Anyone who has one may be faced with the idea of euthanizing their pet. Domestic cats live for about 14 years, so cat lovers will outlive several of their animals in their lifetime. However, it is one thing when a cat lived a full life with the people who love it and died at a very old age, and another thing when it fell ill with a serious illness at an early age. Therefore, opinions are sharply divided on whether to euthanize pets, especially cats.
To do or not to do
Already during the first months of a cat’s life in a family, people become very attached to it, and after several years of life they become full-fledged members of families, and for lonely people they completely replace them. But if an animal rapidly develops a serious illness and begins to experience severe, ongoing pain, the decision to euthanasia is a very humane option and absolutely justified from a moral point of view.
In all other cases, it is not worth going to end the animal’s life. For example, if you are tired of a cat or one of your family members is allergic to its fur, the best thing you can do for it is to find another family where it will be accepted with joy. If an animal scratched you or damaged an expensive thing, then do not rush to get rid of it: it is quite possible that very soon you will become the best of friends. If you feel that the animal does not accept you as its owner, find it a home where it can live a long, fulfilling life.
It is worth carrying out humane euthanasia of a cat only if the veterinarian who examined the cat has come to the conclusion that any attempts to cure it or somehow alleviate its condition will not be effective. Remember that we are responsible for those we have tamed, which means that the grounds for euthanizing a pet must be the most serious. However, in our country the euthanasia of cats is not regulated. Therefore, every cat owner has the right to make such a decision independently, regardless of whether there are serious indications for this procedure, or the animal is simply tired and there is absolutely nowhere to place it.
There is no consensus on this matter among church ministers. If with regard to human euthanasia they are all unanimously opposed, then on the issue of animal euthanasia they have different opinions. Some believe that people can freely dispose of the lives of their animals, while others say that euthanasia of even pets is unacceptable.
Animal euthanasia and religion
Believers ask the question: can putting a cat to sleep be equated to a mortal sin? There is no clear answer. Some clergy believe that euthanasia is a sin and one cannot go against the will of God, who endowed a living being with suffering. Others, on the contrary, separating the souls of humans and animals, are of the opinion that cat euthanasia is a benefit that helps the pet get rid of worldly torment.
In any case, the heavy burden of deliberate deprivation of life lies on the shoulders of those who made the decision and those who carried it out. Only by acting according to the laws of conscience, being confident in the inevitability of the pathological process, can you achieve peace of mind and not worry about what you have done.
Indications for cat euthanasia
Clear indications for euthanasia of pets are:
- receiving injuries incompatible with life;
- severe deterioration in quality of life due to old age;
- serious incurable diseases that cause pain or irreversible impairment of the functions of the entire animal’s body.
However, as practice shows, animals can easily survive even very severe and dangerous injuries, to the delight of their owners and, to the surprise of veterinarians. No wonder people say that a cat has 9 lives. Therefore, if an animal gets hit by a car or falls from a height, there is always a chance that it will survive. If you are very attached to your cat, then pay for her treatment. With the help of procedures and medications recommended by veterinarians, you can sometimes ensure that she will delight you for many more years.
In other cases, if your veterinarian recommends euthanasia and you are not sure whether it is worth doing, consult with several specialists from different veterinary clinics. Veterinary medicine is not nearly as well developed as human medicine, so where one veterinarian was powerless, a veterinarian from another clinic will be able to help and prolong the life of your pet for a long time.
In what cases is it recommended to euthanize a cat?
There are strict indications for euthanasia.
No professional doctor will kill an animal at the momentary whim of the owner, just because the cat is deaf/blind, defecates in the wrong place or meowed heart-rendingly during the last heat. Any medical procedure has its own indications, and the same applies to our question.
The main reasons for euthanasia are the quality of life of a cat when no painkillers or medications can alleviate the physical suffering of the animal, and the prognosis for the outcome of the disease is unfavorable. These conditions include:
- oncology in the final stages of development or tumors that disrupt the functioning of organs and systems;
- injuries incompatible with life;
- in some cases, old age contributes to a positive decision.
As for traumatic pathologies, the issue of euthanasia is approached with special care and after a full, competent examination of the animal. No one argues that with multiple fractures, tissue ruptures or bruises, a cat experiences pain and suffering, but, as a rule, after proper treatment, health is restored and life continues.
