claudia's Journal: Bye, my sweet kitten

I've always grown up with pets --- mainly cats. We had one pedigree dog who was rambunctious and led us on thirst-inducing chases through the Nevada desert.

Cats, however, don't need to go through that effort. They just sit there and expect that you will love them.

One night, some friends and I came back to my apartment and the Queen of Cats (Xantha) sat there just like the lovable, enticing Queen she was, deigning to chat with us! She did! She loved everyone. Even people that didn't like cats loved her. We were all adoring and chatting with her when she suddenly keeled over. It was either a stroke or heart attack. We ran to the vet immediately but there was nothing they could do for her, as she had already passed.

Now, today, I've actively decided to put one of my cats down. I've never done that before. His name is Rasputin. He's 16. Tomorrow at 3 pm. How did I know? I gave him some catnip -- his favorite thing in the world. He just sat there, his eyes glazed over and told me he didn't have the effort. Yes, he hasn't been feeling well lately and I don't like keeping him in further pain.

I've never done this before, but he definitely deserves a eulogy.

Pets have always died naturally in my world. When do you put someone out of their pain? Yes, I include pets in the "someone" realm.

Bye, sweet cat.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Sorry

[MousePotato]

I had a cat that lived to be 17. When I had to have him put down because his liver gave up one day it was one of the toughest things I ever had to do. So many memories growing up with him. I couldn't belive how much emotion came out of me when the time came. My condolences to you and your cat. Spend tonite with him and love him much.

Re:Sorry

[Cyberdyne]

I had a cat that lived to be 17. When I had to have him put down because his liver gave up one day it was one of the toughest things I ever had to do. So many memories growing up with him. I couldn't belive how much emotion came out of me when the time came. My condolences to you and your cat. Spend tonite with him and love him much.

Mine had to be put down last November (a stroke, and a liver tumor causing liver failure). Having lived with him for 15 years, losing him was a huge blow. A few weeks later, we

Raz

[sulli]

I've known Raz for almost a year now and have known him to be very sweet, if a bit grumpy. (I would be too at that age!) He's been a darling friend to claudia, always playing with her and curling up at the foot of her bed. As he got to know me he became quite friendly towards me as well, even as I could tell that he was in pain and very tired in recent weeks.

You'll be missed, Raz.

had to kill mine yesterday

[memfree]

I'm not happy about it. I'm especially guilty because it was a selfish act on my part -- not a compassionate act like yours. You are in a situation where it is truly for the best. I firmly believe that when recovery is impossible, a quick death is far more humane than being forced to continue a life of pain and misery.

I should explain. First, mine isn't dead yet, just at the SPCA, but I expect the worst. I'd 'saved' this cat from ending up at there a few years ago, but could not re-train him from 'mess

Re:had to kill mine yesterday

[claudia]

Wow, memfree. I know exactly what that is like. I once adopted a cat from the SPCA, but the cat peed everywhere -- including on my roommate's bed. It was horrible to have to bring him back. There was nothing medically wrong with him, but certainly something psychological. I still cringe whenever I think about what might have happened to him.

I also told myself shortly thereafter that I'd quit adopting old cats because that was such a painful thing to do.

Hah! Some promise. I can't stop. All I do know is tha

Re:had to kill mine yesterday

[memfree]

I still feel like an evil human being, but it is nice to hear that someone knows what it is like to deal with cat messes.

The whole 4-legged crew is stressed out about missing one of their clan/pack, so I'm thinking of getting another cat, myself ... but I'm not ready for that right now. And yeah, if/when I do, it'll be another shelter-rescue.

You've got my best wishes for you and yours.

My cats

[MonTemplar]

Both deceased. Minou died aged 12 - she caught and ate a bird, and we think something stuck in her gullet or somesuch. She died as she lived, already on the lookout for an unwary bird. Miciha died a few years ago, aged 16. She stopped eating and became slow and weak. When she went and hid under the stairs, we knew that she knew her end was near. The vet diagnosed a tumour growing in her stomach, and we had her put to sleep so that she wouldn't suffer anymore.

Unfortunately, pets don't last forever, and it c

Meet Garfield,

[andr0meda]

The true inverse of his cartoon alter-ego. Being a wild kittin when I found him near the railway, this cat has either been up in the curtains, or out in the garden. He had so much energy that he soon took up the fight with the big fat cat of the neighbours, who reigned with an absurd and ultra extremist territorial despotism over the gardens behind our houses. Eventually, Garfield, being brave and impulsive the young cat that he is, first set out to conquer the tree (which succeeded, however, untill toda

Sorry for your Loss

[Saige]

Sorry to hear about this, but you did make the right decision. Keeping an animal alive at a point when the animal is clearly unhappy or in pain is a selfish action, done to delay our pain and feelings of loss.

I grew up with various companion animals, and had to deal with them being put to sleep when their health detoriated. One male red-point siamese cat, loving and sweet and friendly beyond words, whose body just began to fail, and he stopped eating, getting more and more emaciated, and stoppped doing m