Aging cat, knowing the inevitable !

[MsMollimizz]

Does anyone know a less painful way to say good-bye to a life-long
friend ? My boy Charlie is getting up there in age, and sooo skinny
I feel so bad there's nothing but skin and bones to pet.
I fight the urge to put him to sleep(its more than just age), or
should I let him pass on his own ??? I dread waking up and finding
his lifeless body... and I'm in an apartment so I cannot bury him.
I've had him since he was 2mo old, he's a Leo like me-that makes for
interesting tests of wills !
I rub his belly twice a day so he can poop...he don't like me stopping !
He'll grab my hand and give me a love bite...
This is the boy I walk around the apts on a leash. He's a celebrity here...
He was 22lbs when we moved in(2lbs over pet limit!), now maybe 7 or 8 !
I hope some of you have some advice on how to deal/decide...
Thank you all for your time and replies
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[SnowCat]

I have had cats that passed on their own, and cats who have had to be helped. I understand the dread of waking up to his lifeless body. If you choose to let him pass on his own, there are pet cremation services available. They come pick up the body, and if you choose private cremation, the ashes are returned to you. Charlie will let you know what you need to do.

Snow

[planewalker]

I too am going through this. If your friend is having trouble with nutrition I have found that "Delectables for senior cats 10+ Bisque " is very good. Mine vacuums them up. They are easy to digest and she can just lap them up. I also use Meow Mix "Irresistables" soft cat treats. I break them in half for her. I've gone over to bottled water so she doesn't have to deal with the minerals in tap.

I've had a familiar almost every day of my life. Now she is 21 and just a tired baby. I don't focus spells through her any more. I'm just glad that we have been friends. I rejoice that I have had her love and companionship for all these years. She has had a better life than many people in this world. She has become inseperable from me. We are most often joined at the hip. I don't mind. I have a long good-bye.

As long as your friend is in little pain and can eat regularly, If you can stand to find him I'd say let him stay home where he knows every inch. Is with you, his best friend. If his kidneys or intestines fail you should put him to sleep. Also if he is in great constant pain.

[Shekinah]

I understand well your emotional entanglement with your Kitty. "The only reason for humans is to care for cats" is my philosophy. I have always had one or two cats except when in the jungles of Nam, Laos and Cambodia where the big cats roam. As a Commando Special Operator groomed on the killing fields of SE Asia I admit I have never lost a cat I did not cry over. Such precious little spirits filled with boundless unconditional love would be immortal if I were God.

Deciding to terminate the life of a dear friend is a tough decision always questioning when is the time, is he/she in pain, will the kitty understand my decision and what will be going through it's mind as pupils dilate looking at me while holding him/her as the vet injects the medication? Such a decision tears at the very core of our soul but we alone must make that decision (at recommendation of the vet). I have gone through this with two kitties and believe euthanasia is so rapid and painless that it should be an alternative to prolonged suffering the depth of which we cannot know.

I would never trust anyone to lay my cat to rest. That is my responsibility. My cats love to play with my "T" shirts so I put them in an old "T" shirt as his burial shroud so a little of me stays with him. I engrave a marker for the burial site and have a small sacred plot behind my home for those who have left me. Been known to scoop up a road kill kitty I don't know and put it in my sacred plot. Couldn't stand to see it remain on the road.

[MsMollimizz]

