At home euthanasia vs. vet's office

I know your at a point of what ever she wants to eat she can have( I agree 100%!!!) but for pain wise watch the salt.  She may need more fluids to compensate. Or may retain more water.  I say this only as a quality of life.  

So sorry about her blood results.  I am thinking of you and her.

I did think of that, she is going in tonight for extra fluids and tomorrow nite too. I alerted them that at the last minute tomorrow might change to PTS. I don't think I can let her go on like this over the weekend. Vet says likely not in pain, but she is so spent and tired of fighting, I can tell. She's still trying though. I don't think I'll be able to do it until I see that light in her eyes dim.

But thanks for the thought, she is getting extra fluids to compensate and I did buy the "lite" versions of the cold cuts.

It is such a hard spot to be in.  You know her the best and you need to feel comfortable with when.  As long as it is done out of love it will never be wrong.  Seems you have a great vet team,that always helps.

I really wanted to do it at home, and I feel terrible but $500 vs $200 (complete) is a big difference and money is getting tight, especially for the adoption fees for "new" kitties.

In all my lamenting lately, a wise TCS sage reminded me that it who is with her rather than where it is done. Plus, I don't know if I'll be ready by tomorrow and this guy won't come on the weekends and I don't know if I can let her go that long. So very difficult. Sorry... pity party over (for now).

It may work out that the vet trip will keep her calmer then going at home.  I know my cats would struggle a lot more at home when they know their hiding spots/where I would have trouble getting them from vs a small office room.  Take it by the hour and just stay in tune with her.  I know not all feel the same about staying at the end but for me it VERY much is me being with them at the end vs where it is.  

Yes that could be true, I always said that I didn't want her last moments to be scared. But I have to remember that even though Len was in bad shape, the vets put out a nice fluffy blanket and it was very calm - but Len was a much more chilled out cat than she is.

OK and on a side note, the shelter I went to to see the seven yr old... I was in love with her. Anyway, I noticed a lot of the cats were sneezing and some had weepy eyes. I talked with someone there and they said they had a "bug" going around and they told me what it was. I asked my vet about it and she said to stay far away. I forget the name, but is a feline-herpes germ that has a high mortality rate and is highly contagious and the cats that contract it generally have a host of problems throughout their lives. I think they are probably have to euthanize them all to contain it. Poor things, so much heartbreak. I had my heart attached to that Micha .

On an upnote, Roni ate dinner!

Keeping the vibes coming to you and to Roni that you will have some very special moments over the next days as you prepare. Roni is SOOO loved, hun, and you certainly are and have done everything you possibly can for your dear kitty. Hang in there and know you are not alone as we all care.

I am also really very, very sad to hear about the shelter virus?? It can't be Herpes because that is not deadly and would not mean having to euthanize kitties. Must be something much worse than that. Oh how very sad and just what you don't need right now. for the shelter kitties and Micha.

Feralvr said:

Keeping the vibes coming to you and to Roni that you will have some very special moments over the next days as you prepare. Roni is SOOO loved, hun, and you certainly are and have done everything you possibly can for your dear kitty. Hang in there and know you are not alone as we all care.

I am also really very, very sad to hear about the shelter virus?? It can't be Herpes because that is not deadly and would not mean having to euthanize kitties. Must be something much worse than that. Oh how very sad and just what you don't need right now.

for the shelter kitties and Micha.

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Thank you, the sad just never ends. I'm torn. I think this is what she has (had)?

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...imal-health/feline-calicivirus-infection/4132

I called today and they said Micha was in the healthy cat room and totally adoptable, I don't know if I trust this though. My vet said "stay away" unless I want troubles down the road. I guess the epidemic is in the herpes family, and I know nothing about it. the shelter has many different "cat rooms", now she is in with the healthy ones. I know there are soooo many cats that need homes, but they posted a video of her yesterday that just stole my heart.

