When will it stop???

[Road King Cole]

My sympathies,

I had to put down my best friend, a black lab, a few years back. I got her after a breakup of a long relationship and was the love of my life during my single years. I dreaded for years of when "that day" would come. I was a real mess for a few weeks after she was put down. The wife hated seeing me like that so she bought me a puppy (yellow lab). In respect of the dog that just died I thought it was too soon, but it really helped me tremendously.

So as nipper says, get a new one. Of course I would recommend a dog instead, but that's all about personal preference.

Take care.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I feel for yeah. I just had to put my dads dog down last year, and it was tough. Before my dad passed I promised to take care of his dog for him, and at 10 he got a stomach tumor that ruptured and took him. For me it was like breaking that promise I made to my dad before he passed, but then I realized I had fullfilled it and then some. I think it is easier losing a person than an animal because an animal pulls you in without ever saying a word, people on the other hand can talk and do the opposite. It's never easy to lose a member of the family, espescially after that long of a time. In the end just remember what you did with them while they were here.

[Blue_Runner]

CTT 14 is a very long life. You can take comfort in knowing that cat lived longer than most other cats. I can relate to your story especially well. I had a cat to get a facial tumor on the left part of her nose at about 6 - 7 yrs old. Took her to the vet and the doc gave her a shot that made the tumor almost disapear. Then it came back. Took her back, another shot and disapear. Then it came back. Finally doc was like, it is cancerous and I can give her another shot but it is going to come back and eventually get her. Took docs recommendation to put her down. That cat was purring and rubbing all over me on the vet table waiting to be put down. Happy all the way to the end even though her face looked like the elephant man. Vet gave her a shot and I had to walk out. I was pretty emotional. I cracked the door to take a peak about 5 min. after the vet had walked out and she was curled up on the table. When the door opened her ears perked up. It tore me up. Doc came back, checked her heartbeat, said "she's still with us" & tore me up more. Then he turns her over and gives a 2nd shot directly in the heart and her entire body was calmed - you could see the muscles relax from head to tow like a wave. Anyway, I know I did the right thing and I'm sure you did to.

My other 2 cats (brother and sister) ironically are 14 years old and we got them when we got married before the kids came along. Had to have some teeth pulled in the tom recently and found out he has feline AIDS. Doc said his sis probably has it too. They both seem happy so I figure if they go for another couple years that would be great. Lately I call him either Majic Johnson or Rock Hudson. It will be a sad sad day when we loose them.

Youd did the right thing for your cat CTT.

[phatdaddy]

like all of the above, been there & done it, but it don't make it any easier. i was holding my 14 year old lab when he was euthanized. he had congestive heart failure and could hardly breath. i was sitting on the table with his head in my lap, scratching his ears, and he was laboring to get his breath. the vet said "are you ready?" and he gave the shot. it was amazing, the dog sighed and that was it... he finally looked comfortable. i watched my mom suffer with COPD and her last 2 weeks were miserable, i really wish i could have done something for her.

[CaptJ]

Charlie, you did what any responsible pet owner needed to do. I just put my lab down last month. It has been bothering me ever since. At 16 years of age she was not the same. My best friend was her vet and said she probably had tumors on the brain and showed signs of other health issues, such as dimentia. She was walking in circles and I couldn't get her in the house. She would stand outside in the pouring rain even in thunderstorms (that she feared). She would run from me and her hind legs were shot. I couldn't even pet her.

I miss Buca... but I know what I did was right for her, as what you needed to so for you beloved cat. I look at Buca's pics from pup to later years. She was not herself, she was sick and she was not happy, I would not have wanted to live any longer if it was me in her place.

[charlie_the_tuna]

thanks all. i just couldnt ever have imagined it would be this tough. my 12 year old is a mess. those two loved each other, and the kids have never known life without their cat.
road king, we already have a dog and in her own way i think she misses him too.
i dont think it would be the right thing to do at this time to replace him. i feel like i would just have all these expectations and the new guy wouldnt live up to them. i just dont think it would be fair to him, or me right now. maybe in the future, when we have healed completely but right now, we're just gonna stick with that stupid dog.
thanks again all, it just good to know that others have gone through this and the hurt eventually goes away.
regards, C

[nipper]

Take care and just talk through it with the kids, focusing on the good times with the cat. You usually come across as a real "tough guy", but appears you are just a big softy at heart!