(((((Steph))))) I understand, I've had to do the same thing with my kitty - the best cat in the world! - about 5 years ago. It does get better, sweetie... Hang on and remember the good times. Nancy

So very very sorry to hear this, Steph.

I know what you're going through and how badly it hurts.

(((Steph)))

It's been a year since I put my Ernie down and I still miss him and second guess myself even though I know I did the right thing and I know that you did too.

You will stop hurting but you'll never stop missing her.

Stephanie, we all know (and so do you) that you were a good 'mommy' to your first furbaby - please try to be thankful for the time you did have with her! (((((STEPH)))))!

((((((Steph))))))

I'm sure it was an incredibly hard decision to make, but that's because you loved her so much. You did the right thing.

I am so sorry Steph. It is the hardest thing in the world to put a loved pet to sleep.

I am so sorry, Steph. Please take some comfort in knowing that you gave Shylo the best life and best love that you possibly could. It hurts a lot though, I know.

(((((Steph and family)))))

I am so sorry you had to go through this. Be comforted that you did this before it got worse. My heart breaks that I did not have my Madame put down sooner.

I'm so sorry for your loss. A pet is special, very special.
No guilt necessary...it was time for her to go.

Steph, I know it's hard, and you feel guilty, because you maybe could have kept her another day, or maybe a week. But, it would have come to this point at some time. I know that doesn't lessen the pain. But you did the right thing for Shylo. My kitty Maggie was sick and losing weight for about a month. I kept taking her to the vet, and trying this med. or that different food. Nothing was helping. And the cost was mounting with no improvement. I didn't want to remember my Maggie with the hurt look in her eye. It was time to let her go. It didn't make it any easier, and I'm tearing up as I type this, but, it'll lessen in time.
(((Steph)))

Leslie

I am so sorry Steph. You hate to see them suffer but it is so hard to let them go.

Oh Steph..I'm so sorry about Shylo! Sometimes doing the right thing,is the hardest thing in the world to do.

(((((Steph)))))

I'm so sorry about Shylo. It is the hardest decision you will ever make. I have gone through it with two dogs, Gretchen (14.5) and Samantha (18.5). It never gets easy.
Clare

(((Steph))),

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

I dread the day I will be faced with this same decision, I'm sure it will come.

My sincerest sympathy.

Gayle

((((Steph))))) So sorry. Know that you gave her a wonderful life and you didn't let her linger in pain.

Oh Steph, I'm so very, very sorry to read this. Shylo was an absolutely sweet and beautiful kitty and I know a real treasure to your family. I'm sure you did the right thing for her since she has remained ill. Please don't question your decision. She's at peace and you need to be also. That will come with time as will all of the wonderful memories you will keep in your heart.
((((((Steph, Brent & Grant))))).

Steph, I'm so sorry about Shylo. (((Steph)))

Oh Stephanie I am so sorry.
I know Shylo had a huge piece of your heart. I know it hurts, to me this is the only drawback to having pets. They are never with you long enough. I've lost furbabies and its always such awful heartrending sadness. Don't second guess yourself,(I did it too with our 19 year old Doxie)remember Shylo with joy and happiness! I am positive you gave HER as much as she gave you!!!
Hang in there dear girl!!!! (((Stephanie)))

Steph I am sorry you had to make this decision, but it was done out of love. The pain is going to be unbearable for a while, but it will ease in time. You did what you thought was right and it was a very unselfish thing to do. Like many others here I am crying along with you. My heart goes out to you.
Shylo is with many other KT pets who made the journey over rainbow bridge. She is in good company and she will live and play pain free until you meet again. (((Steph)))))
Linda

{{!gwi}}

((Steph))

I'm sorry.....The right thing to do is never the easiest.
((Steph))

Lori

I am so sorry Steph. I know how hard that decision is to make and to live with. Just know you did the right thing if she's been sick for sometime. Sick is no way to live if there is no chance of coming back to normal. It will get easier, and it will take some time. Don't beat yourself up, just know you did it out of love for her.

I'm so sorry Steph. We had to put one of your cats down right before Christmas. It was my son and dil's cat that ended up with us. She was a real sweetheart.

I know it is hard, but it is best for the cat and know you did it out of love.

Sheryl - NJ

Oh Steph; I am so sorry for your loss of Shylo. Please, don't second guess yourself; you know you did what was best for her, even though it was a great suffering to yourself. This is part of love. In your heart you will come to know that you did the right thing.

I lost BeeGee last month; I still break down into tears when I think about her sweet little self. Still, the pain does ease, slowly and with time. Be happy that you know Shylo had a joyous, full life and you did right by her. If I had face BeeGee's situation again, I would not have subjected her to the horrible surgery and 2 1/2 days of confused and painful hospital time. This is the stone in my heart now.

Dear, I'm so sorry you're hurting. One thing that helped me was receiving a card from an animal health research group about 10 days later. My vet made a generous donation to the foundation in rememberance of BeeGee to help animals worldwide. For some reason that really touched me.

I'm having a plaque of St. Roch made to hang in the hospital room of the clinic. Perhaps, in a few weeks, something along these lines might help ease your grief, too.

(((((Steph and Shylo)))))

(((Steph))) I am so sorry. Kitties are so wonderful and Shylo was especially beautiful and sweet. A beautiful framed picture of her or a framed scrapbook page featuring her might be a lovely remembrance when you feel up to it. She was lovely. I'm sorry for your loss.

