You wil know in your heart when it is time to let her cross the Bridge. Until then just give her all the love you can. The purring shows you she feels safe with you. If you can stand it, let her go in your arms.
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When a cat is dying...
- Thread starter postfetalphase
- Start Date
Well my cat Prissy died today 
I'm kinda of relieved. Got home from work and couldn't find her, somehow she had crawled to the hallway where it was dark. She was slipping in and out of a coma at that time, but she had waited for me 
She looked up meowing really weakly and purred some when I petted her then I placed her on the bed to be comfortable. It took 7hours, so glad no longer then that. Had called the vet and they said sometimes it can last for days. When she took her last breath was extremely hard to watch, she was struggling and then had a small seizure. I know she didn't feel anything since she was in a coma, so I'm very glad for that. I got to be there with her and talked to her, I am so happy about that. Her waiting for me and crying to me was so sweet of her . I told her to let go and that she would be with Grandma soon and that I love and would miss her but that I would be fine and see her again some day.
I'm kinda of relieved. Got home from work and couldn't find her, somehow she had crawled to the hallway where it was dark. She was slipping in and out of a coma at that time, but she had waited for me She looked up meowing really weakly and purred some when I petted her then I placed her on the bed to be comfortable. It took 7hours, so glad no longer then that. Had called the vet and they said sometimes it can last for days. When she took her last breath was extremely hard to watch, she was struggling and then had a small seizure. I know she didn't feel anything since she was in a coma, so I'm very glad for that. I got to be there with her and talked to her, I am so happy about that. Her waiting for me and crying to me was so sweet of her . I told her to let go and that she would be with Grandma soon and that I love and would miss her but that I would be fine and see her again some day.
We all grieve with you, Lizz
Prissy
Across the Rainbow Bridge there is no more pain, fear or hunger. Just the love that follows them everywhere. She is frolicking with all the others that have crossed.
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Im so sorry to hear about your loss
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I began to cry when reading this. I mean a stream of tears ouring down from my eyes. My incredible cat is dying. I've been with him for 11 years and its just so hard to realise that he will be gone soon. I wil never own another cat more fantastic than him. I love you Tigger!!
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As many of you have said,it's an individual thing. My cat Arrabella,who I recently had to put to sleep, wanted nothing to do with me. While this broke my heart, it was certainly a sign that something was wrong. Years ago when I had indoor/outdoor cats many of them just disappeared. I can only assume they went off to die.
I'm so glad this site is still up and active. Reading posts going back to 2006 is amazing. Some of them are so touching. I'm sitting hear bawling like a baby.
My beautiful Tiger Woods is in his final days. It breaks my heart to see how brave he is. Poor guy has diabetes and heart failure. The deck is stacked against him and I've known for a while that it's only a matter of time. But he's always enjoyed a good tummy rub and has always purred when I stroke him. That has sustained my hope.
But in the past few days it's changed. I know he loves me, and he tries to purr but it just stops as soon as I stop stroking. He doesn't stretch out and relax.
We're lucky to have a local vet who makes house calls and I'm putting off making that call, but I know I have to. I'm hoping we can make it through the current rain storm and do it on a sunny day outside on the patio where he loves basking in the sun.
Thanks for being here, everyone.
My beautiful Tiger Woods is in his final days. It breaks my heart to see how brave he is. Poor guy has diabetes and heart failure. The deck is stacked against him and I've known for a while that it's only a matter of time. But he's always enjoyed a good tummy rub and has always purred when I stroke him. That has sustained my hope.
But in the past few days it's changed. I know he loves me, and he tries to purr but it just stops as soon as I stop stroking. He doesn't stretch out and relax.
We're lucky to have a local vet who makes house calls and I'm putting off making that call, but I know I have to. I'm hoping we can make it through the current rain storm and do it on a sunny day outside on the patio where he loves basking in the sun.
Thanks for being here, everyone.
I know this is old, but ill share my experience. Willow had been dealing with CRF for about 4 months and had a handful of crashes. I relied heavily on our vet to help me know when it was time to let her go. During each crash, she did seek me out, she went to her favorite spots, and still acted mostly like herself.
One morning as I was walking out the door, I realized she didn't come out to say good morning so I went to look for her. She wasn't in any of her spots, so I searched the entire house. I finally found her under the corner of my sons bed, a room I'd never seen her in before. She wouldn't come out, so I moved the bed to get her. She'd lost control of her back legs, and her bowels and was growling and hissing at me.
I knew on the way to the vet that she was telling me it was time. The vet thought she may have had a stroke. She couldn't walk and was breathing funny. This cat had been at the vets a few times a week for months and always had to be sedated. She had CAUTION stickers on her chart. But when the vet gave her the first shot to relax her, she didn't even move. It was very unlike her to let me hold her during a shot and she closed her eyes before the final shot was even given. I have no doubt she would have died that day, but I'm very thankful I was with her and could give her a little comfort in her last moments even though she didn't seem to want me.
