I'm grieving over a cat.

[Bill]

My wife and I found out yesterday that our beloved cat Luce is going to die soon. He's been with us since the start of our relationship, 17 years ago.

He was coughing, and we took him to the vet, which he hates. I thought it would be something minor, but he is very sick.

He isn't dead yet, but the vet did not give us much hope.

We both started crying in the vets office, and really haven't stopped.

I know it's silly to be so sad over a cat, when so much that is so bad has happened and is happening to people. But we both love him so much.

We are concentrating on making his last days as much fun for him as possible.

Here's a picture of Luce in his glory days.

[Torn Rose]

Bill, we had to put our oldest down almost 2 years ago, worse day of my life, I had her before I got my drivers license she was also 17 + years old. I know what you’re going through. I know looking back I have had a good life, since my cat’s death ranks at the top of my worse days, but so be it.

BTW, you pic didn’t post.

[Bill]

I can't even upload a picture right...

[Cleo]

I have two cats and a kitten right now and understand how attached we get to out pets.

I've lost a few cats over the years and even had to put one down when he was suffering.

My condolences. Best thing to do is give a kitten a much needed good home again.

[sue-fl]

So sorry to hear about your cat Bill. Anyone who is a good pet owner understands how hard it is. He's a beautiful cat and you gave him a good home for 17 years. Doesn't make it any easier but be proud of that...

[Kinky]

sorry to hear that Bill I went thru the same thing not too long ago

I agree with Cleo... there is nothing like a scrawny, cute little kitten that finds new and exciting ways to wake you up at 4 AM every morning to bring a smile back to your face

[Tommy]

I am sorry your upset, And I hate to seem insenstive but .......

we have 5 cats and a dog
I didnt mind them before but now with the baby its a real hassle
and the baby once in a while gets scratched

and to think how much worse it will be when the twins get here
(which could be anyday)

I just cant do this anymore

1 cat has cancer
the dog has kusinins deaise (its like kidney cancer)
1 cat has bad asthma

like 6 k in vet bills last year

I keep hoping for one or two of them to die

[Greenguy]

Bill - I feel your pain. We had to have our cat Darcy put to sleep yesterday. We're not sure how old she was, but we got her in 95 & she was 6-8 years old then (so 16-18 years)

Like Luce, she hated going to the vet. She's been sick on & off for 2 years now & yesterday she just looked horrible. So we decided to take her to the vet & let them put her out of her misery.

[lisa k]

I'm so sorry. Make the last few days as enjoyable as possible.

[MrYum]

That sucks Bill...really sorry to hear it

Had to do what was right for my dog several years ago...one of the hardest decisions I'd ever had to make. But, he reached up and licked my face as the vet gave him that last shot. I like to think he was thanking me for all the good years...and for doing what was right for him.

Went out a week later...found another lil fuzzball and started over. Einstein was never intended to 'replace' Boomer...but he did help fill the void that was left.

Hang in there man...remember all the good times...

[Lemmy]

Losing a pet is always tough. Sorry about your cat Bill. It goes with the territory I guess.

[Erick G]

Im so sorry bill

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Greenguy

Bill - I feel your pain. We had to have our cat Darcy put to sleep yesterday. We're not sure how old she was, but we got her in 95 & she was 6-8 years old then (so 16-18 years)

Like Luce, she hated going to the vet. She's been sick on & off for 2 years now & yesterday she just looked horrible. So we decided to take her to the vet & let them put her out of her misery.

Oh man, that was a nice cat too.

Bill, I know how you feel. I still miss my Great Dane, Truman. And he died I think about 3 years ago...+ or -

It is going to be horrible when our dogs start going. Most of them are about the same age so I suspect when one goes, they will all start going. I have had to bury 3 cats and a dog in the last 3 years. It sucks...

[tjchuck]

Pets are really like a part of your family and I really don't think it is weird to grieve over a loss of your family.


I lost a very special dog in February of this year.
And really he was more like a best friend.
His name was Atlas and here is a few pics of him about 2 weeks before I had to put him down.

http://www.chucks-links.com/atlas.html

You can still see the shave marks on his leg where he was administered his last chemo.

I still miss him very much.

[tjchuck]

Sorry Bill, kinda feel like I imposed on your thread.

Just trying to say I know how you feel

[pornrex]

You people are the coolest!

Unless you own and raise pets you will never truly appreciate how much they can enrich your life.

Last year, when I was very very sick with my ulcer, colitis and irritable bowel, my cat (Samson) was there to make me laugh and bring me some joy during this very terribe time in my personal health. Soon afterwards, around the time of his birthday something terribly wrong happened.

Since he was about 4 months old he had been fixed. One day I noticed there was nothing in the litter box. I mean nothing. I was getting worried. He was acting completely different whining and moving with great difficulty. At one point he went upstairs and it looked to me like he was looking for a place to die.

I brought him downstairs, the whole time he was hissing and freaking out when I picked him up, I noticed his bladder area was exceptionally bulging. I decided then and there to take him to emergency.

Turns out that he had crystals. A catheter procedure ($200 later) and I brought him home. It happened again two days later. Finally, I brought him to a competent vet that kept him at his clinic for 3 days. All in all, it cost me $1200 over the course of a 10 day period. Turns out, all the people food we had been feeding him since he was a kitten was not so good for him after all.

That week was the hardest week I'd experienced in my life since my kid brother died from cancer more than 15 years ago.

Once the vet stabilized him and told me he must go on a veterinarian diet PERMANENTLY, the rest was easy. Since we modified his diet to the prescribed cat food only (and no people food!) Samson has not had any problems since with urination and his weight has stabilized as well. Today, Samson (who also answers to "doggie boy") is as healthy as he's gonna get. He loved his prescription food right from the get go and there is always something there in the litter box too!

