Im not sad that my cat died but im sad that he had to be put to sleep

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4 Comments

Of course, I miss him horribly, but he was old, and I knew he had to die sometime. He was in the end stages of kidney failure. I wished he would just die naturally and painlessly, but the vets said this is unlikely. I feel horrible about him being taken in to the vet to be put down (just yesterday), because he seemed so scared. He could barely stand up but he was squirming in my arms, and even meowed at the receptionist, and clawed at the vet tech who looked inside his mouth. Other than that, he just lying on his side, with his head in my hand. I feel so horrible, because he didn't know what was coming. He probably just thinks, why do you always have to take me to this horrible place (the vet) when i feel so bad already. So his last moments were fearful. I comforted him, but he died with his eyes open. I know, they say that's normal, but i think if i was petting him as he likes he would've closed them and died that way... I was petting him, but paused when the second injection came, because i didn't know it was the final one, and wanted to give the vet room. I didn't know he would die that fast. Then seeing his lifeless body, it's horrible. I'm not religious so I don't find comfort in imagining the after life... I wish heaven was real just so my cat could go there...
is it normal I'm relieved that he is no longer suffering, but I feel horrible that he had to die unnaturally in the vets office?
People keep telling me "you did the right thing" etc., but I don't care, i want to know how my cat felt about it... I appreciate people are just being nice by saying those things, but it doesn't stop my worry...

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92% Normal
Based on 52 votes (48 yes)
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Comments ( 4 )
  • dietcoke
    10 years ago

    i cried when reading your post... what a horrible thing to go through! Bless you, dear. Perhaps think it this way, your cat was loved and cared by you when he was alive. He has also accomplished the mission of being a company for you. So, he must have had a fortunate life among many other cats! :)

    (I have a cat too and he's still young. I can't imagine how I will react when that day comes. I hope it will never come!)

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  • kittycatrelle
    8 years ago

    Picture it....new years eve 2007. I was roomating in Brooklyn and my roommate had a 19 year old cat. I remember that night I got dressed for the party. I would stop every so often and hug him. He was a gentle soul and I remember him rubbing my leg.

    Basically in cat, he was telling me not to go.

    I came home days later, a new year 2008. What a life defining year it was to be. My zest over took me and I started cleaning
    I kept thinking ,"Man what is taking him so long to come out? To say hello?". Me and the cat were tight.

    Then my roommate came out and told me her dad had him put down.

    I said OK. I went into the bathroom and cried.

    I've never cried so hard since.

    Wirh out the Shakespearean eloquence I mean to say a life lived and loved is never forgotten.

    Never.

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  • college
    10 years ago

    I've had a pet die naturally. I was wracked with guilt because I thought that he suffered more than he had to. We took him to the vet many times trying to help him, but nothing worked and sometimes I think it'd been better to just let him go. All I'm saying is it's difficult either way. You're going to feel guilty, sad, angry, devastated, etc. and that's perfectly normal, nothing anyone says will changed that. Though I'm sure you've heard it many times, and I know it's annoying to hear again, you gotta give it time.

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  • Couman
    10 years ago

    I'm certainly not saying you did the wrong thing, because you were following medical advice and it may in fact have caused the least total suffering.

    But based on my own expedience with dying pets (cats in particular, I have less idea about dogs), I wouldn't choose it unless the animal was obviously in acute distress.

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