had to put my cat down today :(

I hope no one minds my expressing this here - DU seems like a friendly place...
Our beautiful brown tiger cat lost his fight with cancer today, there was nothing more the Vet could do, and so we had to have him put to sleep. My kids and I can't stop crying. We got Winnie as a kitten when my oldest was born and they grew up together, she feels like she lost her best friend. He was a cat who had a dog soul, who loved to greet everyone and be the center of attention. He was the best.

Had to put mine down three months ago :pals: :hug: :grouphug:

We've been there and it can be so tough. :hug:

Btw, be sure to post this in The Lounge forum. Lots and lots of animal lovers there. too. And pics of kitties to comfort you in the months ahead.

You will find lots of pet sympathy here - I did when my dog died.

:cry:

We have a cat who's 20 years old and diabetic and I worry about the day when we have to make that decision.



:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Winnie was given to us as a kitten by an elderly friend who was a cat lover herself. She always had a special place in her heart for our cat. Sadly, she passed away 2 weeks ago, and in the midst of our deep mourning for her, I can't help but think our cat has gone to keep her company. I think we were all very upset about losing her, although she had a long and very good life, and then losing the cat just pushed me over the edge.

Thanks to everyone who responded, I've read all the responses and you've helped me alot.

As the caretaker of 10, I understand, as much as one can.

:hug:

That's never easy.

:hug:

We live longer than our pets, but we love them so much... :hug:

It's good to grieve together. When my first cat passed away I was alone, and I had 'friends' and family who mocked me for grieving. Your kids will appreciate that you were there with them.

Pets can truly be a part of the family.

I'm so sorry. That's indeed a very, very difficult thing to have to do. :hug:



If it's not too crass in context, welcome to DU. :hi:

I had to put my 15 year old cat (and my best friend) to sleep 3 years ago, and it was devastating for me. I know it doesn't do any good to tell you the pain will lessen with time, but truly, it will. You may find in a few weeks or a few months you are ready for a new kitty. You will love your new kitty, but it won't take away from any of the love you had for your beautiful, special Winnie.

Might his suffering be over. Light and peace to you and yours. :hi:

under the cat's watchful eyes.

There is a good little book out there called:
Good-bye, friend by Gary Kowalski

It can be a big help at the times when we face the loss of the furry members of our family. Just an assortment of ideas for honoring the lives we shared and anecdotes on the ways other folks have dealt with the grief of losing our dear animal companions. It might help you help the kids work through this sad, but growing time.

Let us know how things are going from time to time. Lots of loving, caring people here who will understand your loss and may be able to help in the coming times as the kids go through the process.

They leave such huge holes in the fabric of our daily lives, those furry pals who pass. But the love bond remains after the frail vessel breaks.

You did good to take care of him then help him pass when the time came. No animal could ask for a better, kinder friend.

If the kids ever get angry (and they just might) that the cat was put down, no matter what they may say in their passion, know YOU DID THE KIND THING. Someday, the littlest of your brood will understand.

:hug: for you. Lean on DU when you have to so you can be there for the kids.

I lost my beautiful orange cat a year and a half ago to a brain tumor. I had her put down when it reached the point that it would have been inhumane to do otherwise. I still miss her everyday. Now it is just myself and my black cat who was my orange cat's lifelong friend. My sincere condolences.

It's hard to lose a family member. RIP Winnie, may you find endless rivers of milk in cat heaven!

Condolences. My Ernie is 18 and she is starting to show her age. I lost my Chihuahua Crickett a couple of years ago and it broke my heart. Welcome to DU kay45! You will find much compassion here at DU. :grouphug:

edited for spelling

I know what it's like to have to euthanize a beloved pet. It's painful and difficult, but it's the kindest thing for your beloved kitty. :hug: You have my sympathy.

We're glad you joined DU. :)

Trust me on this. When we had to put our Thomas O'Malley Kissie Kittie down I cried for three weeks. About a month after that I'm having coffee out in the patio and low and behold what do I spot but two very small little starving kittens, along with their mother. They were hungry, dirty and completely wild. Long story short, they're now 3 years old and their names are Ghost and Sissy -- sweetest little things you've ever seen. You won't have to look for them, they'll be "sent" to you.

This great cat .......




Sent us these TWO great cats ......

How beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

When I took my cat Hamlet to be put down last fall (he had been diagnosed a year earlier), there was a pretty litte black kitten with big orange eyes staying there who needed a home. When I took my other cat, Ophelia, in a few weeks later for her annual exam and shots, the kitten was still there, so I took her home. I wasn't planning on getting another cat so soon, but she was just irrisistible. She is now almost a year old. Her name is Brigid. :)

We had to put our Border Collie, Cody, to sleep last summer. (It will be a year on June 12th.) Anyhow, I told my wife a few weeks later that we needed to adopt another dog because the house was so empty. We went to our local Humane Society and filled out an application and checked out all of the dogs. We have two small children, and the woman at the shelter told us that none of the dogs we liked were good with children.