One morning as I was walking out the door, I realized she didn't come out to say good morning so I went to look for her. She wasn't in any of her spots, so I searched the entire house. I finally found her under the corner of my sons bed, a room I'd never seen her in before. She wouldn't come out, so I moved the bed to get her. She'd lost control of her back legs, and her bowels and was growling and hissing at me.
I knew on the way to the vet that she was telling me it was time. The vet thought she may have had a stroke. She couldn't walk and was breathing funny. This cat had been at the vets a few times a week for months and always had to be sedated. She had CAUTION stickers on her chart. But when the vet gave her the first shot to relax her, she didn't even move. It was very unlike her to let me hold her during a shot and she closed her eyes before the final shot was even given. I have no doubt she would have died that day, but I'm very thankful I was with her and could give her a little comfort in her last moments even though she didn't seem to want me.
The only cat that i had that has ever died was named Patch. He was an outdoor cat his entire life, up until he was 16yes old. He was attacked by a racoon and the pet sitter decided "it wasn't that bad". After a week in at the vet for a full body infection that reached his brain, he came home, but had mental problems. He became and indoor cat and lived in my room because he could not go up stairs because of a balance issue. He lived with me for over a year. We went on vacation and took him to the vet to be boarded. The next day they called and said he had passed in his sleep. That night they had fed him, and after he ate he curled up on his bed. The next morning they found him still curled in the same position. I believe that he waited for me to leave to pass. He could have easily died under my bed or one day when I was not home, yet he chose to wait until the day we left for vacation.
Welcome to TCS! I wish it were under better circumstances for you.
Our one cat Flurry, the day before he died, I went to go into the basement to see them (we lived at my grandma's at the time and our cats had to be locked in the basement and we felt so bad for them) and he was at the top step even though he couldn't really walk much and was deaf and blind by then. I cuddled with him on the couch and the next day we found him dead. A few weeks later our cat Lance (who was Flurry's best friend and healthy other than being obese) died.
Our cat Snickers we thought we would have to search for her (we knew she was going for days) and before we even started searching she came out screaming in a pitiful voice looking for us. I put her in a box with blankets and towels and offered her shaved ham and baby food meat and she ate what she could. She kept slipping in and out of consciousness the whole time and would start crying because she got uncomfortable in the position she was in, but was too weak to even roll over so I'd have to flip her. She was like this for 10 hours (our vet was closed) and we made a deal if she was still alive by 8am (the time our vet opens) we'd take her to get her put down. She hated car rides! She ended up passing at 7:30am and we swear it was so she didn't have to go in the car.
Mica had wanted to come up to bed with me the night before he died and I feel bad because I didn't go pick him up and take him with me. He died curled up in blankets on the couch with my dad.
A lot of the kittens we took care of this year that died died with somebody holding them or their siblings cuddling them.
One of the feral cats next door, when they were feeding them, came up to the door and went inside (completely feral cat who never wanted anything to do with people here!) they took him to the vet and he had a really bad infection. He's now an idoor cat and perfectly fine because he went to them for help.
Felix and Sinder's mom (completely feral kitty) went up to one of our other neighbor's doorsteps and died there.
I've known some cats to find solitude and die alone, but I've known a lot more to come seeking companionship for their final hours. I'd imagine it's because they're scared and confused and just want reassurance. Can't imagine how terrifying it would be knowing you're dying.
Our cat Snickers we thought we would have to search for her (we knew she was going for days) and before we even started searching she came out screaming in a pitiful voice looking for us. I put her in a box with blankets and towels and offered her shaved ham and baby food meat and she ate what she could. She kept slipping in and out of consciousness the whole time and would start crying because she got uncomfortable in the position she was in, but was too weak to even roll over so I'd have to flip her. She was like this for 10 hours (our vet was closed) and we made a deal if she was still alive by 8am (the time our vet opens) we'd take her to get her put down. She hated car rides! She ended up passing at 7:30am and we swear it was so she didn't have to go in the car.
Mica had wanted to come up to bed with me the night before he died and I feel bad because I didn't go pick him up and take him with me. He died curled up in blankets on the couch with my dad.
A lot of the kittens we took care of this year that died died with somebody holding them or their siblings cuddling them.
One of the feral cats next door, when they were feeding them, came up to the door and went inside (completely feral cat who never wanted anything to do with people here!) they took him to the vet and he had a really bad infection. He's now an idoor cat and perfectly fine because he went to them for help.
Felix and Sinder's mom (completely feral kitty) went up to one of our other neighbor's doorsteps and died there.
I've known some cats to find solitude and die alone, but I've known a lot more to come seeking companionship for their final hours. I'd imagine it's because they're scared and confused and just want reassurance. Can't imagine how terrifying it would be knowing you're dying.
