Photo of ailing cat at the vet

How Do You Say Goodbye? by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL
The good vet kept my little friend warm, wrapped in a special heating pad…

This week I’ve been looking after a friend’s two elderly cats. While one shows her age only by her lack of teeth, the one in this photo was thin and slow.

A couple of nights ago, this little guy was listless. My husband and I massaged him, got him to drink some broth, turned up the room’s thermostat, and made sure he was comfy on his pillow throughout the night.

The next morning he was back to looking awful.

A couple of months earlier he’d appeared to be on the brink of death, yet pulled through. Now, given how he’d perked up somewhat the night before, I took him to the vet optimistic that some intravenous fluids might perk him up.

Unfortunately, the vet affirmed that there was remote hope that the kitty had any more good days allotted to him, probably not a single day left without constant pain and nausea.

Of the few pets I’ve had, I’ve never had to decide whether to euthanize them.

In the case of this sweet boy, my friend decided. I did, however, decide whether to be with the kitty when the final injection was administered. The vet’s caveat was that the cat wouldn’t care either way. Given that, he suggested that if I stayed, I might always remember the cat at his worst.

After considerable deliberation, I opted not to be there.

Have you had to make such a decision? If so, how and what did you choose?

Do’s and don’ts for if your friend has lost a pet.

Here and here are professional links about pet euthanasia.

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Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, books — and of my still-unreleased novels, “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat.” The stories are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find happiness. ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

78 thoughts on “How Do You Say Goodbye? by da-AL”

  1. Yes.In our case the entire family stood by. Our dog was only seven years old but suffered from an
    incurable disease and had gone blind.I tried talking to him during his last moments but was in tears
    and choking. The decision was very hard to take. I felt as if I was murdering my own son.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. If we can let them escape pain and ease them on their way, I’m very glad. But it’s tough. My cat is getting along, 14, and doesn’t care much for the single-digit temperatures, so we’re enjoying his company indoors a lot more right now.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Not sure I agree with the vet’s assessment that “the cat wouldn’t care either way.” He was probably correct since the cat was your friend’s and the friend was not able to be there. But if it was YOUR pet, it definitely would knows you are there, unless it was unconscious.

    Liked by 5 people

  5. I’ve had to make the decision three times and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The first time was with my 18 year-old dog and I didn’t stay and regretted my decision later. The second time was with my 18 year-old cat and I stayed and was glad that I did. I held her during the procedure, and then after the vet left me alone in the room with Tigger. I told her how much I loved her and it was a special moment that I treasure. I ended up having to do this again with my 20 year-old cat and I stayed with Kiwi throughout the whole process but so did the vet. I wish that I would have had some alone time with her, but the vet was very kind and loving to my baby and maybe wanted to make it easier for me. It’s not easy to do, but for me it’s important to be there with them all the way to the end. There is a certain peace in knowing that they were not alone, and an energy of love surrounding them that I didn’t provide with my dog, Lucy.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. so sorry for all your losses, Michele – no doubt they’re lucky they were yours

      goodness – you’ll have to post a share on how you manage to keep your pets around for so long 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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