After reading a number of your posts, I realize that one day Samson will go too and just that thought alone breaks my heart.

To those of you that have had to put down your little loved ones, my heart does indeed go out to you.

As Cleo has stated, may another little bundle of joy bring you as much happiness as its predecessor. Take plenty of pictures and enjoy them while you have them. Our pets enrich our lives.

Bill, take heart in the fact that 17 years is a good age for a cat to reach. A lot can be said for the way you've raised your cat and its a testament to how responsible and caring you have been to him. My vet has a cat that has outlived two families. He's 21.

[juggernaut]

Sorry to hear that Bill. Take the cat to another vet. Had a boxer years back, found a lump on the dog. Vet said it was cancer and the dog should be put down or else it would die in a few months. We gave it meds, and the dog sat around for months just sleeping. We took it off the meds and the dog went back to it's old self, playing and jumping etc. Dog lived for 6 more years. Some vets are like normal human doctors, smoked way to much pot in school and drank till they passed out. Find an old timer who has been working on pets for like 40 years. Sorry to hear about your family member.

[furrygirl]

Sorry to hear about that, Bill.

I would try another vet or two, maybe one who specializes on cats. I had a kitty dying 3 years ago, and it took several vets before one finally know what was going on with her and how we could extend her health as long as possible. (She was dying of FIP, a deadly and rare cat virus.) I had her on vitamin B12 injections and alpha-interferon, which may have given her a bit more good time.

[Bill]

We took Luce to another vet tonight. Unfortunately the prognosis is still bad. This is almost doubly hard, because it got our hopes up.

He had fluid extracted from around his lungs, which seems to have increased his energy. We are going to do what we can for him. He is outside hunting right now, his absolute most favorite thing to do, It's a beautiful, warm, moonlit night.

I'm not a wuss, or anything like that. I grew up on a farm, and have seen more animals die than most groups of 50 people will see in a lifetime. I'm a seriously tough guy.

I'm sure everyone can understand. Luce was a special cat, a once in a lifetime cat. He's been part of Marisa and I's life from our first days.

I'm as surprized as anyone at how much this hurts.

[juggernaut]

Wishing you the best man. Losing pets just sucks, you just cant find that type of love from any human.

[Bill]

I just wanted to say I deeply, deeply appreciate everyone's stories and thoughts. I'm sorry I'm not responding individually to each one, but I just can't, right now.

Thank you.

[MrYum]

No need to respond Bill...you just take care of yourself and your fuzzy little friend.

Pet lovers know the unconditional love of a pet is something so special.

All the best to you man...hang in there.

[Bill]

Well, it's been a hard week. We euthanized Luce the cat about 5pm friday, and buried him on the hill behind the house this afternoon.

He was only supposed to live a few days after the first diagnosis, but we gave him the best of care, and he lasted strong and happy for seven weeks, untill earlier this week, when the cancer caught up with him. He still had nice days weds and thurs, still hunting, outside all day, but clearly weaker. On his last night his breathing was very hard, and friday morning it was even worse. He also stopped eating much on weds, only taking a few bites to please us.

He spent the day outside, but fairly ill, and we knew it was time. We gave him a little valium, that the vet had given us for this purpose. I dissolved it in water and we squirted it into his mouth, to avoid the struggle of giving him a pill. When it was time to go, he was so relaxed and stoned, and the valium had made his breathing easier. He was almost his old self, and I was feeling bad about taking him to the vet for his final moment. But Marisa got to snuggle with him and hold him as we drove in, and afterwards she said it was like a dream come true, to have him snuggly again one last time.

I've been in a state of denial, really, about his death, while Marisa has been greiving more for us both, so this was all harder on me than on her. I had doubts, and almost backed out, because Luce was having such a good reaction to the valium. But it was the right time, I knew it was, as much as I didn't want it to be.

The experience with the vet was really very good, as good as could be hoped for. It was a very quick and peaceful death.

Driving home, we had a strange and meaning-charged synchronicity. As we were approaching the house, about a half mile away, it was near dark, and we were stopped by a bunch of cars stopped together on the road. We realized that a car had hit a deer, and that the deer was badly injured and struggling and flopping on the road.

As we drove thru the obstacle of the 3 or 4 cars, I looked at the deer in misery, and knew I had to do something for it, and told Marisa I intended to get a gun and help the deer. We were a minute from home, I dropped Marisa off with Luce's body, got a rifle and flashlight, and went back.

I got out of the car, asked if the deer was still alive. The two people who were left there said it was, and I said I had brought a gun. A few seconds conversation, agreement that the deer should be killed. I shot the deer in the brain and killed him instantly, and shot him again, to be sure, which is what you are supposed to do. I checked the deer to be sure he was dead, unloaded the gun, took back my flashlight from the man who had hit the deer, who had been holding it for me so I could get a clear sight picture.

I've been driving up and down this road for 27 years, and today was the first day I've had to do something like shoot a deer to put it out of his misery. Since I grew up on a farm, I have killed many animals in my time, hunting, butchering, and putting injured and sick animals to death. So, it was somthing I was very familiar with, but not something I've done for many years. How strange that I should be called upon to do it only minutes after I had held Luce the cat as his heart peacefully stopped.

I drove home, and Marisa and I have spent the night having a wake for Luce.

He was an amazing cat, and especially in these past two months, he has been a huge inspiration for me.

Thanks for listening to the story, Bill

p.s. If you ever have to take your pet to be euthanized, I recommend the diazepam for your pet, it made everything so much better.

[Tommy]

ummm

I am sorry that your cat died

[Cleo]

My condolences Bill