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ghostuser
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Tango is 16 years old. He's a very special cat who has been with me through thick and thin, sickness, health, deaths in the family, divorce and helped watch over my 2 children. He helped raise Sophie, our 3 year old kitty. They are both beautiful himalayans. Tango is a seal point.
Yesterday, he took a sharp turn for the worse. He's had minor problems, or at least he handled them like they were minor. He's had mostly good days these past few months of becoming sicker. He has romped around with Sophie, occasionally jumping up and down from a chair in a game of chase. He's had a fabulous appetite and was amazingly spry for his age. When he started losing weight, the vet said to switch to Science Diet. It made all the difference for awhile and I kicked myself for not doing it sooner. But it didn't last long.
The past 2 days, I've had to sit beside him, dip my finger in a multitude of different things to tempt him to eat. He snatched bits of chicken up like he was going to gobble up my finger, licked at the juice from canned food, but turned his nose up at milk and water. I tried baby food this morning and he licked up a tiny bit of it.
I realized last night, I was going to have to make a decision I swore I would never make, unless he was in actual pain. I can see today that he may not cry out, but he is in pain and his eyes are becoming vacant. He has never been one to like the outdoors, but I took him outside on the swing so he could enjoy the sunshine and sounds. I looked him in the eyes and he rubbed against me. Do you think he would be angry with me for what I'm thinking? I cry as I think of it and don't know if I can make that drive to the vet's office. I don't really have the extra money, but when I can gather the courage, there is a vet near here that makes home visits for euthenasia. He deserves that. I can't bear to think of him being terrified in a vet's office that has smells and sounds to assault his remaining senses.
I will hold him in my arms because he deserves that, too. The vet's assistant said they don't usually give sedatives beforehand and he may have to be restrained. I won't have that. How can I hold him down for them to stick a needle in his leg?
I don't know about this, but how else can I help him? I can't let him go on much longer like this. I wish there were a less harsh way to help him to rest.
I told my 12 year old daughter last night he was not going to get any better and we may have to consider letting him die. I know she is old enough to understand but all she did was cry like I'm doing. I know there is nothing wrong with crying, but it hurts a great deal.
My beautiful Tango. I wish I could give him some more time. I wish he could pass quietly and without pain, hunger, or fear.
I was thinking last night ...how hard it's going to be to not be constantly looking out for him under foot. How much less I would be opening and closing the door to my room. You know how kitties can be...open the door they want out, close it and they want back in. Tango has stopped asking me to open the door the past few days and he's not underfoot as much. He doesn't hop up on the bed anymore and last night was the first time he hasn't come to help me tuck in my daughter.
Tango has been such a great friend. He has seen so many changes over his lifetime with the family dynamics and he's accepted everything with his special kitty style. He's been the alpha over several other pets that have come and gone. He's endured having a doggy in the house. He lost his master (the ex) and adopted a new one. I took him to see his "stepdad" a few days ago. It's strange because it' almost like he was holding on for that visit. After he saw him, it was like he just wanted to do that one last thing before he let himself slip away. Maybe I'm just trying to attribute a behavior to him that is more my thoughtsthan actual reality....I don't know. Tango is a special fella and I sure am going to find this hard to do.
I'm sorry for the long, rambling post. I just thought it would be good for me to put my fractured thoughts and feelings into words and maybe it will help me make a decision. Thank you to whoever listened.
Yesterday, he took a sharp turn for the worse. He's had minor problems, or at least he handled them like they were minor. He's had mostly good days these past few months of becoming sicker. He has romped around with Sophie, occasionally jumping up and down from a chair in a game of chase. He's had a fabulous appetite and was amazingly spry for his age. When he started losing weight, the vet said to switch to Science Diet. It made all the difference for awhile and I kicked myself for not doing it sooner. But it didn't last long.
The past 2 days, I've had to sit beside him, dip my finger in a multitude of different things to tempt him to eat. He snatched bits of chicken up like he was going to gobble up my finger, licked at the juice from canned food, but turned his nose up at milk and water. I tried baby food this morning and he licked up a tiny bit of it.
I realized last night, I was going to have to make a decision I swore I would never make, unless he was in actual pain. I can see today that he may not cry out, but he is in pain and his eyes are becoming vacant. He has never been one to like the outdoors, but I took him outside on the swing so he could enjoy the sunshine and sounds. I looked him in the eyes and he rubbed against me. Do you think he would be angry with me for what I'm thinking? I cry as I think of it and don't know if I can make that drive to the vet's office. I don't really have the extra money, but when I can gather the courage, there is a vet near here that makes home visits for euthenasia. He deserves that. I can't bear to think of him being terrified in a vet's office that has smells and sounds to assault his remaining senses.
I will hold him in my arms because he deserves that, too. The vet's assistant said they don't usually give sedatives beforehand and he may have to be restrained. I won't have that. How can I hold him down for them to stick a needle in his leg?
I don't know about this, but how else can I help him? I can't let him go on much longer like this. I wish there were a less harsh way to help him to rest.
I told my 12 year old daughter last night he was not going to get any better and we may have to consider letting him die. I know she is old enough to understand but all she did was cry like I'm doing. I know there is nothing wrong with crying, but it hurts a great deal.
My beautiful Tango. I wish I could give him some more time. I wish he could pass quietly and without pain, hunger, or fear.
I was thinking last night ...how hard it's going to be to not be constantly looking out for him under foot. How much less I would be opening and closing the door to my room. You know how kitties can be...open the door they want out, close it and they want back in. Tango has stopped asking me to open the door the past few days and he's not underfoot as much. He doesn't hop up on the bed anymore and last night was the first time he hasn't come to help me tuck in my daughter.
Tango has been such a great friend. He has seen so many changes over his lifetime with the family dynamics and he's accepted everything with his special kitty style. He's been the alpha over several other pets that have come and gone. He's endured having a doggy in the house. He lost his master (the ex) and adopted a new one. I took him to see his "stepdad" a few days ago. It's strange because it' almost like he was holding on for that visit. After he saw him, it was like he just wanted to do that one last thing before he let himself slip away. Maybe I'm just trying to attribute a behavior to him that is more my thoughtsthan actual reality....I don't know. Tango is a special fella and I sure am going to find this hard to do.
I'm sorry for the long, rambling post. I just thought it would be good for me to put my fractured thoughts and feelings into words and maybe it will help me make a decision. Thank you to whoever listened.
