How do you say goodbye.

[FATCAT]

Tomorrow I have to put down my namesake ... FATCAT. Yesterday, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and short of a mirical and amputating his front leg he has no chance of recovery. Call me a big wuss but the pain I am feeling is difficult to face. He is the first real pet I have ever had.



14 years of unconditional love from him is burning a hole in my heart. He has always been there for me when I was sick and blue and now I am trying to be there for him in his final hours of need.



I think back to his younger days when he would clean out every varmit in the wood pile and then some ... proudly displaying his catch to me on the deck. Or disappearing for a night in the woods only to return the next morning with his catch of the day.



Now he lies next to me on the couch sleeping as best he can and wondering why my tears rain down on the keyboard.



Tomorrow will be the most difficult day of my life and I never thought it would be this bad ... "he's just a cat for God's sake" I try to tell myself, but to no avail.



Thank you for reading and I leave you folks with this story I found:



-------------------------------------------------------------------



Just this side of Heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge.



When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.



There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.



There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.



All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.



The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left behind.



They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver.





Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster.





You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.



Then you cross The Rainbow Bridge together...

 

[ACoyle]

One of the neat things about this site is that lots of us have "Faithful Friends"



Possibly this can help.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...e-do-one-hardest-things-my-life-tomorrow.html



AC

 

[fest3er]

It's never easy. This is hardest part of caring for a pet ethically and compassionately. The emptiness fades over time, but it always remains real. And it reminds us of what it means to be human. I think I was 14 when I had to take my first cat to the vet to be put down; I'd brought him home from the SPCA only a couple years earlier, bundled inside my peacoat. Dad, wisely, made me make the decision.

Do what you must, knowing you're doing right by him. The sadness and the void will fade in time, and you'll soon revel in his memories: the silly, dumb, strong, cute, pleasant, and adorable things he did in those 14 years. You'll remember all those gifts he gave you. And you'll remember the best, most important gift you gave him at the end.

 

[FATCAT]

It's never easy. This is hardest part of caring for a pet ethically and compassionately. The emptiness fades over time, but it always remains real. And it reminds us of what it means to be human. I think I was 14 when I had to take my first cat to the vet to be put down; I'd brought him home from the SPCA only a couple years earlier, bundled inside my peacoat. Dad, wisely, made me make the decision.



Do what you must, knowing you're doing right by him. The sadness and the void will fade in time, and you'll soon revel in his memories: the silly, dumb, strong, cute, pleasant, and adorable things he did in those 14 years. You'll remember all those gifts he gave you. And you'll remember the best, most important gift you gave him at the end.

Thanks for posting, I appreciate it. As I have read, putting your pet down is the last act of love, I just hope he understands that. :{

 

[tgordon]

I have a very good idea what you are going through as my wife had her cat put down after a second tumer appeared. She had been a friend of hers for about the same time, she got her at the vet from a old lady who was moving into a home and had to get rid of her. In the end it was the best for the cat as she would barley move around anymore and was not herself.



Just remember she is in a better place and not suffering any more, you might want to have somebody drive as that is hard after having to do something that emotional also.



And last but not least, I am sorry to hear about your loss as no matter how long one has to prepare and asy good bye it is still hard when the time comes

 

[KCloward]

I've had two cats and two dogs put down. I'm seventeen almost eighteen and my cat Gizmo was a few years older than I was, one day I walked into the yard when I was about 11 and there he was laying in our gutter... he was nearly dead. A vehicle ran him over and instead of knocking on our door and telling us what had happened, they left him in pain. My dad rushed him to the vet and we could do nothing. . he was put down later that night. Phelix (a siamese) was poisoned, she was like your cat, very loyal, and very hard to please but when she was she showed it. She'd leave for two nights and come back with ten mice right on our front door so we made sure to see them or step on them whichever one came first.



My sisters dog was a Boston Terrier, Maggie, these things are so full of life. Her and Spencer (our male Boston Terrier) were both around 14 when they had to go. Maggie would lay out in the sun all day and developed a form of skin cancer, it was hard for us to put her down. Spencer... he was the strongest dog I've ever seen. He wasn't big by any means and would put a fight up to anything. He had a missing disk in his back and all we could do was give him pain pills while his bones slowly ground against each other. He never showed any signs of weakness and was even ran over by the rear tire of our lawn mower on accident, but right after he got up and went to fetch a ball. He went blind and we had no choice but to send him to a better place.



