Hunter's battle with Cancer -we had to euthanize him on Monday.

littleflower70

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 10, 2012
Messages
5
Purraise
1
Hi everyone

Hunter started to decline badly on Saturday and we finally had to make his suffering stop.  We decided to euthanize him on Monday at 10:30 am.  I stayed with him as the Dr.gave him  the sleeping medication.  I held him in my arms so that I was the last person he saw before drifting peacefully off to sleep.  I hope that he knew how much I loved him.  I hope he knew I was doing what was best for him. 

I feel awful as I sit and wonder: did he know he was dying those last few days? did he know what was happening when the dr gave him the sleeping medicine?  did he know it was his last morning with us?  I am guilt stricken and I am devastated over this.  I just lost his brother in December and now my other baby. 

Hunter will be missed and I LOVE YOU MY BABY BUWEY! 

Thanks for everyone's support through this. 

Dawn

 

rosiemac

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
54,358
Purraise
100
Location
ENGLAND... LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY!
I'm so sorry you've lost Hunter. What a handsome boy he is as well


I wouldn't have thought he knew it was his last morning with you?. But one thing is for sure, he'll thank you one day for not letting him suffer 
 

txcatmom

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2012
Messages
760
Purraise
30
I'm so sorry for your loss.  He was striking boy.  I would not think that he knew what was happening....just a routine trip to the vet with his loving human.
 

kookycats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
2,253
Purraise
287
Location
Naples, Fl
I am so very sorry for your loss. It's good that you held him and were with him at the end. I don't think he knew he was dying, only that you were there for him and that must have meant everything.
 

terestrife

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
2,412
Purraise
2,586
I'm sorry, i cant console you in your grief, but know that you brought me to tears. im very sorry for your loss, and share in your sadness.
 
 

farleyv

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
4,796
Purraise
36
Location
New York State
He was such a pretty kitty.

The ultimate kindness is such a gift to our cats.  But it us the ultimate hurt for us.

Take comfort he is at the Bridge with all of our little ones.  Remembering his human who put his needs above hers.

God bless.
 

missingmycat

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
9
Purraise
2
My heart goes out to you. I lost my baby Theo suddenly and with no warning to what my vet thinks was acute heart failure last Tuesday. The pain in unbearable at times. I think of his last moments constantly. But, I remind myself of the wonderful happy life I gave him. And how very much he was loved. I know your baby felt and knew all the same things. He is at peace now. His pain is over. He knew you loved him. I had to euthanize another sweet kitty with cancer many years ago too. Either way suddenly and unexpectedly or after an illness it is so painful. This time of grieving is so hard. Virtual hugs to you.
 

callista

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
I'm absolutely sure he knew how much you loved him. Cats are perceptive creatures. They're independent, solitary hunters; when they choose to spend time with you, they don't do it out of an instinctive need, but simply because they like you and trust you. I'm sorry for your loss.
 

a life of cats

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6
Purraise
1
I am so sorry to hear that your cat friend died. I have just lost one of my own cat children and I feel at a loss most of the time. After worrying and carry for her the past 2 years while she battled her nasal cancer, now that she has gone, I find myself feeling that something is missing from each day now. I hope that you are finding peace in your heart about saying goodbye to your cat. I think I did all I could for her and I am sure that you did too for your cat. He was such a fine looking young (old?) man, wasn't he. My sister in Seattle just lost her 14 yo boy cat to the same abdominal cancer that your cat had too. Everyone who has experienced a loss of a dear cat is thinking of you and your dear cat.
 

nveronique

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
5
Purraise
1
Hi my name is Natalie & I just went through the same exact situation. I had to put the love of my life Grisou to sleep today b/c he had cancer in his liver & the oncologist said it has possibly spread to his abdomen & we tried one treatment of chemo, but it made him worse & he declined after that. Today was the hardest decision I had to make in my life b/c I kept asking myself "Is he suffering?" When he was looking at me in my eyes & meowing what did it mean? What was he trying to tell me. The Dr. told me based on his decreased temperature & retention of fluid in the belly that he was not responding well to the treatment. Its so strange because he was fine 3 weeks ago & all of a sudden we took him to our primary vet & he gave us the devastating news. I did not want to give up & tried everything possible I could to prolong his life & keep him here w/my mother & I. I cannot believe we went through the same thing. I thought I was the only one b/c everyone else's post says how chemo helped their cat & the treatment was successful. I couldn't find anyone who was going through the same thing as me. If you want to write back & talk I would appreciate it. Thank you!
 

