Is there a better way to have cats put to sleep?

I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?


-Thanks

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:58:42 -0500, Matthew wrote:


Many vets come to your house


I've never heard of that.

somebody wrote:

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:58:42 -0500, Matthew wrote:


Many vets come to your house



I've never heard of that.

I have. Mine does.

"somebody" wrote in message
...
I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?


-Thanks


Don't try to do this yourself with over-the-counter medication or even a
friend's advice. You are more likely to prolong the process and cause
unncecessary pain.

Many veterinarians will come to your home. That would be your best option
because your babies would be in their normal environment. If your vet does
not make home visits for this purpose, you might want to consider what I did
in the past (before I knew about asking a vet to come to the home). That
is, I made arrangements to take my cat immediately to the examining room so
she would not undergo the stress of waiting in the vicinity of other
animals. They gave me a few minutes alone while I held her in my lap, and
then I continued to hold and stroke her while the vet administered the
medication. I have had to do this twice, and neither cat showed any signs
of pain or fear. It was extremely painful for me, but I considered it the
final gift of love to hold my furbabies during their last moments. You
might want to ask a friend or family member to go with you.

Thank you for thinking ahead for the sake of your cat. You may find -- as I
did -- that it really won't be traumatic for your cat even if you have to go
to the vet clinic because your baby may not be very active or alert at that
time. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask your vet about giving a
tranquilizer before the trip if you think that would be extremely stressful.
But, as I said earlier, *don't* try to medicate with over-the-counter pills.

MaryL

On 10 Dec, 04:47, "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER
wrote:
"somebody" wrote in message

...

I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?

-Thanks

Don't try to do this yourself with over-the-counter medication or even a
friend's advice. You are more likely to prolong the process and cause
unncecessary pain.

Many veterinarians will come to your home. That would be your best option
because your babies would be in their normal environment. If your vet does
not make home visits for this purpose, you might want to consider what I did
in the past (before I knew about asking a vet to come to the home). That
is, I made arrangements to take my cat immediately to the examining room so
she would not undergo the stress of waiting in the vicinity of other
animals. They gave me a few minutes alone while I held her in my lap, and
then I continued to hold and stroke her while the vet administered the
medication. I have had to do this twice, and neither cat showed any signs
of pain or fear. It was extremely painful for me, but I considered it the
final gift of love to hold my furbabies during their last moments. You
might want to ask a friend or family member to go with you.

Thank you for thinking ahead for the sake of your cat. You may find -- as I
did -- that it really won't be traumatic for your cat even if you have to go
to the vet clinic because your baby may not be very active or alert at that
time. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask your vet about giving a
tranquilizer before the trip if you think that would be extremely stressful.
But, as I said earlier, *don't* try to medicate with over-the-counter pills.

MaryL

some vets may charge you about £10 extra to come out but that is a
small price to pay to give your loved one a decent and less stressful
send off.

if i had known that our last trip to the vet for jasper would be his
last few moments on this earth i woud have organised for the vet to
come to us, whatever the cost.

if i get the chance to have control over the final moments of any of
mine i will definitely get the vet out to me

bookie

In article ,
says...
I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?


-Thanks



There are traveling vets in many communities. Check the phone book.

"somebody" wrote in message
...
I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?


-Thanks


One question that I didn't think of earlier: What do you mean by "getting
on in years"? Cat can live much longer (and healthier) lives than many
people realize. I had one cat that lived almost 20 years. My next cat
lived 16 years. Holly is now 12-1/2 years, and there is nothing "senior"
about her. Duffy is about 9 years old. They are both active, healthy,
playful cats. So, are you talking about a 19-year-old or something much
younger? You may have many more years left than you realize.

MaryL

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
. ..

"somebody" wrote in message
...
I have two cats which are getting along in years. They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to
sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. I'm thinking maybe I could give them
a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?


-Thanks


One question that I didn't think of earlier: What do you mean by "getting
on in years"? Cat can live much longer (and healthier) lives than many
people realize. I had one cat that lived almost 20 years. My next cat
lived 16 years. Holly is now 12-1/2 years, and there is nothing "senior"
about her. Duffy is about 9 years old. They are both active, healthy,
playful cats. So, are you talking about a 19-year-old or something much
younger? You may have many more years left than you realize.

MaryL

Bandit lived to be 17.5 years old, but she didn't die of old age, she had a
brain tumor that took her sight for almost 2 years (and she managed that
just fine), and eventually killed her (well, Dr. French came to the house to
administer euthanasia, but she was in her last extremities when he did).

Hugs,

CatNipped

On Dec 9, 10:52�pm, somebody wrote:
I have two cats which are getting along in years. �They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep.
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done. �My concern
is for my cats though -- I don't their last memory in life being a
traumatic trip to the vets office. �I'm thinking maybe I could give them a
muscle relaxer, or something, when it's their time. �Is there anything
recommended for this purpose? �Perhaps something that would put them to
sleep? �Maybe over the counter sleeping pills?

-Thanks

You could try lethal injection, but the Supreme Court is still out on
that one. Do you know anyone with a large constrictor-type snake? It
might be a little painful but at least you'd know your pet was helping
to substain the food-chain...


IBen Getiner

On Dec 10, 2:27�pm, Euker Voorn wrote:
On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:52:15 -0500, somebody wrote:
I have two cats which are getting along in years. �They both are
relatively healthy, but I know soon I will have to have them put to sleep..
Putting my former cat was the hardest thing I've ever done.

You come across very enthusiastic though. Ever though about letting
them grow old and die naturally?

Yeah, but if it needs long-term kidney treatment and you can't afford
it, you could go to jail. No ****. It happened not too long ago. This
is the kind of world that the animal rights wack-os have ushered in.
Like it...? Now it's better all around just to put them to sleep.


IBen Getiner