Many cats I have loved and lost. Seventeen have resided with me over the course of my life. Outside , well-fed, spade or neutered. The two swirling around my feet at the present time are both 11 years old and are sisters. These girls have lived indoors since birth. I have never had to euthanize a cat. That is not to say I haven’t loved many who have disappeared without a trace, ran into the road at the worst possible time, or were shot by an evil creature who apparently used them for sport. Yes—all these things did happen. My heart was torn asunder. My spirit was overcome with grief and heartache.

My friend has raised three fur babies with deep love and the utmost care. Two she has had to euthanize—one was nearly 10 years old and diagnosed with feline leukemia. The second one was 18 years old with kidney disease. Her current fur baby is 15. And he has a terminal illness as well (liver disease).

My opinion:

If either of my cats were diagnosed with a death sentence, and the veterinarian suggested euthanasia, the humane action would be to follow his advice. No, I would not be ready to “let her go.” After 11 years of love, I couldn’t imagine either failing to greet me daily as I return home . . . I couldn’t imagine never hearing zooming and hissing when the two sisters argued . . . I couldn’t imagine the silence of either of their distinct voices mewing or purring as I brushed their fur or scratched their ears. I would have to be strong. I would have to make the best decision as the adult and caretaker. I would have to be humane because if my girls were suffering with pain and discomfort, it would be heartbreaking. I couldn’t force food into my pet if it could barely lift its head.

My friend is not taking the veterinarian’s advice. She says she is not ready to let him go. She is “working with him” by enticing him to eat and drink. He has good days and bad days. She does not want to euthanize him at this point. She is not  ready, she states, to let him go. He is barely active. He is constipated often. Is he in pain and suffering? I feel that he could very well be in either state . . .or both.

This is my opinion. I have never had to euthanize a pet.

My friend’s opinion:

I have had to euthanize two pets. And it may come to the point that I will have to euthanize my current sweetheart. It was, hands down, the hardest thing I have ever had to do when I made the decision for my other two babies. I loved them with all my heart and soul. I have had no children and they were like babies to me, as is my sweet one who is still with me. Did I worry if they were in pain or suffering in some way? I did and it was breaking my heart. Do I want to have to make that big girl decision yet again to euthanize a pet I love so much? I don’t and I secretly pray that he will go peacefully to sleep forever and I will not have to make that heart-wrenching decision.

I really don’t think I am being cruel in any way to give him more time with me. He is using his litter box, although not as regularly (the nature of his disease). He is not eating and drinking as heartily as he did two months ago and he does spend even more of his day sleeping and resting.

Out of my three cats, he has been the sweetest and the easiest to raise. He has a good-nature and loves people. He welcomes me at the door, hops into my bed in the morning and follows me to “help” when I am cleaning and organizing or working from home on the computer. He has made my life happier, richer, and more complete. I want to give him just a little more time with me.

Will I choose to euthanize him? I know in my head that the day will come, if he doesn’t pass quietly in sleep, I will once again have to make that decision. My head knows this but my heart refuses to believe.