What pets can mean
A week ago, my mom had to put her cat to sleep. It was a tortoise-shell himalayan and she had had it for 20 years. "Jezebel" meant more to her than she even realized, and she is still feeling very guilty about having her put to sleep, even though she had cancer of the jaw, was in pain, couldn't eat, and the cancer had spread. Cats are very private creatures, and hide how badly off they are to the very end. That kind of guilt is hard for someone else to try and lift: I've talked to her, but logic rarely helps refute strong emotions like love, guilt, and loss.
posted by Dragonsbane at 2:19 AM
1 Comments:
I have also had to have a cat "put to sleep" . She was 18 years old.
It is a heartbreaking thing to have to do, especially when it is due to old age and illness. After all those years of friendship, it feels so appaulingly bad.
However, as you say, they cannot express to us the pain that they are suffering, and, if you really love and care for them, then you know that you have to peacefully end their pain.
My sympathies to your mum, but it was because she cared that she did the right thing.
She shouldn`t feel guilty.
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