Should I take my cat outside for comfort before at-home euthanasia?

I am so sorry for your heartache, I know how difficult this time is. You have a couple of options to consider. 1) Let her pass at home. Make sure she's got a warm comfortable bed, allow her to be propped into a whatever position seems most comfortable. If she's having any difficulty breathing, it may help to prop her so that she's sort of lying on her chest, (so the breastbone is on the surface)--this allows both of her lungs to expand most comfortably. There is no medication that I can advise you to give her, but just being with her is the best thing you can do to make her comfortable. You can keep things she really likes (a cat toy she used to love, etc) and familiar scents (one of your worn t-shirts,etc) in the bed with her. Don't try to force her to eat or drink. 2) Call an emergency clinic. They likely have 24/7 full services, including euthanasia. Additionally, they may be able to refer you to "on-call" in home euthanasia services in your area. More and more of these at home services are available 24 hrs in metropolitan areas. Costs will vary, but will be more expensive than taking her in to your family veterinarian, due to the 24/7 service. You and your kitty are in my thoughts. Thank you for trusting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is a very difficult decision but moving such an elderly and infirm cat would not be advisable and could precipitate progression of kidney disease. Euthanasia is a very valid option in this case and will ensure he does not suffer from any stress or upheaval

I would not give Charlie catnip. That can amp him up and make the process more difficult. Catnip typically does not calm a cat down. I'm wondering if he would eat some chicken (no bones) or tuna. Vets will give a sedative before giving the euthanasia solution, so that will make him calm and comfortable. As I said in my previous answer, holding him and loving him is the best thing you can do to make him comfortable.

You have just lost your companion of 5 years and you have ever right to question the decision. All too often as pet parents, we struggle with the question of whether or not we made the right decision to euthanize. In a younger pet with a treatable disease, the guilt seems multiplied because you will inevitably ponder the unknown. The unknown being the outcome of treating for a few more days or even the outcome of a surgery. While it is imbedded in our DNA to contemplate what could have been, the answer of the unknown remains unknown. Ultimately, this is not a question or right or wrong. All too commonly more heartache and suffering are endured down the road of unknows. In this case, it was more likely than not your cat with a history of crystals would encounter future complications especially if stones were present. Take comfort in knowing you eliminated pain and suffering in the present and the future. I hope the joy of his memory will comfort you through this difficult time.

Poor Mimi. This is such a hard decision to make, I've been there many times myself. You are right that it's better to put her sleep while she still has some good days. You don't want her to get really bad and suffer. I understand not wanting to lose her, but one of the greatest gifts you can give her is letting her go without any further suffering. I hope this helps!

First off, I'm so very sorry had to say goodbye to Lucy! It's always hard to say goodbye to a pet, and it also sounds like it was a tough experience for you. When cats are old and sick, a lot of times extra medication is needed to get the desired effect. It's because their system isn't working as well as it used to, and you can find yourself in a situation where more drug is needed than expected. I work for a home euthanasia service, and I've unfortunately had this happen to a patient of mine before where I have had to use three times the normal amount of sedative to get the animal fully sedated. It doesn't mean Lucy was healthy, and the vet wouldn't have put her down if she was healthy. It simply means she was very sick and her body couldn't metabolize the drugs normally, leading to more being needed. It's still upsetting to see, and I'm sorry your family went through that, but it does happen and we as vets cannot predict 100% how a euthanasia will proceed. While we'd like it to be easy and smooth, it doesn't happen that way all the time. I'm sure the vet did everything in their power to make it as comfortable as possible for you and her. Again, I'm sorry for you loss and I hope this helps!

Greetings. First, I'd like to say how very sorry I am for your loss. I know how hard it is to say goodbye to a pet, especially when we can never be sure what they're thinking or feeling. At 15 years old, it sounds like Rocky had a wonderful, long life with you. Without knowing his exact history, I'm afraid I won't be able to tell you a whole lot about what he might have experienced specifically, but what I can tell you is that chronic kidney failure is a debilitating, painful disease process that only gets worse with time. With 100% certainty, I can say that if Rocky was exhibiting the classic symptoms of kidney failure and not responding to the suggested treatment, you absolutely made the right decision to let him go. Euthanasia is, of course, and extremely personal and heart-wrenching decision to have to make, but it is, in all regards, the last great gift that we can give our beloved pets. Unfortunately, I can't have a proper back-and-forth discussion with you about Rocky in this particular format, but if at any time you would like to discuss his particular condition in more detail, please feel free to look me or any other of our pet experts up in the Consultation Center for one-on-one guidance. Please try to take comfort in knowing that Rocky can no longer experience any pain or distress from his chronic disease, and that he loved you for giving him the best of his life, and for the great gift of choosing to let him go during the worst of it.