When do you "call it a day"?

I would like to know various people's views on when one should "call it
a day" when a beloved pet has a very serious illness.

If increasing part of the medication to maximum level will give the
animal good quality of life for a large part of the day though in the
end the side-effects of that large increase in medication will cause
additional complications, do you give the animal that extra good-quality
time and wait until the additional complications set in?

Do you say that it is good that increasing the medication has largely
removed the animal's suffering but while the animal is now in this good
window you should put him to sleep, rather than wait for the next
down-turn?

Or do you say that in spite of the increased medication the animal
remains below par, below normal health, and should therefore be relieved
of life without more ado?

Or what?

We are having a tough time here. One thing is certain. This fine young
cat could have been put to sleep a month ago when it was found he had
"very serious congestive heart failure" but since then, because of the
medication, and increases in his medication, he has enjoyed some very
happy days frolicking around in the sunshine, devouring good food, and
luxuriating in front of the fire.

Eddy.

On Apr 20, 5:50*am, Eddy
wrote:
I would like to know various people's views on when one should "call it
a day" when a beloved pet has a very serious illness.

If increasing part of the medication to maximum level will give the
animal good quality of life for a large part of the day though in the
end the side-effects of that large increase in medication will cause
additional complications, do you give the animal that extra good-quality
time and wait until the additional complications set in?

Do you say that it is good that increasing the medication has largely
removed the animal's suffering but while the animal is now in this good
window you should put him to sleep, rather than wait for the next
down-turn?

Or do you say that in spite of the increased medication the animal
remains below par, below normal health, and should therefore be relieved
of life without more ado?

Or what?

We are having a tough time here. *One thing is certain. *This fine young
cat could have been put to sleep a month ago when it was found he had
"very serious congestive heart failure" but since then, because of the
medication, and increases in his medication, he has enjoyed some very
happy days frolicking around in the sunshine, devouring good food, and
luxuriating in front of the fire.
---------------
In my opinion, you make your decision on the basis of the cat's
quality of life. If medications are keeping him alive but he's
spending his whole day lying in the corner, it's time to call it a
day. OTOH, if the medications are keeping him alive, but he's spending
his day frolicking, it's too soon to call it a day. Even if you know
you may have a downturn in a week or a month. You can always call it a
day when you see the downturn.

I have a cat with very severe heart disease (although he has not
experienced the repeated episodes of fluid-buildup-induced respiratory
distress followed by periods of dehydration that you have described in
your cat). My cat ended up in the animal emergency room on December
30, 2007. His prognosis was grim. He was in respiratory distress,
every chamber of his heart was enlarged, he had leaky valves, blood
clots just asking to form. They drained his chest, prescribed some
medication and gave him "a few months at most." Our regular vet
estimated his remaining lifespan to be "maybe another month."

It's now been nearly a year and a half, and we still have the cat, and
he is still enjoying a really good quality of life, eating well
(thanks to Pepcid), going up and down the stairs, jumping onto (low)
tables, sleeping in my son's bed, etc. When the time comes, we won't
hesitate to call it a day, but that day will come only once. In the
meantime, the cat is happy, and we're appreciating every day we have
him. Every living creature is going to get sick and die someday. You
don't want to hasten that day but neither do you want to prolong the
suffering when it comes. I would say it is time to call it a day if
and when: Your cat is spending much of his day lying in a corner. He
doesn't want to eat (and you're already tried giving him Pepcid - ask
your vet for the proper dose for a cat, and don't use the extra
strength). He stops grooming. He stops using the litter box. He hides.
He's wobbly on his feet. These are all signs that he's had enough. But
if he's happy and frolicking, it's too soon. Take your cue from him.

