sick old cat

"Roadside Artist" a écrit dans le
message de news: ...
You know, none of us want to face the inevitable outcome of life, and
everyone on here (presumably) is a cat lover. So I guess I understand the
hostile responses.

But when it all comes down to the "bottom line", having had a good, happy
and contented life is *all* you can ask for, you know? A cat who has had
such a life already has had the best thing people can give her.

Things have changed for people and their pets, I know. But not all change
is
good change. People used to die at home surrounded by family, now we do
heroic things to save them and they die frightened and alone or surrounded
by strangers who, while doing their professional duty, are personally
indifferent to their existence. Is this *really* an improvement?

Trips to the vet are frightening and very upsetting for many cats and for
one who is 17 it seems an unnecessary cruelty if the animal is not in a
lot
of pain.

If it were me, I might see if I could get a paraprofessional to make a
home
visit and/or look up stuff on the web to see if there would be something I
could do to make her more comfortable, but at that age it would seem a
shame
to spend the last moments of a full life, frightened and traumatized in
the
hands of a stranger.

But that's just my two cents worth.


I find your 2 cents are very worthy.
I have on my conscience an unexpected death of a cat at the vet (many years
back). Never again. From a human point of view, we did all the "right"
things for her with the medical attention, the hospitalization, the high
bills and all, yet all I have out of this is a profound feeling of guilt and
the knowledge I did the wrong moves. She must have felt terribly abandonned
and afraid. You can't communicate to them that its "good for you".. they are
animals.
I take them in for care, but always warn the vets that I'm walking back out
with my pet. If I felt they couldnt handle the trip or the treatments, I
wouldn't gamble it. As much as possible, my pets will end their beautiful
lives in the security of their home or where they chose.

Elaine