My Kitty is Gone :(

[KandyKid]

Ya, so my cat is infected with FIV (Sorta like HIV in humans) and I decided that he has to be euthanized tommorow morning. He has been an outdoor cat for 10 years and during this time, he has gotten into many scraps with other cats/racoons, etc and this is most likely how he got infected with FIV. There is a chance of him servivig this but he would never again be allowed to go outside. I don't think this would be fair to him. Its like being an MVP in an all-star game one game and losing all your limbs in an accdient the next day and spending the rest of your life in a chair. I figured this would be better for him. The other reason I decided to euthanize him is because he coughs up everything he eats. To survive, he would need to go in for therapy regularly, more stress for him.

He had a good life but it still hurts to let him go, especially tommorow, since tommorow is the day I have to say goodbye. I actually cried for the first time in years. He has been my best buddy for 10 years :(

FUCK.

[t-skywalker]

this must be such a heart tuggin and emotional time for you....i have three cats of my own in my own home, and i couldnt imagine not having them im so very sorry, i know about the pain u are feeling inside...........u are doing the right thing tho......ur kitty must be in so much pain!!!

take alot for picturs b4 the morning if u can and just hold ur kitty tight for the night and enjoy every warm moment u have till that time....know ur not alone almost everyone has had a pet pass and im sure everyone of us has cried~many hugs

[Carrie]

this made me cry.

i love my kitties to death.

*hugs*

[Hero.Skye]

do cats also get herpes.

jk, that sucks.

[FeelGood]

i love my cats and when i had to put mine down i was okay until the next week when i came home and it was usually sleeping on my computer chair and it wasn't there anymore it feels weird.

like skywalker said, your doing the right thing.
hope all goes well.

[veN]

That is really sad. totally teared up. you're doing the right thing, although it never seems easy. Good luck, and I wish you the best.

[kichu]

Awww. Losing pets is the worst. If you've never had a pet put down and you're going to be in the room when they do it, make sure they tell you what they are doing and when they are doing it and how long you should stay in the room after. My mom and I put my dog down, and I won't elaborate, but I wish we had known a few more details. Made a bad experience way worse. Just make sure you understand what's happening.

After a while you'll look at the pictures you have and just laugh at how cute or crazy your cat was. It's actually a really nice feeling to remember them later. You'll be fine :202:

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by rio

do cats also get herpes.

jk, that sucks.

The herpes virus actually causes a lot of conjuntivitus in Cats, so yes.

I wrote this whole thing to educate people on the FIV virus but my comptuer crashed so I guess that was a sign not to.

One thing I will say is that if you dont' know the vaccination history of your cat and it tests FIV+, ensure that a secondary test is done. If your cat has been vaccinated for FIV it will test positive, this secondary test ensures the cat is truely ill. FIV vaccinations are not super common but they seen to be becoming more so, but I think that's just because people don't seem to mind spending big bucks on their pets.

Ugh. I'm holding myself back here..... soooooo much.

Regardless saying goodbye to a pet is difficult no matter how you look at it. Take the time to celebrate his live, please don't try and replace him as no cat will be the same. What until you're ready to start a new journey with a cat with a totally different personality.

[KandyKid]

Originally Posted by LDUB

The herpes virus actually causes a lot of conjuntivitus in Cats, so yes.

I wrote this whole thing to educate people on the FIV virus but my comptuer crashed so I guess that was a sign not to.

One thing I will say is that if you dont' know the vaccination history of your cat and it tests FIV+, ensure that a secondary test is done. If your cat has been vaccinated for FIV it will test positive, this secondary test ensures the cat is truely ill. FIV vaccinations are not super common but they seen to be becoming more so, but I think that's just because people don't seem to mind spending big bucks on their pets.

Ugh. I'm holding myself back here..... soooooo much.

Regardless saying goodbye to a pet is difficult no matter how you look at it. Take the time to celebrate his live, please don't try and replace him as no cat will be the same. What until you're ready to start a new journey with a cat with a totally different personality.