A couple of weeks later, we were at our local farmer's market and the Humane Society was there. They had a dog named Buddy who was wonderful with our kids. The Humane Society had just got him from another shelter a couple of days before. He was available and we adopted him.

My wife said later, "Cody sent Buddy to us. He knew that Buddy was the perfect dog for our family."

Sorry to hear that. I just got my first cat (the only one I've ever met that I haven't been allergic to), and I am already totally in love with him. And I thought I wasn't a cat person.

:grouphug:

We're all thinking about you.

:hug:

I cry every time for strangers furr babies on this site, I have four cats and two dogs.

So very sorry for your loss :grouphug:

My condolences to you and your family.
I know I would love it if you shared some stories about Winnie, the kind of things that made her special to you.
Good luck to you and your family.

:hug: :cry:

It's devastating to lose a pet. They really are a part of the family. :hug:

I've had to put down a beloved cat. I'm already worried about my amazing, one of a kind dog who is getting on in years.

I'm so, so sorry for your loss.

:grouphug:

to my kitties Larry, Hollyberry, Stokely, Dingo, Rap, Muffer, Tootsie and my doggies Rosie, Raisin, Casey and Ribbon when you get to the great pet heaven. : O8)

Sorry about your loss kaye45. It's painful to have to put a pet to sleep, but know that putting Winnie out of her suffering was the best thing to do.

Get a new kitten tomorrow. It will chase the blues away and help your kids recover from their loss.

:cry:

:grouphug

We just lost our little kitty not too long ago. :cry:

Poor Winnie and all of you. :hug:

*giant hug*

having lost two cats myself i know how you feel. but you were able to ease his pain and let him go peacefully. my cats both died fairly suddenly and dramatically (one from a allergic reaction to a vitamin K shot and the other from seizures probably caused by a undiagnosed brain tumor)

i feel you pain. *hugs*

These furry critters worm their way into our hearts and become part of the family. They make us laugh and sometimes cry. They celebrate with us when we're happy (they don't care why - hey, a party's a party!) and comfort us when we're sad. They give us love and good company. And they trust us and depend on us to give them in return what they need.

In the end, sometimes what they need most from us is to release them from their pain. It's so hard, so hard to do. So hard to make yourself say out loud the words that will take your friend from you forever, to give them this last gift of love.

I'm so sorry you had to make that decision, so sorry for your loss. I hope your daughter can find a way to remember the cat with a dog's soul and feel good about the fact that he loved and was loved - and that's a pretty good life.

Our 15-year-old boycat died a few weeks ago, and we are all still so sad. Our pets are indeed beloved members of the family and their lives are far too short.

Love and peace to you and the family-

:hug:

a bad-ass abyssianian who was as much a lover as a fighter named Hamlet aka The Big Ham aka Hammy aka Hambone. I miss him everyday but am so thankful I was honored to be his Mama for a few years.

My sympathies to you and your family - losing a pet is losing a part of oneself and a member of the family. It will get a little easier in time as you know, but it won't ever go away. They'll always have a place in your heart and a piece of your soul.

That is such a hard thing to do. Winnie sounds like a wonderful little tiger and your family will miss her.

...a kitty who had a very happy life! Sorry for your loss.

The bond is sooo strong.

Happy eternity at the Rainbow Bridge.

So sorry for your loss. :hug: :hug: :hug:

Our pets have a way of becoming just as much a part of the family as any human, don't they?

Winnie will live on in your hearts...and in Kitty Heaven. Hugs to you!

It's so hard to lose a member of the family like that. :hug::hug::hug:

:hug:

:grouphug:

Just like my Roo, who I lost a year ago.

My deepest sympathy. :hug:

It's too bad our pets can't live at least close to as long as we do! A {hug} from my Angel kitty and me.

In my family, we have lost three pets in the past several months. Old age, basically. It's hard to lose a family member. :(

I've been there and know how much it hurts. From our house to yours :grouphug:

I'm sure Winnie will miss you all very much. He was lucky to have you.

:hug:

It's so difficult to lose a cherished companion. :hug:

I've had to do that and it's one of the hardest things I've ever done.

:hug:

you try to hang on but you know eventually you
have to relieve thier suffering.

Sucks in so many ways.

My MOI has an old corgi she's had since she
was a puppy. She's arthritic and it's just a
matter of time.

You can see it in the dog's eyes. She knows
it's coming to an end.

I went through the same thing six months ago and I know how hard it is.

All the best to you and your family. :hug:

I dread that day with my own cat. My heart goes
out to you and your kids.

Cats and dogs become part of the family. To lose them is tough. I've had pets in the past that I still grieve for. It's really tough on the kids.

that I have ever had to do -- I know it must have been hard for you and your family.

It hurts to lose our friends, but just remember all of the wonderful times that you had with Winnie and how much you loved her. It is because of this love that you were able to do the right thing for her. Your sweet Winnie is no longer in pain...and that is the kindest thing that you could have done for her.

When the time is right, you will honor Winnie's memory by opening your home to another kitten that needs a family.

:cry:

This has been tough, but all these wonderful responses of support have made a big difference to me. Thanks again so much. :pals: