I'm so glad to hear that Tana is on the mend! Healing vibes are being sent your way.

Good news!! So happy for you!!

I have been avoiding to write a final post to this thread during the last 30 days, since I had to put Tana to sleep... but everytime I enter EF I feel like there is something unfinished.

Tana had a tumor in her belly which was taken away at that time. She fighted and survived the inmense surgery and had very happy few months. Then the tumor got back and she started losing weight and losing weight... I didn't wait until the very last signal to decide to put her to sleep, as hard as that was, because I knew she already fighted a lot in her life, to make her keeping fighting just to give me a few days more pleasure of keeping her with me.

Just a few thoughts in case it helps any other animal owner (not that I want opinions about what is right or not) this is just my experience.

Now I think I should have not put Tana through the surgery experience... she was 12yo and I could have expected that sooner or later health problems arises... I had her with me almost 6 months more, which I enjoyed throroughly, I wonder if she did it as well despite the pain, the vet visits, medication, etc.

When the time came that I had to put her to sleep, I felt a lot of pain, but what I felt the most was relief, as I knew she was over the rainbow, and not sufering anymore to try to stay awake... for me, or because of me.

The relief is gone, the pain is still here. I have another lovely cat which has come to make company to a second cat... all the happiness that this two are giving me, is not compensating for the pain of the lost, but more over what I feel is that I was terribly selfish. I am ok, I can live with that, I love animals and tried to do the best for mine, but I just rationally feel is not right.

Good Sunday to everyone, many thanks for your help, and enjoy your fluffy companions, as they are not forever.

On a nicer note, I leave you a pic of my two Suns, the one on top is our new lady which was looking for a new home (she is 1.5yo), the one down was Tana best friend (2.5yo)... now she is having her sunday beauty sleep a few cm from me while I say goodbye to Tana in EF.

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So sorry to read this last post. You shouldn't feel bad about having put Tana through that surgery. I am pretty sure at the time you did it not only because you didn't want to lose Tana but also because you thought she would be healthier and happier after having the tumor removed. Right. I am pretty sure that most, if not all, animal lovers would have had the surgery performed. I know I would have. Don't beat yourself up about it and remember the extra 6 months you had together. Tana deserves at least that.

P.S. Beautiful kitties.

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Warning: Dyslexic armed with a spellchecker : If yuo can raed tihs tehn dnot cmolpain to me aobut spleling.

My deepest sympathies to you. You made me reflect today how transient our pets' lives are, how little time we have.

Thank you Nelly for your words.

Yes, I put Tana through surgery because I was not ready to let her go. In this case it was 6 months, some other animals may get a longer life after any kind of surgery so why not to fight, true...

My point, and only to myself and not aiming to say what is right or wrong to anyone, is that from certain ages, me as an owner had the obligation to know that illness may come my way. It is very difficult to draw the line when is right for the kitty when is just human selfishness.

A friend of mine, back home, her cat was hit by a car and very badly hurt. So much so that the vet actually said it's pointless trying to save the cat and she should just be put to sleep. The cat was 10 years old when this happened and my friend wasn't ready to say goodbye quite yet. So against what the vet had recommended the cat was "patched up" and lived through another 6 months of limping around with only half a tail. If I remember right the cat couldn't eat solid foods after that either. Anyway back to the point of the story is that cat lived until it was 15 years old. That's 5 extra years when the cat was very happy having soup 3 times a day and being pampered like a little princess.

The truth is we do what we think is right for our animals. Quite often for some selfish reasons but we do think of the animals too. Don't beat yourself up. You did what you thought was right. And by the sounds of things you really loved Tana and what more can a kitty really ask for?

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Warning: Dyslexic armed with a spellchecker : If yuo can raed tihs tehn dnot cmolpain to me aobut spleling.

So sad for you, but you did everything you could and what you felt was right for Tana.
I hope your pain lessens and your two beautiful cats give you some comfort.

THat is a lovely and hard story

So sorry to hear your news Chris. This story is also really close to home for me. My dog has been in the Tierspital now for almost 2 weeks with similar issues. Suspected tumour etc very ill - on deaths door when we took her in. Been a roller coaster two weeks of thinking we'd lost her then hopes built up again then dashed etc. she also went through surgery last Thursday and has come through it fine and all good - but I can't help thinking we have put her through all this and I can sort of foresee a similar situation happening as you with her becoming ill again very soon after we bring her home and like you I will cherish every moment she is home with us now but I have been questioning if we have been cruel to put her through what she has been through so far

Again I'm sorry for your loss and thanks for sharing as its especially poignant for me right now

Cris1973, I am so sorry to hear that you lost your beloved Tana. Do not second-guess your decision about the surgery; revisiting whether or not you might have chosen differently is not productive at this point in time since it is "water under the bridge." The fact is that you enjoyed several more months with Tana, and also that there was a chance that the tumor might not have returned after the surgery. You would not have known the final outcome unless Tana actually had the surgery; if you had declined it, you would probably be agonizing over whether that decision was the right one.

It is the conundrum of owning and loving an animal; they cannot vocalize their thoughts and feelings thus we are left to make decisions such as this on their behalf. You loved Tana, cared for her, and gave her every opportunity to have a wonderful, comfortable life. That is all that you could do and it is what is truly important!

Hugs to you, and sweet memories of your kitty!

Hi Nicky, I send you a lot of energy to you and your dog and wish her a quick recovery... I am sorry that my post has come accross, now you have to enjoy having her with you, which is already a gift.

As you see there are happy endings, I consider Tana case as a happy one, I tried, she tried, and then because of her age and the illness there is a moment that everything changes.

Tana had a long, warm, plenty of food, toys and love life of 12years when she was due to live for a few more days before my friends took her from an industry where she was born very small and weak and left aside from her mother to take care of her other kittens (poor little things, the mother and my kitten - they had to survive).

I have heard really sad stories of dogs and cats and onwers that had to face road accidents, house accidents and other issues when the animals were young and full of life, that is truly sad. I do not know how old is your beloved dog, but I truly hope that she have a long (totally sure happy) life and hopefully some more years ahead.

Best to you, your family and her.

No you haven't. Your dog knows you are doing the best for her and that you love her. If she eventually has to be put down due to too much pain and suffering then I am sure you will do it with love and she won't feel a thing.

Good luck with her and I hope she improves.

Cris73, I am so sorry to hear about Tana. I know it's hard, it took me a long time to get to this point, but try to think only of the happy times with her, you did your best for her. Take care, big hugs xx