I had a secondary test done. I wouldn't put him down if i didnt wasn't 100% sure he didnt have FIV. He could have lived through the ordeal, but would have to go for therapy bi-weekly and never be able to go outside again. The vet also pointed out that his stomach was beginning to fail due to the progression of the virus :(

*tears*

[Asheai]

that's horrible. I have 2 cats myself who are getting pretty old (13 & 11) and I would be absolutely DEVASTED if they were to die... I have been pretty worried about them a lot lately, because they are sooo old.... I just hope it's a LONG time before I have to go through that... I hope it goes OK for you, and at least time heals everything in the end :)

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by KandyKid

I had a secondary test done. I wouldn't put him down if i didnt wasn't 100% sure he didnt have FIV. He could have lived through the ordeal, but would have to go for therapy bi-weekly and never be able to go outside again. The vet also pointed out that his stomach was beginning to fail due to the progression of the virus :(

*tears*

It's good to hear all bases were covered. Some vets don't bother to be so thorough so I like to tell ppl.

Do you know what this bi-weekly therapy is that he was suggesting? Was this for his stomach or the FIV?

I have 3 FIV+ cats currently and I give them oral interferon and lysine supplements which show to stop the growth of the virus. I've had FIV cats in the past where I did nothing but wait and see. I've never been offered any other sort of treatment. Then again I rarely take my cats to the vet unless for bloodwork and dentals, stuff I can't do myself. One of thems wild and the vet insists on sedating him even though he really doesn't need it. grrr.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, I really do feel for you loss. I'm just trying to look forward here. I work at a shelter and try to learn the most I can. Each vet has a different view/skillset.

[potface]

Originally Posted by eighty5

i love my cats and when i had to put mine down i was okay until the next week when i came home and it was usually sleeping on my computer chair and it wasn't there anymore it feels weird.

wheni had my dog put down we got home from the vet and went to block the doorway becaur\se he always tried to run out the door and escape into the fromt yard. when we bent down and he didnt come charging that was really sad. suckiest valentines day ever

[KandyKid]

Originally Posted by LDUB

It's good to hear all bases were covered. Some vets don't bother to be so thorough so I like to tell ppl.

Do you know what this bi-weekly therapy is that he was suggesting? Was this for his stomach or the FIV?

I have 3 FIV+ cats currently and I give them oral interferon and lysine supplements which show to stop the growth of the virus. I've had FIV cats in the past where I did nothing but wait and see. I've never been offered any other sort of treatment. Then again I rarely take my cats to the vet unless for bloodwork and dentals, stuff I can't do myself. One of thems wild and the vet insists on sedating him even though he really doesn't need it. grrr.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, I really do feel for you loss. I'm just trying to look forward here. I work at a shelter and try to learn the most I can. Each vet has a different view/skillset.

The bi-weekly therapy had something to do with the fact that for the last 2 weeks of his life he couldn't eat any food. The therapy was supposed to help with that. Everything he ate he threw up, lost about 5 pounds in 2ish weeks. FIV is degenerative, I know that much, and Fluffy had a lot of the bad symptoms of it getting progressive (so he may have had it for years...). My good friend's mom owns the petshop at the border of new west/burnaby, she gave me all the details on FIV.

What really sucks is that now I can't get another kitty because there are FIV+ cats in the area. Just out of curiosity, are your cats outside cats??

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by KandyKid

The bi-weekly therapy had something to do with the fact that for the last 2 weeks of his life he couldn't eat any food. The therapy was supposed to help with that. Everything he ate he threw up, lost about 5 pounds in 2ish weeks. FIV is degenerative, I know that much, and Fluffy had a lot of the bad symptoms of it getting progressive (so he may have had it for years...). My good friend's mom owns the petshop at the border of new west/burnaby, she gave me all the details on FIV.

What really sucks is that now I can't get another kitty because there are FIV+ cats in the area. Just out of curiosity, are your cats outside cats??

I live in an apartment, so no.

I also live in an area where having an outdoor cat isn't idea due to the high coyote population. My shelter is one of the few that adopt to outdoor homes. Some will insist you keep your cat inside at all times.

Two of them used to have outdoor access, one as a pet, the other was a rescued wild stray. Other than the pet guy scratching at the door a bit they seem to be quite content sleeping on my couch. This could also have to do with the fact that they're all over 13. The third I'm unsure of her history.

Of the shelters 60-70 cats I'd say 30 of them used to live outdoors or had outdoor access, but rarely (like 1 cat in a year) do we have a cat that refuses to accept it's new indoor life and has been adopted by the neighbourhood.

Again I'm sorry for you loss. And again sorry for using your story to spew my view... I think I can't help it.