(BTW, I saw that you wrote in another thread that you're giving your
cat aspirin - I would assume to prevent clots. You might want to think
about using Plavix (clopidogrel) instead. Our cat is taking four or
five different meds for his heart, but I believe it's the Lasix
(furosemide) and the clopidogrel that are responsible for keeping him
alive. The potential for blood clots is huge for cats with heart
disease. The medication is expensive in the USA because we only have
the brand-name available to us, but you can get it generic from a
Canadian pharmacy. I used Canada Pharmacy online. It cost me around
$80 for 100 pills. The cat takes only 1/4 pill per day, so 100 pills
are enough to last for a year and a half. In the USA, it costs $135
for 30 pills at CVS or Rite Aid.)
Good luck to you and your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

cindys wrote:

On Apr 20, 5:50 am, Eddy
wrote:
---------------
In my opinion, you make your decision on the basis of the cat's
quality of life. If medications are keeping him alive but he's
spending his whole day lying in the corner, it's time to call it a
day. OTOH, if the medications are keeping him alive, but he's spending
his day frolicking, it's too soon to call it a day. Even if you know
you may have a downturn in a week or a month. You can always call it a
day when you see the downturn.

I have a cat with very severe heart disease (although he has not
experienced the repeated episodes of fluid-buildup-induced respiratory
distress followed by periods of dehydration that you have described in
your cat). My cat ended up in the animal emergency room on December
30, 2007. His prognosis was grim. He was in respiratory distress,
every chamber of his heart was enlarged, he had leaky valves, blood
clots just asking to form. They drained his chest, prescribed some
medication and gave him "a few months at most." Our regular vet
estimated his remaining lifespan to be "maybe another month."

It's now been nearly a year and a half, and we still have the cat, and
he is still enjoying a really good quality of life, eating well
(thanks to Pepcid), going up and down the stairs, jumping onto (low)
tables, sleeping in my son's bed, etc. When the time comes, we won't
hesitate to call it a day, but that day will come only once. In the
meantime, the cat is happy, and we're appreciating every day we have
him. Every living creature is going to get sick and die someday. You
don't want to hasten that day but neither do you want to prolong the
suffering when it comes. I would say it is time to call it a day if
and when: Your cat is spending much of his day lying in a corner. He
doesn't want to eat (and you're already tried giving him Pepcid - ask
your vet for the proper dose for a cat, and don't use the extra
strength). He stops grooming. He stops using the litter box. He hides.
He's wobbly on his feet. These are all signs that he's had enough. But
if he's happy and frolicking, it's too soon. Take your cue from him.

(BTW, I saw that you wrote in another thread that you're giving your
cat aspirin - I would assume to prevent clots. You might want to think
about using Plavix (clopidogrel) instead. Our cat is taking four or
five different meds for his heart, but I believe it's the Lasix
(furosemide) and the clopidogrel that are responsible for keeping him
alive. The potential for blood clots is huge for cats with heart
disease. The medication is expensive in the USA because we only have
the brand-name available to us, but you can get it generic from a
Canadian pharmacy. I used Canada Pharmacy online. It cost me around
$80 for 100 pills. The cat takes only 1/4 pill per day, so 100 pills
are enough to last for a year and a half. In the USA, it costs $135
for 30 pills at CVS or Rite Aid.)
Good luck to you and your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Cindy, it is great to receive direct personal advice from someone else
with a cat with much the same serious conditions as ours. Thanks so
much. I'm printing out your (and Stan's) advice to keep by us during
these difficult up-and-down days.

Many thanks.

Eddy.

On Apr 20, 10:33*am, Eddy
wrote:
cindys wrote:
On Apr 20, 5:50 am, Eddy
wrote:
---------------
In my opinion, you make your decision on the basis of the cat's
quality of life. If medications are keeping him alive but he's
spending his whole day lying in the corner, it's time to call it a
day. OTOH, if the medications are keeping him alive, but he's spending
his day frolicking, it's too soon to call it a day. Even if you know
you may have a downturn in a week or a month. You can always call it a
day when you see the downturn.

I have a cat with very severe heart disease (although he has not
experienced the repeated episodes of fluid-buildup-induced respiratory
distress followed by periods of dehydration that you have described in
your cat). My cat ended up in the animal emergency room on December
30, 2007. His prognosis was grim. He was in respiratory distress,
every chamber of his heart was enlarged, he had leaky valves, blood
clots just asking to form. They drained his chest, prescribed some
medication and gave him "a few months at most." Our regular vet
estimated his remaining lifespan to be "maybe another month."

