File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey guys.

My gf's cat, Smokey is terminally ill. He's 15, a burmese.
He has a massive cancer in his chest that makes his breathing short, and he has one in his brain which are giving him fits once in a while. The doctor says he has between 2weeks to 2 months of comfortable life to live. The chances of him being alive when his mummy (my gf's sister) comes home is 50/50.

He's so sad because my gf's sister is away on a trip to America and she has been away for 4 months or so (shes back in January). He has been negelcted a fair bit as he is annoying.

But the past few months he's been sitting at the window of her room, waiting for her to come home. It really makes me sad that for the last few months of his life he has been so sad. He has almost stopped eating (except for chicken and treats) and stopped going to toilet.

My gf is upset but I don't think she's showing it too much because she's a pretty strong girl. But I know she can't stand it. Smokey has been with her almost her whole life and I have grown attatched to him too.

I've never really had pets and this is the first time that anything or anyone close to me has ever died.

I don't know what to do, my gf doesn;t want to put him down, but her mum wants to.

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>> Anonymous
Really, this should be pretty cut and dry. If he's suffering horribly, you need to put him down. Don't make it a more drawn out and painful death than it needs to be. If the cat's owner is okay with it, then you should do it. There's very little chance she'll get to see him again, so she should be all right knowing he at least went peacefully.

I've been there when two of our cats have been put down. They were extremely old and sick, it was a choice between a drawn out and painful death at home, and ending their suffering. It was hard to watch, but it was going to happen one way or another. Sometimes you have to make a hard decision like that.
>> Anonymous
But how can you tell if he's suffering?

Seizures don't hurt they only daze and though he is short of breath he seems to be fine.

He purred for the first time in a long time yesterday too.

I can't help but feel that what if before, just before he get's the injection he decides that he was hungry and wanted to go pee after all? You know? Were making a decision for him and he doesn't have any imput, he has no say.

Maybe he's not ready to die? Maybe he wants to see his mum again?

I can't help but feel maybe he could have gotten better and lived much longer comfortably if we had giving him time.
>> Anonymous
Getting him put down is the best option. It's not fair to make animals suffer just because you're scared to let him go. (The word "you" being in general, not you yourself.) They say he will live "comfortably" but with his condition, I can't understand how it can be comfortable. Added to the fact that he's upset from his owner's being away, it's cruel to make him go on in such a manner.

Poor thing.
>> Anonymous
Y'said she wasn't comin' back til January right? *sigh* It's a tough sit. My mom had to put my kitty down while I was gone and it sucked.

The thing was, and is, he may not be suffering now but when an animal dies, it's not pretty nor painless (not most the time). The cat they put down we had held on to as long as we could. When mom made the decision it was after he was shitting blood and curled up in a tight ball, obviously hurting. In short, you might save the animal true pain with a simple paw prick.
Moreover, all the time we held onto him and wouldn't let him go, looking back we realized how miserable he must have been. Aberrant litter behaviour, creaking hips, and probably cancer growing inside him... I actually feel more guilty in some ways for not putting him out of his misery sooner...

That he isn't going to the toilet is a REALLY bad sign. Honestly, he might make the decision for you and pass away on his own if he's at that stage already...

Moreover, you're leaving. One thing that probably DOES keep him alive is the attention you do give him. Loneliness and the stress of no people there (if that is the situation) might kill him anyways at this point. Between the agony of dying alone and your own trouble coming home to a decaying body, though I hate to, I would strongly recommend euthanasia.

Oh...
And the "mother" wants him to be put down? As it is her cat, I would abide by her wishes. If she was against it the story could be different but as it is...

Don't envy you, hon.
>> Anonymous
I would give him a few days of great care - all favorite treats, and lots of petting (if petting doesn't hurt him that is). and then I'd let him go. it would really be proper if someone he's comfortable with gives him the injection. driving to a foreign place to spend your last moments in the arms of a stranger would suck. but I know I couldn't give the injection myself.
>> Fo Smokey the Cat Anonymous
Try transfer factors.In capsule form,rip open and add to milk,water, or food.
>> Anonymous
>>47767
Giving cats medication that most people in need of it can't afford is utterly obscene.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
i am doctor. need snadwich.
>> Anonymous
>>47778
Most people in need of clean water can't afford it. Therefore, you shouldn't give your pets clean water!
>> Anonymous
I think euthanizing an animal that's suffering is the most humane thing to do. It's terrible to make them go through so much pain when the disease is incurable. If your girlfriend's family can afford having a vet euthanize the cat, and her mother is willing to pay, why doesn't she want to have the cat put to sleep?

It's always very painful for the person who's watching their pet die - I know, I've been through it many times - but in the end I think it's really about what's best for the animal.
>> Holly
The cat will live until January, I definitely believe. Or until your g/f's sister can come home. My cat died suddenly very recently. She, too, was 15 years old and alive 3/4s of my life so I was very attached. I rushed home (as fast as my parents could drive me) from University. I get home and get close to her face and tell her I love her. She was already half-cold but she raised her head and nudged her nose against my face. She fought for breath 5 minutes later and we sat (my brother, her numero uno human) by the chair as she passed. The cat waited for me to get home--she knew I was coming. The cat knows your sister is trying to come home to her.
>> anonymous
No sense in rushing things. It sounds like you are doing a good job keeping him comfortable. Just give him some attention and take good care of him. If he transitions into something worse you will know it and can address it then.
>> Anonymous
>>48732
HAHAHA, OH WOW BULLSHIT.

Now cats are psychic right?
>> Anonymous
i truly believe that that can happen.my cat waited for me to come home to say goodbye.he was so ill and died after i was home,even the vet said so.he was almost brain dead but his heart was still beating.one of my other cats knows wen im coming home.he wil rush downstairs wen im halfway down the street,my bf has commented on this.its the same as dogs kno wen yr coming home
>> Anonymous
>>48765
it's called routine and/or sense of smell, not some kind of fucking pet magic.