I had to have my cat put to sleep today

coasterqueen wrote: I am extremely saddened by this and thought as the day has gone by I would feel a bit better, but I almost feel very depressed about this.

I had to make the decision to have our cat, Jakey, put to sleep today. DH is out of town and so it was up to me Jakey was only ~7 years old, but has had a lot of problems since we took him in. He was an outside cat, who loved to be indoors too, had all of his claws, about ~18 pounds - chubby, and extremely loveable! Everyone loved this cat. I loved him, but I hate to admit that at times I wish he wasn't around. This is what makes me more sad, feeling that way.

He was diagnosed with diabetes and had some severe problems with the diabetes that we didn't detect until today. We could have paid to have them get him as better as they could and then we would have to do insulin shots 2x a day, regulate his diet and make sure he had minimal physical activity. I had no choice but to have them put him to sleep. With a child around who loves to chase the cats, the minimal activity would be impossible and with two other cats who like to chase each other, it just wasn't good. Also, there would be no way to regulate his diet due to the fact that I have two other cats eating in the same place and much more in regards to that I won't go into.

I went and said goodbye to him today before they put him to rest. My mom came and watched Kylie after her swim class so dad and I could bury him. I did finally get ahold of Ryan to find out where a good place was to lay him to rest. I just feel so awful because that was "Ryan's cat" and he couldn't be here to say goodbye to him or lay him to rest. There was no way to wait until Ryan got home under the circumstances I balled my eyes out all day, even at work. I just feel so horrible. I have never had to make such a hard decision in my life and the guilt of it is killing me. I know it was for the best, but it doesn't make the pain go away. I just never thought I would feel as emotional as I do and I just wish I had my husband here to comfort me

What hurts worse is Kylie can only say his name, Jakey. Every time she sees a cat anywhere points at it and says "Jakey" with a big smile on her face. I'm afraid I will start sobbing the next time she does it. I let her say goodbye to his "casket" before we buried him. Mom wanted to open the box and let us see him, but I wanted to remember him the way I saw him earlier today.

A&A'smommy replied: omg im so so sorry!!! I had a kitty and he ran away im still VERY sad about it but it did get better at first i cried all the time but at least you know he wont have to suffer!!!

edited to say: (((((HUGE HUGS))))

MommyToAshley replied:


I am soooo sorry!

Jamison'smama replied: So so sorry! That is never easy.

Hugs to you!!

CantWait replied: I'm so sorry, I can't imagine how hurt you must feel right now. I love my dog to death so I know the feeling you have for you kitty. All my hugs for you

paradisemommy replied: i know how hard it is to say good-bye to a family pet. i had to have my cat put down - she was only a little over 1 and had cancer and i think i cried for like 3 days straight. my best friend had to hold him while they put him to sleep and buried him in my back yard for me becuase i couldn't handle it at all. so all i can offer you is more...
it'll get better with time.

MomToJade&Jordan replied:

I lost a pet not to long ago and I know how you are feeling somewhat. I didn't have to make the decision about putting him to sleep, but my parents did. It amazes me how pets become a part of our lives and our families. Everyone needs that unconditional love once in a while. I'm sorry for your loss.

kimberley replied: i am so sorry for your loss. pets are like part of the family and it is never easy to do what you had to do.

DansMom replied: I'm so sorry you had to make that decision---it's so difficult. I had an older male diabetic cat when I was single, and it is a lot of work if they aren't stabilized. Special diet, testing urine samples, and shots twice a day. One day Sam had a low blood sugar episode when I wasn't home, and I found him comatose under the bed when I got back. He had barfed and defecated around the house. I rushed him to the kitty ER, and they managed to bring him back but he quickly deteriorated after that---went blind and lost his appetite. I had to make the same decision to put him to sleep, and it was terrible, I felt so helpless and cruel.

I'm cursed: I have another diabetic cat now (a steroid shot for itchy skin made her diabetic!), but she's very well regulated and easy to care for in comparison to Sam; her crises all occurred while I still had no child to care for so I could devote a lot of time to managing her medication and observing her reactions. By the time Daniel arrived, Juniper was stabilized. Her insulin dose never needs changing these days and she's bright, active and healthy. The other cat doesn't mind the special catfood, so I'm lucky that way too. Still, now that I have a toddler it is much harder to give Juniper the care and attention she would need if her metabolism were to go wacko again. Even now, she gets her shots when she gets them---and occasionally they get missed---but she handles it well. She's not as sick and unmanageable as my first cat was, probably because the source of her diabetes was different.

Anyway, I understand what you went through in making the decision---it's really tough. But if he was really sick, you should not feel bad about this

jen replied: I am so sorry for your loss. I love cats. You did the right thing. He would have only suffered later, shots twice a day to a cat are suffering enough. Just remember in the 7 years he did live he had a wonderful life. I lost a baby goat I had to bottle feed every 2 hours then every 3 hours a couple of weeks later, she lived for 8 weeks and was my "shadow", she couldn't be left alone or she would lose her voice! she died unfortunately from fluid in her lungs..............but what got me through it was I knew she had a better life in those 8 weeks than any other goat on this planet and she was loved immensely. You loved your cat and it sounds like he knew he was loved by everyone, there is something about a cat like that, he won't be forgotten! 7 years of love like that is more than some cats every see in a life time, and that is why you shouldn't feel guilty. He had a better life in those 7 years than the majority of cats that are taken for granted daily. You saved him from suffering and let him die with dignity. I hope you all the best in getting through it, but whatever you feel, don't feel guilt, don't punish yourself, you did something very hard to do and I wish you all the comfort you need.

jcc64 replied: I'm really sorry. I know how you feel. We had to put my 14 yr old cat Rubin to sleep last fall b/c he had stomach cancer and was wasting away. We had him since he was 6 wks old, and my oldest son adored him. His death was the 1st time I've ever seen dh cry (including the death of his granny). Ds gathered up the remaining hair off his blanket where he always slept and put it in a little baggie and carried it around for weeks. Heartbreaking. Animals really command a large presence in our lives, and it's appropriate to feel horrible about their passing.

coasterqueen replied: Thank you all so much. I was consumed with guilt last night that I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking I made the wrong decision. And until I came in here to work and read this post I felt that same way. But now after reading your stories and such I really am feeling a bit better. I'm balling here, but I feel much better.

I just didn't know how hard this was going to be. I don't like making decisions like that and hope I never have to with my other two cats. If it ever comes to that again, someone else will have to do it for me.

Again, thank you all so much. You don't know how much you have helped me. 's to you all!!!

aspenblue1 replied: I am so sorry for your loss. I had to put one of my cats to sleep a few years ago. It is a very hard decision. But I know it was for the best. He was suffering.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I am so sorry I lost a cat a few years ago to cancer and I never knew I was so attached to her until she died. I did not have pets growing up, it was DH's cat also. I send you lots of hugs..

jem0622 replied: So sorry to hear this. Putting a pet to sleep is a very hard thing to do. We had to put my DH's childhood cat to sleep a few years ago and it was very very hard.

HUGS
Julie

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Awww! I'm so sorry! I know how painful it can be to have to put your pet to sleep. It is so normal to grieve your kitty. ((((HUGS))))

3xsthefun replied: I'm so sorry I know how hard it is to loose a pet you love.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I know how difficult this day is for you, I recently went through the same thing myself! Sending lots of hugs your way today!