It's now been nearly a year and a half, and we still have the cat, and
he is still enjoying a really good quality of life, eating well
(thanks to Pepcid), going up and down the stairs, jumping onto (low)
tables, sleeping in my son's bed, etc. When the time comes, we won't
hesitate to call it a day, but that day will come only once. In the
meantime, the cat is happy, and we're appreciating every day we have
him. Every living creature is going to get sick and die someday. You
don't want to hasten that day but neither do you want to prolong the
suffering when it comes. I would say it is time to call it a day if
and when: Your cat is spending much of his day lying in a corner. He
doesn't want to eat (and you're already tried giving him Pepcid - ask
your vet for the proper dose for a cat, and don't use the extra
strength). He stops grooming. He stops using the litter box. He hides.
He's wobbly on his feet. These are all signs that he's had enough. But
if he's happy and frolicking, it's too soon. Take your cue from him.

(BTW, I saw that you wrote in another thread that you're giving your
cat aspirin - I would assume to prevent clots. You might want to think
about using Plavix (clopidogrel) instead. Our cat is taking four or
five different meds for his heart, but I believe it's the Lasix
(furosemide) and the clopidogrel that are responsible for keeping him
alive. The potential for blood clots is huge for cats with heart
disease. The medication is expensive in the USA because we only have
the brand-name available to us, but you can get it generic from a
Canadian pharmacy. I used Canada Pharmacy online. It cost me around
$80 for 100 pills. The cat takes only 1/4 pill per day, so 100 pills
are enough to last for a year and a half. In the USA, it costs $135
for 30 pills at CVS or Rite Aid.)
Good luck to you and your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Cindy, it is great to receive direct personal advice from someone else
with a cat with much the same serious conditions as ours. *Thanks so
much. *I'm printing out your (and Stan's) advice to keep by us during
these difficult up-and-down days.

Many thanks.
----------
I wish you all the best. And when the sad time comes, please remember
that your cat is not thinking "I can't believe he's doing this to me.
I had a lot of loose ends to clear up. I could have been around
another two weeks!" Cats live for the here and now. I was reading
somewhere that animals have only one bad day their entire lives
(obviously, this isn't exactly true, but I think you get the point).
When you need to euthanize a beloved animal, it's hard not to feel
that you have somehow betrayed your friend because no matter when you
do it, it's normal to feel self-doubt. In your mind, you will feel
that you either did it too soon or that you waited too long. Just
remember: In the end, this really is all about the person because the
kitty really doesn't know the difference. So, as long as your kitty is
happy and frolicking, enjoy each other. And when the time does come to
call it a day, try not to judge yourself too harshly.
I wish you many more happy days with your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

cindys wrote:
----------
I wish you all the best. And when the sad time comes, please remember
that your cat is not thinking "I can't believe he's doing this to me.
I had a lot of loose ends to clear up. I could have been around
another two weeks!" Cats live for the here and now. I was reading
somewhere that animals have only one bad day their entire lives
(obviously, this isn't exactly true, but I think you get the point).
When you need to euthanize a beloved animal, it's hard not to feel
that you have somehow betrayed your friend because no matter when you
do it, it's normal to feel self-doubt. In your mind, you will feel
that you either did it too soon or that you waited too long. Just
remember: In the end, this really is all about the person because the
kitty really doesn't know the difference. So, as long as your kitty is
happy and frolicking, enjoy each other. And when the time does come to
call it a day, try not to judge yourself too harshly.
I wish you many more happy days with your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Cindy, VERY helpful and sound counsel. Thank you so much. We shall
print this out too and keep it in front of us.

(He's had another fantastic day in today's wonderful warm weather and is
currently sleeping with reasonably shallow breathing. Spoke to the vet
and the double dose of furosemide we have been giving him daily since
Saturday is going to be replaced by a daily dose of 20mgs furosemide and
20mgs of some other diuretic which won't drain him of potassium. Thanks
to PhilP for bringing up the potassium factor.)

Eddy.

