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Mastrap · Jul 5, 2002, 04:55 PM

Well, I knew it was coming. The cancer had returned, the vet saw her a month ago and showed me the x-ray. But, you don't stop hoping. We put her on a high vitamin food supplement, hoped for the best.

Then, a week and a half ago she developed a tumor on her skin. A visit to the vet again, he took a blood sample to determine if the liver and kidneys were still ok. Basically what he was trying to figure out was if she was healthy enough to survive an operation to take the skin cancer out - he guessed it might give her another 6 month of quality time before the lung cancer got really bad. Went back on wednesday for the blood results which were excellent. We decided to take the skin cancer out on Friday (today). Then a massive deterioration set in. No food, shying away from hands (she always loved being touched) obvious pain. So, this morning we went to see the vet, I explained the situation that I was not sure we should go ahead with the operation as I didn't see much sense in making her suffer. Another x-ray showed the cancer had reduced her lungs to about 30% of their normal capacity. Coughing out water, really heavy breathing, fighting for breath. The vet gave he a cortison injection, said to take her home for the weekend to say goodbye to her. Made an appointment for Monday to have her put to sleep. He gave us his mobile number just in case we needed him over the weekend. (He's a good vet, he likes animals). Mash (the cat) had a really difficult afternoon, just lying on the floor on her favourite carpet, trying to get enough air. I was beginning to feel guilty, should have done the deed in the morning. But I've never killed anyone/thing that I considered to be a friend (I don't even kill spiders) and I just could not get myself to take her back to the vet. Also, I didn't want to take her to get killed, she hated her cage and I didn't want to be the one driving her to her death. So we waited, hoped she might pick up again. This evening we were just about to see some friends for an hour, I picked her up and she panicked becasue she could not get enough air. Crawled on the floor, trying to breathe. I got out the vet's number, he told me to hang on, he'd be there in 10 minutes. As I've said, he's a good guy. Put her on the sofa on her favourite spot, she got her paw caught and panicked, could not hold her water and peed. Thankfully the vet arrived there and then. We calmed her down, stroked her, talked to her. Then, while she didn't notice, he injected the barbiturate. Al three of us talked to her, stroked her. She jumped off he sofa, but she was already getting unsteady. She lay dawn on the floor and just fell asleep. We all sat around her (have I mentioned already that this a good vet we've got?) and touched her, talked to her while she slipped away. I then wrapped her into her favourite blanket to be taken away in.

Now, I am sitting here raising a glass to a good friend of ten years. She moved in as a stray, was excellent company, non demanding, always amusing, a great catcher of mice and beater-upper of other inferiour cats. She was a credit to her species. I know she'll travel well on her last journey.

ink · Jul 5, 2002, 05:01 PM

Sigh.

I still remember when we put our 16-year-old cat (Marlowe) to sleep. He could hardly move around for all the pain. He used to love to sit on my back while I read books out on the lawn. I'll share a drink for Mash.

shmerek · Jul 5, 2002, 05:09 PM

That is so hard we had to do the same things with one of our cats after 17 years. I still miss them and think about them a lot even thaough it has been more than 10 years. I feel for you. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

AKcrab · Jul 5, 2002, 05:40 PM

You don't have a good vet, you have an exceptional vet!
Sorry for your loss, but you seem to be taking a very healthy approach to the situation. Mash have any brothers or sisters for you to love on? People may disagree, but I am a firm believer in replacing pets soon after they have departed.
(I've got 5 dogs and 6 cats...)

theolein · Jul 5, 2002, 06:09 PM

Very sorry to hear this. Hope it passes without too much pain.

OwlBoy · Jul 5, 2002, 06:13 PM

Sorry to hear this.

-Owl

mchladek · Jul 5, 2002, 06:21 PM

*raises glass*

Here's to Mash! And to all the other great animals (and dear friends) out there in the world! And of course to extraordinary vets who care just as much as the owners.

scaught · Jul 5, 2002, 06:40 PM

im sorry to hear of your loss mastrap.

its a good thing im the only person still at work cause i dont think people need to see me all weepy in front of the computer.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

rampant · Jul 5, 2002, 06:46 PM

I read the title and thought "Oh, how cute, he tucked his cat in!" Then I read it, and thought "Oh, he had his cat killed. How terrible.". <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

davidflas · Jul 5, 2002, 07:44 PM

My heart goes out to you, Mastrap. I have 3 excellent cats of my own, and I don't know how I'm going to find the strength to do what you had to do when their time comes. I suggest adopting a new kitty as soon as you can, it will help you to feel better, and another cat will benefit from the loving environment that you have obviously provided. Good luck!

philzilla · Jul 5, 2002, 08:05 PM

bummer

i let one of mine out once, he never came back. i still wonder what happened to him. spliff's asleep on the sofa downstairs, she's about 14 now, i think? i'm not looking forward to losing her

MikeM32 · Jul 5, 2002, 08:22 PM

Very sad to hear mastrap, it's a tough situation but in the end you saved her from suffering. It's been a while since I was in similar shoes, but when I was a kid I had a dog whom I considerred my best friend growing-up. Long story short, Dingo (that's what we named him) developped a huge lump on his neck which turned out to be cancer. I was around 13-14 at that time. My father eventually decided it was best to have him put to sleep. It was tough for me to deal with at that age, but as I grew older I realized that putting him to sleep wasn't cruel but merciful.

