Trying to decide if its time to let go...

I'm a now and then lurker. It's been over 20 years since I've had a
cat.... and I miss their quirky "catness". I do breed rescue with
dogs.... and I teach dog obedience, so I sometimes have to deal with
end-of-pet-life issues with owners. The biggest and only instruction I
give an owner on the subject of "is it time?" is to try to be objective
when answering the following question:

Are you keeping this animal alive for yourself, or because you have
honest reason to believe that the animal's quality of life is likely to
improve to the degree that it is not suffering in any way
(psychologically as well as physically), and it is essentially able to
maintain the basic life functions By Itself.... food and water intake,
management of bodily wastes, interaction within the pack (dogs)/family
(cats), basic mobility? (This is for owners with animals that are aged
and in failing health.... not solely with temperment/aggressiveness
issues of "mental health" causing major liability problems.) If you are
keeping the animal alive for yourself, then it is "time". If the rest
of the question has some "iffies" or some negatives, it's time for that
long conversation with your vet, and some prayer. But unless I feel
that keeping the pet alive is essentially a form of abuse of the pet, I
never flatly say that the time has come.

In the case of this old sweetie using the entire house as a latrine, the
move is probably "at fault", if "fault" can be assigned. Even I know
that many cats just don't adjust to new homes instantly, even with the
same family and household furnishings. Given his state of health,
confining him to a certain area of the home may be kinder at this
point.... and will simplify the sanitation issue, if not solve it.
because his litter box will be easier and quicker to find. I was
surprised that none of you cat owners addressed that. But if he's been
a "clean" cat for many years and now isn't, doesn't that demonstrate one
more heartbreaking area where he just can't maintain his quality of
life?

I hope the higher being that you trust in guides you to the right answer
for you and the old dearie soon. Hugs.

It's never an easy decision to send a pet on ahead, and the hole always
remains in the heart, which is the perfect place to bury that pet, once
a decision to release a pet is carried out.

Jo

Jo Wolf wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav:

I'm a now and then lurker. It's been over 20 years since I've had a
cat.... and I miss their quirky "catness". I do breed rescue with
dogs.... and I teach dog obedience, so I sometimes have to deal with
end-of-pet-life issues with owners. The biggest and only instruction
I give an owner on the subject of "is it time?" is to try to be
objective when answering the following question:

Are you keeping this animal alive for yourself, or because you have
honest reason to believe that the animal's quality of life is likely
to improve to the degree that it is not suffering in any way
(psychologically as well as physically), and it is essentially able to
maintain the basic life functions By Itself.... food and water intake,
management of bodily wastes, interaction within the pack (dogs)/family
(cats), basic mobility? (This is for owners with animals that are
aged and in failing health.... not solely with
temperment/aggressiveness issues of "mental health" causing major
liability problems.) If you are keeping the animal alive for
yourself, then it is "time". If the rest of the question has some
"iffies" or some negatives, it's time for that long conversation with
your vet, and some prayer. But unless I feel that keeping the pet
alive is essentially a form of abuse of the pet, I never flatly say
that the time has come.

In the case of this old sweetie using the entire house as a latrine,
the move is probably "at fault", if "fault" can be assigned. Even I
know that many cats just don't adjust to new homes instantly, even
with the same family and household furnishings. Given his state of
health, confining him to a certain area of the home may be kinder at
this point.... and will simplify the sanitation issue, if not solve
it. because his litter box will be easier and quicker to find. I was
surprised that none of you cat owners addressed that. But if he's
been a "clean" cat for many years and now isn't, doesn't that
demonstrate one more heartbreaking area where he just can't maintain
his quality of life?

I hope the higher being that you trust in guides you to the right
answer for you and the old dearie soon. Hugs.

It's never an easy decision to send a pet on ahead, and the hole
always remains in the heart, which is the perfect place to bury that
pet, once a decision to release a pet is carried out.

Jo

Hi Jo! The reason why confining the cat to one room didnt come up is
it works better with dogs but not so much so with cats. They become
either isolated from the family behind a closed door or you have to put
in interior screen doors.

--

On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:07:35 -0400, (Jo Wolf) wrote:

I'm a now and then lurker. It's been over 20 years since I've had a
cat.... and I miss their quirky "catness". I do breed rescue with
dogs.... and I teach dog obedience, so I sometimes have to deal with
end-of-pet-life issues with owners. The biggest and only instruction I
give an owner on the subject of "is it time?" is to try to be objective
when answering the following question:

Are you keeping this animal alive for yourself, or because you have
honest reason to believe that the animal's quality of life is likely to
improve to the degree that it is not suffering in any way
(psychologically as well as physically), and it is essentially able to
maintain the basic life functions By Itself.... food and water intake,
management of bodily wastes, interaction within the pack (dogs)/family
(cats), basic mobility? (This is for owners with animals that are aged
and in failing health.... not solely with temperment/aggressiveness
issues of "mental health" causing major liability problems.) If you are
keeping the animal alive for yourself, then it is "time". If the rest
of the question has some "iffies" or some negatives, it's time for that
long conversation with your vet, and some prayer. But unless I feel
that keeping the pet alive is essentially a form of abuse of the pet, I
never flatly say that the time has come.

