My senior cat (approximately 18 years old and possibly as old as 20) had been struggling with renal failure for a long time and the inevitable decline that comes with it. His quality of life began to plummet. He was too weak to get to his litter box very much and would eliminate a lot of waste in his own bed. It was tough seeing him so weak that he couldn't even take care of that basic need. He was sore and tired a lot and chronically dehydrated, even with a steady diet of only canned food and water available.
We finally made the decision to peacefully let him leave the earth. I figured that making him go on living that way wasn't fair to him. Renal failure seldom produces a quick painless natural death in cats. My father in law passed away last year and prior to his death, he made it clear that he didn't want to live confined to bed. Cats don't have the ability to express their end of life preferences but I imagine that if they did, they wouldn't want to be stuck in bed with minimal function either!
My vet was very kind and compassionate and I stayed with my cat throughout the procedure. I cuddled him and held him in my arms and then held him more after they gave him the sedation. I was right there as they gave the final injection. It was peaceful, instantaneous and not painful. I'm glad that I stayed with him to the end. I'll never regret doing that, because I have peace and closure that he was treated humanely and didn't suffer. The last thing he knew was being cuddled in my arms. We decided on a private cremation and will have his ashes returned to us in a urn. We'll never forget him. One memorable memory of him was when he caught a chipmunk that ended up in our Michigan house!
Though I hated having to make that decision for him, I'm glad that we have this service available. It sure beats the alternative. Late stage kidney disease is pretty nasty.
We finally made the decision to peacefully let him leave the earth. I figured that making him go on living that way wasn't fair to him. Renal failure seldom produces a quick painless natural death in cats. My father in law passed away last year and prior to his death, he made it clear that he didn't want to live confined to bed. Cats don't have the ability to express their end of life preferences but I imagine that if they did, they wouldn't want to be stuck in bed with minimal function either!
My vet was very kind and compassionate and I stayed with my cat throughout the procedure. I cuddled him and held him in my arms and then held him more after they gave him the sedation. I was right there as they gave the final injection. It was peaceful, instantaneous and not painful. I'm glad that I stayed with him to the end. I'll never regret doing that, because I have peace and closure that he was treated humanely and didn't suffer. The last thing he knew was being cuddled in my arms. We decided on a private cremation and will have his ashes returned to us in a urn. We'll never forget him. One memorable memory of him was when he caught a chipmunk that ended up in our Michigan house!
Though I hated having to make that decision for him, I'm glad that we have this service available. It sure beats the alternative. Late stage kidney disease is pretty nasty.
Your kitty was well loved and will always be remembered. 
RIP little Spottie. 