Hello. Three months ago I asked in this group when people thought it
was time to "call it a day" with regard to a very ill pet and putting
him/her to sleep. Some people were extremely helpful, most particularly
CindyS, and in the end the advice proved to be very helpful. When the
time came, we knew.

Out extraordinary little cat is no more. We have both cried and cried.
Two days before he was put to sleep he was so alive and active that he
had brought in a baby rabbit. And even the day before he died there was
a wild commotion and cries in the hedge with a pheasant then fleeing
into the field opposite: the cat with the tragic heart condition then
being discovered looking gleeful and victorious beside the point of
exit! So, right up until the day when he suddenly went right downhill,
he had had about four months of great quality life - all due to his
four-meds-a-day routine. It was very demanding cutting up the tablets
accurately and administering them to him twice a day and at exactly the
right time, and of course we had had to indulged in all sorts of
subterfuges with pate, yoghourt, and tuna to get the meds down his
throat. But every further day of health made it worthwhile.

On the morning of the day of his passing however he didn't come eagerly
for his breakfast. He moved from the porch window through to the
kitchen in three segments, each at my repeated urging. Then as the
morning went on we saw he was in difficulty. By lunchtime we had
noticed that he could not even lie down: he would rapidly get up again
and crouch, bewildered, his mouth open to maximise intake of air. I
discussed it all on the phone with the vet and the options were either
to transport him up hill and down dale to be hospitalised for a second
shaving and operation to drain his lung cavities, or let him go quickly,
in peace. The first option would have been too traumatic for him in the
state he was in and clearly the treatment he has been on, the only
treatment there is, cannot provide permanent relief. The vet came
quickly once I had rung a third time. He seemed very professional. We
didn't know him. Unfortunately the vet who had been caring for the cat
was off duty on the day in question. By the time the vet arrived the
cat had become so desperate he had leapt up onto my desk to look at me
and plead for assistance, just as he had leapt up onto the mantelpiece
at Christmas to gaze down upon me and beg for help. He just knew that
somehow I help. He didn't know how, but there was such trust there. We
brought the vet up to my study and he sat at my desk, took the cat in
his arms, petted him a little, and then proceeded to give him the
injections.

Now I wish to broach the reason for sharing this experience with you. I
need information from people who are familiar with putting cats to
sleep.

The beloved cat has been treated with respect and dignity since it was a
kitten. He was only four and a half years old. He behaved towards us
like a loving child. He would never attack us, scratch us, hiss at us,
or anything like that. In hindsight I wish I told the vet this before
bringing him into the room, but as it was we were in such an emotional
state and we just assumed that the vet would treat our "child" with the
same care and love that we have.

The vet sat in my chair, placed two syringes and a stethoscope on the
desktop, took the cat in his arms and pressed him down so that the cat's
head was in the crook of his left arm. The cat looked comfortable and,
of course, in spite of his great difficulty with breathing he was
looking at me with some alarm. (Who on earth was this stranger?)

Holding the cat on his lap with his left arm, with his right hand the
vet picked up one of the syringes and pushed it into the scruff of the
cat's neck. This was done quickly and with a degree of force. The cat,
on death's door all morning, immediately became extremely alarmed, his
eyes dilated with fear, and he pushed himself upwards and sought to
escape. The vet put down the syringe and then used his right hand to
grab the cat by the scruff of the neck and hold him up for about five
seconds, getting control of him. We were freaked out by this. It was
totally unexpected but we assumed, in the moment, the vet knew what he
was doing. But it did seem unnecessary, to us at least. He then
lowered the cat down, back into the previous position, saying it would
take five minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect. As he lowered the
cat back down into the crook of his left arm, the cat began harkling and
fighting at its throat with its two front paws. The cat was so clearly
distressed. I felt like I had utterly betrayed him. Throughout this
whole sequence of events the vet was so cool and professional, talking
quietly, and in control. Within 15 seconds or so the cat stopped
physically resisting. In hindsight I think that maybe although it
looked like the cat was being cradled in the vet's left arm he was
actually being quite forcefully held.

