[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,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

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

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Niamhxo

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

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

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by kazanne

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

good plan! guaranteed to lift your spirits!!

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by 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 sais he was old and having trouble,Is 16 very old for a cat?

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

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

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.

[lostalex]

sorry for your loss

[Mystic Mock]

sorry for loss.

[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

[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.

[Jordan.]

RIP Harry

[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.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by SoBig

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

[SoBig]

Originally Posted by Niamhxo

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.]

Originally Posted by SoBig

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

no, they live longer than dogs do usually

[SoBig]

Originally Posted by Niamhxo

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.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

16 is really old for a cat

[Stacey.]

R.I.P Harry

[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 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