I think we're going to have to put my cat down.

[GirlinContempt]

Flash is very old now, 17 or so. Last night, we got home from my Aunts, and he was very sick. He was straining as if he had to go to the bathroom, clearly in agony, throwing up all over the place. He's been constipated before, so we thought maybe it was that again. It was really scary.

We took him to the emergency animal hospital. This cat, who's kind of a grumpy old man, is usually pretty calm and nice, but when he's at the vet he goes completely psycho. It's actually really scary to be around him. They had to put him in a tank and anesthetize him.

They did some xrays. One of his kidneys is about 3x the size of the other, and the vet thinks it's shut down completely. It also looks like he has a kidney stone. He's drinking way too much water all the time, and he does seem pretty weak. He's not really a candidate for surgery because he's so old, and he's so freaky and scary at the vet.

I'm really worried and scared for him. I hate to think of him being in all this pain, and I hate to think of losing him.

It's also hard financially. I feel bad for even thinking about it, but that emergency visit was $750. It adds up really, REALLY fast.

I don't know. I'm just... sad.... very sad.

[Solon]

1. Ohh, I had to put down my dog Lucy due to renal failure...

She was doing OK, sort of, with fluids, but then she developed a heart murmur and had to be put down. Its hard to make a decision like that, but sometimes it can't be helped.

:hug:

Here's a picture:

[GirlinContempt]

3. Oh I'm so sorry

What a sweet looking dog :hug:

I think I just need to stop thinking about it at least for now, if I can. It's killing me inside.

[Solon]

4. You know, my grandpa used to say...

When things are tough to "Don't think". He was a cool guy, taught me a lot about things like card games, mostly blackjack and poker, drinking, partying and women.

[GirlinContempt]

6. Sounds like a neat guy

How old are you, btw? Sorry if that's impertinent ;)

[Solon]

9. I'm going to be 30 on the last day of next month...

Its OK, you can be impertinent if you want. :)

[GirlinContempt]

12. haha ok

I dunno why I wondered, but I did

[Solon]

16. That's OK, its not like I keep any secrets about myself on this board...

at least not really. The only secret, actually, is that I have yet to post my picture, but I claim innocence there, by the time I got around to actually wanting my picture taken to be put on the Internet, the damned digital camera broke! Oh, and the only digital pictures of me are in possession of my sister, who keeps on forgetting to send them to me. x(

[GirlinContempt]

17. You should get some pictures

Are you cute? :P

[Solon]

21. Actually I'm ugly as sin...

:P

Oh, and check your PM.

[GirlinContempt]

22. That's too bad

You'll have to make up for it with a winning personality :P

[GirlinContempt]

23. Wait

nevermind

[NewWaveChick1981]

27. Solon, I'm sorry for the loss of your Lucy.

:hug: :pals: It's terrible to go through something like that.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. Oh, I'm so sorry...

I've been through it, and it's a very difficult decision. At 17, you have to weigh the possible benefits vs. the costs to you AND him.

I lost two cats, both at 16. One was a deliberate choice - he had cancer which was annoying him, but not making him miserable - but I chose to let him go before he got miserable. The other had diabetes, and I gave her shots for over a year, but one day I just wasn't able to stabilize her blood sugar. Took her to the vet, a big expensive stay, they stabilized her, I got her home, she went into hypoclemic convulsions. I took her right in to be put down. I really didn't have much of a choice. Luckily, she only had one bad day in all those years, and that was her last one.

Best wishes to you and Flash. As hard as it is to do, it's what you signed up for. Good luck.

[GirlinContempt]

5. Yeah

I know in my brain that the right thing to do is probably to put him down. There is nothing, really, that can be done for him, and he's only going to get worse.

But I know in my heart that I love that cat, and it makes me so sad to think of losing him. 17 years is a long time to give your love to someone, and then to chose to kill it is really really hard.

Blah. As you've said, you know all this, and it sounds like you made the right choices, and I'm going to have to too. *sigh*

[MonkeyFunk]

8. Yeah

I'm sorry.

Everybody's different, but both times I went directly from the vet to the shelter to get a kitten. It's hard to be too sad when there's a kitten around you.

[GirlinContempt]

10. Well, we have 4 cats

So i'd have my Ion to cheer me up :)

[Heidi]

7. GirlinContempt, I'm so sorry to hear this.

I'd be wrecked if I were facing the same thing with Ginger.

