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Goodbye Forever: When You Have To Put The Cat Down

The death of a beloved cat is a drastic experience, regardless of whether the kitty died by accident, illness, or old age.

By Abu SalehPublished 2 years ago 7 min read
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Goodbye Forever: When You Have To Put The Cat Down
Photo by Ludemeula Fernandes on Unsplash

The death of a beloved cat is a drastic experience, regardless of whether the kitty died by accident, illness, or old age. It's especially tragic when his human friend has to decide whether to sacrifice him. In this article, you will know what you should take into account and how you can face the duel.

Sacrifice the cat or not?

If the cat is seriously ill, the question will inevitably arise at some point: should the beloved animal be released from its suffering? The decision to euthanize a cat or not is one of the most difficult and sad to make as a companion to a cat.

For one thing, you don't want to sit idly by and watch their torment. On the other hand, there is the fear of painful loss: how to continue living without it? How will my family manage when the cat is gone? If there are other cats in the household, the question also arises: how will they cope with the loss?

The decisive thing is the well-being of the cat

As difficult as it may be: when making this decision, it is important to leave your feelings in the background. The only deciding factor should be the welfare of the animal. You are responsible for your cat. You must take care of him, also and especially in the last days of his life.

Unfortunately, there are no generally valid criteria for quality of life. That depends on your cat's situation. Therefore, a cat with a calm disposition may be able to cope with paralysis and the associated restrictions on movement quite well. Even blind cats can also lead a happy cat life.

On the other hand, the machines are experts at hiding their blind cats. Even the great agonies are not noticed for a long time. Therefore, it is not easy to judge how bad a cat is having a hard time and when the time has come to put an end to its suffering.

Possible signs of severe pain:

• Your cat eats very little or nothing for a long time.

• Your cat withdraws into himself and seems listless.

• Your cat reacts aggressively to certain petting.

However, pain alone is not a reason to prematurely end your kitten's life. Only when there are no other treatment options should euthanasia be considered.

Put down the cat: talk to your vet

Important: Before deciding to euthanize your cat, you should speak with your veterinarian. Ask him to explain your cat's illness in detail. Ask him how he sees your pet's quality of life and what would be the right time to make the decision.

If you are not convinced by the arguments in favor of euthanasia, ask for a second opinion to make sure.

prepare well

For your cat's sake, you need to prepare well for the final visit to the vet. It is better to make an appointment at the end of business hours because the consultation is quieter and you have more privacy.

Even if it's hard for you, stay as calm as possible and try not to cry. You could transmit your anxiety to the kitten and put it under unnecessary stress in its last minutes. Perhaps a trusted person from your family or circle of friends can accompany you.

Some vets also sleep at home. Without a doubt, you should take advantage of this opportunity, because it is much better than your cat leaves in his familiar environment.

What is the procedure for euthanizing a cat?

The technical term for sacrifice is "euthanasia" and it means "to die well." The term is made up of the Greek words EU (good) and Thanatos (to die). If an animal is professionally euthanized, it is not affected. He does not suffer pain.

Before actual euthanasia, cats are usually given medication to calm them down. They are then injected with an anesthetic in a lethal overdose.

What must be taken into account at the funeral?

If you have euthanized your cat, you can leave his body at the veterinary office. The carcass is then taken to an animal carcass treatment plant.

For your peace of mind, though, it's probably best to take the deceased cat home. If there is an animal cemetery where you live, you can bury it there. You can also go to a pet crematorium where they will cremate his body. The ashes will be returned to you in an urn.

Perhaps you can also bury your partner in your garden. It is generally allowed, as long as a few things are observed. The pit must not be located in a nature, river, or marine reserve. In addition, it must be at least half a meter deep, and the body must be wrapped in a material that can rot (for example, a cardboard box).

Do not bury on public property

Attention! Never bury your dead cat on public property, in the woods, or a park. It is prohibited and can be punished with a five-figure fine.

When the cat dies naturally

You don't always have to put a cat down. There are situations where a sick or old cat should be able to go away naturally.

When their time comes, cats usually retreat to a quiet corner. Also in this case it is important to remain calm and not burden the cat with your grief in his last hours.

However, sometimes a cat loses its life unexpectedly, for example, due to an accident. especially with outdoor cats, the risk of being hit by a car is unfortunately high.

If the cat dies of old age or some disease, you can get used to the idea that at some point it will no longer be there. In the case of sudden death, at first, you are left in emotional shock, and that has to be processed.

How to deal with mourning the cat

When the cat dies, first of all, a small world collapses. After all, a pussycat is also a beloved member of the family. The cat's basket remains empty and meows are no longer heard to remind you to fill the food bowl.

Unfortunately, people without pets find it difficult to understand this pain. "It was just a cat," they say. It helps to talk to fellow cats, in the real world or online in animal forums and on social media.

Some cat friends are also comforted by the thought that their cat has "crossed the Rainbow Bridge" and a happy new existence awaits on the other side. If you have children who miss your cat very much, you can tell them the story of the Rainbow Bridge. Visiting the cat's grave together can also sometimes alleviate loss for children.

In general, it is helpful to have a memory of your deceased cat. It can be a particularly beautiful photo or the urn with the ashes, which will take pride in place in your home.

Your cat's grief: signs and help

Do cats realize another cat has died? Do they get sad when it happens? Cats can mourn a deceased congener, as long as they got along before.

If you have had to put down one of your cats or if it has died naturally, of course, the other animals in your house will notice. This also happens when someone important to the cat dies.

You can tell if a cat is grieving by changes in its behavior. You should be aware of the following signs:

• Your cat eats less.

• He sleeps a lot and is calmer in general.

• You want to play less.

Be sure to give your other cats enough time to process the loss. There's no use bringing a "spare partner" into the house soon after. On the other hand, afflicted animals must be given a lot of care.

Physical closeness, petting them a lot or brushing their fur helps you and the cats get through this difficult time.

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About the Creator

Abu Saleh

Content writer & Affiliate marketer. https://bestpetslover.com

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