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i'm new too,
we've had milo for 10 years, indoor outdoor male cat who has never disappeared during the spring like most cats but this year he was gone for four days and we were really nervous. he has allergies and is neurotic about cleaning himself so when the steroids wear off he starts looking sick with patchy hair. when he came back he looked a lot thinner but stayed in the house and ate all the time. its been a week now and he is looking back to normal so don't give up hope like we did, cats are unique animals and they don't always tell you what they're going to do!
we've had milo for 10 years, indoor outdoor male cat who has never disappeared during the spring like most cats but this year he was gone for four days and we were really nervous. he has allergies and is neurotic about cleaning himself so when the steroids wear off he starts looking sick with patchy hair. when he came back he looked a lot thinner but stayed in the house and ate all the time. its been a week now and he is looking back to normal so don't give up hope like we did, cats are unique animals and they don't always tell you what they're going to do!
A few weeks ago my 13 year old baby MIttens passed at home. She suffered from multiple mylenoma blood cancer. The last month of her life for the first time in 13 years she began to lay on my back and chest at night; I discovered after consulting with cat owner friends that this was an indicator of her saying goodbye essentially and wanting to be close with me.
Her final night she appeared weak yet ate a portion of her food. I checked on her every 15 minutes after I went to bed for the night and she seemed fine until 1 a.m. I couldn't locate her and became concerned, I later found her in the litter box I placed in my room for the night. She was gasping for air sprawled out with her tounge hanging. I comforted her and gently placed her back on my bed while preparing to rush her to the emergency vet. She passed a few minutes later and I held her and pet her while whispering in her ear that I loved her. It was a difficult experience as she began convulsing then she stopped breathing and her heart stopped. She was kind enough to not urinate on my bed and attempted with her last ounces of energy to eliminate in the box. I know this because she later passed urine after deceased. Miss you Mitt.
Her final night she appeared weak yet ate a portion of her food. I checked on her every 15 minutes after I went to bed for the night and she seemed fine until 1 a.m. I couldn't locate her and became concerned, I later found her in the litter box I placed in my room for the night. She was gasping for air sprawled out with her tounge hanging. I comforted her and gently placed her back on my bed while preparing to rush her to the emergency vet. She passed a few minutes later and I held her and pet her while whispering in her ear that I loved her. It was a difficult experience as she began convulsing then she stopped breathing and her heart stopped. She was kind enough to not urinate on my bed and attempted with her last ounces of energy to eliminate in the box. I know this because she later passed urine after deceased. Miss you Mitt.
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So sorry and Thank You. We are losing our Taboo of old age, he is about 16. I am pretty sure he wants to die with dignity here at home, and he's not in visible pain. He's been eating, drinking and sleeping for 2 weeks. He still gets around but has lost weight and has weak legs, wobbly. I hate to take him to the vet for a shot when he is so peaceful, but he is not going to last. He hasn't been on his beds in over a week, chose a couple spots nearby me, but blocked from view. He still wakes up at night (dementia), to be reassured. Is it ok to let him pass at home? I wish he could hear me tell him it's ok (he knows I am not "ok". , so we are avoiding eachother as a courtesy to our heart strings) . Thanks....
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I am sorry to hear this. It's a tough call because if they pass in their sleep it is peaceful however, if they pass awake it appears to be painful and suffering and it is a sad experience to witness. I would get an opinion from a vet. I will never forget the appearance of Mitt suffering until the end. I would have rather have her euthanized peacefully.
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I am sorry to hear this. It's a tough call because if they pass in their sleep it is peaceful however, if they pass awake it appears to be painful and suffering and it is a sad experience to witness. I would get an opinion from a vet. I will never forget the appearance of Mitt suffering until the end. I would have rather have her euthanized peacefully.
I can't figure out how to reply without quoting right now....thanks for the input! I made breakfast this morning, so made bacon, Taboo's favorite. He enjoyed a glass of water after and has peed, but no #2 yet. So far he's using the sand. He seems depressed, and does NOT want to be touched. Partly because he used to require a full body bath after being rubbed
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Thank you for all the support here! The advice you gave was invaluable! Taboo Kitty's bowels stopped #2's last Thurs. My vet was able to get us in first thing Monday AM for euthanasia. Poor kitty tried to poop and postpone things right in their office as they explained what to expect - a real fighter to the end! I cried for days leading up to it, and a couple days since. Still do, but am relieved we had every possible moment with our baby boy. I know have his ashes in an urn, soon to have a photo attached when I can stand to do it without bawling. Thank you for the push to do the right thing, it was the right thing, but I was not so sure until it was done. Hardest thing I've ever done. Bless you all and your kitties past and present!
When you feel up to it, remember him to us on Crossing the Bridge.
