Well, today I had to do a very difficult thing. I had to euthanize my fourteen year old cat. Lugnut has been with me since he was only six weeks old. He was known to be a grumpy cat (there was a reg flag on his account at the vet) but he could also be a lover when you caught him at the right moment. I wanted to post a picture, but he’s all black. I’m sure you can imagine what a black cat would look like.
Throughout the years, Luggie has had some interesting experiences. In 1994 he was voted most improved swimmer at summer camp. The following year, he spent a week in the dorms at MSU. His best friend was a black lab named Aspen. Two years ago he escaped the night before my flight to Florida, and I spent two hours under the neighbors deck in the mud and snow waiting for him to come out. One year I thought it was really cute that the neighbor let their cat run around on the roof, until I got to my house and saw the bedroom screen hanging out the window. No wonder the cat cried at me when I walked by…
He was always really healthy until recently. He started losing weight, and just recently was not much more than fur and bones. This weekend I could hardly get him to drink milk. I think the most drastic change was just in the last couple weeks. He had trouble even jumping up on the bed. He layed around alot more than normal, and I noticed he wasn’t grooming himself anymore. There were just too many signs that it was time. I really wanted to bring him home and let him be here when he went, but that’s only going to make me feel better. I don’t think he was in pain, but I can’t be selfish. My pets are my responsibility, and I need to do what’s right for them.
Well, Luggie, we had a good run. You were loved.
Aw, poor Lugnut and poor firsttwin! I know it was hard to do but you made the right decision. You had a great cat for almost 14 years – that’s a really long time!
Yep, ol Luggie was a good cat and companion. I remember when you brought him home from camp that first summer. I know that you are sad, but just remember how much you enjoyed him – and you did make the right decision. Love, Mom
I’m very sorry that you had to put him down. I guess I’ve gone through it 3 or 4 times and I always question whether it’s the right time or if I’ve even got the right to have it done. No matter how old, or how sick, or how much pain they’re in, it’s never easy.
Pets count on us for everything and you had to make the tough, correct decision.
Hope you are feeling better.
I know you’ve done it with dogs – I really don’t think you’re the cat type kind of guy. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to do this, but it was the hardest, since he was my ‘main’ cat. Beside family, no one’s been by my side longer.
Monday, I knew I had to do it, but part of you always says ‘why can’t I just take him home to die, and maybe I can keep him comfortable until he goes?” Now I think I pushed that enough. I knew he was shutting down little by little. It would have been selfish to make him continue living that way, just to make me feel better.
I do believe I made the right choice at the right time. Even if I wanted to pursue finding out if it was a tumor and opted for surgery (I didn’t have money for that), it would really have given him a few more months at best. Most likely.
It was time to let him go.
I used to have a couple of cats – Huey I and Huey II. Got the first one from the Humane Society (get it – “HUey”?)
Sean’s little dog, Molly got cancer and we had to put her down at only 3 years old. We kept her as long as we could, but she went blind and was suffering. Even near the end Sean was saying “She can get better. I can train her to live blind” It was awful.
Scott, I remember when you and Sean were going through that with Molly. Broke my heart.
When we had to have Bandit (our “main cat,” who always slept with BB) put to sleep around the same time, I was SO glad that BB really wasn’t old enough to understand. Over the few weeks that Bandit was sick and we knew he wasn’t getting better, we told BB that and let him know that it was possible that the vet couldn’t make him better and he could die. When the time came, BB knew we were taking Bandit to the vet. We had already told him that the vet couldn’t make Bandit better, and then told him that Bandit had died at the vet. I just didn’t see any reason to tell him the absolute truth. Maybe when he’s a little older.
I totally remember “Huey Twoey” as we called him. He was Mimi and Lacy’s cat the whole time we were growing up. Unfriendly old thing. At least he didn’t stink like that damn dog, Sassy Sue, though. LOL. Sassy was a nice dog, though.
I remember Huey. The one thing I remember about him was that when Lacy came home, would hear the car all the way down the road. That’s what mom said, anyway.