our cat is reaching the end of his life

[dellzeqq]

...and I don't want to put him in a carrybox and take him on the bus to the vet to be put down. Is there any way that I can help him slip away at home?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Sad to hear that Dell.

Will the v.e.t. do a home visit? Our local v.e.t. came out to our 2 last dogs and helped them along.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

I can sympathise with your dilemma as I don't like having to make that final journey to the vets myself. But vets will see to it that your cat ends it's days with dignity whereas doing something at home risks you 'botching' the job and causing the cat suffering and you great distress. Can you not say your goodbyes and get someone to take your pet to the vet for you. Not ideal I know.

Bill

 

[Hover Fly]

If he's not in pain just make him comfortable and leave him, if he's very near he probably wants to be left alone. There is a way of euthanasia involving a box and carbon dioxide that snake-keepers use for their rats, but I'm not making any recommendations.

 

[asterix]

I'm thinking the best bet is to get the vet's advice even if you don't take the cat with you.

Ours had to be put down last December. He was not a happy cat, I am afraid.

 

[MarkF]

Sorry to hear this.

Why don't you want to take him to the vet? Is it too upsetting? Whatver, don't just leave the cat, it might be in distress, ring the vet, get advice. Horrible times, I get my good lady to take our cats on their final journey, I can't face it.

 

[Archie_tect]

Sorry to hear your dilemma Dell... CP's advice about the vet's home visit is a thoughtful one.

 

[coffeejo]

So, sorry Dell. I also agree about the home visit, but don't don't try to put him down yourself. For one thing, you are likely to make his last minutes - even hours - unbearable, and for another, what happens if you can't cope mid-way through? It's no small thing, ending a life, and living with the consequences of everything going wrong could be far worse than the journey to the surgery.

 

[ELL]

Sorry to hear this, home visit sounds like the best idea to me. You want his last to be as comfortable and relaxing as possible. If you do a google search you will find a number that do home euthanasia.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Anything you do at home is illegal and will cause your cat pain and suffering. The vet will help your cat slip away with dignity and legality. It will be worth the tears and the final trip to know that your cat will no longer suffer.

 

[Becs]

You should be able to request a home visit. There's nothing you can (or should) do yourself.

 

[dellzeqq]

that's what I'll do then.

As you'll have realised, Becs, I'm not in the least squeamish about doing the deed myself - years ago I dashed out the brains of more piglets than I could count, and used a sledgehammer to despatch the bigger pigs. I'm just unreasonably sentimental about Thom, and would very much prefer for him to die at home. I suppose if they handed out pills people would be poisoning the cat next door.

He was the one that we picked from the litter on a Welsh farm sixteen years ago. The farmer drowned his siblings that night. Fate's a funny thing........

 

[TVC]

Sorry to hear you're in this position right now. I do understand because I have faced this myself. I can only echo the advice above, and say that this is the most important and loving thing you will do for your cat, you will know the right decision to make.

 

[ttcycle]

Dell, I'm very sorry to read this. He's a very lucky cat to have been esteemed with more accuracy than old metcheck

 

[661-Pete]

As you'll have realised, Becs, I'm not in the least squeamish about doing the deed myself - years ago I dashed out the brains of more piglets than I could count, and used a sledgehammer to despatch the bigger pigs.

Hmmmm.....

The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995
(or whatever legislation was in force prior to this...)