Hey Bob, I am very sorry about this most difficult decision that you have to made. Any pet and especially one that is close is a cause for much feelings of grieve and despair. I had to do this twice over the last couple of years for my two pups and found it most difficult.

I don't wish to expand upon my sad feelings, but please know that you and your family has given the cat a very good life from beginning to end. If you so wish, please be there holding your cat at the end. I was for my pups and am so glad that we had that close moment even at that most difficult time.

Additionally, I completely understand that t, may be worst during this stressful period. I can't stand this affliction either, but I do find relief when I can offer my support to another. It does feel better to share this most difficult affliction with another who completely understands.

I feel your emotion Bob, and I wish that it all be feeling a little better for you soon.

Bob, don't be so hard on yourself, please you will be strong again but if you have to weep, weep it out....it does no good to hold it all in. Let it out of your system, it's therapuetic even if it doesn't seem like it. Last year I got T Feb 28, 2010 I was a wreck....I mean if you think I'm bad now you should have seen me back then. Anyway I had to put a beloved dog down March 25th 2010....it was horrible and like everything the T made it worse because I felt I was really losing control of my faculties. Bob, just make sure the timing for this is right because in hindsight, for me, I had just put a beloved dog down in January 2010 after being sick for months and he required a lot of care from me....after T and my second dog had to be put down......sometimes I do feel quilty that I just didn't have it in me to take care of another ailing dog as I was overwhelmed with T . I sometimes feel I rushed into putting the 2nd dog down because I just couldn't handle T and all the care she would have required. So just be sure you are doing this for the right reasons so you don't have any regrets and can't blame T for taking even more from you.

Losing a pet is hard for pet lovers, you love what you love and the loss of that love is deserving of grief. It has also been my experience that the best thing to fill that void is to get another pet...you never replace the pet lost but there is always another pet waiting for a loving home.

Prayers,
Sue

Bob, please do not be hard on yourself. You are not any less of a man for weeping about the loss of a beloved member of your family for 17 yrs. It is a very difficult process that I had to go through in June with my beloved cat of 14 yrs. She was my "baby girl", or my "first born" as I liked to call her. She was a social butterfly and I miss her deeply. It was a very painful day and yes my tinnitus was off the charts. I think the days leading up to it were and are harder than the days after because you are living in a limbo of anticipation of a very dreaded event. Once it's over it's a little easier to exhale and start the grieving process. Please take this time to spend with your cat, if thats possible. One thing I did with my cat T.J. was to sit with her and I sang "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you'll never know TJ how much I love you, I commend you into Gods hands this day. I also took some video of my time with her and stroked her and was able to record her sweet meows which I now have on video. It will always be a permanent tender spot in your heart. It does get a little easier but you will have your moments when you miss her terribly and cry and have moments where you talk about a loving memory of her. It is especially hard for me at Christmas because this is the first year that she wont be with us at Christmas. Last Christmas I have photos of her in a box under the tree peeking out, so playful and loving. I wont have that this year. I did have her cremated at the vet's and they returned her in a lovely carved wooden box. I took that smaller box and put it in a wooden box the size of a jewelry box and on the lid is a place you can insert a picture. I put her picture in it of her sleeping on my christmas pj's on my bed. I change the picture out to cute one's I have taken over the year. Inside the box is her cremation box, her collar and tag, a her favorite toy, and her picture I.D.'s we had of her. I was glad I did that because I can look at her picture and know she is home with us. I could not bear the thought of the vet cremating her and disposing of her ashes. She needed to be at home with us. I pray the pain eases and that God give you courage and strength to help you through this difficult time and that He would give you mercy and grace to bear this. Hugs, Hugs, Judy

Hi Bob, It's a heartbreaking time. It's so hard to say goodbye to our animal friends. We had to do it with our dog last year. husband and I cried and cried. And it was hard on me as I am at home all the time and she was a close companion to me. It's a very difficult thing to explain to anyone who doesn't have animals as part of their lives. I still think of her. She will always be in our hearts. We did adopt another dog who has captured our hearts and has become part of the family.
I know you will be able to recall all the good things of your cat too when the stress calms down. right now it's all a bit overwhelming because you have the pending 'day' coming up.
stress and crying can make T worse but it is pretty difficult to avoid stress sometimes when life brings us these tough times.

I feel for you and I am sorry you are going through this. I do hope that the T will settle down soon. I am sure it will. And I hope you will be able to find peace and be ok.

Sorry to hear about your cat Bob. Hang in there. You will get thru it. I have been in that little dark place you are in and you will make it out. You just hang in there and you will make it thru. I too have a cat that is very old and he struggles day to day jusy like me, and I will certainly cry when he has to go.

You know Bob I have had many dogs and cats over many wonderful years and gave them my love, I took care of them from a baby to the end of their lives.

The very hardest thing is knowing when it is time to let them go. And the wonderful gift for them to have a loving family member being there holding them in their arms and feeling the love you are showing them by doing so.

Yes the stress is almost unbearable, but your t will calm down when youare finally at peace, and you will be.

You are not less of a man for crying, you are a good human being.

We all hate this afliction, but we have each other's shoulders, we are here for each other.

Hugs,
Sandy

Dear Bob,
It is so difficult to lose an animal. I have been through it many times with beloved, long-lived pets and it never gets any easier. My best to you at this difficult time.
Kathrin

Hello Bob
I am new here, but not new to losing a pet. I have always been the one to take a pet in and hold them as they pass. Just remember; your lovely friend thinks they are going to sleep...that is all your kitty will feel. After they are asleep the higher dose is injected.
It is so much harder on us;their parent , to go thru it. Your kitty will just sleep away. And while I know nothing can replace this special friend ;I encourage you to adopt a new friend, to help you grieve. So sorry you are going thru this
Take care