In the case of this old sweetie using the entire house as a latrine, the
move is probably "at fault", if "fault" can be assigned. Even I know
that many cats just don't adjust to new homes instantly, even with the
same family and household furnishings. Given his state of health,
confining him to a certain area of the home may be kinder at this
point.... and will simplify the sanitation issue, if not solve it.
because his litter box will be easier and quicker to find. I was
surprised that none of you cat owners addressed that. But if he's been
a "clean" cat for many years and now isn't, doesn't that demonstrate one
more heartbreaking area where he just can't maintain his quality of
life?

I hope the higher being that you trust in guides you to the right answer
for you and the old dearie soon. Hugs.

It's never an easy decision to send a pet on ahead, and the hole always
remains in the heart, which is the perfect place to bury that pet, once
a decision to release a pet is carried out.

Jo


One issue (not in this case) is when the cat is indeed healthy enough
to have a decent quality of life but is peeing and pooping all over
causing huge problems for the humans. I had a cat that was on the way
out, but still enjoyed life. But, she simply leaked from her anus.
Wherever she sat for more than a few minutes, a little brown spot
appeared. Not her fault, just some sort of colitis.

So, we put covers over the pillows, the bed, the couch, and any other
place that couldn't easily be cleaned often. And we kept that cat for
several months until she was too sick to continue living and the vet
said to put her to sleep.

Cat diapers are an option but cats don't seem to do well with them
from what I recall.

"dgk" wrote in message
...

Either ending is no good, but I worry greatly about what will happen
to my cats when I die. I'd best get that Will done.

I worry too but there is no one, and no place to place my cats with where
they can be taken care of from my estate. What do you plan to have done to,
or with, your cats when you die?

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:16:26 -0500, "Kelly Greene"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .

Either ending is no good, but I worry greatly about what will happen
to my cats when I die. I'd best get that Will done.

I worry too but there is no one, and no place to place my cats with where
they can be taken care of from my estate. What do you plan to have done to,
or with, your cats when you die?

My plan is to pass enough money with the cats to get them homes. I
don't know how to verify that the cats are actually taken care of
though.

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:16:26 -0500, "Kelly Greene"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
. ..

Either ending is no good, but I worry greatly about what will happen
to my cats when I die. I'd best get that Will done.

I worry too but there is no one, and no place to place my cats with where
they can be taken care of from my estate. What do you plan to have done
to,
or with, your cats when you die?

My plan is to pass enough money with the cats to get them homes. I
don't know how to verify that the cats are actually taken care of
though.

That is my problem also. I can leave them my estate... but who makes sure
they're cared for until they die of natural causes/old age? :*(

In article ,
"Kelly Greene" wrote:

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:16:26 -0500, "Kelly Greene"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
. ..

Either ending is no good, but I worry greatly about what will happen
to my cats when I die. I'd best get that Will done.

I worry too but there is no one, and no place to place my cats with where
they can be taken care of from my estate. What do you plan to have done
to,
or with, your cats when you die?

My plan is to pass enough money with the cats to get them homes. I
don't know how to verify that the cats are actually taken care of
though.

That is my problem also. I can leave them my estate... but who makes sure
they're cared for until they die of natural causes/old age? :*(

It is my understanding that in fact you cannot leave your estate to animals. You
can leave it to an organization like your local shelter with the caveat that it
be used to maintain your animals in a manner that you describe.

Of course, it's best to have a lawyer draw up the paperwork

Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
In article ,
"Kelly Greene" wrote:

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:16:26 -0500, "Kelly Greene"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
...

Either ending is no good, but I worry greatly about what will
happen to my cats when I die. I'd best get that Will done.

I worry too but there is no one, and no place to place my cats
with where they can be taken care of from my estate. What do you
plan to have done to,
or with, your cats when you die?

My plan is to pass enough money with the cats to get them homes. I
don't know how to verify that the cats are actually taken care of
though.

That is my problem also. I can leave them my estate... but who makes
sure they're cared for until they die of natural causes/old age?
:*(

It is my understanding that in fact you cannot leave your estate to
animals. You can leave it to an organization like your local shelter
with the caveat that it be used to maintain your animals in a manner
that you describe.

Of course, it's best to have a lawyer draw up the paperwork

Yes. We have a local "cat coalition" group here that places cats in good
homes. You can leave them enough money to do that for your cats without
having to give them your whole estate. they place a lot of cats in homes
every month, and maintain a booth at our local Saturday Market where people
can see the cats and decide which ones they like/want.

Since she seemed to be enjoying life before the move, I'd give the steroids
a shot.

Barb

"Bill Graham" wrote in message
...

Yes. We have a local "cat coalition" group here that places cats in good
homes. You can leave them enough money to do that for your cats without
having to give them your whole estate. they place a lot of cats in homes
every month, and maintain a booth at our local Saturday Market where
people can see the cats and decide which ones they like/want.

I've looked into something like that here in middle TN but find nothing but
cat rescue groups that come and go. They run out of cash and close their
doors. I wish I could find one that's been around for years and will likely
be around for many more years.