posted 07-27-2003 09:33 PM           

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I am having to put my cat Bailey to sleep tomorrow evening. She is 14, diabetic and has cancer. She can barely eat, has lost a lot of weight. Am I doing the right thing? How do I know how she is feeling? I feel so guilty.
Can anybody help?

[This message has been edited by lucyethel (edited 07-27-2003).]

[This message has been edited by lucyethel (edited 07-27-2003).]

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From:Sacramento, CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 07-27-2003 10:35 PM         

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It's always hard to make that decision. Whether it's right for you and your cat only you can decide. I can tell you why I made the decision that I did for my 14 year old dog. Annie was my friend. I got her at six months. She helped me raise my children and saw me through a really rough divorce. She licked my face when I cried and wondered how I could make it through another day. She was having trouble moving. She got up only when she had to and no longer raised her head when I came into the room. The cancer had spread throughout her body. All that I could think was that if I was in her place, what would I want. I would want the pain to end. I held her as she died. It still makes me cry to think about it but forcing her to stay around when she was in that much pain would have been extremely selfish. I still miss her but I think that I did the right thing.
I suspect that if you don't do it tomorrow, you will have to do it fairly soon. Don't go by yourself if you can help it and try to remember the good times instead of just the loss.

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From:Staten Island, NY, U.S.A.
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posted 07-28-2003 08:44 AM         

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Please don't feel guilty. What you are doing is out of love for Bailey. Although, she can't tell you how she feels, the fact that she is not eating shows that she's is not really feeling well. I lost one of my cats 6 weeks ago. He had stopped eating and the vet suspected that he too had cancer. When it got to the point where he couldn't even hold up his head anymore, the vet said that we had to make a decision. He was in the hospital and by the time we got there, he made the decision for us. Losing him is breaking my heart but watching him lose weight and get weaker by the day was just as heartbreaking. He wasn't himself anymore. As much as I didn't want to let him go, I just couldn't watch him live like that. Cats are such proud animals and I think that when they get so sick, maybe they want to go.
I agree, don't go by yourself. I wish you and your kitty luck in whatever you decide.

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posted 07-28-2003 02:35 PM         

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good luck, i dont know what i would do if I had to make that decision. hopefully it goes good.

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posted 07-28-2003 04:42 PM         

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Im sorry to hear that you have to make this tough decision...its never an easy one. If your cat can barely eat and has lost alot of weight it is likely that she is not feeling very well at all and given her age and illnesses I think putting her down might be the best thing for her.

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posted 07-29-2003 01:35 AM         

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I am afraid you just have to make the decision that is best for your Kitty and not for you. If he is in pain then you perhaps it would be best to let him go to the big litter tray in the sky.... good luck whatever you decided

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From:Tennessee, USA
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posted 07-29-2003 10:39 AM         

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I'm sorry for your loss! But I believe she is resting in peace!

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posted 07-29-2003 09:19 PM         

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rest in peace Bailey

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From:Anaheim, California, USA
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posted 07-30-2003 12:37 AM         

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God bless you and Bailey,

~M~

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posted 07-30-2003 12:38 AM         

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God bless you and Bailey,

~M~

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posted 07-30-2003 12:38 AM         

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God bless you and Bailey,

~M~

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From:Stratford, Ont, Canada
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posted 09-26-2003 03:55 PM         

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I had to put my kitty down because of kidney problems. It was so hard. I know I did the right thing. It might not feel like it now but soon you'll know. My cat was 13 and he knew it was time so he came in to my room to say goodbye. Later that morning we put him down. I'm very sorry you have to go through this. The problem with animals is that you become so attached to them that they're a part of you. I'm very sorry.

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