Tiger Is Dying. When?, Elderly kitty dying Options

[Tiger's Mom]

My 18 year old kitty is dying of kidney failure. Her lab values are through the roof, she's less than 5 pounds now, she wobbles when she walks, and now she barely eats. I've been giving her SQ fliuds each day for about a week. She can't seem to get her tongue to sit right in her mouth and fiddles with it. All of this has transpired within the last 2 weeks.
This is heartbreaking. I've had cats and dogs all my life, but you know how every once in awhile a special one comes along? Well, Tiger is special. She follows me everywhere, and talks alot. She's only content to sleep at night if her paws are resting on my hand. She gets in my face, tickles me with her whiskers, and meows till I hold my hand out for her to put hers on. She plays with a little toy on my bed just like she was a little kitty. She would race around my bed in circles and pounce on imaginary mice to make me laugh. I have 3 younger cats that like to play too, but the speed of Tiger's paws is twice that of the other cats. She was so fast my daughter and I jokingly call her Miss Miagi (like from karate kid).
Now, I'm tortured with when/how to decide to have her put to sleep. Until today she seemed comfortable. Today, she's acted restless in spite of her decline, wandering the house, so I think she's uncomfortable. My sister, who grew up with Tiger as well, describes her as not a regular cat, more like a funny little fairy or angel. Letting go is just horrible.

[karen424]

Tiger's Mom....

I know how hard this is and I am so sorry.....My Max had renal failure and liver cancer. I was really torn about the "knowing when it's time" thing and everyone said he would let me know. And he did. On his last day with us he started vomiting over and over, would go to a corner of the room and didn't want us near him so that told me he was ready to cross to the bridge. It's never an easy thing to end the life of a precious furchild, but it's the most selfless act we can do. Just consider Tiger's quality of life.....I know you wouldn't want her to suffer. Just like Max, Tiger will let you know.

My thoughts are with you and Tiger....

God Bless,

Karen

[Tiger's Mom]

Karen,
Thank you for your reply. When I've had to put animals to sleep in the past it was obvious and/or sudden. This has been an emotional rollercoaster... I couldn't sleep much of the night. I pray that I do know when.

Elizabeth

[karen424]

Elizabeth....

Yes you are so right - an emotional roller-coaster is exactly how it feels. Just keep giving her all the love you can. Keep us posted on how she is doing....

Hugs,

Karen

[Ken Albin]

I am so sorry you have to face this terrible decision. No one can say for certain when the right time is, but From your description it sounds like she is letting you know in her own way that it is her time. It's never an easy thing to do, but allowing them to suffer is even harder. May you have the strength to follow through in saying goodbye to her. Please feel free to post on the other boards when you need someone to talk to about the
feelings you will be experiencing from this. Saying goodbye is usually the hardest on those left behind.

Take care,
Ken Albin

[Tiger's Mom]

Thank you for your kind words. Yesterday Tiger followed me around, and spent most of the day basking in the kitchen window, which is a first, she usually stays upstairs. Then, while I was cutting up my chicken, she jumped down and said a meow for some (another first). I know the protein is not good, but if I was on my last week or two, I'd want some friggin cake. I'm still giving her the SQ fluids, which we both hate. So, I guess yesterday was one of the uphills on the rollercoaster as far as her comfort and behavior. I checked into the cremation which totally sucked. And, I confirmed with the vet that I'd be permitted to be with her when she's put to sleep, since I know some vets don't permit it.
Thank you, your comments are comforting.
Elizabeth

[Phinny1]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. So sorry you are at the point of having to make this decision. As most said here, you will know and/or Tiger will let on when it is time. Key here is not to hold on too long to where the animal is suffering.
You're doing the right thing of giving her lots of love and letting her eat anything she wants.


Take care - Chris

[Ken Albin]

It's good to hear that Tiger is still enjoying life. As long as that is the case, it's not quite time. Please give her a head pat for me.

