(no subject)
Is it more humane to euthanize a pet that is simply... old?
I have a cat that is almost eighteen years old. He's aging... and unsurprisingly, he's having issues related to aging. He can't clean himself like he used to, so I keep his hair trimmed and sponge-bathe him. He can't jump on my bed to sleep, so I bought him a nice, firm pet bed that he spends most of his time in. He couldn't make it to his litterbox in time due to stiffness walking, so I moved his litter closer to him. He can't chew hard kibble, so I feed him canned food. He can't see very well, so I am putting off rearranging the furniture. He's not as agile as he used to be and a lot more delicate, so I don't allow the kids to pick him up.
Still... every time my extended family see this cat, they tell me he'd be better off if I had him put down. He's suffering, they say. He has no quality of life, they tell me.
Why?? Just because he's old? I don't want to put him down. I want him to die peacefully, asleep in his bed with the sun shining on him through the window... in his own time. But I don't want him to suffer. Everyone says he doesn't have any quality of life any more. Well he doesn't have the same quality of life... he's not a kitten any more. He can't jump after a ball or climb the curtains... but he can still curl up and sleep off a good meal and be warm, taken care of, and loved. Isn't that all any of us can ask for?