We put our 17 year old kitty down yesterday...

[noel711]

and life sucks right now.

She was in renal failure, and I know we did the right thing,
but it feels like I cut off my right arm.

Tell me the hurt will go away...

[MonkeyFunk]

1. I'm so sorry

I've had to do it twice, and it's the hardest thing. But just remember you did the RIGHT thing - it's the promise you made when you got her - to take care of her and keep her from suffering.

The hurt will go away - I still miss my cats terribly, but when I think of them now, I smile instead of cry.

[noel711]

2. Thanks MOnkey....

That's what I keep saying: compassion is a gift.

I told my daughter that if I got as bad as Noel,
she should do the same for me.

[Heidi]

3. noel711, I'm lighting a white candle for you.

Your girl passed on knowing that she was well loved. :hug: :hug:

[noel711]

4. Thanks Heidi.. I lighted a candle for her myself...

[Beer Snob-50]

5. i am sorry for your lost

we have put down three in the last couple of years and it does hurt! but know you did the right thing and i am sure she is going "meow" which i think means "thank you human. you put me out of my pain"

[bertha katzenengel]

6. I'm sorry, noel

I could tell you the hurt will go away, and it will, but right now don't worry about it. It sucks, but grieve. Hurt a while. :(

:hug:

[stuntcat]

7. the hurt will go away

right now it must be so hard but just remember what a long lucky life she's had, I mean she got love and a lot of cats don't.
Soon you'll look at her life and just remember good things, I mean it :hug:

[noel711]

8. Thank you all for your kindness..

this house is just too quiet..
not that she was noisy, but she was present.

She was adopted as a kitten from a shelter,
and I urge anyone looking for a companion to
do the same.

If and when we are ready to welcome a new friend,
we'll go to a shelter. But right now we miss our
little girl.

[raccoon]

9. BTDT. Sorry for your loss. Yes, you did do the right thing. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. I've had some put down

and put some down myself.

It doesn't get easier. Even if you did the right thing.

But the pain fades and you'll remember the heroic deeds, wacky acts, and epic hunts. The generous gifts of bird and mouse carcasses left in your shoe.

:hi:

[xchrom]

11. for kitty

Dear God, you have given us care over all living things; protect and bless the animals who give us companionship and delight, make us their true friends and worthy companions. Amen.



Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.
--Albert Schweitzer, "Memoirs of Childhood and Youth"



Eternal Spirit, we bring you our grief in the loss of kitty and ask for courage to bear it. We bring you our thanks for kitty who lived among us and gave us freely of her love. We commit our friend and companion kitty into your loving hands. Give us eyes to see how your love embraces all creatures and every living thing speaks to us of your love. Amen.

[noel711]

16. Thanks for the prayers, chrom..once again, I"m in tears..

[xchrom]

21. i know how you feel.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

12. I am very, very sorry.

:(

You did the right thing. It was better than the alternative. But I know it hurts a lot. It's probably going to hurt for a while.

I hope you have pictures of her, and a lot of good memories. Those will help.

:hug:

[shaniqua6392]

13. I am so sorry for your loss.

The hurt will go away and be replaced with fond memories. I can guarantee it. I have been through this more than once. You did the right thing. You did the unselfish thing. You did the loving thing. :hug:

[SoxFan]

14. The little furballs mean so much to us

Hang in there.

:grouphug:

[mitchum]

15. My thoughts are with you and everyone who knew and loved your sweet kitty

[Inchworm]

17. The hurt will go away...

In time.

But good companions always stay in your heart.

:hug:

[Zuiderelle]

18. That's so hard to do. Sorry you're going through the grief right now

but the hurt will go away, and you'll always have the good memories of her life with you.

[zanne]

22. Yes; I know it seems hard to believe, but the sorrow will ease.

I had to put my 18 year-old cat to sleep about eight years ago. I remember how much it hurt. I was crying all the time. After awhile, my husband and I decided that, even though we were still mourning her, the house was was too "catless" so we went to the Shelter and got an adult cat who needed a home. In time, she won our hearts and we've been together ever since. Three more cats who needed
homes showed up on our back porch over time, begging for food, so we took them in, too. Now we're one big happy family. (I just hope we don't find another cat on our back porch!)

[BeachBaby]

19. I'm so sorry......

:(

I used to work for a veterinary center, so I got to witness my share of sick cats and dogs.

I hold people like you in very high regard. Many people refused to put their pet to sleep, and opted to take their pet home to die on its own.

I remember one particular occasion where a pet owner asked the vet what HE would do in this situation (dog suffering from cancer - chemo was out of the question financially). He said "If it was me having to make the decision, I would have to ask myself this: If I am keeping my pet alive, who am I doing it for? Am I doing this in the best interests of my pet, or am I doing this for myself? Once I have that answer, I'll know what to do."