We've got two dogs now. A Vizsla named Heidi and a yellow Lab named Dakota. These two together are one of the best duos. They provide my family with many laughs.



Our pets grow as much of a bond to us as we do to them. We provide for them and show them a lot of love and care, your cat knows what you're going through. He's losing his best friend too, but not completely losing, he'll always be in your heart and you'll always be in his. It's the memories that matter.



Sorry this was so long but it was one of those things that helped me a lot with this stuff... haven't really talked to anyone about it.



Bryce

 

[dseabaugh]

Sometimes the biggest gift you can give is to not let them suffer. had to do that to our old lab. she was 14 years old. she had already had a couple of rough years, but was going to get worse. I know she was wondering what I was doing with the 22 but I couldn't let her suffer. she had a favorite pair of old coveralls she liked to lay on. put them in her dog. after a few years coveralls were tattered so I took them out. she wouldn't go in the dog house any more till I put them back in. Buried her doghouse and all including her favorite old coveralls she liked to lay on. Took 5 or 6 years till I finally stopped looking for her every time I drove up. there is no answer to how to say goodby. let them know you love them. I have been having the same dilemia with my wife. both of us have had terminal diagnosis this year. Almost lost her several times. I Just try to let her know I love her as much as I can. Scared me to death when I looked over and saw her tonight . she was sleeping with her eyes open. Never saw that in 25 years. As to the dog , the greatest gift you can give her is tearing out the part of your heart to do the right thing to ease her/his suffering.

 

[Stranger]

I am a cat person also. Just recently Diamond passed. Cats can adapt quite well with 3 legs. If the vet can assure you that taking the leg will get the cancer, I'd try it. You owe it to him to at least try.

Stranger, my name sake, has been going 3 years + on thyroid medicine. One vet said he'll last 6 mos. - 1 year on the pills.

Good luck with one of the hardest decisions you'll have to make.

FATCAT will understand either way.

 

[daytripper63]

I had to put down my Black Lab of 16 years 3 years ago, and my wifes 12 year old Yellow Lab a year ago, it never gets easy since they are part of the family, my wife and I am one of those whom spoil the crap out of their animals, at night they all sleep on our bed.

A year after I lost my Black Lab I went looking for another Black lab and I found a paper add that read " Lab mix pups 150. 00 " so I checked it out and got a little floppy eared female, then it happened... two weeks later one ear poped up then the other ear and got a real intense look in her eye, come to find out I now have a Black Lab/Queensland heeler mix that is all black, She was lucky to survive her first 2 years with everything she got into.

Just today one of my customers came in with 11 yellow Lab puppys only 7 weeks old so I called the wife and she said O. K. and we p. u. a little male addition to the family.

I feel your pain just reading your post, it brings back the memories of what I had to go thru a shorttime ago.

 

[FATCAT]

I am a cat person also. Just recently Diamond passed. Cats can adapt quite well with 3 legs. If the vet can assure you that taking the leg will get the cancer, I'd try it. You owe it to him to at least try.



Stranger, my name sake, has been going 3 years + on thyroid medicine. One vet said he'll last 6 mos. - 1 year on the pills.



Good luck with one of the hardest decisions you'll have to make.



FATCAT will understand either way.

When the vet came today my Ex-wife and I (he was our "little boy") asked the vet about the chance of the cancer spreading. The cancer was fibrodsarcoma (sp. ), and the chance of it already spreading outside of his sholder was highly probable.



We second guessed our dicision all morning, petting and holding old FATCAT, but when the time came we had to put him down, his pain was outpacing the pain medicine.



Strange thing was the last two days weatherwise. Yesterday in NH it was mostly beautiful and sunny in the 50's and he and I spend the day outside. He sat in his favorite Catnip patch in the sun. Then at night the Ex and I had a big bon fire with FATCAT in my lap ... he loved our outdoor fires.

Then today it was rainy all day. Then the phone call came saying the vets were on the way (15 minutes or so), the sun came out and it got warm. FATCAT got up out of his bed and meowed and wanted to go out. He again sat in his Catnip patch in the sun. When the vets came and it was time to put him down, the clouds came out of nowhere and the wind and rain poured like crazy for about 20 minutes. When FATCAT had passed on to a better place (the most agonizing experience I have ever had), the sun came out again and it got warm. The Ex and I put him in his coffin with momentos and burried him in the back. It was like God gave him one last sunny moment outside, then cried as he died, then shone the sun on his grave the rest of the afternoon.



