tomorrow and walk past his food dish, and smell his litter box, and look at his favorite toys. As it is, twice, I've gone to scratch his head when I walked past our bed because that's where he liked to lay.
I've cried alot. We were pretty attatched. When he was born he was the runt and he wasn't fed. I hand fed him from birth with an eye dropper. Waking up every two hours and when I was at school or work(I was in high school) I actually paid someone out of my own pocket to come do it for me. He came when called, but only by me, and he was so content to follow me around the house all day.
Our dog slept by his kennel last night, and now he keeps going back to it and whining. Plus, he will go to the foot of our bed and sniff around, digging up the covers and looking underneath them. I think he's looking for his buddy. And TImmi will never come home again. I wonder if Kongo knows, he sure knew he was sick, but I wonder if he knows he's gone.
My cat arrived in a box with three siblings. They were about two weeks old and I did the whole eyedropper-feeding round-the-clock too. I think it did make for a special bond.
I did the same thing, came home and picked up all her things (sobbing all the time). My other cat looked for her for a while. He knew she was sick and she had come and gone a bit for doctor appointments so I think he expected her back. He ultimately has made a good adjustment (better than me I expect). He seems to enjoy being an only cat.
This must be an incredibly hard time. Please let us know how you're doing.
HUGS....
That said - your friend trusts you to be a caretaker. OMG - I know the pain, I really do. But this is where you decide - and trust - and believe -
I wish you love & faith
Loss is never easy and you have had alot of loss in your life lately. The days ahead may be difficult as you cope with the emptiness. I found that I kept looking for my companions out of sheer habit and then had to remind myself they weren't there anymore.
Here is a poem for your little guy....
Lord, the time has come please help me be strong
my sweet friend was sick; something was terribly wrong
There's nothing more anyone could do
I'm afraid have sent him; home to You
Please take him back home; on the wings of a dove
into Your loving arms; up in heaven above
Take him to a meadow; where he can run free
under bright sunlight; among the green grass and trees
He's been a part of my life now; for so many years
I'll miss him so much; my eyes are filling with tears
Please give me the courage; as I say good-bye
as I know he'll watch over me; through his loving eyes
I'll never forget him; I'll see him one day
tell him we'll meet at the again; what more can I say
I'll cherish the memories; of the time we both had
I cant imagine life without him, I just feel so incredibly sad
My poor dog may be taking the brunt of the loss. He eats a minimum and he lays where he and the cat used to snuggle and just stares at the wall. When he's not moping he likes to be snuggled. We have two ferrets, and I would let them out to help him past the loss but they are older. One, the oldest, most likely will go within the next six months, and since they are life partners in a sense, the other one will most likely pass withing a month or two after.
I still havent cleaned up his litter box. I know he's gone, but it sort of feels like if I go into the laundry room and the box isn't there I'm finally telling myself he's not coming home.
I volunteer for a no-kill pet rescue group that deals strictly in older animals that still have years in them but people have tossed aside due to age. I requested I only work with the dogs for awhile, but I'm going to donate all of Timmi's things to the cat wing. It's the best thing I can think to do with the last of him.
The neighbor's cat also keeps coming to our front door calling for our cat who was killed in December by a coyote. He just howls and howls for Baby to come out and play with him as they had done for the past 10 years. When I hear it tears follow.
It is good you are focused on your shelter work. That will help you cope with the grief by keeping busy. Give yourself time and kindness during this challenging time.