After five minutes the cat was truly immobile. His eyes were wide and
open and he seemed to be looking at me, kneeling on the floor looking
into his face and stroking his head, but the vet said he was "under".
The vet then took the second syringe and pushed it into the same area,
the scruff of the neck, as before. It was then just a matter of waiting
for the heart to stop beating. During this period, the vet stroked the
animal but I couldn't help noticing he was looking around my study,
noting things, like the pictures on the walls and so on. At one point
he remarked on one of my books and said he had read it as a youngster.
With tears streaming out of my eyes I wasn't about to start yabbering on
about some book so I didn't develop that conversation.

After another five minutes the vet said he believed the heart had
stopped beating. He then took his stethoscope, listened, and confirmed
that the creature had passed on. We then laid him gently on a plastic
bag in case any fluids etc should escape from him. We briefly discussed
how deep down we need to dig before burying him and arrangements as to
paying the bill, and then the vet left.

This happened about two weeks ago. Since then we have been wondering
occasionally about the manner in which the cat was relieved of his
suffering. As I said above, we didn't know the vet at all, but we have
come to understand that ordinarily, in this farming area, he deals with
large animals, livestock, horses, and so on, possibly including dogs.
We understand the vet who had been caring for our cat all along deals
with "small animals". In hindsight we wonder if the vet put our cat to
sleep as if he were a sheep or a calf, rather than a cat that was a
gentle as a child - as opposed to a feral cat.

We wonder if the "small animal" vet might have used an entirely
different approach. Might she have been more gentle? Might she have
shaved him a little first in order to find a vein and then ensure that
the anaesthetic circulated intravenously, so that the cat might simply
have drifted off like human beings do when they are put under general
anaesthetic in a hospital situation?

On the other hand, our cat had serious cardiomyopathy which was causing
a serious breathing problem, since fluid had clearly once again built up
around his lungs and impeded his breathing capacity. Maybe such a heart
and such a pair of lung react to anaesthetic with alarm and violence?
Maybe the vet's manner of administering the anaesthetic was perfectly
normal in the circumstances?

We would be so grateful for people's thoughts. We have thought about
seeking to have a private word with the "small animals" vet who had
cared for our cat for so long, but the problem is that she is not likely
to indict the other vet, who is her employer. Furthermore, we realise
we could cause strain between the two of them.

Obviously it would be easy to damn the vet's behaviour and say he was
out of line and claim that the cat should have felt no more pain or
alarm that what he was already feeling prior to the vet's arrival.
However, we realise that quite possibly in the circumstances the vet
handled the procedure as well as anyone could.

Thank you.

Eddy.


cindys wrote:
In my opinion, you make your decision on the basis of the cat's
quality of life. If medications are keeping him alive but he's
spending his whole day lying in the corner, it's time to call it a
day. OTOH, if the medications are keeping him alive, but he's spending
his day frolicking, it's too soon to call it a day. Even if you know
you may have a downturn in a week or a month. You can always call it a
day when you see the downturn.

I have a cat with very severe heart disease (although he has not
experienced the repeated episodes of fluid-buildup-induced respiratory
distress followed by periods of dehydration that you have described in
your cat). My cat ended up in the animal emergency room on December
30, 2007. His prognosis was grim. He was in respiratory distress,
every chamber of his heart was enlarged, he had leaky valves, blood
clots just asking to form. They drained his chest, prescribed some
medication and gave him "a few months at most." Our regular vet
estimated his remaining lifespan to be "maybe another month."

It's now been nearly a year and a half, and we still have the cat, and
he is still enjoying a really good quality of life, eating well
(thanks to Pepcid), going up and down the stairs, jumping onto (low)
tables, sleeping in my son's bed, etc. When the time comes, we won't
hesitate to call it a day, but that day will come only once. In the
meantime, the cat is happy, and we're appreciating every day we have
him. Every living creature is going to get sick and die someday. You
don't want to hasten that day but neither do you want to prolong the
suffering when it comes. I would say it is time to call it a day if
and when: Your cat is spending much of his day lying in a corner. He
doesn't want to eat (and you're already tried giving him Pepcid - ask
your vet for the proper dose for a cat, and don't use the extra
strength). He stops grooming. He stops using the litter box. He hides.
He's wobbly on his feet. These are all signs that he's had enough. But
if he's happy and frolicking, it's too soon. Take your cue from him.

