Mercy killing a cat, was i wrong?

There is a park that I go to jog the path regularly and bordering the southern part of the trail is a road that sees regular traffic. I was jogging in that park one morning and by my 3rd lap around, my IPod ran out of batteries so I put it into my car and continued the jog. On my 4th lap, while near the road, I heard a noise but ignored it. By the 5th, I heard it again, so I neared the road to get a closer look and I saw the cat.

Obviously, it had been hit by a car or two. The injuries were sickening. I worked for the Chicago medical examiner's office in the early '90s and I have seen my fair share of gore and this cat easily makes my Top 10. No amount of medical intervention would have saved that cat's life. The cat was miserable and was barely aware of my presence, every weak cry just broke my heart.

I went back to my car, grabbed my tire iron and severed what little was left of the connection in the cats neck. It was one swoop and the cat died instantly. Honestly, from the extent of the injuries, I am truly surprised that the cat was able to live as long as it did.

I have been thinking about this for the past 3 months and I wonder what you guys think of this.

Yes 67
No 64
Other (comment) 6
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Comments ( 27 )
  • dinz

    The cat was suffering and obviously was in a state where its quality of life was compromised. You with your medical background had the knowledge to make a reasonable decision that would be beneficial for the poor cat.

    I believe with this situation what you did was ethical.

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    • Unfortunately, I have more expertise in figuring out how people died rather than how to keep them alive ;)

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      • Riddler

        You said there was no way to save its life. You said you had medical history in this type of field and the cat was suffering. I don't think its wrong that you killed the poor thing. Creatures will struggle to every last breath even when they are dying. Sometimes its more peaceful to just let the creatures pass on.

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  • iEatZombies_

    That's horribly sad. You did the right thing. I'm just sorry you had to do it.

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  • well done it is a kindness

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  • Moonbow

    No you weren't wrong. What what have been wrong was leaving it there to suffer.

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  • KeddersPrincess

    I accidently aswered "yes" getting the question mixed up, but I think you were right. The cat was in misery, and there was no hope for it. It's good that you took it out of its pain.

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  • davesumba

    i voted yes, but i meant no after i didn't see a direct question in the description until i reread the title, anyways. i'd say you did the right thing. one time a bird got stuck on a bug sticky pad and couldn't go anywhere, so i splattered the guy with a shovel so he wouldn't starve to death. i felt bad during the whole thing and forgot about it until now.

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    • Riddler

      Why did you not just unstick him?

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  • Cheese123

    You are a good man. I wouldn't have had the heart to do it. It was a kindness, boss.

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  • emi929

    Shit. I said "Yes" because I thought you asked if it was normal!

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  • helpmeimafreak123

    There would have been no way to save it, you did the right thing. You were very brave to save it from what could have been days of suffering.

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  • myweirdself16

    I believe you did the right thing.

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  • chp316

    You did the right thing, no doubt in my mind. Shows that you have a very Big heart, and you have empathy for others in pain. God Bless.

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  • wibamuftw

    I would definitely say you did the right thing, although I would never have the heart enough to do that personally because I love my own cats as if they were like my kids. I saved a cat on the side of the road once and it was hit by a car and it had to be put down when I took it to the vet and I cried for days.

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  • Bubbles-for-life

    yeah its normal i sure would remember if i killed somthing everyone does

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  • Couman

    You should probably have worded this differently, it sounds like a whole lot of people voted the opposite of what they meant. Anyway, I don't think you were wrong. In general I think people euthanize pets too often (and I'm not even talking about unwanted animals, which is a whole other problem), but this was obviously an exceptional case.

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  • b0x012r0x012

    I accidentally clicked the wrong voting button. I meant to click "No" for "No, you were not wrong." I accidentally clicked "Yes" for "Yes, that's normal."

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  • iin2want2know

    You did the right thing. I had a similar experience with a dog and did the exact same thing but with a sledge hammer I had in my truck. Terrible but necessary.

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  • BrendioEEE

    I said you were wrong but only because I could never do that I am 18 if I saw that I would be crying like a 5 year old for days. I am already tearing up.

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  • Glddraco

    I meant to put that you were correct.

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  • fluffypuff16

    CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP I put that you were wrong when i meant to put that you were right. I don't blame you for what you did, I can't see myself doing anything different honestly. It couldn't be helped, and the little dude was in pain. I'm sure that its what he would have wanted. So you were right.

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  • Shackleford96

    You did the right thing.

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  • kelili

    You did the right thing. That's a very touching story

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  • Retard73

    Should have put it on life support you cruel fucking sick gay

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    • alextsang08

      This is why your name is retard73

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    • myweirdself16

      There was no way to save the cat, life support would have done nothing.

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