I feel so guilty.

[Kazanne]

Aw,I am feeling so guilty today,I had to have my cat(Harry) put to sleep this morning,he was 16 years old was VERY skinny and walking down on his back legs,I feel so bad that I took him to end is life,I wanted him to go at home peacefully in his sleep,I really hate having to play God,I am just thinking now,'what if' but the vet said he was old and having trouble,:bawling:Is 16 very old for a cat?

[MissKittyFantastico]

Awww Kazanne I'm so sorry :( If he was in pain and not having good quality of life though, and nothing could be done for him, then you definitely did the right thing, even though it might not feel like it now. And I'd say 16 years is a really good innings for a cat! I'm really sorry for your loss :hug:

R.I.P Harry xx

[Niamh.]

16 is about right for a cat yeah. Some would say that we are kinder to animals by not letting them suffer like humans have to and I would agree. It's still heart breaking though, we had to have one of our dogs put down last year after he got bowel cancer and was in so much pain, it was the best thing for him but it still makes you feel like crap:hug:

[Mystic Mock]

Aw,I am feeling so guilty today,I had to have my cat(Harry) put to sleep this morning,he was 16 years old was VERY skinny and walking down on his back legs,I feel so bad that I took him to end is life,I wanted him to go at home peacefully in his sleep,I really hate having to play God,I am just thinking now,'what if' but the vet sais he was old and having trouble,:bawling:Is 16 very old for a cat?

yes it is as my cat is 7, and thats considered old.

[Niamh.]

yes it is as my cat is 7, and thats considered old.

7 isn't that old for a cat

[joeysteele]

Its a great age for a cat kazanne,I agree it is awaful to make that decision,I havent had to do so yet but since I love animals, sometime in mylife I will need to make that decision.

Animals though try to hide pain so they are not seen as weak, si if it was clear your cat was in pain and suffering,then he was showing you that and you have done the right thing by him.

Think of all the funny things he did, all the fun and laughs you had with him and know he had a great owner and a great long life.
You will feel like you've lost one of the family, which in fact you have really.

[Kazanne]

16 is about right for a cat yeah. Some would say that we are kinder to animals by not letting them suffer like humans have to and I would agree. It's still heart breaking though, we had to have one of our dogs put down last year after he got bowel cancer and was in so much pain, it was the best thing for him but it still makes you feel like crap:hug:

I don't feel very kind at the moment and cant stop blubbing,but it does help speaking to like minded people,maybe we should get on the geralex thread quick:xyxwave:

[Niamh.]

I don't feel very kind at the moment and cant stop blubbing,but it does help speaking to like minded people,maybe we should get on the geralex thread quick:xyxwave:

good plan! guaranteed to lift your spirits!!:wink:

[lostalex]

sorry for your loss :(

[Mystic Mock]

sorry for loss.

[Angus]

Aw sorry to hear about Harry, but you did the kindest and most loving thing for him when he needed it. 16 is a great age for a cat, that's around 80 in human years I think, so he had a good innings.

[Ammi]

16 is a great age and your obviously a wonderful cat parent and have done the right thing - its always hard as they're part of the family but its right.

Sorry for your loss

[Jordan.]

RIP Harry :hug:

[Crimson Dynamo]

I did that with my cat earlier this year. Had to hold him down as the poison went in, he howled and looked at me. Broke my heart.

[Jords]

Sorry to hear that, but think about it in the way that he wont be suffering anymore. :)

[Patrick]

Aww.

Yeah 16 Is old, my grandad's cat was 17 and died earlier this year and they said it was very old so I imagine 16 is too.

I know how you feel, the same thing happened to my dog.

He 'Bit' a girl and my dad took him to get put down and the next morning it turned out the girl had lied and he didn't touch her.

It was terrible.

But yeah poor cat :(

R.I.P I hope he's at rest now, bless him.
It must of been so hard saying goodbye :(

[SoBig]

16 years as in human years? I never heard of a cat living that long before.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

16 is really old for a cat

[Stacey.]

R.I.P Harry :(

[sooty]

I am sorry to hear it.
I do not think none of my cats ever reached 16.

I had lost a cat, she was only few years old, she never came back.
Specially like cold day or rainy day my heart ached.
If I heard noise in midnight, I would get up and look around the area for ages.

I think your cat was lucky to be able to live with a caring owner for good long years.

[Kazanne]

Thankyou guys,it does help hearing some of your stories,I am so glad Harry reached 16 as it does seem a ripe old age,I've been to a concert tonight,so that took my mind off it a bit,but Lordy I will miss the old lad coming to me for his breakfast in the morning.but I know I did the right thing now,Thanks everyone:xyxwave: xxxxxx

[Tom]

16 for a cat is like a human living until 75, not bad innings but could probably go a little further. I think you did the right thing anyway, its a really hard thing to do but sometimes you have to be selfish and put the animal first, if he was in pain then he needed to go to sleep not suffer and have crap quality of life. I wouldn't feel bad about it, I'd feel good that you've done whats best

[GypsyGoth]

:hug:

[Benjamin]

Bless, well hope you feel better soon. By the sounds of it you did a good thing, he was old and suffering. Don't feel guilty.:hug:

[hotleggs]

awww kaz , sorry too hear about your cat but 16 is a good age

my dog max died last year , he wa 12 but he had a heart problem so he had too get put too sleep

but i still miss max , alfie my other dog he misses him as well hes a shih tzu so i know how you feel but your little cats sitting in heaven now a very happy cat he is

he will be happy because he had a lovely owner who took care of him and mabey one day you will get another little cat , mabey a cat and dog home who needs someone nice like you
r.i.p harry

[Niamh.]