A striking example is the story that happened with one of the yard cats. After the accident, his jaw was crushed and his skull was fractured. The owners, wanting to get rid of the burden, threw the poor fellow into nearby bushes in the hope of his quick death. Imagine their surprise when a few days later the dying pet crawled under the door, begging for help. There was nothing left to do but start treatment. Surprisingly, the cat got out!
The decision to artificially kill a pet is made only after examining the animal and with full confidence in the hopelessness of the situation!
Where is it better to perform euthanasia: at home or in a clinic?
If the decision to euthanize a cat has been made, then each owner is faced with the question of where to carry out this procedure: at home or in a veterinary clinic? Your peace of mind during and after the procedure and the fate of the animal itself will depend on whether you make the right choice in this case. However, there is no single correct answer to this question.
Euthanasia of a cat at home costs slightly more than euthanasia in a clinic. The advantage of carrying out this procedure at home is that the animal will not experience stress due to the trip to the clinic before death. If you euthanize a sick animal at home, it will calmly go away in its usual environment, without understanding anything. The disadvantage of carrying out euthanasia at home is the great stress for the owner, with whose consent the entire procedure will be carried out. Subsequently, while at home, he will remember his pet who died prematurely much more often than if he died while within the walls of a veterinary clinic.
Therefore, when choosing a place for euthanasia, you need to assess the condition of the animal and take into account how poorly it has tolerated previous trips to the veterinarian for routine vaccinations or examinations. You definitely need to take into account your condition, as well as the experiences of your family members. If you have small children, performing euthanasia at home can cause deep psychological trauma for them. If you are very attached to the animal and being present at its death would greatly shock you, then take it to the clinic. If you want your beloved cat to go to a better world surrounded by its loving owners, then it is better to invite a specialist to your home.
What to do with a cat's body after death?
Due to the lack of special cemeteries for animals in Russia, some owners prefer to bury their pet in the yard or forest plantation. Not many people know that this is prohibited by law, as it is an unsanitary act.
An alternative option is cremation. After it, the owner can keep the ashes of his pet or scatter them in the places where he most often liked to walk. Most clinics offer this service, and cremation is also carried out 24 hours a day in some of them.
How to euthanize cats
Euthanasia of pets is a process that has been repeatedly tested and practiced by specialists in veterinary clinics, since it is often used as a last resort for incurable diseases that cause severe suffering in pets. This procedure is carried out in two stages. First, the animal is injected with a drug, after which it falls into a deep narcotic sleep. Then an injection is made of a drug that paralyzes the respiratory center and provokes cardiac arrest. Typically, veterinarians give the first injection in the presence of the animal owner, and before administering the second drug, ask him to go into another room.
To perform euthanasia only with the help of a drug that paralyzes the respiratory center is very inhumane. In this case, the cat will be conscious at the time of death and will feel suffocated. Therefore, be sure to make sure that before administering a toxic drug, the veterinarian administered anesthesia - this will save the animal, exhausted by the disease, from new torment.
Psychological moment
Voluntarily agreeing to the death of your best friend, essentially your own being, is very difficult, but in some cases it is really necessary. You can avoid or at least reduce remorse about the decision made after a thorough examination of the animal, when a doctor, or better yet, a council of veterinary specialists confirms the futility of further treatment. The opinion of professionals will help overcome mental pain and decide on a lethal injection, thereby freeing your pet from unbearable physical suffering.
What drugs are used for euthanasia
In the USA, veterinarians use Euthanazine to turn off the animal’s consciousness, and in Germany T-61, after which they inject a toxic drug that stops the heart. In our country, both of these drugs are prohibited, so veterinarians use lethal doses of drugs such as:
- propofol and droperidol (anesthetics);
- xylazine (sedative);
- ditilin (muscle relaxant);
- lidocaine (antiarrhythmic agent) and others.
The choice in this case depends on the experience and personal preferences of the veterinarian. There are two schemes for euthanizing a pet:
- When a lethal dose of anesthetic is administered intravenously, the animal falls asleep, after which after some time breathing stops, but there are no convulsions.
- If for some reason the use of the above-described scheme is impossible (intravenous administration of the drug is difficult or there are simply no anesthetics), then first a regular animal anesthesia (Rometar, Zoletil) is injected intramuscularly, and after the cat falls asleep, a lethal dose of lidocaine or ditilin is injected.
These schemes exclude any torment of the animal during euthanasia. At the same time, the owner who agreed to euthanasia his cat should take into account that the drug ditilin can only be used after the animal has fallen asleep after the administration of anesthesia, since otherwise the cat will die from suffocation, while being fully conscious. Lidocaine can also be administered to euthanize an animal only after the anesthesia has taken effect, since a lethal dose of this substance causes cardiac arrest.
Animal behavior after using sleeping pills
The cat's behavior depends on which drug is chosen for administration. They are divided into groups according to the duration of the effect:
- short-term - after taking them, the cat may not fall asleep, but the body will be completely immobilized, the animal will allow any manipulation with itself;
- medium-term – the cat completely relaxes (both the muscles and the nervous system), while the animal does not feel pain;
- long-term – also has an analgesic effect, the cat is relaxed and will sleep for 8-10 hours.
Important! After sleeping pills, the cat will come to its senses throughout the day. If the animal’s condition has not returned to normal during this time, you should contact a veterinarian.
It is quite difficult to name specific breeds of cats that do not tolerate the effects of sleeping pills well. Veterinarians say that a cat’s condition does not depend on the breed, but on its condition before the administration of sleeping pills. For example, the drug is not recommended for use by pregnant or lactating cats, as well as kittens under 6 months.
Reviews from cat owners about euthanasia
Tatyana: “When I could no longer watch my cat slowly and painfully fade away from cancer, I agreed to euthanasia. It was very, very difficult to do, but I don’t regret it, because she just curled up into a ball and fell fast asleep.”
Irina: “I am categorically against the euthanasia of pets. If they could speak and would speak out for it, then there would be no problem. And ending the lives of your pets, who have become friends and family members, is simply a betrayal.”
Victor: “I believe that a man should not be cowardly. When our cat Maruska was hit by a car on the street, my daughter and wife did not leave her side for several days and tried to nurse her, although the veterinarian said that nothing could be done. Then I got tired of looking at it, and I took the cat to the clinic, where she was quickly euthanized. My daughter and wife have already recovered and now we have another young cat, whom we have taught not to leave the house, even on the street, let alone on the road. This is what I will say: people are more valuable than animals, even if we love them very much.”
Irina: “Euthanasia of animals needs to be regulated by at least some laws. My friend gave her healthy, cheerful cat to be euthanized just because she bit her child, who stepped on her tail. When asked how she even decided to do this, she told me that there was no way to throw her out into the street, because she was no longer a kitten and it was almost impossible to give her a home. I don’t communicate with her anymore.”
Pavel: “I work as a veterinarian. Usually, only very sick and old animals are given to us for euthanasia. Owners of cats and dogs are generally adequate people, but sometimes you come across childish and irresponsible ones. They bring animals to be euthanized that could easily be cured.”
How does this happen?
Regardless of the location, euthanasia occurs in several stages:
- Signing by the owner of all necessary documents giving permission to kill the animal. It is worth emphasizing once again that no veterinarian has the right to force you to sign such papers! Everything should be voluntary!
- The introduction of a sleeping pill or anesthetic drug, thanks to which the pet falls asleep and no longer feels any pain. This is a mandatory part of the procedure, and its absence indicates that the doctor does not have sufficient experience or is even a fraud.
- The introduction of muscle relaxants, which is carried out exclusively after the animal has been ascertained to be in deep sleep. As a result of the action of muscle relaxants, all muscle activity gradually slows down and then stops, the heart stops, and breathing stops.
- Listening to cardiac activity and, if absent, death is declared.
It is worth emphasizing that the decision to be near the cat during the procedure is made only by the owner. Before this, the doctor must talk about how the procedure for euthanizing cats occurs and outline all the key points. However, many veterinarians advise being with him only during the administration of anesthesia, and then recommend leaving the room. The fact is that after the administration of muscle relaxants, convulsive movements are possible, which not all people are able to perceive normally.
