OT: Saying goodbye to a pet.

[mdeth1313]

Thursday evening we had to say goodbye to one of our cats. First diagnosis was hyperthyroidism. At only 10.5 years, we decided the best course was to start the cat on meds until she could have radioactive iodine therapy. One and done so to speak. Then she stopped eating. An ultrasound reading revealed enlarged liver and spleen, along with bloated lungs. She went downhill fast and the options were to drive an hour each way to and from a specialist to find out what we already knew (lymphoma) or let her enjoy her days at home until it was time.

I think we waited a week too long, but she was still able to use the litter box, drink water and eat a little bit. More importantly she got a few more nights of laying on the couch with my wife (probably more important for my wife). She was a really good pet - it was hard to say goodbye. We have another cat who is a little out of sorts right now. We're not waiting, we've decided to adopt an adult cat and we've already started visiting many of our local rescues.

I know some people go through it and then can't get another pet, they don't want to live through that pain, but I wouldn't trade the years with her for anything.

Originally named Lulu, she quickly picked up the nickname "Boots". We're gonna miss her.

[AngryScientist]

Many times we have a closer bond with our animals than some of the closest people in our lives. They live with us, they share everything: the highs the lows, and the most intimate moments. They literally see us at our best and our worst. Every day.

Losing a pet is the hardest thing.

May little Boots rest in peace. Sounds like she had a good life with you guys. Cherish the memories.

Sorry for your loss

[fourflys]

having been in your spot a couple of times, you have my deepest sympathy.. so sorry for your loss..

[Matthew]

So sorry. I'm not looking forward to this process. We have 9 cats. Two are 14, so I know we're going to live through this in the near future. And it's going to be rough. But I wouldn't hesitate to get another in the future. So many wonderful moments, far outweighing the bad. RIP Boots.

[mtb_frk]

Sorry for your loss. They are really a part of your family.

We lost both our dogs this year. They were both getting up there in age. Lost my 20 year old cat also. Now we are pet-less. Its strange.
I cried. I'm tearing up thinking about it right now.

I`m not ready for another pet. My wife and son on the other hand are applying a lot of pressure and I fully expect to come home to a surprise fur baby one day.

Best of luck with finding a new family member.

[ojingoh]

sorry for your loss.

[makoti]

Been in your shoes way too often.
You didn't wait too long. You did your best with the information you had, and you made every decision out of love and concern for Boots. She maybe didn't know what was going on, but she knew you were there for her.
I'm sorry you both had to go through this.

[bigbill]

I got a cat in the divorce in 2018. She and I went through a lot and I lost her a year later. The combined stress of divorce, new career, death of a close friend, and then losing the cat really depressed me. It took a while to get over it. When I met my current wife, she had a cat and a dog. The cat belonged to her mom, but when her Parkinson's progressed to the point she couldn't care for the cat, my wife took it. My wife's dog was a border collie that really attached to me. The cat was still very young, and basically grew up with the dog.

When the dog was 13, he started going deaf, and then his hips starting going out. He reached the point where he couldn't get up without help and even then, he was in pain. We decided to have him put to sleep. We both went to the vet, sat on the gurney with him, fed him ham (his favorite), and loved on him until he passed. The cat was depressed for several months and will sometimes sit on the hearth next to the dog's urn which has his collar on top.

[redir]

I grew up a dog person and when my girlfriend, and now wife, were living in an old Virginia farm house some friends down the street had a stray mom that had a litter of kittens and my wife wanted to get two of them. I never thought of cats as pets but I thought of them as useful for keeping the mice out of the old farm house and so we got some and they sure was useful. The last mice I saw in that house was in our little Black Walnut (Nut for short) mouth.

Turns out they were not only helping around the house but some of the best friends I ever had. I never realized how intricate they were, silly, playful and just lovable.

Those two are long gone now and my wife and I swear that that the ones we have now, because they died years apart and we would adopt another to be a companion of two, have knowledge passed on from our original two some 25 years later now.

I'm sorry for your loss. I cried like a baby at losing the ones we had. They are such sweet souls. Cherish the memories.

[batman1425]

I'm so sorry. I'm glad that you got so much good time with her and so many good memories.

[booglebug]

Just reading your post brings back memories of special pets we have all lost. When we lost our border collie of 17 years it was truly a loss of a family member to us.

[phoenix]

So sorry for your family's loss. The grief of losing a pet is so difficult. We had to make the same difficult decision twice within the past 4 years. They'll always live on in our hearts.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by phoenix

They'll always live on in our hearts.

+1

My cats Abby and Nyx are gone, but will always be with me in my memories.

OP, you gave Boots a good home, and she loved you for that. You can remember all the happy times with her, but eventually everyone has to leave.

[JMT3]

I’m a dog person. Pets replace your children when you are a empty nester. My dog has been with me over 11 years. He’s a Ratcha and small, 13.1 lbs. Great personality and at times totally amazes me since he over the past couple of years has taught himself tricks. His front left leg has been swollen for about nine months now, heart murmur, a cataract on one eye and is still full of energy and catches rabbits in our yard. We have had one dog after another and he will most likely be our last although he should be around a while longer. I work with a retired Vet at my volunteer job and she said his breed generally lives to 18 years old. Why last? I’m retired 2.5 years and my wife is retiring next May. Frequent travel makes owning a pet difficult. We have never boarded him and when we travel he’s with either family or friends. It adds a degree of extra work and our travel schedule will increase greatly when my wife retires. Now I’m going to have to get a travel bike.

[C40_guy]

We said goodbye to Max on Monday. Hardest thing I have ever had to do.

Yet the actual doing was beautiful. We hung out at the pond, he played in the sand and the water and grass (as much as a 15 YO arthritic half blind dog can play...); then I held him as he left us.

He was fifteen and taught us many lessons about being present and how to love unconditionally.

We're scattering his ashes today in our garden and down by the pond.