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How do you cope when your told your best friends going? We are on our last cycle of treatment for feline kidney disease. We have maybe a couple of weeks left. How do we prepare? I won't let her suffer but it hurts so much already.

Any advice is greatly appreciated thank you

Hi Sadie, I really feel for you, this time last year I was in your position, my cat too had kidney disease. I remember the vet saying it may be time to let him go, he suggested one last try of meds, but I think in my heart I knew. He had deteriorated so much, it was as though he was already going. All I can say is that I had to be so brave, my heart was breaking but I couldn't watch him suffer any more. I hope that you get on with your vet as that helped me. People told me I would just know when it was time, I didn't believe them but I did know, it was just so painful to accept. Big hugs x

Hi Sadie, I had this problem just over 2 years ago when my beloved cat Toffee was diagnosed with cancer. On diagnosis we had three options; to put her through more intensive investigations, to have her put to sleep or to have her home for the time she had left. We had her home and on medication the precious time we had with her was both sad but so precious. She deteriorated one day and that was her time to go. My heart goes out to you Sadie as it is such a difficult and sad time for you. My one prayer was that Toffee would pass away quietly in her sleep one day, but that was not to be and on the day she deteriorated so rapidly the decision was made. I will hold you and your precious pet in my prayers; you will know when the time has come. Bless you and hugs and understanding xx

how do you prepare........ what ever you do you are going to feel guilty, you did it to early, you could have tried more, you left it too long and they suffered, With Gizzi (she had mouth cancer) the vet kept saying we can try this we can try this in the end I had a carcass on legs, I didn't see that when she was alive it was only after I had done the dreaded deed and looked at the photo's that I felt guilty that I let her suffer so long she was 14 so had had a good life, with Kiri (she had FIL and thyroid problems) I was adamant I wasn't going to let her suffer so when her time came I went in and said I need to have her sent to rainbow bridge now she was 15, when I got home I felt so guilty, had I done enough, had I given her all the chances she needed, in her photo's she didn't look that bad, so with Charley she would have been 21 4 months after I pts I decided that I wasn't going to make her suffer, she grew old I bought her meals that I had specially cooked with chicken scrambled egg and tuna or ham to her, I went back to having a litter tray in the house, on the monday I decided that she had fought for long enough and booked the vet to come out to my house to put her to sleep on the wednesday, I took wednesday off work and we lay on the sofa together, she had icecream and salmon, and lots of loving, she was pts in my arms sat in her chair, and for once I felt no guilt, I had done it at the right time, didn't make the pain any less. I still have 11 cats, and have already decided that they will also all have the honour if I have to help on their way of dying in their own home. What ever you do it is going to hurt and it is going to hurt big time, but the greatest gift of love we can give our pets is be with them when their times is near the end, let them know love as the last thing they do. God bless you and know that your hardest job as a owner is coming but you have to look at what life they had with you the love everything.

Hi Sadie.... Thinking of you.....It is so so hard.... I too have been where you are...Always keep in mind, that you have always loved and helped your little furry friend, and this is what you are still doing now.....Lots of love, thoughts and prayers are with you....We all share your anguish.....xxxx

Thank you so much to the 4 people that responded. I really did appreciate it. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. We have been trying a new diet but the vet hasn't given any false hope. It will be in the next few weeks. I'm now giving her all she wants and spending all the time I can with her. Thanks again guys xx

Hello Sadie, I am holding you and your precious little girl close in my heart. These few weeks will be special to you and her and we are here for you at any time when you want to talk. Love and Hugs and special cuddles for your little one xxxx

Hi Sadie, I have just joined the forum and read your post, it is so hard to say goodbye, but deep down you know you have to do the right thing for darling pet. You are doing the right thing, by trying everything possible, and taking the vets advice, I hope the diet works for her, but as you know it isn't a cure, and the time will come when you have to make the right decision and not let her suffer, I can see how much you love her and how much you need support through this horrible time. I believe most people on this site have lost a pet or two, and know exactly what you are going through, we hope that our darling pet just goes to sleep and we don't have to make the fateful decision, but we won't let them suffer. She knows how much you love her and she has had a great life with you. All you can do is just give her all the love you have and just spoil her rotten. When it was time for our last boy whom we lost in July, we could see he was going down hill, he couldn't get up without my help and if I left the room, he panicked so we spoke to the vet who told us we were doing the right thing, so we made arrangements for the vet to come to the house, we gave him medication so that he wouldn't bark at the vet as one of our dogs did that and we were so upset, and the vet came and it was over he had just gone for a very long sleep, we had him cremated that day as I didn't want him to be away from me to long, and now his ashes sit on my drawers in my bedroom and I carry his fur in a locket next to my heart.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and we are here when you need us.
Aileen x