Roni is killing me, just when I prep for her demise... *pop* there she is again full force. That cat has the strongest will to live that I've ever seen, I think that's part of the trouble I'm having making this decision. She ate cat food last night and this AM, lots of it and her eyes are still bright and say "I love you" and she meows and purrs when I pet her. The vet said she has never seen a white cell count that high on a cat before, but honestly... she doesn't look that bad off. And not in pain and still eating (from time to time). Part of me says to do it and get it over with before she gets really bad, but that spirit for life and love she has astounds me. How can I kill that before she's ready?

So much sad and uncertainty. Everyone's support is really appreciated, thanks again. I really don't know what to do with Micha, I was planning on bringing another chilled out adult home too. *sigh*

As long as Roni is there, don't bring ANY new cats into the house (I didn't think you were considering this but just needed to say it.)   If your shelter girl is still available after Roni has left, then she may be meant for you.  Calici virus has many forms and is always mutating, rather like the human flu virus.  Yes, the vaccines do protect against some strains of calici, just as flu vaccines protect against some strains of flu, but the sneaky thing is always mutating.  It's not a death sentence UNLESS they get one of the deadly forms of it (virulent calici virus), and then it can become a death sentence in some shelters because the only way to get rid of it is to get rid of all cats present in the shelter at the time because they can be incubating it or can be carriers.  Most shelters will not do that unless they have an epidemic of the virulent form, and then it's about all they can do.  If you have no other cats at home and you adopt a cat who is totally recovered from most strains of calici, you probably won't have any problems with it in the future, and if you adopt two cats from the same shelter group, they won't pass it to each other because they have already either had it or been exposed and resisted it (that particular strain).  The following link is a very thorough one aimed at shelters.  Some members recommend adding bovine lactoferrin to the cat's food to stimulate her immune system and clear up any leftover problems such as runny eye or nose. 

http://www.sheltermedicine.com/node/38

Very comprehensive link, thank you. And your knowledgeable advice - thank you again.

I'll check it out the link later - I have been nurse for a long time and want to not worry for a day - plus my mother is likely in her end days due to renal failure as well .. Karma ***????) There are so many cats that need homes, Micha may end up getting adopted by one of the shelter staff. I feel terrible, but I have to think of myself for a while and have some kitties to enjoy and not worry about the health right off the bat. I need some happy and healthy loved ones. There were two black 2 yr old siblings at a shelter sponsored adoption event that were on the "been here way too long" list that I saw a while back, maybe I'll see if they are still around.

Plus, I'm skeptical by nature - and I'm not sure that I trust the honesty / integrity of this shelter, I think their top priority is moving out animals (which it should be), but IMHO - giving an honest assessment of their health should be on par as well. I'm not sure what strain is going around and the vet tech there is conveniently "busy" or "out" and won't return my calls. I'm sorry poor Micha.

I have decided to shelve bringing any animal home until after Roni passes. I'm also so glad I changed clothes and washed my hands and arms immediately after my shelter visit. Speaking of Roni, I took her in for fluids and warned them that I might decide to euthanize last night. Thursday she bounced back and is if I didn't know this cat was dying - I would think she is just tired from old age. She amazes me. The vet says likely no pain, so when the "I love you" light goes out in her eyes, I suppose I'll know that's when she has decided to hang it up.

Roni: Full cat food dinner last night, put out cat food overnight and this AM it was all gone, and I got the jump in bed with "feed me!" meow written all over it. This cat...

Fluids can keep them comfortable for a long time.  You are doing just what you need to do, giivng her support and paying attention to her response.  Nobody could ask for more.  Roni is probably teaching you lessons you will need when it's your mother's time to pass on.

She does do better with daily fluids... guess I'm going to have to suck it up and try the "at home" gig again. She got 200ccs on Thursday, the next day when I brought her back they said it was hard to tent her since she was so dehydrated. That's a lot of fluid for a small cat to go thru in one night.

Its strange because for people in renal failure, they restrict fluid intake as part of the treatment program - in cats, they push it. I guess hooking up a cat to a dialysis machine for hours on end just is not an option for a feline, so take the opposite route.

I wish mom were as acquiescent as Roni... mom's more stubborn than me!

(This thread is getting crazy long, sorry... It's my fault, I've been all over the place)

Thinking about you two and hoping you're both doing okay this weekend.

betsygee said:

Thinking about you two and hoping you're both doing okay this weekend.

