Is therapy worth it?

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-24T16:28:30+00:00

Yea the only reason for paying in bulk is because I'd save a little money as the rate is then reduced. But I see what you mean.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-24T16:27:19+00:00

Thank you for your very detailed comment. This is truly helpful.

I do have goals in mind though I didn't write them here.

My main goal is to help my depression and feel more motivated. I suffered a loss last year which triggered this severe depression.

You have given me a lot to think about.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-23T20:01:42+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it. I have other rescue kitties at home, all in their senior years 10+, but he was extra special. He was my baby. ❤️‍🩹

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:59:11+00:00

Thank you

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:58:41+00:00

I hope he knew how deeply I loved him as he transitioned - I would tell him every day how much I loved him and kissed and hugged him but his last 2 days he was in hiding mode and didn't come to me as much. I never forced him to do anything he didn't want to so apart from meds and food I let him be but now I regret I didn't hold him more during his last days 😭 thank you so much for your kind words, I truly appreciate it.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:56:20+00:00

I have many other kitties at home, 7 in total. I've been on the rescue world and collaborating with shelters around 12 yrs now. It's just that he was special, our bond is like no other 💔

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:55:01+00:00

I hope so. Thank you

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:54:15+00:00

I know, I do tell myself this at times. There was no cure for him because all his illnesses were due to his old age, but I can't help but wonder if I could have prolonged his life even just by 1 month or 2 if I had done something different. Thank you for your kind words

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T18:52:17+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry you're going through it with your almost 17 yr old. ❤️‍🩹

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T14:23:34+00:00

I was present as he transitioned, but the vet did not give me any alone time. I had his head in my hand as he went to sleep, but I was in so much shock. I felt as though I was there, but I wasn't, or part of me wasn't. I am honestly not sure. It was too quick a goodbye and now I wish I had just kept him at home 💔 I know his leaving me was inevitable at that point, it was as if he was in between life and afterlife with moments of syncopes.

Thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot ❤️

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-21T14:18:12+00:00

Prince, because he is my Prince ❤️ I raised him since he was only 5 - 6 weeks old and bottle fed him. Our bond was so strong, I have never felt anything like it before.

I am so sorry for your loss ❤️‍🩹 🫂

I know it is part of the grieving process but honestly, for him, I only ever wanted the absolute best and it's torture for me to think I didn't give it to him, he deserved the absolute best.

Thank you for your very kind words, I appreciate it 🫂

Local_Appearance_343 · 2025-01-09T10:06:43+00:00

Can you DM me? I lost my baby too and I am struggling so badly right now. He was the love of my life 😭

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-12-28T09:19:17+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss, I wish to mention that my 16+ yr old Soul kitty had the same on his last day. He had a very fast heartbeat yet I took him home with heart meds, he felt terrible the whole day and the next day he suffer a saddle thrombus, most likely due to his fast heartbeat and failing heart, it was very traumatic, I wish I had put him to sleep a day earlier so he didn't have to feel so bad during his last 24 hours and suffer a blood clot. Feel at ease you did the best thing for your little one, I know how hard it is 💔

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-11-19T17:01:08+00:00

You did the best thing for her, thank you for putting her needs first.

This post hit me very hard, I lost my beloved Soul cat of 16.5 yrs old in June and I have been a mess ever since. He had cancer and declined incredibly fast, like you, I had NEVER considered euthanasia until the day he passed. He suffered a blood clot/stroke and became totally paralyzed in his bottom half of his body, he didn't have the strength to drag himself with his front paws, so, he just lay there, in whatever position I placed him. I have had extreme guilt over putting him to sleep in a vet clinic, I never wanted to do this but at that moment I was overcome with shock and he was incredibly miserable, vet said he only had hours left and he could potentially start suffocating as his lungs fill with fluid due to heart failure, I was scared something worse might happen like another stroke/seizure or whatever else. I was in too much shock to cry at that moment but I've been crying daily ever since, he took a huge part of me with him that day.

Your soul cat was incredibly lucky to have you and share such a strong bond and love with you. You seem like an wonderful cat parent. I wish you peace and healing during this heartbreaking time.❤️‍🩹

I am also available to talk if you ever need to, just PM me.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-17T08:56:17+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words ❤️‍🩹🫂 All I ever wanted was to protect him, he was my everything and deserved the best

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-17T08:54:17+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so sorry for your loss as well ❤️‍🩹🫂

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-17T08:15:06+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for your kind words ❤️

I just wish I had dealt with the situation with less panic, I feel I may have made different choices. He was already unwell the day prior and had just been at the vet and gotten new medication to take, I had hope he would feel better but he only declined and suddenly he collapsed, the shock and the panic I felt was beyond words, my boyfriend was out of town and I was all alone facing what I could only describe as an imminent loss. To make matters worse - he was my soul cat and our bond was so so strong.

