My beloved cat developed a little lump on her tail which I assumed was from an insect, or another cat biting her in a fight - but it grew amazingly fast, within a month and while for first few weeks, she ignored it, for three days in May, it obviously was hurting her - she couldn't leave it alone, kept biting and scratching at it and it was bleeding.
On the fourth day, I took her to the vet - diagnosis: a horribly aggressive and rapidly developing tumour, fast approaching her anus. Vet said she could last another month or so, but in pain and distress - amputation of the tail not an option. I decided, there and then, that my beloved cat should be euthanized, with the vet's, and her nurses', complete agreement. I could not bear the thought of her suffering even another day's discomfort which, the vet said, would soon turn from discomfort to real pain.
It broke my heart, but ... I let her go right away. She went without pain and, most important, wasn't 'kept going just for ME. 'cos I'd miss her so much ....' . I made the decision to end her life there and then, because I loved her and wanted the best for her, that she wouldn't suffer a drawn out painful month or so.
The 'Dreary' or wherever it was that Jones wrote about the lingering living death of one of her cats was totally harrowing and very much upset me. I'm feeling a bit weepy right now writing this, but like others, I am worried about the collection of animals Jones has accumulated. Sorry to get a bit emotional, but I keep thinking about those dogs and cats and horses she 'collects'.