just damn

[ulysses]

Long story short: We've been cat-sitting this week for our neighbors, a single mom and her three girls with whom we've been friends since we bought our house seven years ago. I went over yesterday evening to put one of the cats - a complete sweetheart who turned up as a stray in the neighborhood many moons ago and to whom the girls have been attached for years - back inside, and found her laying in the yard, meowing. Brought her inside where her back legs seemed to not be working. There weren't any obvious signs of injury, so we took her to the vet hoping it might not be bad. Turned out that her heart wasn't in great shape and that she'd thrown a blood clot which had blocked an artery to her hindquarters - her back legs had essentially started to die and she was in a lot of pain. We left messages for the girls' mom, but we had to go ahead and have the vet put the cat down.

This just completely sucks. They'll be back on Saturday, and we'll have to tell the girls then.

[REP]

1. There is a Little Good in This

First, that you were there to help the cat when she desperately needed it. There is no way to treat or prevent what happened to her, and euthanasia is the only thing to do.

Second, your neighbor and her daughters did not have to see their beloved friend crippled and hurt. Even though I am sure your friend would have wanted to be there when her friend died, she was spared one of the most heartbreaking parts of caring for cats. Instead, your friend and her daughters have the picture in their heads of their cat as she was when they left - healthy and happy.

I'm sorry you had to go through this - no matter who the cat lived with, euthanizing a cat is a horrible thing to go through, even when you are doing the best thing for the cat.

[ulysses]

2. thanks, REP

:)

[Nay]

3. Poor Kitty! But you did the right thing.

And your friend's children have been spared some agony.

[buddhamama]

4. that's rough

i feel for all involved.

the poor Kitty.

the girls will be upset of course, but they'll appreciate you being there and know you did what was best for the Kitty.

never an easy experience.

i can truly empathize.

[Iverson]

5. my sympathies to you

Euthanizing a pet is one of the saddest and worst experiences I've ever been through. Telling kids about it is no picnic either. I hope that it goes as smoothly as possible and fades from memory quickly.

[SOteric]

6. My heartfelt sympathies

she must have been a dear thing to have captured your affections.

You've been an exceptional and compassionate sitter for your neighbours pet. I'd like to think if I had to leave my little dudes in someone else's care for what turned out to be such a difficult time, that it would be handled with a similar kind of caring intelligence.

I'm certain you'll do an exceptional and compassionate job of telling the girls about the loss of their little friend.

Sending more hugs your way, uly. You can never be overstocked on hugs.

[NYYFan]

7. So Sorry to hear this John

At least you were there for it and did the humane thing.

Good Samaritan award for the day.

:loveya:

:hi:

[catmandu57]

8. Yes, it sucks

there's not much more I can add to that.

[ulysses]

9. thanks, everyone

The girls' mom got the message we left on her cell phone - she's not going to tell the girls right now for obvious reasons, so we've got a few days to figure out how to break it to them. The problem is that we may not be home when they arrive Saturday, so it could get dicey - I don't want their mom to have to lie if they notice the cat's gone, but I'd like for us to be there when they find out.

Vet note: I've used this vet (Pets Are People, Too - several offices in metro Atl) since I moved here. It's a truly wonderful organization. When we had to have Sonya put down, they sent a handwritten card and a freaking plant in sympathy. And, as gruesome as it may sound to some, they're holding onto the girls' cat (frozen) in case they want to have a burial service for her. YMMV, but I think that's pretty damned cool.

[catzies]

11. It is cool, and so are you.

If it helps the family, maybe they could talk to the vet so they know it wasn't just your opinion, and how lucky their cat was to have so many people that loved her.

My daughter is a vet tech, and at their offices they've also been known to note the loss of beloved pets with gestures like the one you received.


:loveya:

Cat, who loves pets and loves the people who love them.

[ulysses]

13. yeah

the vet last night even offered to call the girls when they got home to explain things to them. We told her we'd do it, but again, these folks just rock. Atlanta area DUers, if you need a vet...

[BlueJazz]

12. You're one of the nice guys...man.

.

[KG]

10. sorry, dude

:(

[AnnabelLee]

14. What a terrible decision you had to make

They will be very sad that they weren't there to say goodbye, but you did the right thing.

[TEXASYANKEE]

15. I agree with other posters.

How sad that the cat had to put down. But how nice that you were there to do what needed to be done. You sound like a very caring and compassionate person.

My only recommendation is that mom not lie to the girls (in the event you're not there when they get home). This will hit the girls hard, no matter how the issue is handled, but truth is always the best approach.

[lazarus]

16. That was so sad

But you did the right thing.

Your vet sounds like a serious animal lover who understands people.

[fromsmalltownAmerica]

17. My son's cat had that prob.

We discovered him in the early morning before my son had to leave for visitation with his father for the summer. Poor thing was just yowling and we thought he'd been hit by a car or something and it was his heart too and he also threw a blood clot. My son's cat wasn't even 3 yrs old yet when it happened. We tried to do all we could for him but his legs never recovered from the loss of blood circulation and would have had to been ambutated(?sp) so we had him put down as he was in so much pain and anguish. My son was able to see him at the vets before he left, but had to make the decision to put him down about two weeks after he left. It was extremely hard, but a wise descision and I had to admire my then 11 year old son for being such a man about it.

I'm sorry that when the neighbors return home you'll have this bad news to tell them. I hope they take it well and will know that you did all you could, but there just wasn't much that could be done.

Attention all cat owners, especially male cats under three. You may want to have your cat's heart checked out to see if it is pumping right, as I was informed that this happens more often to young males. If there is a prob. with their heart not pumping fast enough, there is meds that can be given to help prevent blood clots from forming and blocking blood flow to other areas of the body, such as lungs, spinal cord, etc.

[northzax]

18. that does suck

but you know what a nice gesture is? have it stuffed and mounted, that way they'll always have fluffy with them.

or, if that's too gruesome, have a nice stole made from the pelt, fur's making a comeback, you know.

[ulysses]

19. Well...that was...

utterly devoid of humor...

:eyes:

[SOteric]

20. Dude!