nveronique

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
5
Purraise
1
Hi I just had to do it today. It was the hardest thing i have ever had to endure in my life & i have been through a lot of hardship, but this really broke my heart & made me feel so empty inside. I tried everything possible, but I did not want my baby to suffer anymore & go through the hospitalization which was making him depressed & miserable. I always thought cancer was only in man not in cute innocent animals :-(
 

tipperlove

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Messages
9
Purraise
10
I am so so sorry, I know what you are going through as I had to let my Tipper's spirit go on Sunday.  I think that is the worst feeling, plagued by doubt, that a person could ever have.  I am sure that he is right by your side and telling you thanks for not letting him hurt.  You will reunite with him one day and stay together for eternity.    
 

roger green

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
2
Purraise
2
Dawn, I have only just read about Hunter here in 2016 and I am so sorry for your loss. I am going through the same thing at the moment with "Precious"

She is 16 and has been diagnosed with a tumor and given two months maximum to live (That was 2 weeks ago) She is really struggling to do anything at the moment

and I fear that I may have to say goodbye to her real soon.  I know I have to have the courage to take her but it is so hard know that I am going to lose her...

I have had her since she was 7 weeks old.  I went through this last October with another one and I have a third that I know I will have to face the same with somewhere 

in the future as she is also 16 years old.....At 75 years old I do not think I shall have any more of these beautiful babies in my life but pray that I will meet them again

one day in heaven.  Please say a prayer for "Precious"

Roger
 

a life of cats

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6
Purraise
1
I know how difficult this is for you.  Making a decision about how long life will continue is a most difficult question to answer. When my cat Martha was dying of cancer in her nose and head, I watched her face become deformed and how she ate and ate to keep going. I debated with myself whether I was being selfish to not choose euthenasia for her. She almost never showed any sign of pain, yet she must have had some as the cancer infiltrated into her head. All I saw was how grateful she seemed to get some more cat food, or to be hugged and petted. She never wanted to leave us. Even in her final days which were probably tough for her, she just wanted to stay wherever we were. Like your dear cat, she died in my arms. In the end my dear cat's death came with her illness and nature; your dear cat's death came at a chosen time with the help of a vet. But, either way, they knew they were loved and they went on into a place of no suffering. Remember that. Your dear cat knew he was loved. And don't worry, we will see them again one day and it will be a very happy reunion. 
 

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,547
Purraise
22,888
Location
Nebraska, USA
Even though that post you responded to is 4 years old, I'm sure Littleflower70's grief is still in her life, I pray the pain is bearable after this time, we learn to live with our sorrow. All we can do is love them, and that is all they ever want. Precious deserves to end her life without going through a prolonged, painful process, but it shatters our hearts to end that life that we nurtured and loved for so long. It leaves a tremendous hole in our lives, but we must be strong and do what we know is the humane thing to do. We would never have our babies suffer for one minute more than they must.  My heart breaks fro what you are going through, you hurt so much because the pain is equal to your love. I hope it brings you comfort to know Precious loves you so very much and you gave her a wonderful home for so long. She is at peace knowing you will do what is right. Bless you........I'll pray very hard for you both.....
 

missingmycat

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
9
Purraise
2
I am so sorry for everyone's pain on this thread.  I posted 4 years ago here about losing my Theo suddenly to an illness we did not know he had.  I still miss him often and think of him almost every day.  Today a notification to this thread popped up into my inbox while I sit here with my other kitty, Bayou.  She is 15 and is in the end stages of bone cancer.  She was doing so well this summer we thought she was in remission.  But, one day she started to limp.  That limp quickly deteriorated.  The cancer had invaded her spine.  She became paralyzed in the hind quarters.  I was told at that moment there was nothing left to do for her.  That was 3 weeks ago.  I have been giving her hospice care at home with the help of an amazing mobile vet.  She is not in pain.  She purrs and is so happy to be cuddled and spoken to.  I have a doggie stroller and she goes all around the house with me just as she used to.  She still loved to eat and drink water.  It is so heart breaking because she is still so alert and mentally aware of everything.  She is loving and sweet.  Choosing euthanasia under these circumstances has been so difficult.  I feel like she still wants to live a bit longer.  I see that in her eyes and her loving response to me.  I feel like the replies to this thread from so long ago are coming to me now for a reason.  Maybe to offer comfort to others going through the loss of their dearly loved fur babies and maybe to help me deal with losing my sweet baby girl as well.  Hugs to all of you suffering......
 
Top