I got my cat a few months after we moved out of his Mom's place.
I had to put my dog down just before we moved, she had a tick under
her skin I could not get a vet to lance-grrr ! I believe that's what caused
her kidneys to slow their function. Enzymes are suppose to be 3-6 and
her's were 25, the vet said he wouldn't blame me if I put her down...
She was my best friend and gun...took hubby 6mo before he could
walk in my yard by himself !
I've had another cat long ago who lived to be 22yrs and she was skinnier
than my boy now, that's what let me know his loosing weight is age-
mainly.
We were on a main highway in a trailer when I got him so I started
putting him out on a light chain and leash trained him. He will sit
(sometimes) on request, but he will lay down when I ask him. He
will sit patiently when we are out on leash for a little while.
Yesterday out on leash I met one of the neighbors who had a
min-pin and Charlie walked up to about 2ft away and laid down
to look at the dog. No hissing or the like, just watching-that was
out of the ordinary for him !
For the last week or so we've had a 6-8mo old orange tabby crying
at my patio slider and the front door. Charlie sits at the screen and
talks to her(?), my female sits on her cat tree and growls at her(?).
When we were on the leash yesterday I walked him out to the patio
side to let him smell where she's been. She popped over the wall and
and under a car, but not for long ! Charlie laid down and exposed his
belly to her she came up and they went nose to nose with no hissing !
We walked back towards the door and she followed him ! We got to
the door and she was right there ! I hadn't said anything to hubby yet
that I'd like to let her come in now and then-we are only allowed 2 pets.
Later I closed both cats in bedroom and opened the patio door to let
her in-she just sat there looking(so far). I won't let her in for first time
when hubby's asleep in case there's a fight. My female is the only one
I would worry about ! She has such unusual WHITE rings on her tail not
cream like usual.
Okay...SnowCat, thank you for your kind words. I wish I could afford
to get him cremated...
Planewalker, I feel for you having to go thru the same thing...I feed
my fur-babies the best foods I can afford. Not top of the line stuff
but also not the bottom cheap stuff. I give him 1/2 a baby aspirin
now and then, sometimes it helps him and his arthritis, sometimes
not. I still try :~) Thank you for your kind words and understanding !
Shekinah, first...thank you for your service !
Beings I'm in an apartment complex I cannot bury him-that's where
Parvo comes from anyway when dogs dig them up and eat...
I was unable to stay with my dog when she went to sleep...waaa !
I've always given my babies filtered water, and now we have a Pur
filter that they get. I don't like the taste of the water around here...
When I see any animal on the road I always ask "that their soul be
guided to the happy hunting ground-blessed be" is the best I can do
for now. Thank you for your kind words...

Its never an easy decision either way ! There is still life in his eyes,
tho they may be a little cloudy he can still see. He still comes when
I call him, it just takes him a little while longer to get up. He waits
for me in the morning by the couch to get his first belly rub !
Thank you all for listening to my woes and tears from the heart...!

Gentle Light
MsMollimizz
May Mother Earth smile upon you and bring your heart joy !

[SnowCat]

It looks like private cremation for a cat averages about $100. That can be unaffordable for some people. I always say a little prayer for animals that have been hit by a car. I've been known to bury them too. It sounds like you may have a new friend with your outside kitty. I wish I had more wisdom to offer.

Snow

[Firebird]

My thoughts are with you MzMoli, it's a hard thing to ponder.
My daughters cat just suddenly passsed very recently. She had him cremated, is was less than 200. dollars...about 140 I think?
I'm wishing you the best whatever you decide.
Blessed be the fur babies.
Firebird

[planewalker]

I'll have my Spirit guide carry my prayers for you and your "Furbaby" to the Great Spirit.

[MsMollimizz]

SnowCat
I appreciate your kind words of understanding and info !
That tells me you care enough about people to offer your
words, they don't always have to words of wisdom-just words !

FireBirdFlys
Thank you for your warm words and "blessed be the fur-babies"
All words of kindness are appreciated

PlaneWalker
Thank you for your prayers for me and my fuzzy kid !
They are appreciated !

Well I was kind of hoping this homeless cat who choose our apartment
to ask for food was a girl...I don't think I have ever seen a female orange
tabby *scratching head in thought*
Despite the fact it's a boy, my Charlie is still gentle towards him and it
makes me curious about my female-maybe just because he's a stranger ?
He(thinking about calling him Jake?), is spending more time on my patio,
mainly in the evenings. I've been really watching him, with the food I'm
giving him he shouldn't stay super skinny, if so I may try some worm pills.
Charlie and I sat on the floor next to the patio door talking to this kid...
and man is he a talker !!! He almost came up to me tonight when I put
the food out after dinner(hubby gave him breakfast!)
With this fur-baby outside I'm wondering if he came to us for a specific
reason ? One hundred apts and he comes to ours...
Charlie got some energy from somewhere and was running around the
apt for 20-30mins, it was a good sight ! I saw he still had some life in
him...maybe he did that for me to see he's not done yet ! I hope not...
Its just some days he looks so ragged as if he hasn't cleaned himself for
a couple days and that gets me to wondering...
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[SnowCat]

My understanding is that female ginger tabbies are not common. Jake sounds like a fine name for your new friend. Sometimes the universe has a way of easing our pain by sending us a bandage for the hole where a piece of our heart has been ripped out.

