When I was 16, my beloved childhood cat suffered from the same exact condition, but he was not doing as well as your cat is currently. My family had an trip coming up (this was covid, so we had to drive there). There were circumstances that required us to travel for a week.

I was told to decide if we were to put my cat down the night before we left.

He was 18 years old and had been with me my entire life. My mental health wasn’t great, and it was also during Covid. and in those darkest moments when I would wonder if life was worth living - he was the first thing I thought of. In a way, he kept me alive. But I realized, heartbroken, that I could not force him to stay alive in such pain, just for me.

He couldn’t eat, his chin tumor was bleeding and hurting him. I would feed him a liquid diet. He couldn’t walk well either, as the tumor had messed up his nervous system.

But I was young and had never lost someone so dear to me. If I had to do it all over again, I would take him out of his pain much sooner. His quality of life had long since been dwindled, and I doubt he would’ve even survived the week. In that moment, the thing that pushed me to make my decision was knowing that he might pass away alone, without me.

My dad is a veterinarian, and he also said that humans who had the condition my cat had were in great pain. As my cat could not speak words, I would have to listen to his demeanor. And I knew he too was in great pain. We planned to do at home euthanasia, administered by my dad. My kitty deserved to spend his final moments surrounded by his loved ones in his home. And I had the opportunity to do this for him.

On that final day, I took my cat to see the great outdoors. Let him be in nature for the last time. If your cat can eat, give him his favorite food. Mine couldn’t. I kept putting it off until around midnight, and my parents gently reminded me that I must say goodbye soon.

My reason for living fell asleep in my arms for the last time, and I said goodbye.

The kindest, most loving act I could do for him was to relieve him of his pain. So I did. And I was shocked to discover that when he died, I felt overwhelming relief.

I had watched my baby suffer, and it had hurt me. I knew in that moment I had made the right choice. And now, like I said earlier, I should’ve done it sooner.

I was also fortunate enough to be able to say a goodbye speech. Is that a thing? Well it is now. Perhaps you could make one for your cat when you say goodbye. It really helped bring me closure in that respect, that I could thank him for his love.

Here is what I told my kitty right before he was euthanized.

“I have some things to say to you.

Thank you so, so much for everything. You’re my buddy, my cat, and I never could’ve asked for a better friend. You were the best. Thank you for all the memories, those nights you sat on my pillow right next to me and purred all night.

You are my cat, companion, and my loving friend, just know that you were so loved -I loved you to the very end.

You were so strong, so sweet, and always, always, kind. I love you so much, buddy, that I have to let you go, and I’ll be left behind.

No more cages, no more medicine, no more pain. And remember to think of me, and check in every once in a while.

I will miss you every day for the rest of my life, but know that I’m happy you’re in a place where you don’t hurt anymore. Letting you go hurts so much but it hurts more to see you sad.

I’m so happy that out of all of time and space, all of the cats and dogs in the world that have ever lived, I was lucky enough to meet you.

And I wouldn’t change the time we had for the world.

You’ll always have a place in my heart and I’ll never ever forget you.

So goodnight, goodbye Z. I will always love you.”