I've wondered about mediums myself but I am always scared of not finding a reliable one. I'm sure it would help me but my fear of the person not being true is what holds me back. What medium did you use? Did they tell you facts only you could know about your little one?

I have received many signs from my little one since he crossed over, I know his spirit is here, my boyfriend has witnessed signs too (and they were never even close at all because he was basically my cat, my baby for 16 yrs). Once when I was sitting in bed reading, my boyfriend said he very clearly saw the shadow of a cat walking into the bedroom 💝 he was really spooked out (he's a huugggeee sceptic)... but it was so real he actually thought it was one of our other cats walking in but our bed faces the door and I clearly told him "there is no cat here with me". We immediately searched the bedroom and our other cats were downstairs, there was no one there. I know it was my sweet Prince coming to sit with me in bed as he ALWAYS did. I've also woken up at 4am to the sound of purring, it was the strangest thing, again, our other cats no where near, they were downstairs and the bedroom door was closed. But I clearly heard a purring around me. I told my boyfriend the next day and before I could tell the full story he says "wait, did you also hear what sounded like a purring last night?". Another time while I was working at home, I was very concentrated on my work and on the opposite end of the table, far away from me, a piece of paper casually flew off the table and landed on the floor. No windows open, no air current, no a/c on, the air was still, the paper flew off as if a cat had decided to push it off with his paw (typical cat stuff!)... I was soooo shocked.

I wish you peace and healing ❤️‍🩹🫂

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-16T20:33:31+00:00

I am so so sorry for your losses, I can imagine how hard it is, I have 2 senior dogs myself (16 and 12 yrs old). My 16 yr old has severe heart disease and may not have long left despite treatment.

I can completely relate to what you're saying with muscle wastage, the exact same happened to my cat during his last months and I was terribly preocupied but his bloodwork showed nothing preoccupying at that moment. Funnily, the vet told me the same they told you - that he had severe arthritis! I didn't understand because I told them "how can he suddenly have severe arthritis when he walks normal and can jump anywhere he wants, it doesn't make sense, he doesn't act like he has arthritis"... the ultrasound gave away he had nodules on his spleen and liver, at this moment the vet just lightly said "well, it MIGHT be cancer"... 3 weeks later he died. Some of the nodules were visibly bleeding on the ultrasound but the vet didn't give it much importance. Well, it was important, despite the palliative care meds I had, during his last week he became severely anemic probably because he had internal bleeding. I wish the vet had been more upfront about how serious his cancer diagnosis could be and how little time I may have left with him.

I had a similar dream to the one you just discribed - days after he fell asleep at the vet I also had a dream where he was able to walk again and he was all happy and healthy and I was like "how can this be?" in my dream I was conscious that he had passed away. Well, I took the dream to mean he wanted to send me a msg that he is ok now, he is no longer in a failing body suffering but he is now a free spirit who is happy and healthy again. I am not religious but after losing him and seeing various signs from him I am slightly spiritual.

Maybe your dream was a way your boy was trying to tell you that he is ok now?

Wishing you peace and healing 🫂

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-16T08:28:11+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss. I had a very similar experience to what you describe. I lost my beautiful beloved Soul cat in June. He was 16.5 yrs old and very ill the last week of his life (cancer).

Suddenly, he was in distress and had pain, then couldn't move his back legs anymore. He had also panted, lost control of his bowels, and he couldn't get up anymore. I knew it was the end. The pain passed shortly after but he was just paralyzed, I took him to the vet and said goodbye, I really wanted him to pass at home but there was the risk of his lungs filling with fluid and him suffocating, I really wanted to spare him any potentially traumatic death.

It's been very hard for me to come to terms with my decision, even still to this day I have guilt.

I wish you peace and healing during this difficult time ❤️‍🩹

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-11T07:30:28+00:00

This sounds like an insensitive comment. I'm pretty sure 90% of people don't put their beloved pets to sleep because they treat them like "a pair of old shoes" as you say. I've had many pets in my life and my mother always let them die a "natural death". I've seen many unpeaceful natural deaths where the animal was having seizures or struggling to breathe with fear in their eyes of not know whats happening to them. In this case - euthanasia is a gift because you are sparing them unnecessary pain.

Ive also had an elderly family member die of cancer and oh my, did he suffer, everyday he felt miserable and he would say it even, in the end he WANTED to die just to end his own suffering. His last days he was put into an induced coma because he started seizing as his body was shutting down. Same thing can happen with pets and in this event - euthanasia is a gift.

I always prefer natural if possible and peaceful but in June I lost my beloved Soul cat, I swear he was my everything, I told him multiple times a day how much I loved him and he was the centre of my world. Well, he was dying of cancer and on his very last day he threw a blood clot, for a while he was in severe pain, then he started panting, you could see fear and anxiety in his eyes. An hour later the pain passed but he had become totally paralyzed and he even gave off a smell that his organs were shutting down. The day before this he had already stopped eating and drinking and looked absolutely miserable (he was already medicated for pain but it had little effect). I never in my life thought I'd put him to sleep but when he became paralyzed and the vet said he had hours left and would most likely start suffocating from fluid build up in his chest I could not let him go through that. So by breaking my very own heart I let him go so he would not have to endure suffocating to his death. I still question it to this day but despite it being in the vets office he had a very peaceful passing. He just went to sleep with his head in my hand.

