posted on Oct, 27 2013 @ 05:08 PM
This is my first official thread on ATS.
My cat, who is about 16, possibly 17 years old now, is in the process of dying. I have accepted this and I am preparing myself for the inevitable. We
have had 16 amazing years together, and I love her and I am ready to let her go when the time comes. Her degeneration is at the point where there is
nothing more we can do for her, after thousands of dollars worth of treatment and medication over the last several years.
I have noticed with her and with other animals who are dying, that they act very differently from humans. They withdraw, they hide, they don't want
to be held or touched, they seem to become very stoic about their own suffering, and mostly seem to want to die in private. I've always thought that
I would be there for her during her time of passing over, but now I wonder if that's the right thing to do. Is it better to allow her to go away
somewhere and die alone? Does it matter to a cat if their human is there for them during their death? Is my desire to want to be there for her more
about my needs than what she needs to be comfortable in her last moments?
I'm not looking for sympathy (I'm at peace with the reality of what it is happening), or even concrete answers, just thoughts and reflections. When
I am able to detach myself enough from her dying process to observe objectively, I notice that she no longer wants to be touched or held, or have food
pushed on her. She just wants a soft place to sleep and a bowl of water nearby. I am trying to resist to urge to hold her and pet her, although it
feels important to me to do so.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts, ATSer's. Thank you.