Ive been rescuing animals, mostly cats all my life. I run my own 501 (c) 3 for them and always have at least 20 in my care plus colonies at any time so I share in your loss. However , try to keep this in mind. Animals do not carry a watch or calendar. By living totally in the moment they know only that their life is GOOD or their life is BAD. For a LIFETIME you gave the cat a great home and love and it never had to worry. Something that cant be said for the majority of animals in the world. Take pride in giving the cat that kind of life and don't be afraid to do it again. The rewards are always bigger than the sorrow.
Thank you for this. I posted about my cat. Your words will make my decision a little easier. He has been such a badass his whole life. I watched him chase & kill a rabbit once.
The decision is NEVER an easy one and it NEVER feels like the right thing to do. I've done it over 100 times in my life and it never gets any easier till you get some distance on it. Then you realize that part of being an animal parent is knowing when it's best for THEM not YOU to take the pain away.
I have also had to make the decision too many times. I also did wildlife rescue & rehabilitation for years. Our goal was to release back into the wild. When the decision came to euthanize or put into an educational program it was horrible. Taking care of a baby owl or wolf pup, you become attached. I also did dog rescue after that. It's rewarding and heartbreaking.
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