I will miss him forever. :{:{:{

 

[MMeier]

When the vet came today my Ex-wife and I (he was our "little boy") asked the vet about the chance of the cancer spreading. The cancer was fibrodsarcoma (sp. ), and the chance of it already spreading outside of his sholder was highly probable.



We second guessed our dicision all morning, petting and holding old FATCAT, but when the time came we had to put him down, his pain was outpacing the pain medicine.



Strange thing was the last two days weatherwise. Yesterday in NH it was mostly beautiful and sunny in the 50's and he and I spend the day outside. He sat in his favorite Catnip patch in the sun. Then at night the Ex and I had a big bon fire with FATCAT in my lap ... he loved our outdoor fires.

Then today it was rainy all day. Then the phone call came saying the vets were on the way (15 minutes or so), the sun came out and it got warm. FATCAT got up out of his bed and meowed and wanted to go out. He again sat in his Catnip patch in the sun. When the vets came and it was time to put him down, the clouds came out of nowhere and the wind and rain poured like crazy for about 20 minutes. When FATCAT had passed on to a better place (the most agonizing experience I have ever had), the sun came out again and it got warm. The Ex and I put him in his coffin with momentos and burried him in the back. It was like God gave him one last sunny moment outside, then cried as he died, then shone the sun on his grave the rest of the afternoon.



I will miss him forever. :{:{:{

Events like that really make you wonder, don't they? Like you said, he is in a much better place now! R. I. P. FATCAT... R. I. P.

 

[rbattelle]

Man, that sucks. Very hard experience. I recently had to bury my own best friend (a rabbit) after a short but painful illness.

Hardest thing I've ever had to do. My heart goes out to you, Fatcat.

I think it's hard with house pets because they generally represent nearly perfect innocence and loyalty. The human psyche is frustrated by the fact that you can't explain to the animal why things are the way they are. You feel like you've let the poor creature down, because you couldn't tell it that you did your best.

They rely on you, and when they slip away you can't help but feel you've failed them. And worse, you fear they think you abandoned them in their hour of need.

Tough stuff.

Ryan

 

[FATCAT]

They rely on you, and when they slip away you can't help but feel you've failed them. And worse, you fear they think you abandoned them in their hour of need.

BINGO!! EXACTLY!! That sums it up perfectly. How to rid yourself of this feeling, like you murdered them, is going to take a long time.

 

[Boomer II]

Tough call, I hate it for you, sorry for your loss.

 

[JOdell]

BINGO!! EXACTLY!! That sums it up perfectly. How to rid yourself of this feeling, like you murdered them, is going to take a long time.

No matter how you slice it you DIDN'T murder them. Not knowing what you are feeling with a animal all my dogs died on their own or by car. Sad just the same but I didn't have anything to do with it. I feel you did the right thing. I have a lab mix right now that is 5. She is laying at my feet right now. And I can't and don't want to imagine what this house would be without her.



Something to add: I have been at the bed side of 3 Grandparents in the last 2 years and watched them go. I would have done ANYTHING to make their pain and suffering go way faster than what it did. -Jason

 

[hammersley]

Sorry to have missed all your pain.......

and reading it brings tears to my eyes... ... nothing like the love of a pet... . hardly nothing at all... ... make sure you get another,,,,though never a "replacement" just a memory to a buddy that will always be there..... and a testament to their impact on our lives.



Time will make it better - but you'll never forget.....

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

FATCAT,



Just want to express my sympathy. Don't beat yourself up, you did what you had to do. I dread the day when our two wiener dogs will no longer be with us.



Paul

 

[FATCAT]

Something to add: I have been at the bed side of 3 Grandparents in the last 2 years and watched them go. I would have done ANYTHING to make their pain and suffering go way faster than what it did. -Jason

For people it seems, you have to be convicted of capital murder to get the easy way out ... the needle.



Thanks again for the kind words. Its good to know there are a lot of pet lovers here.



I'll be listening to a lot of Hank this weekend and crying in my beers ... .

"No matter how [you] struggle and strive

[you'll] never get out of this world alive. "

 

[fest3er]

I'd join you, but my bucket's got a hole in it.

 

[hammersley]

If you can......

sometime post a picture of your buddy... ..... it will be good for all of us.....