Foo - Had to euthanize my cat today.

He was almost 20 years old.

I'd had him since the summer of 1991, when he was a tiny little kitten. He was initially given to my girlfriend at the time by a friend of hers. She thought he was a girl, and named him Gwenevere, because his fur was mostly pure white.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5351218772_c0b15047ea_z.jpg
When we took "her" to the vet to be spayed, the vet told us that he couldn't spay Gwenevere, he had to neuter Lancelot. So he became Lancelot, or Lance for short.

He was a wonderful cat. I've never met a more loving, affectionate cat. Some would say he was needy. Everyone who ever met him loved him, even non-cat people.

He used to sit with me on the couch when I'd get home from work and watch movies with me. Until I got a computer and found the internet. Then he'd sit at my feet, pining away for attention. He loved going outside, but we didn't want him getting into fights, so we'd only let him out if we were with him. He always tried to escape out the front door when we'd come and go. One winter he bolted out the door and down the steps to the sidewalk, only to discover that it had snowed. He had no idea what it was.

Over the years he was always a comfort for me. His age was starting to show, though. He had arthritis throughout his body, had lost most of his teeth, and we thought he was going deaf. His kidney levels were high, indicating future kidney failure, so we had him on an expensive prescription diet.

We knew it was his time today. He'd been having issues walking around, and his bowels were not being friendly anymore. The vet told us that he was now blind, most likely from the high blood pressure caused by kidney failure. He had been wandering around the house in circles, and would stop and stare at the wall for minutes at a time, as if he'd forgotten what he was doing. In the end, I held him as he was put to sleep. He'd been agitated at the vet the entire time, but calmed down instantly when I picked him up. Normally he'd fight me a bit, but not this time. It was as if he knew what was happening. I'd like to think so, at least.

I'll miss you, Lance.

Oh no, Monogodo. ((hugs)) Kidney failure just like Lorenzo. :( I'm so sorry. But one thing is for sure. He will be with Genki and Lorenzo where kitties go to live forever without pain. Please give Arianna an extra hug for me.

A loved babe.

Sorry for your loss. :(:(:(

And he wasn't euthanized. He was set free.

This

I'm sorry, monogodo. What a beautiful kitty.

My Siamese is sitting at my feet staring at me. I'm going to log off and give him some lap time.

I'm more of a dog guy but I did have one cat who was as lovable as Lance. I can relate. Sorry for your loss monogodo.

Very sorry to hear about this monogodo.

Ugh, sorry for your loss Monodogo. I know how difficult it is to lose a loved pet :hug:

Maybe your cat and my dog will meet at the gates today. 12:20am a close friend passed as well.

Losing a loving friend that has been with you for that long is certainly hard. Go kitten shopping!

I'm very sorry Monogodo, this is never an easy time.

I've, over the years, have had to do that for 2 dogs and a few more cats. It never get easier.

Take care.

My sympathies monogodo. Great eulogy though. Sorry for you loss. That's very tough.

Sorry about your loss. As an owner of 2 cats, I can empathize.

That's sad. We had to put our dog down in July. Completely different situation, but we still did a lot of crying about it. You always wish there was another way around it... but sometimes it's the right thing to do.

+1 on the setting free.

Really sorry about your loss. I am a cat person. My beloved calico Mer, named for the little short meow she had, was put down about 8 years ago. I stll expect to see her take her seat at the table where we shared many a bachelor meal together. She was a quiet subdued cat, but always a good companion. Nothing can replace a good cat. Love my dogs, but they aren't the same. Another cat will appear. Give it time.

Sorry about your loss. We have 6 right now, because we keep rescuing lost kitties. We've faced the loss before and will face it again. It is painful but you will get better, and God will make you another companion.

Our latest 2:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/bjd70/Cats/DSC_4485b.jpg

I'm sorry, monogodo. What a beautiful kitty.

My Siamese is sitting at my feet staring at me. I'm going to log off and give him some lap time.

You have my condolences too. I started reading this by looking in between the ears of one of my cats while thinking it's time to turn of the computer and have some quality time on the couch. Now I know it is.

Never an easy thing to do. Have had to do that with two cats for my wife, one with her and one without her, as she just could not do it the last time. Praying for you.

Sorry for your loss. My William died in my lap last year. it was very hard. I bottle fed him after his mama got hit by a car 13 years ago. It's never easy.