Mike

rampant · Jul 5, 2002, 08:25 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by MikeM32:
Very sad to hear mastrap, it's a tough situation but in the end you saved her from suffering. It's been a while since I was in similar shoes, but when I was a kid I had a dog whom I considerred my best friend growing-up. Long story short, Dingo (that's what we named him) developped a huge lump on his neck which turned out to be cancer. I was around 13-14 at that time. My father eventually decided it was best to have him put to sleep. It was tough for me to deal with at that age, but as I grew older I realized that putting him to sleep wasn't cruel but merciful.

Mike<hr /></blockquote>That depends. Would you kill a friend or family member if they were terminally ill? Most people let them live until they die.

Millennium · Jul 5, 2002, 08:42 PM

I don't really know what to say. Except that painful as it is, in the end you did the right thing. Death isn't always the enemy. Sometimes, it comes as a friend, and certainly it must have done so for the cat. Perhaps you should have done it a bit sooner, but you can't be blamed for waiting.

I will probably have to do the same thing soon, with my dog. So it's good to know I'm not alone in this. I'm here for you, man.

:raises a glass:

[ 07-05-2002, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Millennium ]

Nonsuch · Jul 6, 2002, 02:25 AM

Your post brought me to tears. My girlfriend's cousin had to have one of their cats put to sleep this very day. He said that apart from the death of his father, it was the hardest thing he ever had to go through. I have a cat I love terribly, and I've often thought of the day when he won't be with me any more. I dread the day when I will have to say goodbye to him; I mean I really do live in fear of it. As small and simple as they are, they come to mean so much to us. The events of today have brought that home so forcefully.

Our cousin's family had two cats, and in order that the second one wouldn't be lonely, they gave her to us. Right now they're on opposite sides of the room from each other, snarling quietly. I hope they'll have resigned themselves to each other in a couple of weeks. In a way I feel this amounts to a new beginning of sorts: one cat's life has ended, while another's life has started again, in a way. I hope you soon make a new friend worthy of Mash's memory.

RodUK · Jul 6, 2002, 03:10 AM

As sad as it is, you undoubtly did the right thing. Nothing annoys me more than so called animal lovers keeping their pets alive, despite the animals suffering, just because they themselves can't handle the situation of loosing them. People who really love their pets (as you clearly do) would always do whats best for the animal, regardless of the sadness or pain it may cause.

As for the argument that terminally ill family or friends are kept alive until they die, I think the BIG difference is that a person has the ability to understand their condition and therefore become less afraid of it, whereas an animal doesn't.

[ 07-06-2002, 04:26 AM: Message edited by: RodUK ]

rampant · Jul 6, 2002, 03:36 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by RodUK:
As sad as it is, you undoubtly did the right thing. Nothing annoys me more than so called animal lovers keeping their pets alive, despite the animals suffering, just because they themselves can't handle the situation of loosing them. People who really love their pets (as you clearly do) would always do whats best for the animal, regardless of the sadness or pain it may cause.

As for the argument that terminally ill family or friends are kept alive until they die, I think the BIG difference is that a person has the ability to understand their condition and therefore become less afraid of it, whereas an animal doesn't.<hr /></blockquote>I'd say assuming that an animal doesn't "comprehend" it's position, it's less afraid of anything because it doesn't know whatever it has is terminal, where a person does and just waits for it. I'm not saying you should always keep your pet alive, but you should also have another person killed if they face the same thing. All or nothing.

cheerios · Jul 6, 2002, 03:45 AM

Hug's Mastrap.... I'm sorry, amigo.

RodUK · Jul 6, 2002, 04:22 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by rampant:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by RodUK:
As sad as it is, you undoubtly did the right thing. Nothing annoys me more than so called animal lovers keeping their pets alive, despite the animals suffering, just because they themselves can't handle the situation of loosing them. People who really love their pets (as you clearly do) would always do whats best for the animal, regardless of the sadness or pain it may cause.

As for the argument that terminally ill family or friends are kept alive until they die, I think the BIG difference is that a person has the ability to understand their condition and therefore become less afraid of it, whereas an animal doesn't.<hr /></blockquote>I'd say assuming that an animal doesn't "comprehend" it's position, it's less afraid of anything because it doesn't know whatever it has is terminal, where a person does and just waits for it. I'm not saying you should always keep your pet alive, but you should also have another person killed if they face the same thing. All or nothing.<hr /></blockquote>I'm afraid I have to disagree, as surely a cat acts 90% on instinct. Being afraid is an important part of that instinct, as it helps to keep the animal alive. Around here the cats are instinctively afraid of moving traffic (it stops them from being run over) yet I'm sure they haven't seen other cats hit by cars and I'm sure they don't fully 'comprehend' the results of running out in front of one. In contrast people act on both instinct and rational thought. Anyway, this is hardly a thread for an argument over animal behaviour......

[ 07-06-2002, 05:29 AM: Message edited by: RodUK ]

Vanquish · Jul 6, 2002, 05:38 AM

sorry to hear that mate.

A few months ago I also had to put my cat to sleep because she had a cancer. Now I still have one cat named Fidji, but I think he is gay, he makes a noise you would expect from a female cat not a male one <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />

seanyepez · Jul 6, 2002, 05:50 AM

Sorry for your loss.

I have a year-old cat that I can't imagine dead. I never really liked pets in general until I adopted a kitten of five or six weeks from a friend.