I had to put my cat to sleep today.

Wow. I've had my cat for 16 years now. It was hard to let go of him, and I feel so wrong now. I've been through a hell of a lot in 16 years, and it seems like he's been there to watch it all happen...He was having really bad arthritis, and kidney or liver failure, so I know it was the right thing to do to put him down. I'll miss him!

reply to post by eliw777


Sorry to hear about your cat. It's never easy to put down our pets because they become part of the family, and sometimes we have better relationships with our pets than we do with other people. We just had to put down our dog a couple of weeks ago. She would have been 12 this March. We think she had a stroke and her health was just deteriorating.

As long as you have good memories about him, he'll always be there.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Our pets are part of our family and the loss is devestating. Sending prayers and good wishes your way.

I'm very sorry....I know exactly how you feel having had to put my own cat down 2 years ago after a long downward spiral. For a year I was giving her fluid through an iv every other day which kept her alive well after she would have died without it. It came to a point that it was abusive to keep her alive. We had to let her go as God intended. Very dark day in my life.....A year after I had to do the same with my precious dog which broke my heart, permanently I think.

Stay strong and know that you did the right thing...

eliw777, tonite I am suffering the same as you; grieving, having to put my precious little mutt to sleep last week.

Bless our hearts

reply to post by eliw777


I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

Putting a beloved pet to sleep is a very emotional experience. I'll have to deal with it again in a few years, I'm afraid. I'm going to try to remember that the 16+ years of joy and love that she has given me outweighs the pain of saying goodbye.

Oh gosh, now I'm all teary-eyed. I can't even think about it without getting upset.

I turn to mush when I think of any cat in any pain. I am so very sorry for your loss.

I have two of my own, and I'd be crushed to think of losing one of them. It was only a few weeks ago I asked my girlfriend if we would be able to keep the two of them when we have a child, and the response I got was without hesitation. Apparently I'm going before either of the cats are, so we're all in it for the long haul. We were forced to make a tough decision and get them declawed, which I hated to do. But I would be beside myself if my child had an eye scratched or something silly, because of my cats. I love them dearly, but a child is a child.

Watching them in pain for a day was almost unbearable in and of itself.

Was he your only cat?

Awww I am so very sorry for your loss eliw *hugs*
I can't imagine how hurt you must be but try take some comfort in the fact that you had 16 long, fulfilling years of having the best friend you can have in your life.
You did what was necessary for him, it can be the hardest thing we ever have to do but he is at peace now and no longer suffering.

Sending prayers your way.