R.I.P, Jazzpurr

[happydalek]

I had to put my cat to sleep today.  He woke up gasping for breath around noon today, and when his breathing was still very labored a few hours later, my mom and I had to take him a half hour away to the nearest emergency pet clinic.  They took x-rays and discovered that he had congestive heart failure.  The poor thing's lungs were almost completely white, they were so full of fluid.  It was startling, since until today he'd been acting completely normally.  Just goes to show how well cats can hide their ailments.  Treating him would only have been in a supportive sense, since you can't really cure heart failure, and he was already 14 years old.  My mom and I made the decision that rather than bother trying to medicate him and make him wait the night to go to our own vet tomorrow, we judged it would be best to simply euthanize him now, sparing him (and us) the slow, inevitable (and costly) decline that he would have endured otherwise.

Jazzpurr (but I called him Puna) was my first real pet.  The others we'd had were more "family" animals, but Jazzy was mine from the day I convinced my mom to bring the frisky white kitten home from a friend's house in third grade.  We grew up together.  I put him in dresses, he slept on my face, I brushed his thick white fur, he would eat my cereal and drink out my glass when my back was turned.  He was my buddy, and I will miss picking him up, snuggling my face in his fur and hearing him purr.  But he had a good life, a good death and I'm at peace with my decision. 

Goodbye, Jazzy.   Sleep peacefully, my little Puna baby.  

Comments

[leoniedelt.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Happy. I'm sure you did the right thing, and he's happier up in kitty-heaven.

*hugs* That was a very difficult and brave, and very humane, decision to make.

[happydalek.livejournal.com]

Thanks, leonie. *hugs back* The passing of your first pet is a milestone a lot of people have to face, and even though I've had a dog and another cat die previously, this was so much harder on me because he was exclusively mine, and my mom was very adamant that I make the decision. Seeing how uncomfortable he was made it easier. He was a beautiful cat and so very sweet. I know I did the best I could for him.

[leoniedelt.livejournal.com]

There are 3 horses, 2 dogs, at least 6 cats, a hen, a turkey, several hamsters and i forget how many goldfish in my parents' back yard - we buried a lot of companions when we were younger, so it doesn't hurt quite as much as it does now.

My mom just buried the cat i got when i was in high school - she was 16, and had to be put down a few weeks back.

*hugs* Hope you're doing ok today.

[happydalek.livejournal.com]

I cried into my pillow last night (and probably will for a few more nights), and talking and thinking about it chokes me up, but I'm doing alright. It helps to have gone through it before, and especially since it was a very clear decision this time (he was clearly suffering, and wouldn't get better). My mom has had cats all her life and has had them die from car accidents, poisoning, drowning and lots of other unpleasant causes, and she still cried when they gave him the shot. It never stops being hard, but with time it does get easier to handle. My sympathies for you and your mom, and thanks again.

[leoniedelt.livejournal.com]

There will be a time when all you remember is the fond times. Chin up, babe.

[happydalek.livejournal.com]

:) Supportive friends and fangirling are good medicine!