Do you mind if I light some candles for Flash and you? :hug:

[GirlinContempt]

13. Thanks Heidi

feel free, that would be sweet of you

[Heidi]

15. Done.

I hope Flash finds healing or release -- whichever will be better for his quality of life. :hug:

[GirlinContempt]

18. Thanks again

You're a sweetheart

[fizzgig]

11. i'm so sorry

it's such a tough decision to make, even though you know it's the right one

:hug: to you and flash

[GirlinContempt]

14. thanks

:hug:

[badgerpup]

19. Is this the first time you've had to go through this?

It's damned hard, and one of the most painful decisions you'll ever have to make... but it's not about you, it's about Flash.
What is best for HIM?

This is what I've had to say to myself on the two prior occasions that I've had to make this decison...
and I'll probably have to say it again if my cats let me down by not expiring peacefully in their sleep of extreme old age like they are supposed to do.

Knowing that this is part of the contract doesn't make it any easier.
I'm sorry...:hug:

[GirlinContempt]

20. Yeah, this is the first time.

I know, I gotta do the right thing.
Thanks.

[badgerpup]

24. It sucks, doesn't it...

Still...they make our lives so much richer- think very few of us would say 'it's not worth it'. Hurts like hell, but even so...

Sending you strength and sympathy...:hug:

[Inchworm]

25. This is sad to hear

I hate that you guys have to endure it.

I have never been in that situation with any of my critters. I couldn't begin to imagine the ordeal.

17 years...

You want to hear something weird? I am near 40 years old, and it wasnt until about a year ago that I knew cats could live so long. We had cats growing up, but they were "barn cats." It seems like 6-7 years was their span. We took care of them, mind you. It was just how I was raised where cats are outside creatures. I sure changed my tune when I learned how they enjoy the indoors and how much that can affect them. Flash is lucky to have you as a nurturer. I bet they were 17 wonderful years.

I am sorry you guys have to go through this but I feel that you will do what is best for Flash.

:hug:

PS: sorry I'm so long-winded.

[NewWaveChick1981]

26. I'm really sorry, GirlInContempt.

:hug: :( I know that awful feeling (I've been there several times with beloved pets). My heart goes out to you.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

28. sorry love.

:hug:

[spinbaby]

29. It's rough

But sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. We tend to wait too long to put our cats down and then we feel guilty because we let them suffer. No good answer, really.

We've got an 18-year-old cat and need to make that decision soon. It would actually be easier if he had some kind of massive renal failure. As it is, he's slowly accumulating a list of ailments--deafness, bad teeth, arthritis in one hip, half-functioning kidneys that make him pee a lot, some kind of recurring skin breakout. Still, he seems happy and mostly comfortable.

[sazemisery]

30. I'm so sorry for you and Flash.

We have had much pet illness and death this year. Here's a :hug: and a thought to help you through this terrible ordeal:

“Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile.”

Good vibes to you and Flash.

[OneGrassRoot]

31. I can't read your entire post nor the responses...

because my heart breaks for you.

I very unexpectedly lost my 11-year-old cat at the end of December - he was fine one morning and that afternoon he was gone. Just a few weeks ago I lost my 17-year-old kitty who has been my best friend the entire time I've been in NC. She was with me through the loss of my son, divorce, and many life upheavals.

It absolutely tore me up and I'm still a little in shock that they're both gone.

I send you heartfelt hugs and prayers through this difficult time. I do understand how very difficult it is - on all levels.

[BuelahWitch]

32. I'm sorry about your kitty

At his age, that's probably the best thing you can do for him. It's hard when they leave us, but it's even worse to see them suffer. :hug:

[flvegan]

33. GiC, I'm sorry for you and your boy Flash.

You'll make the right decisions.

[Kajsa]

34. I'm so sorry, GiC.

I faced that decision with two cats that
had contracted feline leukemia.
( before the vaccination was available).

It's one of the hardest decisions I ever had
to make.

Remember, he is in pain and they can't
do the surgery.

You and your kitty are in my thoughts and prayers.

:hug:

[TreasonousBastard]

35. Of course you are sad, but...

anything else would be less than human. No advice except to do what you feel is right, even though it will hurt.

The only good thing about pain is that it usually goes away.

[no name no slogan]

36. so sorry to hear that

:hug:

[ThomCat]

37. I'm very sorry.

:(

I hope you have 17 years of wonderful memories, and lots of good pictures. :hug:

Did they give you something for his pain in the meantime?

[JVS]

38. sorry to hear the news

[ceile]

39. So sorry, GIC.

You'll know when the time is right. :hug:

[poisonivy]

40. I am so very sorry to hear that

but my wife and I know how you feel. In the past year we have had to put down 2 of our beloved pets, a black lab who had cancer with a tumor that had started to grow out her back end and her hips had also gone out then just a few months ago we had to put down our other pet sara. She had a bad spine and had pretty much lost all functions in her back end from about mid spine back. Its hard, but, in the end you have to do what is right, especially when the animal is suffering. Its hard, but, its selfish to keep them going just because "I cant bring myself to do it" thoughts. I am not saying this directly to you, its just a generalization.

remember, you have 17 years of memories to cherish, dont let the last few days overshadow them with indecision.

