Daily Cat Care XI

Saying Goodbye

There may be a time when a cat finally reaches the end of its life through old age. It is an inevitable event that many owner have or will go through at one stage of their lives. Cats are very proud animals and even with their old age they will carry themselves with pride and elegance. Many of the senses in a cat will begin to deteriorate and perhaps diminish entirely. The loss of vision and hearing is particularly common. This, in combination with reduced mobility causes even the most menial tasks to become a demanding process. Daily grooming becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with and a cat may become stressed as its condition accumulates.

A cat may pass away peacefully in its sleep, but this is not often the case and there may be a number of days or weeks of suffering. This is a delicate situation that needs to be carefully assessed. Life is precious and the feline companion will cherish every moment it has to live, there is however a fine line in where a cat can be put to rest. Vets may offer a service to end a cat’s life through injection. This is a painless passing that works through overdosing an excessive amount of anaesthetic and will allow a cat to rest for good without pain. An emotional experience and perhaps some owners would like to share a final moment with their lifelong friend before saying goodbye. This may even be a stretch for some and others cannot bear to watch such a process. Euthanasia is merciful in some cases and should carefully be considered.

Cats fill a big part of our lives and live for a good many years during which deep bonds are formed with the family that it lives with. It becomes an integral part of life and this will be expected to leave a huge void after its passing. Saying goodbye is difficult but coping with a passing of a loved one is part of living. The memories built over the years can be cherished and a memorial place of burial is a common practice among pet lovers. Burying a cat in the garden or even animal cemetery will allow visitation if needed. These are delicate moments and remind us that every second is precious and we should value the loved ones around us, humans and pets alike.