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Thank you for your kind thoughts

I'm having a sad day, Roni is eating and sleeping mostly. I'm going to have to make this decision soon, and again grappling with at home or take her in to the office. Leaning towards home.
Every time I go and pet her, I give her a spoonful or two of food, which she is accepting. That's good, anyway.

Hope you and your feline retirement community are OK. Travis holding his own?

Travis is hanging in there!  He has days when he won't eat as much, or seems more unsteady.  But overall, he's doing pretty well.  I got a new supply of subq fluids for him from the vet this past week and she wants to check his blood work so I'll take him in soon for a recheck.  

I hope Roni continue to eat a bit at least.  So worrisome when they don't.  As others have said, we're here for you--sending you and Roni good vibes.  

Just catching up here, @Wasabipea, and wanted you to know that you and Roni are in my thoughts.    I know this is so hard.

GoHolistic said:

Just catching up here, @Wasabipea
, and wanted you to know that you and Roni are in my thoughts.    I know this is so hard.

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Thank you, and your understanding and kind thoughts. It is so hard

This makes me think of sometnng that happened when I was a kidlet. Not cat related, but my parents were close to an older couple, Gene and Ruth. They were together for 40+ yrs and still very much in love. One day he kissed her goodbye, left for work and shortly thereafter had a massive heart attack and died. Miles away, probably within moments of her hubby's passing, Ruth has a massive stroke - lingered in a coma for a few days before she died. Neither one ever knew the other had passed. How often does something like that happen?

It's so hard to watch a loved one grieve when there is nothing you can do but love them. I really think she gave up when Len was PTS. Its really heartbreaking.

But thank you. I suppose I'm having a hard time since I'm still in grief too. Such a difficult decision, as you know.

I agree with Red Top and would not bring any new cat/kitten home until your dear Roni has left for the Bridge. I think it would be a bit risky too. :nod: Thanks for the excellent link, Red Top, too. As far as I know, Calicivirus is not a death sentence and very rarely does it become the virulent stage. I guess the shelter knows best, though. :shame:

Glad to hear that Roni ate last night !!! I know the feeling of elation that you have another day and more time. I am dealing with this with my elderly much loved dog, Henry. It is not easy, I know. Hang in there. The ups days are fantastic and I take them, and the down days I have to ask myself "IS today the day" If I can't 100% say yes, then we make it another day. I think somehow we know when that time has come, they somehow let us know. :nod:

Feralvr said:

I agree with Red Top and would not bring any new cat/kitten home until your dear Roni has left for the Bridge. I think it would be a bit risky too. :nod: Thanks for the excellent link, Red Top, too. As far as I know, Calicivirus is not a death sentence and very rarely does it become the virulent stage. I guess the shelter knows best, though. :shame:

Glad to hear that Roni ate last night !!! I know the feeling of elation that you have another day and more time. I am dealing with this with my elderlymuch loved dog, Henry. It is not easy, I know. Hang in there. The ups days are fantastic and I take them, and the down days I have to ask myself "IS today the day" If I can't 100% say yes, then we make it another day. I think somehow we know when that time has come, they somehow let us know. :nod:

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I'm sorry you are gong thru this too, my thoughts are with you as well. I hope they let us know somehow, I'd hate to think I'm keeping her around for selfish reasons (OK, well maybe they are a little selfish). I should say I'd hate for her to suffer since I'm being selfish. Enjoy your days with your beloved Henry, I trust that you will both know when the time is right. Lots of positive energy to you both

That was a great link that Red Top provided, while the strain at the shelter is likely not the virulent variety, its made me second guess adopting that cat - or any others from that specific place - it seems that these infected cats will always have contagious phases, and I would rather not be limited to "no more" adoptions later on. There is another shelter nearby, very clean and their cats are healthy - lots of adults looking for homes, and they look happy and clean in their pics. Its a non profit agency... so when the time is right, and my head is back on straight, I'll pay them a visit.

Thanks again for your kind words, and give old Henry a pet from me

I too am going through this with my little old dog. I have been this route before and you know without doubt when the time comes. God bless you both.