Losing a pet-pretty hard on this one.

[TR Custom Parts]

Last weekend had to make the hard decision to put down our Ragdoll cat. We bought her from a breeder 14 years ago and had her before our son was born. She has been in his life every day he has been on earth and it has been tough on the whole family.

She wasn't eating very well for the past few weeks and the last week did not eat anything at all. We were getting her steroid shots, B-12 shots and had her on intravenous fluids too to no avail. She had lost over 1/3 of her body weight and the last time we took her to the vet she noticed that she had numerous tumors in her abdomen.

The vet did not think she could have survived any surgery so the we had to decide on putting her down or letting her go on wasting away. We decided to do it last Saturday and the vet was very caring with the whole procedure. We wanted to be there when it was done and asked my 12 year old if he wanted to be in the room when it took place and he said yes. Was real proud of him wanting to be there. The vet took her out of the room for the shot and then brought her back in the room and left us alone with her. Within 5 minutes she passed peacefully. Was really a sad deal.

First pet that I had to do this with, all my childhood pets just went to the vet and never came back. Still keep seeing her around the house and expect her to greet us at the door when coming home.

Will eventually end up getting another cat at some point and will probably end up adopting one instead of the purebred route again. I like dogs too but never was a fan of going out of a warm house in the winter to walk one!

Destiny RIP, 1-31-09

 

[turboG]

Sorry to hear it....been there, done that and its tough.

 

[SCOOBY DOO]

You did the right thing Mark. Had to do the same thing a few years ago...toughest thing I ever did.

 

[thessman]

I know how it is.. i just lost my cat of 21 years !!! I got her a a kitten in 1987. I always joked with my wife that i had the cat before i had her !!!! they are part of the family...
always look forward...

 

[jcawley3]

So sorry to hear!!...its a terrible feeling

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

My lab we have hadsince 1997 passed a couple weeks ago. What sucks we had went to pick her up on a Sat morning and the Vet told my boys, come on back and get her.

When they went back she had passed, Vet hadn't checked on her that morning

 

[2QUIK6]

I know what you are going thru...Our cat of 15 years just passed this last Thursday..we still think we hear it meowing around the house. Ours too had not been eating much and when he did he would throw it back up the last few weeks...he quit eating at all Sunday... When I got home Wed evening, he was no where to be found...I found him out side in the woods just laying there..brought him back in the house, he couldn't walk, but then that night he started jumping on our bed and getting active again..still was real shaky and drunk like..
Decided to take him to the vet to be put down as he just wasn't drinking anything and his eyes were rolled half way back...got him there, placed him on the counter and he dies before the vet even looked at him. He came in and the cat coughed a time or two and the vet says, I think he just died..sure enough he did..
In the past year I've had to put down our 2 dogs, and now our cat...really sucks, but glad the cat went before they injected him.
I too had never went thru having a pet put down before the dogs, but now that I have, I'd never let them do that without me being there, at least you are there comforting them their last moments and are at peace.

You'll have another one before you know it..we're on the search now I think.

 

[Gary Wells]

Sorry to hear, Mark, I also have a cat, about 21 or 22, also got him in about '87 or so, and I have threatened to take him to the vets for the last 6 months or so, but just don't have the nerve to do it.
Ty, also sorry to hear about yours. Hope that the boys & family recover soon.

 

[gmpower]

Very sorry about the sad news.

 

[GNBRETT]

Sorry to hear. Love my cat to. I have yet have to put an animal down and don't look foward to that day.

 

[regal-nut]

Sorry to here. :frown: I will be getting myself prepared too. I have a Siberian Huskey that will turn 13 this april.She is such a da*m good dog. She has been thier for me just to listen. Some people think that i am nuts but these dogs listen well. The avrage live spand for sib's are 12 to 15 years. But i know that it will be very hard to do but no vet will put her down I will do that myself. I have done that in the past with other pets. I do have 4 cats that are 6 months old will be willing to send them to ya! :biggrin: j/K You and your family need to heal.

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

Sorry to hear, Mark, I also have a cat, about 21 or 22, also got him in about '87 or so, and I have threatened to take him to the vets for the last 6 months or so, but just don't have the nerve to do it.
Ty, also sorry to hear about yours. Hope that the boys & family recover soon.