16 years as in human years? I never heard of a cat living that long before.

on average they live between 12-15 years but they can live up to 20 as well

[Kazanne]

awww kaz , sorry too hear about your cat but 16 is a good age

my dog max died last year , he wa 12 but he had a heart problem so he had too get put too sleep

but i still miss max , alfie my other dog he misses him as well hes a shih tzu so i know how you feel but your little cats sitting in heaven now a very happy cat he is

he will be happy because he had a lovely owner who took care of him and mabey one day you will get another little cat , mabey a cat and dog home who needs someone nice like you
r.i.p harry

Thanks Hotleggs,nice to hear from you again,I do have another cat called Sally!!(when Harry met Sally,the movie)that's how they got their names,lol,I also have two dogs,a rabbit,guinea pic and an aquarium,so you'de think I would be used to losing an animal,but it never gets any easier having to let them go,but I know Harry is is chasing birds up there,We have to bury him today,which will be the worst and the kids are devastated,but I guess it's a learning curve for them and if we didn't love these animals it wouldn't hurt so much.Thankyou again.:xyxwave:

[Niamh.]

Thanks Hotleggs,nice to hear from you again,I do have another cat called Sally!!(when Harry met Sally,the movie)that's how they got their names,lol,I also have two dogs,a rabbit,guinea pic and an aquarium,so you'de think I would be used to losing an animal,but it never gets any easier having to let them go,but I know Harry is is chasing birds up there,We have to bury him today,which will be the worst and the kids are devastated,but I guess it's a learning curve for them and if we didn't love these animals it wouldn't hurt so much.Thankyou again.:xyxwave:

aawwwww. How's Sally? does she miss him?

[Kazanne]

aawwwww. How's Sally? does she miss him?

I think she does,they usually have their breakfast together,but of course they didn't today,but I guess she could just be thinking 'all the more for her'(ya have to look on the bright side):hugesmile:

[Niamh.]

I think she does,they usually have their breakfast together,but of course they didn't today,but I guess she could just be thinking 'all the more for her'(ya have to look on the bright side):hugesmile:

cats seem more resilient and independent than dogs do atleast, she's probably fine:hugesmile:

[SoBig]

on average they live between 12-15 years but they can live up to 20 as well
Wow, didn't know that. I thought they could live up to 7 years max.

[Niamh.]

Wow, didn't know that. I thought they could live up to 7 years max.

no, they live longer than dogs do usually

[SoBig]

no, they live longer than dogs do usually
I just googled it and you are right.


Today cats live longer than ever. Just 20 years ago the life expectancy of a cat was four to six years; today they live 15 years or more. Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether he is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.

# Indoor cats generally live from 12-18 years of age. Many may live to be in their early 20s. The oldest reported cat was 28 years old at the time of death.

# Outdoor cats generally live to be around four to five years of age. Their deaths are typically due to traumas such as being hit by a car or dog attacks. Outdoor cats are also more susceptible to several deadly viruses that are spread by fighting or prolonged intimate contact with an infected cat.


The average life span of the North American or European dog is 12.8 years.

[Niamh.]

oh only 12.8 years for dogs :/ my dogs are around 10 & 11

[Kazanne]

oh only 12.8 years for dogs :/ my dogs are around 10 & 11

My dogs have always lived a long life,last one I had to have put to sleep was over 17,The only time I lost animals young was when we lived on a busy road

[Niamh.]

My dogs have always lived a long life,last one I had to have put to sleep was over 17,The only time I lost animals young was when we lived on a busy road

depends on the breed too I think, one of mine is a wire haired terrier and the other is a mongrel, they're both pretty hardy so hopefully they have another while yet!

[Josy]

Sorry to hear about your cat Kazanne, you shouldnt feel guilty, 16 is good innings and at least you know he's not suffering any more.

[Mystic Mock]

depends on the breed too I think, one of mine is a wire haired terrier and the other is a mongrel, they're both pretty hardy so hopefully they have another while yet!

i hope for your sake they do aswell.

[bananarama]

Cats can go on into their 20's. The age of the cat is irrelavent if it is leading a miserable life then ending the suffering is an act of kindness.....Nothing to be guilty about but that is easier said than done......

All too often animal lovers don't have the courage to do the right thing out of love and guilt and hope .......Always a terrible task to undertake.....You were brave to do the right thing.......

[Kazanne]

Cats can go on into their 20's. The age of the cat is irrelavent if it is leading a miserable life then ending the suffering is an act of kindness.....Nothing to be guilty about but that is easier said than done......

All too often animal lovers don't have the courage to do the right thing out of love and guilt and hope .......Always a terrible task to undertake.....You were brave to do the right thing.......

I did feel all those emotions,and am still thinking 'could i have done anything' but,deep down,I know it was time,but as you said it's never easy.:xyxwave: