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The decision of whether to end a pet’s life can be one of the most difficult decisions a pet owner must make. If it’s not a difficult decision to make, then maybe it’s not the right thing to do.
Some people who shouldn’t be pet owners simply take any illness in their pet as an opportunity to “get rid” of it. If you’ve got this attitude, perhaps you should simply take your pet to the vet, have the problem resolved, then work to find a more suitable owner for your pet.
But if you are a loving pet owner and find yourself asking whether you should put your cat to sleep, you should take your time in making this decision and think it through thoroughly. Cats that have long-lasting illnesses may appear to be in dire condition--and they may very well be experiencing great pain. But if the condition is curable, why not get the problem fixed and continue and enhance your relationship with your pet? All too often pet owners make the decision to put their pets to sleep before they fully consider all their options.
Pets are resilient. A cat that is missing a leg can still enjoy life and the company of its family. A cat that can’t hear or see can still love and be loved and learn to function otherwise. Yes, they are disabled. But all too often, pet owners see these disabilities as situations in which their pets can’t even live happily anymore. And this is certainly not true. You can still love your cat if it can’t hear or doesn’t have a leg, and it can still love you. There may not be a need to put it to sleep. Take your cat to the vet and have surgery performed and continue your relationship with your cat.
If you are debating whether your cat would be better off if it were put to sleep, ask yourself whether your cat is no longer enjoying life and whether it is suffering from something that cannot be remedied. If you answer yes to these questions, then perhaps you’re making the right decision to put your loved pet to sleep. This is a difficult decision. And sometimes it can be as trying on a pet owner as it is on the pet. If you decide to put your pet to sleep, you need to be at peace with the decision. Say your goodbyes, let your cat lick your face if it can, and do it gracefully.
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