I've had to make this decision for two dogs - Chloe (my English Mastiff) and Mocha (my choco lab). I held both of them while they fell asleep - and while it was devastating for ME to see them go, I knew it gave my pooches relief from the ruthless pain they were enduring.

You did an honorable, loving thing, noel. You loved your sweet cat enough to take the pain away from her, and allow her to fall asleep while still having her feline dignity (and you KNOW the kitties are dignified creatures! LOL).

I know the hurt is very strong right now. And I also know that as some time passes, you will know that you did the right thing for HER - and that you were selfless enough to do what's right.

Thinking about you..... :hug:

[noel711]

24. Thanks Jersey.... I hold you vet folks in high esteem...

I could not do what you do, you have great courage.

And my screen name, Noel, was her name.
She is part of me...

[BeachBaby]

28. FWIW.....

I no longer work there - the veterinarian is a family friend and so I worked there during my college years to make money and to do something I loved (helping fix the sick furkids).

You'd be surprised at how much gratification that job can hand you - even when it comes time to say goodbye to someone's pet. I understand what you're saying, but I chose to look at it from a different perspective: I didn't look at the situation as being "cold-hearted" or "courageous" or "insensitive". I looked at the reasons behind why the decision was made: because the pet was in unbearable pain/discomfort and could no longer live the way it wanted to. As humans, we need to take control of the situation and make the decisions that our pets can't make. It's an act of love, albeit tough, all by itself.

Yes, she is part of you. Always will be. I lost Chloe to cancer while I was 8 months pregnant with my 2nd son (1999) - and I lost Mocha due to a degenerative spinal disease in 2004. But what helped me, and still helps me, is to keep their memory alive with pictures.....so I have a section of my woodstove mantle covered with framed pictures of the two. Just like I would with a close relative who is no longer with us.

Thinking about you, sweetie.

[driver8]

20. Noel...I am so sorry for your loss.

Sending you a big hug! :hug:

You gave your kitty a wonderful life and she loved you...you did the right thing by letting her go when it was time.

My best to you and your family.

[bigwillq]

23. I am very sorry for your loss.

:hug:

[BobMorr]

25. I'm sorry...

I know what you are going through. Last Aug. and Sept. we had our elderly cats leave us. The sadness stays for awhile and the memories stay forever. You will meet again some day.:hug:

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

[Lorien]

26. I'm so sorry. You did do the right thing

my dad and his girlfriend had a 16 year old kitty in renal failure years ago and they couldn't bring themselves to put him down when they should have. His last day was horrible (I won't go into details) and in the end they did have to rush him to the vet to have him put down anyway-but it was so traumatic for all of them at that point. I never forgot it, and when my 18 year old outside kitty Jasper went into renal failure I made that hard choice too, before the pain became too horrible for him. I know how hard it was for you, but believe me; you did a very kind thing for your beloved kitty.

The pain will ease in time and someday you'll only remember the happier moments with her. But allow yourself to grieve now. She was very lucky to have had you as her person. :hug: :loveya:

[electron_blue]

27. I'm so sorry. Yes, the pain will go away and you'll be left with all the

wonderful memories.

:(

[Cabcere]

29. I'm sorry to hear that.

:hug: With a beloved pet like that, it still hurts even though you know it was the right thing to do. :pals: Peace.

[Sequoia]

30. I'm so sorry, I know how you feel.

I had to do that a few years back and it still makes me sad. She came bounding out the day I took her in. I didn't want to do this, but my hubby thought it was for the best since she was in pain and we had to give her IVs. I still miss her and the other day we were going through old photos and I just got sad all over again. You can cry on my shoulder. Now, I'm getting all misty-eyed. Here's a big hug for you.

[Q3JR4]

31. I'm sorry for your loss.

Think of all the good times you had with her and know, even though it's small comfort, that you did the right thing for her when you had to.

Q3JR4.
Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye? -Anonymous

[fizzgig]

32. i am so sorry, noel

:hug:

[Coyote_Bandit]

33. .

:hug:

[nuxvomica]

34. The only way the hurt comes out is through your tear ducts

Don't be afraid to cry. Tell us more about your kitty. :hug:

[laylah]

35. What a hard thing

to do...:hug:

[libodem]

36. I've had my little black kitty

since 1990. I love her dearly. I can't imagine. So sorry for you loss. Kitty's are spiritual beings she will visit you from the other side. She will be near you.

[Benfea]

37. My condolences....

...but 17 is a ripe age for a kitty.

[LeftyFingerPop]

38. I am very sorry for your loss noel

:hug:

[applegrove]

39. Sorry Noel. There will come a time when you will think of your cat and

laugh and wiggle both your ears cause you will remember them so fondly. Not right now. But that day will come.