A person shared their sadness about their cat, Cassie, who is now 18 and a half years old. They adopted Cassie when she was just three weeks old after her mother and siblings were abandoned. The person and their husband bottle-fed Cassie, and she formed a close bond with their older tuxedo cat. When they first met Cassie, the person felt a strong emotional connection, recalling a calico cat from their childhood. Surprisingly, their husband also wanted to adopt her.
Sadly, when Cassie turned three, her tuxedo brother passed away unexpectedly. Since then, Cassie has not gotten along with other cats, even the sister of her brother. While she enjoys human companionship, she prefers to keep to herself around other cats and does not like to be held. Over the past year, the person has seen a decline in her health.
Recently, their child’s cat, who was 11, fell ill and passed away quickly. The person mentioned feeling prepared for Cassie’s potential passing but not for the child’s cat. The last two months have been tough for the family, especially with the person’s father going to the hospital and later receiving hospice care. They dedicated time to helping their father and mother during this period, including long drives to the hospital and making arrangements for hospice care.
Three weeks ago, the person’s father passed away after a rapid decline in health. They closely monitored his breathing in his final hours to allow the mother to be with him. The person had hoped Cassie would pass away gently in her sleep. Just before the father’s hospitalization, the couple had been talking about Cassie’s vet visit regarding her quality of life. After the father’s health worsened, it seemed like Cassie improved a bit, but now it is clear she is in pain and struggling.
The person feels that it is selfish to want to avoid facing Cassie’s situation. They have scheduled an appointment for Monday, fully realizing that this might mean saying goodbye. They recognize that Cassie’s age means they cannot justify any life-saving measures. In just six months, they have lost another cat and the father, marking a difficult year.
What do you think about these tough decisions pet owners have to make?
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Reddit source: Reddit, shared by u//u/Yue4prex