Snow

[MsMollimizz]

The Universe is amazing, isn't it !
It may take me a few days
but I'll try to take a pic of this kid...!
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[MsMollimizz]

Sometimes the universe has a way of easing our pain by sending us a bandage for the hole where a piece of our heart has been ripped out.
Snow

Ya know SnowCat,
That's probably what's happening...
I took Charlie outside Tuesday and we went back around to the patio side
and Jake was there under the bushes in the shade and after Charlie had some
grass and they "talked"(I wish I could hear them!) we went back towards our
door Charlie kept stopping and looking back waiting for Jake ! All the way to
the door he kept stopping and waiting We got to the door and I took the
leash off Charlie but I kept the door open and called to Jake to come in...
He got to the door but as of yet he hasn't been brave enough to come in,
I wonder if that's because Kidden growls at him when she sees him ???
It don't matter how much food I put out for him he gobbles everything
in it, and a little while later he's asking for more; worms-cause it don't look
like its making a dent in the size of his belly. I was wondering if maybe that's
why someone dumped him off instead of fixing the problem ??? I don't understand
"people" some times !
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

stray whose adopting us sort of...

[MsMollimizz]

When I cut the knots out of Charlie's hair it seems like the next day
there's more, makes me think he is making them ???
When Charlie goes walking by he's so hunched up, I go make him
an aspirin...he is up running around the next day like there's no pain.
I think he pays for it the day after, he'll sleep most of the day.
I've been finding him on the floor in the bedroom at night, makes me
think he is too much pain to get up on the dresser
He cleans his white "collar" around his neck but the rest of him is
ragged and unkept looking. His once "handsome" tail is dirty now too.
When he meows at me there's hardly any sound coming out(unless he
is in the kitchen-typical!)
I am so torn Gentle People...do I let him live out his life with me or
do I take him to be put to sleep...no more pain.
My tough Leo cat tries to put on a brave front, but when I see him
curled up in a tight ball when its not cold in here he has to be in pain.
His droppings in the box is really putrid, to the point of gagging-like
something died...and he's not covering it up(pain?).
I don't want it on my conscious if I put him to sleep...will I be telling
myself he might have had a few months of life with me. Curled up
behind my legs as we go to sleep-I'll miss that...
I know no one can tell me which way to go with this...
Maybe I'm just trying to talk it out-cry it out more like it.
I am so torn, I still second guess myself with my dog; if I would have
waited to see how she'd do...and this was the year 2000; and I'm still
beating myself up over it.
...and Kidden, she's still "screaming" at Jake when he gets on the patio.
I keep telling Kidden tho that Jake is her boyfriend ! She don't like
anyone !
Jake is starting to fill out now that he has a steady food supply, his
colors and pattern are becoming more defined. I can pet him when
he's eating, hubby pet him once. After he ate last night he knocked
on the screen again, other times when I open the screen he just sits
at the door looking. If I could have caught him last month I could have
gotten him fixed for nothing. He wouldn't come close to me then...
I wish I didn't have to make this decision...
My friend has a friend who works for Humane Society here in town,
I have to get a paper from vet stating why I have to do this...then
take him next door for...
Maybe that's why I've had this knot in my stomach the last few days...
This feeling about Charlie doesn't want to "digest" and pass thru-
I'm holding on tight I guess... Ted Andrews was right about this
in his Healer's Manual...
I'm the one who has big shoulders, listening to other's problems...
Now my only local Pagan friend has moved up the hill with a new
boyfriend...sure I can still call her, it's not the same as having her
here with me.
The other friend is busy with her own life and family,we still talk
now and then, mainly when she comes to clean. When she found
the Lord again we kind of drifted apart some. She's also having
trouble finding the right man for her-life !
...and I look down the hall at Charlie, he's curled up tight again.
Fifteen years...I taught Charlie to walk on a leash, he sits and
lays down(most the time); none of my cats have ever come to
"here kitty kitty", I call them by their name so no one can coax
them away. Charlie comes to me when I snap my fingers...I
guess I missed my dog so much I trained another "dog" ???
Man this is hard !
Thank you Gentle People for putting up with me !
Gentle Calming Light
MsMollimizz