Maybe this (http://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=picture#!/note.php?note_id=185978611413404)will comfort you a little.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy to have a pet put down. He sounds like he was a great cat.

Monogodo, I am so sorry for your loss. Over the years I've had to put down a number of animal companions, mostly dogs and cats. It never gets easier. After each one, I swear to myself that i won't ever get another pet, because the pain of losing one is way too much to bear...

...and yet, we go back and pick up a new animal companion.

My life has been richer and far more meaningful for the animal companions that have shared my home and my heart.

Monogodo, go out on a long ride and dedicate the ride to Sir Lancelot.

I was never a cat person. One day my wife came home and said "Think about it before you say no". Of course with a line like that, I knew I was screwed. So we got a flea infested kitten. Over the next 16 years, he became "my" cat. Slept on my pillow, was more tolerent of me than anybody else, etc. I still like to think he waited for me to come home from a camping trip before he passed. It wasn't easy to dig his grave through the tears.
I have walked that path, condolences.

I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

Dang. :(

Have fun chasing rabbits on the other side, Lance.

Sorry to hear about your loss. :( In the end, our pets become family members. It is never easy to say goodbye. It sounds like Lance had a wonderful life, and you had a wonderful 20 years with him.

And God asked the feline spirit,
"Are you ready to come home?"
"Oh, yes, quite so," replied the precious soul,
"And, as a cat, you know I am most able to decide anything for myself."
"Are you coming then?" asked God.
"Soon," replied the whiskered angel,
"But I must come slowly, for my human friend is troubled
For, you see, she needs me, quite certainly."
"But doesn't she understand?" asked God, "That you'll never leave her?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed? It just is....forever and ever and ever."
"Eventually she will understand," replied the glorious cat,
"For I will whisper into her heart that I am always with her,
I just am....forever and ever and ever."

OMG!! ^^^ That is SO perfect!! My tears are for Genki.........:cry:

Monogodo, this is so true. Hold this dear to your heart!

Thank you for this, Lightingguy. Thank you so very much. :o

OMG!! ^^^ That is SO perfect!! My tears are for Genki.........:cry:

Monogodo, this is so true. Hold this dear to your heart!

Thank you for this, Lightingguy. Thank you so very much. :o

I found this a while back on one of the bike forums. Somehow that's not surprising, lot's of wise people ride bikes.

I saved it, as having gone thru the "Putting to Sleep" experience with 3 other cats as well as a 4th that died in my arms (stroke) on the way to the emergency vet, I found it comforting and sad at the same time. I am living with cats 5,6,7 & 8 currently and sometimes remind them of that as well as using that as their names. Cats are smart and they know their "given" names as well as a lot else, including knowing when their time with us is coming to an end. Cats have taught me a lot, especially how to be patient with humans, something they're good at. They've also taught me how to be patient with cats.

It took a long time for me to come to grips with the level of grief I experienced with the death of a feline friend. Guilt at having to be the one to choose the time and place, guilt at what I felt was a betrayal of the trust between human and cat, that took some time to develop as well as a lack of understanding at the deep emotional bond that often develops, with the attending grief at the sudden loss. I look and behave differently with all my cats now then I did 30 years ago. I guess I'm the one who's been "trained".

So my heart goes out to Monogodo. Lance was lucky to have has that time with you and you with him.

Steve B.

Sorry to hear about your loss. My cat Big Head is getting old and slow... I hate to think about the day I have to make that decision.

I'm sorry, monogodo. What a beautiful kitty.

My Siamese is sitting at my feet staring at me. I'm going to log off and give him some lap time.

I have a Siamese thats on her way to dead. We have her son, two of her grandsons, and one of her great grandsons. She has some of the same symtoms as Lance, her age is starting to show, shes lost a few of her teeth, shes loosing weight although she eats well, and we know shes going deaf. I hope it never comes but I'm realistic and know better. =0( I'm so sorry to hear about your Lance dude, I truly feel your pain. Cats are some of my favorite people.

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like the time was right and you should feel better knowing you made the right choice for your friend.

I'm saddened to hear of your loss, Monogodo. Lancelot is now with the Lord and that is the best place to be. Now, more than ever is the time to look for a new kitty companion.
Ernest

I am sorry to hear of your loss. We have gone through this several times, and it is always
a terrible strain.

Don