[Tiger's Mom]

Thank you all for your responses, they are comforting. I'm sitting here typing with Tiger on my lap. I've become very adept at balancing her as I do my work...I don't look forward to my lap being empty. She basked in the window today and spent most of the day on my lap. I swear if they made a belly-pack for cats, she'd be content to have me hold her all day.
Ken, your Daddy Cat looks just like our Baby Tiger...we have Old Lady Tiger and Baby Tiger (big 20 pound baby:). My little girl and I read your story and both ended up bawling. That was so sweet.

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[Tiger's Mom]

Well, Tiger has been plodding along eating little bits, and still doing SQ fluids. Yesterday I noticed her pupils seem huge, and today they are unequal, one slightly larger than the other. I fear this may be blindness associated with her renal failure, and a huge lump is in my throat knowing the end is soon.

[Tiger's Mom]

Well Tiger is blind. I've watched her walk around, moving along by feel. This is the week.
Thank you everyone for your comments and for giving me a place to express how bad this sucks.
Here is a pic of my two Tigers. The 20 pound baby doesn't understand why his buddy can't play.

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[Ken Albin]

I hate it when something like this happens and there is nothing the vet can do to actually make it better. Our prayers go with Tiger for a peaceful Bridge trip.

[Tiger's Mom]

I told my daughter that God has a very big lap and can't wait to have our Tiger snuggle up.

[Tiger's Mom]

We put Tiger to sleep on Tuesday. We held her till she left and told her we love her.

[JD1]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You got to love her for a long time and she knows even now your love for her. You will see her again someday. We get to have them for what seems like a very short time, even the healthy ones, at least you were able to enjoy and love eachother while she was here on earth.

[SJ J & S]

How are you and your little girl doing Elizabeth?

[karen424]

I am sorry....Tiger was much loved and is at peace now...my thoughts are with you and your family....

Take care..
Love,
Karen

[Juanita]

Dear Elizabeth,
We share a very sad anniversary of sorts. I was also with my darling Spike, an at-least-16-year-old Border Terrier, when he was euthanized on Tuesday, May 23. Tuesdays had always been non-days for me, but that has changed. While I miss Spike terribly every single day and cry for him every single day, Tuesdays have taken on a new, bittersweet meaning. On that one day I held him and told him I loved him both in life and in death. No, Tuesday will never be the same.

My heart ached as I read your posts chronicling Tiger's decline as Spike's situation was similar during the last six months of his life. There were good days, bad days and worse days....and oh boy, did those good days try to fool me into believing that everything was OK for a while.

I hope that you have found an element of peace and acceptance by now, but if you're like so many others of us, you may be doubting the wisdom of your decision, or second-guessing yourself or playing "what-if". You are not alone, believe me, you are not alone. We just have to trust that, in the moment when we know "it's time", we always make a decision based on love and compassion.

I'd like to share a kind of mantra that I repeat whenever sadness and regret threaten to overwhelm me...... "Rather than mourn the absence of Spike's flame, let me rejoice that it burned so brightly for so long". This doesn't take away the pain, but it always brings me back to a place of gratitude for the 14 wonderful years we had together. The sad fact is that the depth of our pain is equal to the depth of our love...and we loved them a lot.

Prayers that happy memories will soon replace the sadness that you feel today,

Juanita

[Tiger's Mom]

I do not have the what if's, or any regret for I know it was the time and didn't want her to suffer more than she already had. But, am left with an empty hole where she used to be. She was my constant companion, very vocal and expressive. Like a little angel that would always try to talk to us. When I did my work at the computer, she'd always meow till I set her on my lap. She'd prefer to stay in my bedroom, but would always run down when I came home, and meow till I followed her upstairs. She'd run in circles on the bed to make us laugh, and pounce on invisible mice. She slept with her paws on my hand at all times, and would wake me with her wiskers, and her big eyes an inch from my face. We miss her so much. I try to focus on all those special memories.

Thank you all so much for the support. It's is very comforting to know others understand.

Elizabeth