Very sick kitty needs to be euth'd

[JenJ]

One of my TNR cats that became a house cat about 4 or 5 yrs ago, is ready to cross the rainbow bridge.

he lost a lot of weight over the last 3 months. he is still semi feral, so even if i was able to force him into a cat carrier to go to vet for testing / diagnosis, there is no possibility that I could give him pills or injections to treat whatever he has, assuming it was treatable.

a week ago, he was still behaving normally. two days ago he stopped eating. he stopped drinking water last night or this morning. he has been curled up sleeping quietly and i sort of hoped he would fall into coma and die peacefully.

no such “luck”. He just came to sit besides me on the sofa, I called “emergency” vet clinic and they are “at capacity” and told me not to bring him to be euth’d.

regular vets offices are now closed until Monday and unlikely i can get an appointment Monday for euthanasia if the emergency clinic is turning people away.

he licked a bit of juice from canned cat food. I don’t want him to have to wait another 2 or more days. i think he is suffering now. yes, i hate myself for not having him euth’d yesterday or the day before. does anyone know whether a few drops of banamine or some bute (assuming i can get it in him) would put him out of his misery?

[Kyrabee]

Do you have any of the euthanasia services that will come to your home? It depends on whether they have a vet available but you don’t know until you try. I used Gentle Goodbyes for my Emmy. I did have to wait about a day and half. She was having respiratory difficulties and I was terrified that I had waited a day too late as she had one of her acute episodes. I gave her albuterol and it abated but damned, I was really worried for a bit so I understand. I hate to see them suffer.

Susan

[Fiesta01]

So terribly sorry you’re both going through this. I don’t know anything about your question on meds. Just wanted to send love and jingles to both of you.

[JenJ]

i just called a mobile vet service and they may be able to send me a vet this eve … fingers crossed.

sort of funny to horse people … my vacuum cleaner died about 4 months ago, i have 5 cats, soon to be 4. my house / carpets are a disaster. i would only let animal lovers into my nightmare of a house

[3PonyFarm]

So sorry to hear about your kitty.

[erinmeri]

Sending you hugs and hoping you can get a mobile vet to come out. I had one come to my house to euth my dog and it was really a relief.

[JenJ]

OMG … it is done.
the emerg vet clinic called and said they could take us. it is only about 3 miles away, and, after being told initially that they were fully booked, i had a couple drinks. then when they called to say I could bring him, i didnt think i should drive, so a friend drove me.

i will bury him tomorrow. i am in tears, but so relieved that he is not suffering.

i cant find my purse or cell phone … i think i may have left it in my friend’s car, but without my phone, i cannot call her to ask
LOL

[erinmeri]

@JenJ

OMG … it is done.
the emerg vet clinic called and said they could take us. it is only about 3 miles away, and, after being told initially that they were fully booked, i had a couple drinks. then when they called to say I could bring him, i didnt think i should drive, so a friend drove me.

i will bury him tomorrow. i am in tears, but so relieved that he is not suffering.

i cant find my purse or cell phone … i think i may have left it in my friend’s car, but without my phone, i cannot call her to ask
LOL

Sending you the biggest of hugs. Be kind to yourself. You can figure it all out tomorrow.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

So sorry both for your loss and what you went through. Your kitty is safe now.

[CanadianTrotter]

Rest easy TNR kitty. Does he have a name?

RIP Big Brother.

[JenJ]

i called him “big brother” bc he appeared about 7 or 8 yrs ago and was hanging around and coming for food when i was trying to TNR the kittens that were born in a tiny shed behind my house. he looked at least two years older than the kittens, and somehow “big brother” stuck.

the vet’s associate who neutered him as part of TNR program said he was the nastiest cat she had ever handled … well, shit, he was feral, what did you expect??? vet fired that associate.

it took a few years, but he wanted to come inside, and started to purr and curl up besides me on the sofa or press up besides me in bed.

I am still crying, but so relieved that it is over.

[dressagetraks]

Sorry for your loss. I’m glad you were able to find a vet to see him today.

[CanadianTrotter]

@JenJ

I am still crying, but so relieved that it is over.

Be kind to yourself.

[rubygirl1968]

RIP Big Brother.

I’m glad it was resolved and he isn’t suffering. Jingles for comfort for you.

[Fiesta01]

{{{Hugs}}} You done good. RIP precious Big Brother.

[Jenerationx]

It’s good that he isn’t suffering anymore. You did the right thing.

[2DogsFarm]

Godspeed, Big Bro
You did your best & he was ready.
It never stops sucking when you have to make this decision for any animal.

Heck! I cry a bit when I lose a chicken, whether she dies on her own (chickens can be fine one day, stonecold dead the next) or I have to help her.

[JenJ]

thank you all so much.

I have not yet buried him. I am physically and mentally exhausted and my back yard / graveyard has a lot of tree branches / roots to dig through. I planned to dig the grave this aft but do not feel strong enough to dig.

thinking about it, i do not remember eating anything after noonish yesterday

Big Brother’s soul is romping around cat heaven. His body is in a small box in the coolest part of my home.

The weather in Ontario is cool autumn temperatures. the temp in the north facing rooms of my bungalow was about 60 degrees at warmest time of day today and there is a frost warning tonight. the burial can wait until tomorrow, when I can do it justice.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

Hugs to you - you did right by him, and he knew it. Go easy on yourself. Eat a little something, and try to sleep tonight knowing you gave him a kind and painless crossing.

[JenJ]

finished the job late this morning, put some flowers in the box with him.

what a relief.

then went for a quick visit to the barn to kiss my horse.

oddly, i find myself expecting to see him in one of his customary spots …on his favourite chair or besides my feet in my home office (i have nearly stepped on or tripped over him a few times so always look down before moving the chair or taking a step). …as if for a second I forget he is gone.