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EUTHANASIA In
some circumstances your vet may suggest that you should consider having your cat
"put to sleep" (euthanased) such as if your cat has a terminal illness
from which he cannot recover or if he has intractable pain.
This will enable your cat to die in peace with dignity and without
further suffering. It can be a very
hard decision to make but it is one of the kindest things that an owner can do
for a suffering cat. What
happens when a cat is "put to sleep"? The
vet, with the assistance of a veterinary nurse, gives the cat an intravenous
injection of a lethal dose of barbiturates (a strong anaesthetic) usually into a
front leg. Sometimes the injection
is made into a kidney. The cat
loses consciousness within a few seconds and often gives a last gasp just before
it dies. This is a very controlled
and painless method of euthanasia. For
very nervous cats it is sometimes necessary to give a sedative to calm them prior to euthanasia. Is
it usual for the owner to stay with their cat when it is "put to
sleep"? Most
vets are quite happy for owners to remain with their cat.
Sometimes owners get very distressed and this is communicated to the cat
and in this instance it may be preferable for the cat to be left with the vet
and his nurse. If the owners wish,
they can see the remains after the injection has been given but many people
prefer their last memory to be of their cat alive. The
decision whether or not to stay with the cat is a very personal decision which
should preferably be made in advance to avoid further distress. Can
I have my cat put to sleep at home or is it better to take him to the surgery? If
your vet offers home visits then he may be willing to put your cat to sleep at
home. This can be expensive because
you have to pay for the vet's and his nurses time for the period they are away
from the surgery. It is not always
practical for both the vet and his nurse to come and some vets no longer offer
home visits except in cases of emergency. At
the surgery skilled assistance and equipment is readily available.
It is usually possible to arrange an appointment at the surgery at a
quiet time to avoid undue distress to both cat and owner.
What can I do
with my pet's remains? There
are four possible choices:- • home burial • incineration - this is the most common means
of disposal through a veterinary practice • individual cremation with return of the pet's
ashes - your vet can usually arrange this and advise about the likely cost. • burial in a pet cemetery - your vet can
suggest who to contact to arrange this. It
can be quite expensive. Grieving for
your cat It
is very natural to feel upset and emotional when your pet dies.
Don't be afraid to show your feelings in front of the vet.
He will understand. It will
take time to get over your loss. It
often helps to talk about your cat's death.
It is quite normal to feel angry, this is part of the process of coming
to terms with your loss. Try not to
feel guilty or blame yourself or
your vet for your cat's death. Remember
that you cared for your cat and did all you could when it was ill.
Vet's cannot always save a cat's life.
Treasure your memories. Remember
the good times and what you loved most about your cat. If
you feel you have no-one to talk to about your loss you can contact the SCAS
Befriender Service which will put you in touch with someone who lives near you
(Tel: 0891 615285). Helping
children to cope The
death of a pet is often a child's first experience of death. Tell
them the truth. Encourage them to
talk about their feelings and tell them how you feel.
Help them to understand that they are not to blame.
Talk to them about your cat and concentrate on the good times.
Don't get a new pet too soon. Your
child will need time to get over the death of the old pet. Further
reading Death
of an Animal Friend Society for
Companion Animal Studies (Tel 0141 956 5950) |