alban61
07-21-2007, 11:18 AM
Decided to post this here to maybe help me, by talking about it. I've been having a dull headache. neck and shoulder stiffness since Tuesday evening, after coming to the decision to euthanize an old friend of 15 years. This was done on Tuesday evening at the vet's. He was a cat named Whiskers by my sons when there were kids. He wasn't the stereotypical cat that just eats and sleeps. He came to greet you when you came home. Jumped up on the bed to wait for you while you changed out of your work clothes. At 10pm every night, he'd "meow" at you as he walked to the bedroom to remind you it was bedtime (that's the time I get ready for bed on weekdays). He'd wait at the foot of the bed while we brushed our teeth etc. He'd still wait while my wife got in bed. Then when I turned off the bathroom light and hopped in bed, he'd jump up on the bed and head over onto my chest for his goodnight rub. After that he'd go over to my wife and rub his head on hers before lying down to sleep. He seemed to know the sounds of our cars (I'm guessing) because his ears would perk up, and he'd go over and sit by the front door. I'd look out the door and sure enough, my wife was pulling into her parking spot. My wife noticed the same thing too, when I came home later than her. There were many other things that made him special.
He started losing weight and getting weak, about 1 month ago. Vet discovered high liver readings, on his bloodwork. Got 3 different meds to give him. No improvement, and he was losing more weight. He couldn't seem to have bowel movements, ate and drank very little. He started hiding away, and slept alot. Took him on Tuesday to the vet's and she discovered a fast-growing mass on his liver. There was nothing she could do, and the only other option was to put him to sleep. The vet left us alone for about 20 mins. My wife was crying, and I was a little too. Maybe Whiskers knew something was up (I don't know), because he found the strength to walk over to me and my wife to rub his head against us and purr, as we stroked and petted him. We sat on the floor and he laid down between us. When the vet came back into the room, we knew it was time. The vet picked him off the floor, and he called out twice to us. I gave him a quick rub. My wife and I couldn't bear to be in the room when they put him to sleep. It would've been too much for us.
My wife has expressed that she feels guilty for not being there with him. I feel the same way now, but I know I wouldn't have been able to stand there and watch him pass. But it still eats away at me. Does this make us bad "parents?"
Sorry such a very long post, but I had to get this off my chest.
Here is a picture of our friend.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/Whiskers3.jpg
He started losing weight and getting weak, about 1 month ago. Vet discovered high liver readings, on his bloodwork. Got 3 different meds to give him. No improvement, and he was losing more weight. He couldn't seem to have bowel movements, ate and drank very little. He started hiding away, and slept alot. Took him on Tuesday to the vet's and she discovered a fast-growing mass on his liver. There was nothing she could do, and the only other option was to put him to sleep. The vet left us alone for about 20 mins. My wife was crying, and I was a little too. Maybe Whiskers knew something was up (I don't know), because he found the strength to walk over to me and my wife to rub his head against us and purr, as we stroked and petted him. We sat on the floor and he laid down between us. When the vet came back into the room, we knew it was time. The vet picked him off the floor, and he called out twice to us. I gave him a quick rub. My wife and I couldn't bear to be in the room when they put him to sleep. It would've been too much for us.
My wife has expressed that she feels guilty for not being there with him. I feel the same way now, but I know I wouldn't have been able to stand there and watch him pass. But it still eats away at me. Does this make us bad "parents?"
Sorry such a very long post, but I had to get this off my chest.
Here is a picture of our friend.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/alban61/Whiskers3.jpg