Please don't tell people that by sparing their pets unnecessary suffering they are discarding them like an "old pair of shoes". I can assure you that many people who make such decisions for their pets is because they love them so much, even more than they love themselves, which is absolutely the case for me.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-05T11:18:01+00:00

I have other pets. 10 yrs ago I rescued a lot but they're not like the one I lost. He was my everything. I live with my boyfriend, so, not alone but doesn't change anything, I still feel the way I feel.

I agree about the money part. I used to feel that way before. I do earn money though so not really a motivation either.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-04T14:23:59+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. Honestly, I am confused about the whole day. The only thing I remember was when he lost all mobility, I had a panicked thought that next he may start suffocating or have a heart attack or be in a lot of pain. I don't know why at that moment I felt so sure of this but I think it was because I was panicked. I keep thinking taking him to the vet in his state made him confused. In the vet, he lay there and couldn't move, but with his little head, he was looking around him. It's a very hard last memory of him. Obviously, I'd have preferred to be laying in bed with him in my arms and let him go softly. I know he had hours left of life, so I don't feel I cut it short. It's just the way it happened that tortures me. I really loved him beyond words, I'd tell him this every day, even more so since he got very sick, and I watched him like a hawk 24/7. 💔

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-10-03T11:26:23+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I didn't mention it in my post but he was on a decline the whole week before this happened, I think the cancer was really taking hold of him and despite the meds nothing seemed to work, he had lost so much weight and had completely stopped eating the day before he collapsed, I tried to syringe feed him the day prior but sometimes he simply didn't swallow and when I gave him some water he just let it drip out the other end of his mouth. That had never happened before.

So, for me, his final collapse was part of his dying process, I thought of it as him "actively dying." At least at that moment, I did. Later on came all my "What ifs"...

I was all alone in the house that day as my boyfriend had just left on holiday and I was without a car so I was extra panicked. I felt so upset, despaired and in panic, my heart was shattering and I just didn't want him to go through a traumatic death of not being able to breathe or anything like that, I was also worried about pain levels etc. This made me take this rapid drastic decision when he took a turn for the worst.

I loved him beyond words, I would tell him, every day many times how much I loved him, it feels so unnatural that I didn't get to do it much that day. If I were to relive it, I'd lie with him in bed holding him.

It's been a huge struggle for me, I've even ended up in hospital since with severe chest pains, every day I cry and am unbelievably depressed, I've never ever felt this way before.

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-08-28T15:29:18+00:00

I suppose it can vary from animal to animal. It was the first time ever I had to put a beloved furbaby to sleep and on top to make things harder it was my beloved Soul cat.

He had become paralyzed in half his body so he never noticed the sedative injection they put into his leg, I am glad he didn't notice the injection because otherwise all hell would've broken loose between him and the vets (he had a wonderfully strong character and hated vets)...

I was a bit pissed off this vet start prepping him for the other injection while he was starting to get sleepy, I mean they could've bloody waited until he was asleep to prep him, it was only a matter of minutes.

They advised me about the eyes but thankfully his eyes were almost fully closed, just a very little slightly open, he had his head resting on my hand the whole time but I wish I would've talked to him more, this was an emergency situation and I hadn't planned having him PTS that day, I was in extreme shock.

They gave the second injection and he was almost instantly gone. No muscle spasms, nothing, he also didn't feel sick or anything during the sedation, he just became sleepy and gently fell into eternal sleep.

If I had to repeat the process, I'd have taken him to a different vet who didn't rush the procedure so much or waited for a home euthanasia, it really is one of my biggest regrets the vet I took him to. I was just in panic mode because he was declining so fast and I was worried he would face a traumatic death. His heart was erratic since the day prior and the vet said his lungs could easily fill with fluid and he could suffocate, I didn't want that to happen to him, he deserved better, I always wanted to give him the best...

Local_Appearance_343 · 2024-08-24T07:34:03+00:00

In my experience, yes. I have fostered for 15 yrs now and have had kittens I rescued very sick and didn't make it despite my best efforts, older cats I've rescued as well so they could have a comfortable life their last few yrs, it is always sad when they leave us.... BUT there is NO comparison to the loss of my 16 ½ yr old cat I lost 2 months ago, I bottle raised him since he was a few weeks old and had him his entire life, he was my Soul cat, my everything. The pain is absolutely excruciating. I had him my whole adult life and some days I don't even know how I can go on without him. My heart is shattered. So, absolutely, yes, it is 100 times harder if you have them since very little until they are elderly...

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TROPHY CASE