(BTW, I saw that you wrote in another thread that you're giving your
cat aspirin - I would assume to prevent clots. You might want to think
about using Plavix (clopidogrel) instead. Our cat is taking four or
five different meds for his heart, but I believe it's the Lasix
(furosemide) and the clopidogrel that are responsible for keeping him
alive. The potential for blood clots is huge for cats with heart
disease. The medication is expensive in the USA because we only have
the brand-name available to us, but you can get it generic from a
Canadian pharmacy. I used Canada Pharmacy online. It cost me around
$80 for 100 pills. The cat takes only 1/4 pill per day, so 100 pills
are enough to last for a year and a half. In the USA, it costs $135
for 30 pills at CVS or Rite Aid.)
Good luck to you and your kitty.
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

"Eddy" wrote in message
...
Hello. Three months ago I asked in this group when people thought it
was time to "call it a day" with regard to a very ill pet and putting
him/her to sleep. Some people were extremely helpful, most particularly
CindyS, and in the end the advice proved to be very helpful. When the
time came, we knew.

Out extraordinary little cat is no more. We have both cried and cried.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and I can tell your cat had the best care. Bless
you. I'm sorry the end was hard. I think having a compassionate vet is
important, more for the human's good than the cat's even. We have had two
cats "put to sleep." In both cases there were two shots. In both cases the
vets were very kind. One of our cats, though she was suffering terribly, was
very strong and had to be given extra stuff in order to pass, and that was
terrible, but I would not say she suffered, just that her body rightly
protested the process. (It was in keeping with her personality, she fought
everything she didn't like, including reflections in ceramic mugs and such
.... ) I think it may be different with each cat.

The most important thing is, you were in a position to save your cat
suffering, and you were strong enough to do it. Where he is, he understands
now, and loves you for it. That's what I believe, anyway. Still and all,
what you did has to be the hardest thing we ever have to do for a loved one.

cybercat wrote:
One of our cats, though she was suffering terribly, was
very strong and had to be given extra stuff in order to pass, and that was
terrible, but I would not say she suffered, just that her body rightly
protested the process. (It was in keeping with her personality, she fought
everything she didn't like, including reflections in ceramic mugs and such
.... ) I think it may be different with each cat.

Thanks for this, Cybercat. We haven't considered that maybe it was just
a natural self-preserving instinctive reaction that our cat had. But
even if it was, I'm now wondering if a good vet can accommodate that and
give the first injection in such a way that the animal doesn't freak
out.

Anyway, I appreciate your kind words, Cybercat. Yes, I know we did all
we humanly could . . . except maybe talk to the vet first and make him
understand that our cat was the gentlest and most agreeable creature.
We have a friend who was so distraught when his cat needed to put to
sleep that he tells me he just handed the animal over to the vet and
then left and ran in floods of tears. He doesn't know what kind of end
the animal came to. Better to see it happen, I think.

Thanks again.
Eddy.

"Eddy" wrote in message
...
cybercat wrote:
One of our cats, though she was suffering terribly, was
very strong and had to be given extra stuff in order to pass, and that
was
terrible, but I would not say she suffered, just that her body rightly
protested the process. (It was in keeping with her personality, she
fought
everything she didn't like, including reflections in ceramic mugs and
such
.... ) I think it may be different with each cat.

Thanks for this, Cybercat. We haven't considered that maybe it was just
a natural self-preserving instinctive reaction that our cat had. But
even if it was, I'm now wondering if a good vet can accommodate that and
give the first injection in such a way that the animal doesn't freak
out.

Anyway, I appreciate your kind words, Cybercat. Yes, I know we did all
we humanly could . . . except maybe talk to the vet first and make him
understand that our cat was the gentlest and most agreeable creature.
We have a friend who was so distraught when his cat needed to put to
sleep that he tells me he just handed the animal over to the vet and
then left and ran in floods of tears. He doesn't know what kind of end
the animal came to. Better to see it happen, I think.

