One thing I remember when I had to have Boudicca euthanized was the look on the vet's face when I said I wanted to stay with her. He actually seemed relieved. I held her as she took her last breath. I'm glad I was there. I still regret that I wasn't there for Morgan but I barely made the drive home from the vet hospital because my car was headed to a major frame issue.

Yesterday I had two friends come by to see the kittens. They are pretty sure they want to adopt at least one. Now, every single day those kittens are in my back yard, either playing or napping. But not yesterday. They insisted on lounging about on the neighbor's yard. The neighbor that HATES cats.

Not long after my friends left, the kittens came bumbling over, looking for food. Figures. ALL of these fur babies like to mess with me!! But seriously, they bring me SO much joy and laughter.

I have a feeling the stories about my indoor and outdoor kids are not going to be ending any time soon.

I had to be in the room. I had to hold her and pet her to let her know she was and is loved. To comfort her at a time when she needed it the most.

I am sorry for the loss of your pet family member.

And I hate it every time. But, I am always in the room because my animal is already afraid and I don't want my hating the process to impact their last moments. We have them for always, a few final seconds of my absolute anguish so they can die a little less afraid is a small price to pay.

I couldn't have said it better. It's what I do as well.

Gosh, so well said, thank you.

and I am so sorry about your kitty girl. Last year at this time I was saying my goodbyes to a sweet rescue I had only a short time. She was a pandemic rescue I adopted a month after my kitty of 18 years passed on of kidney failure...her heart gave out as well. The pandemic baby developed jaw cancer after spending just one year in our home; but it was wearing her down;🥲we spent many nights together watching movies; I took weeks off from work...finally I gave my final goodbye with home euthanasia. I still till this day never know when it is the right time. Yet I still love my pets and will never stop having them in my life.
I am so sorry about your companion of 15 years. I don't know anything about a good way to say goodbye either.🌷

Dear Paper Roses, please be assured: you are not grieving alone. Many of us have had to go through this kind of parting so we know and fully understand. Sympathy and empathy both.

And many many hugs.

tread earlier but want to repost for you. This is Lola.




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I have wept and grieved many times over the years for the loss of sweet dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, and goats. Hell, I still miss a goose that I had for nearly 15 years.

Its always the right decision to comfort a loved one as they pass, even when its hard for us. Our beloved Chloe, one of the Pyr's, passed at the vet's office in the night. Its been very hard to forgive myself for not being there.

The Siamese pictured below was my very dear Cisco, who wandered into my barn as a stray. He was with me through some very bad times, and moved back to KY from CA with me. I held him while he passed at home.

I also greatly enjoy the pet pics and videos here. As Joe Biden has said, I hope one day you can remember your loved one with a smile instead of tears.

Yes, it tore me apart as I held their heads to reassure them they were loved.
Admittedly, it was one of the most difficult things EVER...and I sobbed all the way home. And I still do - I miss them sooo much But staying with them was something I HAD to do.

After a few yrs, I still break down bawling.

Life just isn't the same without a beloved pet, is it? That's why I keep/must keep adopting.

I am the animal murderer in my house. A few years ago I had to put down two cats(brothers/litter mates) within one month. It was the horrible urethra clog issue. Tore my heart out, they were the sweetest cats I have ever known.

We have two others now, but I will never have male cats again. Can't go through that another time. Ugh

I've done it a few times recently with dogs I've had for over 13 years. It never feels right making an appointment to schedule your pat's death. I kept wishing that they would simply drift off to sleep at home and not wake up instead of having their last moments in a place they don't like to be for reasons they can't even imagine. I have one of the three dogs left and he is getting very old. Had a recent health scare and thought I might lose the little guy. He pulled through but I know he will likely die in the next year or so. It's the price we must pay for their unconditional love. It's worth it.

for your loss. Have been through that one to many times.
I so enjoy Siwsan and her pictures and kitten stories too. It takes my mind off problems I have and stuff going on in the world, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

The fifth was a nearly feral kitten when we took him in, and he grew to be a loving friend. At age 19, his hindquarters just wouldn't work any more, and he was in pain.

Instead of taking him to the vet's office, which as you say is a strange, sterile and scary place, we found a vet that would come to our home and put him to sleep where he felt comfortable, and surrounded by the people who loved him.

It was heartbreaking to lose him because he was such a good friend to me, and the home vet did cost more but I felt like it was worth it for the cat's sake, because to think of him having the trauma of going to the vet on that last trip was more than I could bear. I was willing to pay the extra.

Your friend has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with Spirit of Cat. May he rest in peace.

On edit: I just noticed how strange that dog icon might look for a cat person like me. I did have a yellow lab, though, and he was a wonderful dog - a good friend. We had raised him as a guide dog puppy, but he didn't want to do that so we took him back. He lived to almost 12, which is old for a lab.