Thanks Gary, Not to Hi JAck Mark but here is a pic we put together of Penny

 

[Rivical]

Tough indeed. Sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. Not easy to face but you did the right thing. I'm not looking forward to it. My old girl(mutt) is getting arthritic, still have a few years to enjoy with her, I hope.

 

[Bent6]

I know the feeling. We had to put down our Golden Retriever we'd had for over 10 years. I've never had to do that before and will never forget the look he gave me while lying on that table at the vet after "the shot". I'm glad my children aren't old enough to be attached yet.

 

[SS_Sean]

She will be waiting for all of you in heaven. God bless all our furry friends.

 

[BadAssGN]

Sorry for your Loss Mark

I have the best cat I have ever had, He is a Huge Domestic Long hair with the best personality you could ever want. he's 5 years old, very playful and great with the kids. and he is very lovable and always laying with us or wanting attention.

Any cat lover that has met him wants to take him home.

It will be a very sad day when he Dies.

I almost lost him with a Kidney infection and Bladder problems, Spent almost $1500 on this cat last year, but he's worth every penny and More.

This is Buster

 

[GOT JCE]

Pets

I am really sorry to hear about the passing of your cat. I have had to bring one of my best friends to the vet to be put down. I grew up with Sammy(a black lab) who was the smartest dog I have ever owned. Also the weirdest. He loved rocks of all things. I remember weekends camping at Candlewood Lake and throwing rocks in water about 4-5 feet deep and watching Sammy disappear under the water and then shooting out with the same rock. He would do backflips when he was waiting for you to throw a snowball, he was an avid squirrel/rabbit/chipmunk chaser,just an all around great dog. Probably the funniest thing he would do is when me and my older brother would pin down my younger brother fill his mouth with cookies and let Sammy at him. That dog would cleaned his mouth out!!!! That dog had a tongue about 10 inches long. We would laugh for days. That became known as the Sammy Treatment. For some reason Joe never ate cookies again. Ah good times. My current dog Ruka is about 11 years old and is an absolute bitch. She hates everyone but me and my wifes father. But I wouldn't trade her for anything.I am preparing for her time but I should have about 5 more good years before she starts going down hill. It's always the evil ones that live the longerst.:biggrin:

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Thanks Gary, Not to Hi JAck Mark but here is a pic we put together of Penny

That's cool. I had Kevin (my engraver) make up a plaque in her honor. Came out pretty nice! Will post a pic of it later. Going to mount it to a patio block and put in the flower garden I have in the backyard when we spread her ashes. Got her cremated, don't think I could handle the burying thing.

Yesterday was pretty tough as it was my son's birthday and he lost it last nite. Thanks for everyone who replied.

 

[87natl]

Been there.

I had a cat I put down myself with a .22. My buddy Mo was looking at me when I pulled ther trigger. Still gives me nightmares and I said I could never do that again. A few years later I had a Sheltie with tumors that had to be put down. I went with my wife to the vet and we sat there with her as she took the injection and passed. I held her head in my hands and looked her in the eyes as she went. THere is just no easy way........

My heart goes out to you and the family. I'm feeling the pain of those past experiences of my own just reading this thread. Animals can be such a big part of your life, and absolutely a member of the family. But if you are an animal lover as I am, with their short life spans, you are destined for some heartache along the way.

It's worth it.

 

[charlief1]

I understand your pain

I've had 1 purebred britiny I got when I was 18 and he had to be put down about 94. My mom took him to the vet for me and told me after the fact. A few years later I got a stray found in a hunting lease. I named her Dog after John Wayne's dog im Big Jake. She was Brindle and tiny. It was beaten, starved and tossed out there. Best dog I've had. After 6 months I found out she had mange and it got so bad I had to put her down. It broke my heart. My current 2 are a riot sometimes. Red is one my landlord had in a pen and when I saw her it was love at first sight. Baby was a stray my boss found when he went to pick up a trailer. She was starved and very scared. I didn't pick her, she picked me. She followed me all day at work and wouldn't let me out of her sight. When I went home she followed me to my car and just stood there. Baby reminds me of Dog just 2X as big.