Danielle

Stephanie, I'm so sorry that you lost your sweet beautiful kitty.
I second-guessed myself too when Spanky was put to sleep last summer. It was such a hard, heart-wrenching decision. I can still think of his sad little face with his head hung low and he looked soooo sick. I know now that I made the right decision, and so did you. It's because of your love for them that you make that last decision.
What helped for me, is I went and bought a picture frame for his picture (crying the whole time I stood in the aisle picking one out) and I hung it on the wall above a shelf where I put the box with his ashes. When I miss him, I look at the picture on the wall of him when he was my happy little Spanky-boy.
Lots of hugs Stephanie, I know how much it hurts.
Tammy

Steph---I am so sorry to hear that Shylo was so sick. I lost my Maine Coon recently and feel your pain. Your heart will heal, but it will take time. ((((HUGS)))

((Steph)) I know it hurts, hon, and I'm sorry that you're having to go through this.

I'm so sorry. I have had to put down quite a few pets in my life. It doesn't get any easier. My current cat, Whisper, is 15 and has kidney,liver, and thyroid diseases. But she still eats and drinks and is very affectionate, so I hope she'll be around a long time. I suggest you get a kitten for Grant, not as a replacement, but as a distraction and in Shylo's memory.

I am so, so sorry Stephanie.

Jodi-

Steph, I am so sorry. Don't second guess yourself. I am sure there were reasons, or you wouldn't have gone through with it.
It is worse to not be able to make the decision. We never know how pets suffer, because they usually suffer in silence.
It is wrong to let our fur friends suffer because we can't own up to what must be done.

Hope you feel better soon, and when you can, give another cat or kitten a home.

I'm so sorry Steph, my heart hurts with you, I have lost 2 doxies within 6 months of each other, Tater Tot last Aug. and Daisy 2 weeks ago tomorrow.
You showed the last act of love for Shylo, she is no longer ill and is resting peacefully. It kills us to go through this pain, to me it's like a stab to the heart and you want them back so bad you can hardly stand it. Gradually you accept it but it takes a long time, the void in the home is ever there. I have framed photos everywhere of my departed pets, they are always in my heart.
I wish you peace Steph and I'm thinking about you, take care.
Linda~

(((((((((((((((((Stephanie & Family)))))))))))))))))))))))

I'm so sorry. We had to put our Himalayan to sleep in Sept. It was so very difficult & I was also second-guessing myself. I know you'll miss her very much, but know that you did the right thing for her.

Oh Steph-You've got me crying too. Losing a pet is just the worst. I bawled my eyes out for my cat Willie (14 yrs), and he went downhill so fast, there was no question about what to do.

You know you did the right thing, but it doesn't make it easier. More time wouldn't have done anything but prolong Shylo's pain and that's not fair. You loved her enough to realize that.

Personally, I wouldn't get another cat just yet. I wouldn't be able to. It's okay to be sad for a while and just remember all the joy Shylo brought to you!

Thank you all very much for taking the time to respond to my post and for your kind words and caring. I appreciate it.

It's been a rough couple days. I miss her so much and my evenings without her laying on my chest all stretched out just arent the same. This is just really difficult, but I know I did the right thing, it's just hard.

We're not getting another cat. I'm not ready for that but also Brent's not big on cats anyway and I need a break from the cat litter. I want to see how my asthma does without cat hair and cat litter anyway. But no kitty could replace my beautiful Shylo. I just can't believe she's gone. :-(

I'm so sorry.

Steph, I am so sorry to hear about your beautiful baby. I think it is only natural to second guess ourselves. You just have to believe that she knew you loved her,(which of course you did) and that you would never do anything other than what was best for her. They are smarter than a lot of people think........they just know.

Hugs,
Rita

Oh, No! I'm so sorry!
I was just doing a search for something,and this was on the search page! I'm sorry I didn't see it then. Shylo was lovely! I'm so sorry for your loss....
How is Dakota handling it?

((((((((Stephanie and family))))))))))

Oh, Stephanie - I am so saddened that you are sad - know that we are with you in spirit and so is Shylo!

I'm so sorry. We become so attached to our furry kids. We have lost 6 schnauzers and a poodle over the years and are faced with our Gabby having cancer now. I wish I could do more than say I'm sorry and offer a hug. (((Stephanie)))

Steph, your post brings tears to my eyes! I'm so sorry you lost her. You've got our prayers and hugs. I cringe even thinking about the furkids getting sick. :( (((Steph and family)))

Blessings,
Haley

I am so sorry for your loss. Pets become part of the family and it is like losing a family member when they are gone. It will take time to get over this. I am sending you hugs.
Clare

so sorry about your loss...thank goodness for pictures...

take care of your health...

Awwww....(((((Steph)))))

I'm sorry Steph. It's a hard decision to make.

I am so sorry Steph.

((hugs))

Steph
I sent you an email but wanted to send you (((HUGS)))).
When my EKO died DH and I buried him in our yard under the rose bushes. I even have a little marker for him. When we sell our house and move EKO is coming with us. I could never leave him behind.

Samkaren
your resident DJ

((((((((((((((((((Stephanie and Family)))))))))))))))))))

I am sorry about Shylo. Your furkids are family and it's hard to say goodbye to them. We have a 14 year old Golden Retriever that's having health problems and we'll have to make the same decision you made soon I think. You have my sincere sympathy!

Thanks for bringing this thread back up to the front page, and for your sympathy and kind words.

It's been over a month and I still miss her terribly. Her picture is still on my desktop on my computer and when I see it half of me wants to smile, the other half cry. :-)

I've had alot of furkids/fursisters in my lifetime so I can only hope they're all keeping each other company now!

Samkaren, I got your email but I've been so sick for the last 3 days this is the first I've really gotten on my computer. Thank you so much for sending me the note and for your nice thoughts.