So, we don't have a dog now. The yellow dog icon's significance is to say visually that I will vote for a yellow dog before I ever vote for any Republican.

A dog named Tuna sits on a barstool...... And, for a fleeting moment, something good happened.

Happy they bring sweet thoughts to you, so sorry about your pet.

I want to be with them and hold them as they pass. Some have been peaceful and releasing. A few have been while they were in pain.

I am often sobbing, but I want them each to know they were loved. The thing I tell my self afterwards is that these wonderful creatures are now beyond fear and pain.

I think that animals may now have the expectations of tomorrow and the future that we have. So If they can leave pain and no longer have fear, that is a good end. I feel the pain and loss that they are past.

feel his warmth, and purring, and weight. When his best buddy showed up one morning, they went off to cat heaven together, quite happyily. That is what I know.

of her throwing herself off the bed during the seizures and her body temp shooting sky high, I knew she was ready to go. I stayed with her at the vet's office until the very end. Many times I have felt her coming to bed with me at night and settling in as she always did. I know she is relieved to be rid of that sick body. Her sweet self is doing okay in the spirit world!

This is my favorite pic of our girl, Quantum. She's a big LOLCats fan:

One year ago we had to put down our kitty of 15 years and it was so traumatizing for me, it haunted me for months and I vowed I wouldn't put down another pet (I had a 17yo dog at that time). Well, just 5 weeks ago I did the same for my 18yo dog. Again, it was horrifying and haunts me. The thing is, we love these little furry friends more than anything (often more than people), and we love them so much that we weigh what is harder, seeing them suffer or us actually making the decision to end their lives. It's a complete act of compassion and you making that decision and then being there (in the room) just proves how devoted you were.

I just really hope that when we go, they're there to greet us.

It is incredibly hard to lose a beloved furbaby, that's for sure!

Much less stressful for the pet. Familiar surroundings, no pet carrier, car ride, waiting room. It costs more but it’s worth it.

It's the final act of love. Still hurts though.

and comfort to her grieving loved ones.

I am so very sorry for the loss of your precious baby.

Hard to describe how tough it is to let these little miracles go on.

A look through this thread will show clearly the heart and compassion we see every day here on DU.

and I don't think it's any easier when a beloved animal gets carried away from you to be put to sleep without you.

You would still have seen your cat's expression as she was carried away. And she would have had to endure her final moments without you.

Whisper kisses from Tiago.
He's my loyal companion helping me through my cancer treatments. I only hope I can outlive him now.

Link to tweet

it was HORRIBLE, and I don't know how I'm going to face our Cairn's last day. In the moment, it's the worst thing you can imagine, although I'm sure there are others.

One thing I DO know...our furry kids NEED us there. It's the last thing we can ever do for them, and they are often terrified and uncomprehending. The least we can do is try to reassure and comfort them as their lives tick down from minutes to seconds.

I hurt for all of them, and all of you.

My good friend had a Scottie that thought he was people. In his last moments, as the first shot (knockout, not the fatal one) was taking effect, he tried to crawl to the human he'd known all his life to try to find help. My friend said it nearly broke him.

It still makes me cry when I read of someone’s loss.
No matter their age it’s so hard to part with an animal that gives so much love each day.

Loving again is the easy part…. If your able to.
So glad I did as it has helped.

Here’s my girl Scarlett.

I still see my kitty as I do my daily chores. She used to follow me wherever i went. When she was young, she would chase the dust mop, jump on the bed and other silly things. As she aged, she still followed me everywhere. She'd wake me at about 4AM,..breakfast. 9PM, bedtime. She would curl up at the end of the bed until the light went off. My feline alarm clock is gone but I still see her in my minds eye.

But my wife does.

I want to remember the pet when he/she was in the prime of life, full of innocent joy and pleasure at being well cared for, the days of being loved, and loving.

I don't want a mental image of the last moments, it would blur and destroy the good memories.

One consolation - pets don't know like we do that they are born to live and grow old and then die.
They just take each day, each moment of happiness, as it comes.
There is a lesson in that for us self aware creatures.

The Power of the Dog
Rudyard Kipling - 1865-1936

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But… you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

This poem made me cry but as I sit here, I think of the kind thoughts and wisdom it offers.

😀

I don't know what else to write.

I am so sorry for you and your kitty!

Try to get at least 1 photo up every few days. I really feel bad for you losing your kitty. My cat named Rustle died of cancer in his chest wall.
And my Bigfoot,he died of throat cancer.

It hurts when kitties are taken too soon.

It really would not be fair on a cat for me to try taking care of it ((balance issues)), although I had a cat earlier that had to be put down.

This way, I get to vicariously enjoy cats.