Thanks again.
Eddy.

I have never had to put a cat to sleep but did my "heart dog" I held her as
the vet shaved her paw and did what he had to. There was no trying to get
away of such. I KNOW two of my cats would fight like hell if it came to it.
They don't like strangers touching them.

In the end, your cat trusted you to do your best by him and you did. Please
don't punish yourself in second guessing things. I am sure every cat reacts
differently.

Eddy wrote:
Hello. Three months ago I asked in this group when people thought it
was time to "call it a day" with regard to a very ill pet and putting
him/her to sleep. Some people were extremely helpful, most particularly
CindyS, and in the end the advice proved to be very helpful. When the
time came, we knew.

Out extraordinary little cat is no more. We have both cried and cried.
Two days before he was put to sleep he was so alive and active that he
had brought in a baby rabbit. And even the day before he died there was
a wild commotion and cries in the hedge with a pheasant then fleeing
into the field opposite: the cat with the tragic heart condition then
being discovered looking gleeful and victorious beside the point of
exit! So, right up until the day when he suddenly went right downhill,
he had had about four months of great quality life - all due to his
four-meds-a-day routine. It was very demanding cutting up the tablets
accurately and administering them to him twice a day and at exactly the
right time, and of course we had had to indulged in all sorts of
subterfuges with pate, yoghourt, and tuna to get the meds down his
throat. But every further day of health made it worthwhile.

On the morning of the day of his passing however he didn't come eagerly
for his breakfast. He moved from the porch window through to the
kitchen in three segments, each at my repeated urging. Then as the
morning went on we saw he was in difficulty. By lunchtime we had
noticed that he could not even lie down: he would rapidly get up again
and crouch, bewildered, his mouth open to maximise intake of air. I
discussed it all on the phone with the vet and the options were either
to transport him up hill and down dale to be hospitalised for a second
shaving and operation to drain his lung cavities, or let him go quickly,
in peace. The first option would have been too traumatic for him in the
state he was in and clearly the treatment he has been on, the only
treatment there is, cannot provide permanent relief. The vet came
quickly once I had rung a third time. He seemed very professional. We
didn't know him. Unfortunately the vet who had been caring for the cat
was off duty on the day in question. By the time the vet arrived the
cat had become so desperate he had leapt up onto my desk to look at me
and plead for assistance, just as he had leapt up onto the mantelpiece
at Christmas to gaze down upon me and beg for help. He just knew that
somehow I help. He didn't know how, but there was such trust there. We
brought the vet up to my study and he sat at my desk, took the cat in
his arms, petted him a little, and then proceeded to give him the
injections.

Now I wish to broach the reason for sharing this experience with you. I
need information from people who are familiar with putting cats to
sleep.

The beloved cat has been treated with respect and dignity since it was a
kitten. He was only four and a half years old. He behaved towards us
like a loving child. He would never attack us, scratch us, hiss at us,
or anything like that. In hindsight I wish I told the vet this before
bringing him into the room, but as it was we were in such an emotional
state and we just assumed that the vet would treat our "child" with the
same care and love that we have.

The vet sat in my chair, placed two syringes and a stethoscope on the
desktop, took the cat in his arms and pressed him down so that the cat's
head was in the crook of his left arm. The cat looked comfortable and,
of course, in spite of his great difficulty with breathing he was
looking at me with some alarm. (Who on earth was this stranger?)

