I am so upset.

She was actually my OHs cat so although I'd only lived with her for a year I've known her and loved her for the 5 years we've been together.

She was about 10 and was fine until about a week ago. She suddenly got very weak and she was having difficulty breathing and had diarrhoea and was sick. We took her to the vets who said her breathing was laboured and her heart was irregular. They did an xray and found fluid on her lungs and suspected she had cancer. They gave her antibiotics and steroids as it might have responded. They wanted us to take her back on Sunday and had suggested it might be kinder to put her down if she hadn't improved by then. Tonight, although a long way off from Sunday, we took her back to the vet as she was so weak, distant, not herself and was really having to gasp for her breath. On the way there she got much worse. She was panting and drooling and couldn't even stand up. I don't think she'd have lasted much longer on her own anyway.

We held her and stroked her while they gave her the injection. She just fell asleep. It was so sad seeing her little face go blank of all emotion. Her little eyes stayed open but she just lay very still. Me and OH cried and cried. I'm going to miss her so much. She was so lovely. We have 2 other cats who don't seem to have noticed she has gone. Don't know if they will or not. The house just seems quiet and empty without her which is silly as she used to just curl up quietly in the corner. You didn't even know she was here a lot of the time.

I just can't stop crying. I know people will think she is "only a pet" but I really loved her. I just hope we've done the right thing for her.

Sorry this has been so long, I just needed to get it all out.

RIP Riz x x x

Of course you did the right thing. You did something that took a lot of care, attention, and love. Never regret that

I'm sorry for your loss.

feel for you as we had to do the same with our dog a few years ago, I also felt guilty but I knew we did the right thing, so have you, the poor cat was very distressed so it was much the kindest thing you have done, remember she is a peace now and out of pain.

She obviously had a good life with you and your OH remember that. If you need to cry do, it will ease the pain but you will feel better soon.

It's like losing a family member. Our cat died just over a year ago. We had taken her to the vet and had her treated. I'll never know if the treatment killed her. She lay beside the radiator and died shortly after we brought her home. You never forget a pet. It's like a family member. Takes a while to get over. Take care.

You poor things, you must be devastated. Please be assured that you have done the right thing for your cat. Just think, would she have wanted to live like that? No, of course she wouldn't. If there is one thing we owe our beloved pets it is the mercy of a swift and painless death when the time comes. You have given her that mercy, you are good people. Please grieve as much as you need to, there is no such thing as 'just a pet', a pet can be the sun, moon and stars to you, a best friend, a comfort, a safe pair of ears. I tell my pets all sorts of things I couldn't tell anyone else
Hopefully, when the time is right, you will be able to get a new kitten to love and cherish.
With my very best wishes,
Mave
xxxxx

Laurajane I'm so sorry it's an awful situation but you definately did the right thing, I've had to do the same thing four times over the last couple of years in very similar circumstances, it's heartbreaking. You did the kindest thing out of love for your little cat, our pets get into our hearts and stay there forever. Give yourself time to grieve and appreciate that you and your OH had her in your lives, cuddle each other and the other little cats, wishing you all well x

Yes...you did the right thing and you have nothing to regret.

It is obvious the animal was suffering and you couldn't see her in pain any longer.

It is very upsetting to lose an animal that has been part of your life for 10 years but always remember one thing - you did your best for her throughout her life and gave her a loving home.

A few years ago i had a pet rat (you either love these or loathe them) and i was amazed at how very intelegent they are and i had loads of love from him and when he was put down through illness i was very upset for weeks. The same day i had him put down i went to the pet shop and brought 2 Roborovski hamsters to fill the gap - although it didn't because they weren't my rat. It took a few months for me to even get to like the hamsters and now i won't have any other pets but Roborovski's. (bless em!)

You did the right thing...

(((huggies)))

laurajane,this happened to me a few months back.your post moved me so much.my cat spyder was 11 years old and had grown up with my daughter whos now 16.
one day she was fine then all of a sudden she stopped eating and became listless overnight.we took her to the vets who diagnosed a tumour which was inoperable.
i was angry at them for telling me something i didnt want too hear.angry at myself for not seeing any symptoms but believe me there were none.when they suggested she be put to sleep i became hysterical.they put her on a drip but the next day when she hadnt improved i realised it was for the best.having to take her home and bury her in our back garden was so painful for us as she was part of our family.
i gave myself time to heal and now we have a beautiful new little girl called pippin.shes three months old and shes helped me so much in easing the pain.
shes currently asleep on the PC as i write this.
i will never forget spyder i miss her everyday,but i have somewhere i can go to speak to her and i have her pictures everywhere and i celebrate her very happy life.
my heart goes out to you and time will heal and you will remember all the good times with your cat.as with me you may find a new little friend in a couple of months would be good for you.you sound a lovely lady who could give a cat or kitten a very happy home in the future.i send you my best wishes and hugs xx

Thank you so much for all your lovely replies.

I know deep down we did the right thing because she isn't suffering anymore but having to make that decision just feels so awful.

When I woke up this morning, for a fleeting moment I'd forgotton what had happened yesterday. I forgot she was no longer here. I was so sad all over again when I remembered.

I don't think we'll get another cat. We have 2 other cats who are 3 and 1. Although I always liked having 3 cats I think OH thought 3 was a bit much (although he really loved them all) so we might just stick with 2. For now anyway.

We couldn't face bringing her home with us so she's having an individual cremation and we'll collect her ashes in a couple of weeks in a wooden box with her name engraved on. No idea what we'll do with them. Might plant a tree in the garden and bury them beneath. Or we may just keep her on the lounge windowsill, where she would spend all day lying in the sun.

Thanks again to everyone. You've been so kind.

Hello

We just had our cat put to sleep after the same illness.

About 2 months ago I noticed his breathing was very laboured, it was like he was fighting for each breath - and eventually he started to cough so hard he would lie down and whimper with exhaustion after each coughing fi.

The vet kept him in for a night, thinking he'd be dead by morning - his heart was twice the size it should have been and beating 400bpm to try and clear the fluid. He must have been so tired! But they gave him frusemide and heart pills and he rallied - the vet said "he won't last more than a week or two" but he did so well.

Then he got wise to us putting pills in his food and stopped eating, the git. But hunger won out. We ran out of medication and a few days ago he went downhill again. I'd been saying to my dad and my brother that it was time to admit defeat - we could have kept him alive with more meds but we could never had cured him, it'd just be delaying the inevitable - and finally as he got worse, they agreed (I had to bully dad into it ) .

We do miss him, and I feel a bit guilty for admitting defeat - but the alternative would be to watch him die a slow and unpleasant death, and the vet and her nurse were very good, they stroked him and talked to him even after he'd gone.

You did the right thing - this is our sad responsibility as pet owners, we have to remember this when we take on a pet.

It's normal for you to be thinking like this.

We had our dog put down a few months back. He was old and decrepid. So much so that for the last few weeks of his life we were literally carrying him to the lawn and back so he could do his business.

The vet said he had the heart of a lion but unfortunately his bones weren't good at all and he was wrecked with arthritis.

We decided between us and the vet that at 19 he'd just about had enough, and maybe it was time for him to go.

I still questioned myself for about a week afterwards, but since then I've been absolutely convinced that we did the right thing for him.

Doh bit to late to ask that now