I do agree with everyone who says that she had a long, happy life, she doesn't fear death or even think about it (unlike us) and you'll probably get a sense of when it's time... even if that time isn't now.
However, I can't come up with much advice because we are currently going through something very similar (life-threatening bladder infection, upcoming surgery, vet costs at $5000 and climbing) for a five-year-old cat - whose age changes the cost/benefit analysis a lot. All I can offer is all the sympathy in the world for you right now. And the confession that if he were 18 years old, I don't think we'd put him through all of this intervention, either.
You're probably right; I imagine she doesn't think about death like we (and especially I) do. I think the hardest part for me is not feeling like I'm robbing her of any good time left and not feeling guilty for making the decision for her.
I think I would be in a similar situation to you if my cat was much younger. But, I've had many good years with her since I was 11 and she was a kitten, so I know she had a good life.
I can pretty much guarantee that because she neither thinks about nor expects any "good time" beyond the moment, she won't be robbed. She'll be happy and enjoying her life right up until the moment that she peacefully leaves it with no regrets. It's one of the blessings of an animal's life philosophy
( ... )
I think the hardest part of all of this has been that I perceive Cocoa's feelings and reactions like a human's. However, I am sure that she is not thinking about death; she is just trying to live comfortably day by day.
Considering that she spends most of her day sleeping either in her cat bed or near the heater, compared to what she used to do even a few years ago, I know that things aren't as great as they used to be.
Thanks for telling me what to expect. I know I'm going to be a bawling mess (I came home from work today, picked her up, and immediately broke down into tears), so it's good to know what will happen.
I agree; there would be some serenity in knowing you could ease your pain in a similar way we can ease our pets' pain.
Of course you're going to be a bawling mess. When we walked out of the room where they put Boopsie to sleep, and they took her body away to be cremated and the ashes mailed to us later, I walked out of the room, and made it to the hall, and just started sobbing uncontrollably. I just fell apart. We'd been wise enough to bring the friend that we would have left Boopsie with with us, so she could say goodbye, too, and SHE ended up having to drive -- I just couldn't.
And I just randomly burst into sobs for the next week.
And I STILL feel sad when I think about it.
And all that is good. I'm GLAD of all that. Because Boopsie's memory deserves it.
However, I can't come up with much advice because we are currently going through something very similar (life-threatening bladder infection, upcoming surgery, vet costs at $5000 and climbing) for a five-year-old cat - whose age changes the cost/benefit analysis a lot. All I can offer is all the sympathy in the world for you right now. And the confession that if he were 18 years old, I don't think we'd put him through all of this intervention, either.
*hugs*
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I think I would be in a similar situation to you if my cat was much younger. But, I've had many good years with her since I was 11 and she was a kitten, so I know she had a good life.
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Considering that she spends most of her day sleeping either in her cat bed or near the heater, compared to what she used to do even a few years ago, I know that things aren't as great as they used to be.
Thanks for telling me what to expect. I know I'm going to be a bawling mess (I came home from work today, picked her up, and immediately broke down into tears), so it's good to know what will happen.
I agree; there would be some serenity in knowing you could ease your pain in a similar way we can ease our pets' pain.
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And I just randomly burst into sobs for the next week.
And I STILL feel sad when I think about it.
And all that is good. I'm GLAD of all that. Because Boopsie's memory deserves it.
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