[crispini]

41. Aw..

Hugs. :hug:

It's hard to lose a furfriend.

[GirlinContempt]

42. Thank you very much everyone

You're all very nice, I really appreciate it.

Last night as I got in to bed, I accidentally touched his hind paw, which has had a weird growth on it for a long time. My sister had taken him in to the vet for it a while ago, and they told her it was no big deal, nothing to worry about. Well, I barely touched it, and he screamed like I'd torn his foot off and actually tried to bite me. I think this means maybe that *isn't* nothing. Oh the poor guy, I wish I could *do* something. :( :cry:

[auntAgonist]

43. Sometimes there isn't anything we can do. I lost my Rottie

in June of this year. We had no choice but to put him to 'sleep'. It was the hardest thing ever. I'd never had to make a choice like that before. It only took a very few weeks from a bone cancer diagnosis to him being very very ill and without hope. I understand fully what you're going through GirlinContempt, and I'm so very sorry for what you are facing. My Tarn was only 6 years old. It seems like I'd had him forever though.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. :hug:

aA
kesha

[GirlinContempt]

44. Oh, that's so sad

I'm sorry :hug:

[ghostsofgiants]

45. That's really sad.

:( :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

52. Candles still lit.

I lost a few cats before his age, and it has always taken a part of me with them. I know it'll be your decision, and it'll be hard, but you were his best friend and family - you can't really do wrong. :hug:

[Blue_In_AK]

46. It's so hard to make this decision...

I had to put my cat down about three weeks ago because he had hip dysplasia really bad and could hardly walk, was having incontinence issues, etc. He was so loving and sweet, it was a very difficult thing to do. My heart goes out to you.

[KamaAina]

47. In all the years Mom and I had cats, we never got one past 12

that was dear Kwan Yin (Siamese/Burmese on Dad's side), who succumbed to breast cancer. No need to put her down; she just crawled into a closet one night. The next morning, her friend Elsa was pacing back and forth outside the closet... :(

[Lautremont]

48. I'm sorry to hear that.

I have a beloved 14 year old cat, and right now he's in good health, but I suppose one day in the future I'll be facing the same ordeal.

And I've faced it in the past. It's hard, but when they're old and feeling awful, there's not much better you can do for them than end their misery. It's still terribly sad, though.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

49. I'm so sorry...

It's heartbreaking to hear them suffer. Poor Flash :hug: Poor you :hug:

[derby378]

50. I am so sorry...

We lost our beautiful Bonnie back in July. Her back legs stopped working about three weeks back, and it turned out that the reason was a tumor that was spreading up her spine and towards her brain. We couldn't bear to see her in pain.

ginbarn and I send our love. :hug:

[stuntcat]

51. :hugs:

He is very very old, it could be better now for you and him both to have Peace. He's had a long happy life, and he was lucky to have someone caring for him who really loves him, many cats don't.
He's beautiful in his picture, his Cattitude :hug:
I feel bad about how being at the vet traumatizes him, it would be good if he could have a easy, comfy time.. and some hugs and kisses.

[yellowdogintexas]

53. oh, that kidney failure is so sad..I lost a couple of cats to that myself. But 17

is a good old age for a cat. Doesn't make it any easier, but you must have given Flash a great life!

[snailly]

54. I'm so sorry

Just really, really sad for you both. :(

[pookieblue]

55. I'm feeling your pain

I have lost my two babies this month to renal failure.

Pookie was 15yrs old, I had to put down back a few years ago.

and Spot was only 7yrs old.

It's a hard decsion for to make, I know. it breaks your heart to have to do it. but it also breaks your heart to see them suffer as well.

[Robeson]

56. My thoughts are with Flash and you....

...I can't help you. I'd be a basket case if I had to make that decision. I'm sorry.

[swag]

57. I'm sorry

That's the saddest

[applegrove]

58. I'm so sorry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

59. So sorry about Flash.

It's a sad thing.

[Midlodemocrat]

60. Sweetie. I'm so sorry.

I'm thinking about you.

:loveya:

[chknltl]

61. .

:cry:
Trust me, I share your pain... I miss each one of mine and I am reluctant to even say anything here because those memories have not faded.
All I can offer is one of these GIC: :hug:
Good luck to you and yours.