I need hugs.

[kate]

We put Fatty down today.

He'd been doing okay? We had a wellness panel done and it came back weird - they said there was a clot so they wanted to run it again. That was two months ago and I never got him back in because he was doing fine - absolutely normal - until suddenly he wasn't. He'd started to get picky about food when we started giving him wet food in order to give him some more liquid (recommended by the vet), and then he started eating less and less, and two days ago stopped eating altogether. (He'd done this before and it sucked but we'd nursed him back to health.)

So we went to the vet. An emergency visit, sure, but nothing serious.

Uh, no. We sat around for half an hour waiting for test results. The physical exam had revealed one hard stool in his bowels (he hadn't eaten enough to poo for a few days), and his eyes weren't reacting to light very much (that should've had me worried, and it did, but not enough). His slight heart murmur, which he'd never had before, should have alerted me too. It didn't. I am stupidly optimistic.

When the vet came back in, she told us that his kidneys had shut down. He wasn't eating because he couldn't process the food, and all the stuff his kidneys weren't filtering out was ending up in his blood - which was "sludgey" and probably the reason the last blood had gotten a clot - not a misdraw, as the vet had led me to believe.

She was very kind but also absolutely firm that it was Fatty's time. His kidneys had just quit; there was nothing to do for him at this point and we really needed to think about his quality of life.

If it had been just me, I might have asked to take him home overnight, to let us and the other cats just spend a little more time with him. My wife didn't want to do that. She didn't say why but I assume it's because she thought it'd be harder. It probably would have. So ten minutes after we'd gotten the completely shocking news that our cat was dying, we watched as the vet put him down. I have only ever done that twice in my life and both times it was absolutely heartbreaking. I know I'll do it again but it just fucking sucks and now I'm going to go get drunk and play Overcooked II with my fluffy cat on my lap. He's the only one that seemed to notice something was wrong when we got home with an empty cat carrier.

Comments

[celli]

*hugshugshugshugs*

[the_wanlorn]

Oh bb, I'm so sorry.

[st_aurafina]

Oh, no. *so many hugs for you and Fatty and all his cat-sibs*

[glitteryv]

I am so sorry abt your loss. Sending lots of warm thoughts for you and your family. <3

[alchemise]

I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[umadoshi]

;_; I'm so sorry. How devastating. *hugs*

[kass]

Oh my dear I am so sorry. I have only once needed to put a cat down and it was heartbreaking. I am thinking of you.

[trobadora]

*hugs*

[silverflight8]

:( I am so sorry, Kate. Hugs if you want them. That's a huge shock :(

[mrshamill]

He was a handsome boy and you did right by him, even if it doesn't feel like it now. I've been in that place too many times and it always hurts. I'm sorry, love. My hugs and heart to you and her.

[torachan]

I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[trascendenza]

Oh, my heart is crying :(((( So many hugs, so sorry you're going through this.

[angrboda]

I'm sorry to hear this. These things can happen quite suddenly. I know, because I've been there myself in almost the same situation. Some times you don't discover something's even wrong until it's too late. All the hugs in the world, I know precisely how you feel.

[genarti]

I'm so sorry. It's awful always, but there's an extra horrible shock when it's a surprise, and you don't have time to adjust to the idea and do some of the grieving ahead.

[goodbyebird]

That's awful, I'm so so sorry ♥

[schneefink]

*hugs* so sorry, that really sucks.

[mific]

Big hugs - and hang in there.

[pensnest]

I'm so sorry. It's a horrible thing to have to do, especially when it comes up in a rush. *offers hugs*

[mergatrude]

*SO MANY HUGS*

He looks like he was a Good Cat.

[omens]

Oh what a beautiful fellow :( I'm sorry dude, I know you were gearing up to fight for him again, that's gotta be such whiplash. :( :( :(

HUGS.

[adafrog]

I didn't read, but here's a {{{hug}}}

[worlds_of_smoke]

oh honey. I'm so, so sorry. -offers all the hugs-

[sperrywink]

{{{hugs}}}

Look at that bright boy. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[mirabile]

I'm so sorry to read this. Unless you've gone through it, it's hard to understand how truly painful the loss is.

[nanila]

I am so, so sorry for you loss. Many hugs.

[beachlass]

Oh I am so sorry for your loss, and the shocking suddenness of it.

Much, much love.

So sorry to hear this shocking news

[jesse_the_k]

....and I send you the softest hugs.

[wintercreek]

I'm so sorry - what a hard thing. Sending ♥

[clavally]

I'm so sorry, bb. <333333333

[zippitgood]

I'm so sorry. :( That's so hard. <333333

[majestic_duxk]

sending you so much love. so much.
I am glad you were there.

[danceswithgary]

*hugs*

[wanted_a_pony]

All my sympathies for your loss! No matter how "right" or merciful the decision is in practical terms, it's still a head-punch & crushes ones heart to make it. It sounds like you acted for the best, as soon as you realized he was really ill.

Thanks for sharing the lovely photos too--what a handsome fellow! Fatty (& others) will definitely be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge with happy memories & demands for pets & lovin'. <3 <3 <3

[grammarwoman]

*HUGS* That is hard news and a rough choice to have to make; I am so sorry.

[fairestcat]

What a beautiful boy. I'm so sorry for your loss.