Holding the cat on his lap with his left arm, with his right hand the
vet picked up one of the syringes and pushed it into the scruff of the
cat's neck. This was done quickly and with a degree of force. The cat,
on death's door all morning, immediately became extremely alarmed, his
eyes dilated with fear, and he pushed himself upwards and sought to
escape. The vet put down the syringe and then used his right hand to
grab the cat by the scruff of the neck and hold him up for about five
seconds, getting control of him. We were freaked out by this. It was
totally unexpected but we assumed, in the moment, the vet knew what he
was doing. But it did seem unnecessary, to us at least. He then
lowered the cat down, back into the previous position, saying it would
take five minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect. As he lowered the
cat back down into the crook of his left arm, the cat began harkling and
fighting at its throat with its two front paws. The cat was so clearly
distressed. I felt like I had utterly betrayed him. Throughout this
whole sequence of events the vet was so cool and professional, talking
quietly, and in control. Within 15 seconds or so the cat stopped
physically resisting. In hindsight I think that maybe although it
looked like the cat was being cradled in the vet's left arm he was
actually being quite forcefully held.

After five minutes the cat was truly immobile. His eyes were wide and
open and he seemed to be looking at me, kneeling on the floor looking
into his face and stroking his head, but the vet said he was "under".
The vet then took the second syringe and pushed it into the same area,
the scruff of the neck, as before. It was then just a matter of waiting
for the heart to stop beating. During this period, the vet stroked the
animal but I couldn't help noticing he was looking around my study,
noting things, like the pictures on the walls and so on. At one point
he remarked on one of my books and said he had read it as a youngster.
With tears streaming out of my eyes I wasn't about to start yabbering on
about some book so I didn't develop that conversation.

After another five minutes the vet said he believed the heart had
stopped beating. He then took his stethoscope, listened, and confirmed
that the creature had passed on. We then laid him gently on a plastic
bag in case any fluids etc should escape from him. We briefly discussed
how deep down we need to dig before burying him and arrangements as to
paying the bill, and then the vet left.

This happened about two weeks ago. Since then we have been wondering
occasionally about the manner in which the cat was relieved of his
suffering. As I said above, we didn't know the vet at all, but we have
come to understand that ordinarily, in this farming area, he deals with
large animals, livestock, horses, and so on, possibly including dogs.
We understand the vet who had been caring for our cat all along deals
with "small animals". In hindsight we wonder if the vet put our cat to
sleep as if he were a sheep or a calf, rather than a cat that was a
gentle as a child - as opposed to a feral cat.

We wonder if the "small animal" vet might have used an entirely
different approach. Might she have been more gentle? Might she have
shaved him a little first in order to find a vein and then ensure that
the anaesthetic circulated intravenously, so that the cat might simply
have drifted off like human beings do when they are put under general
anaesthetic in a hospital situation?

On the other hand, our cat had serious cardiomyopathy which was causing
a serious breathing problem, since fluid had clearly once again built up
around his lungs and impeded his breathing capacity. Maybe such a heart
and such a pair of lung react to anaesthetic with alarm and violence?
Maybe the vet's manner of administering the anaesthetic was perfectly
normal in the circumstances?

We would be so grateful for people's thoughts. We have thought about
seeking to have a private word with the "small animals" vet who had
cared for our cat for so long, but the problem is that she is not likely
to indict the other vet, who is her employer. Furthermore, we realise
we could cause strain between the two of them.

Obviously it would be easy to damn the vet's behaviour and say he was
out of line and claim that the cat should have felt no more pain or
alarm that what he was already feeling prior to the vet's arrival.
However, we realise that quite possibly in the circumstances the vet
handled the procedure as well as anyone could.

Thank you.

Eddy.


Hi Eddy,

First off, my condolences on your beloved cat.

I can't really answer your question, but I did have several thoughts
come to mind.

First off, you may be right about the vet being used to larger animals.
I used to live in a farming community and came to understand that
there was a difference between the big animal and little animal vets.

Secondly, putting an animal down is probably never a welcome chore for
the vet, and although he seemed aloof, this may have been his way of
coping. While not exactly the same situation, I used to work in a
hospital, and many times I had to distance myself from the situation in
order to do my job. If I'd allowed my emotions to take over, I'd have
been useless.

Thirdly, your cat may have just been struggling against the presence of
a stranger and be handled by said stranger. And/or even if the
medication didn't directly cause your cat distress, it still might have
made him feel weird, and he may have been reacting out of fear instead
of pain.

In any case, I am sorry for your loss. I hope your sorrow soon gives
way to sweet memories.

Michelle