Personal decision, oh yes.. TOUGH.. OH YES! I was in that situation 5 months ago for the first time with my 12 year old cat and could not make the decision in time. He passed away just a few hours before the scheduled euthanasia, and it was NOT peaceful, after spending the whole night in my lap. We are now dealing with a cat with advanced CRF condition and A BAD leg .. this is why I am curious about your cat. Our cat started limping almost a year ago!! (left hind leg), quickly went to a plantigrade walk, and never recovered from that. He has NO feeling in that leg, and no muscles left either. It was heartbreaking to see him 'hobble along' as you say, and still is, but he manages to get around.. jump in his basket.. etc. He still can jump to about 1 foot (a little more, maybe). We have set up many special places in the house just for him. I also think it started with some calcification in his spine (next to tail) that pinched a nerve, hence the loss of his leg. I also suspect vaccinations as he limped badly from that leg a year before it all started (after a rabies shot). Anyway, more recent X-rays showed a growth in his pelvic area-osteosarcoma (vet diagnosis) And there have been days when there would be nothing at all in the litter box, and i realized how odd it is for me to be delighted to have pee or poop to scoop. I've been taking her little "accidents" ... boy, I can so relate to that!! Two things I might suggest. 1. Don't know what cat sand you use, but I replaced the clay dusty one (Cat's Pride) by a paper one: first just shredded newspaper, then yesterday's news and he seems to prefer that. It is much more absorbent and probably softer to him. He has had VERY, very few accidents since. I have also placed them closer to where he likes to spend time, so he does not have to go too far when he has an urge. Due to his kidney condition, he does urinate a lot and often. If your cat has FLUTI, he might prefer a softer litter box.. 2. Laxatone does not do much for constipation. Lactulose might be more effective. Sub-Q fluids would also help a lot. I hope your cat drinks a lot, especially if he is on prednisolone (hope it is not prednisone), otherwise he would be really dehydrated. Has your vet tested his urine?.. very easy and inexpensive test. Please, please.. keep us posted. My heart goes to you and to your very special feline friend. Anne-Marie

Thank you, everyone. Animal lovers are the best! There's another beautiful kitty at Rainbow Bridge today. You're right....you know when it's time. I probably should've taken her last night, but she still responded, and having seen her this way before (albeit before getting this old and such), I thought if there was the outside chance she was in recovery from her episode, I wanted her to have it. But this morning, I knew. I was supposed to drive hubby to the airport this morning, but told him I didn't want to make her wait any longer. He drove himself and I took her to the animal ER. I think it was easier, just me and her. I can deal with my own grief, but I wouldn't have been able to with his (his mom's dying too), so I guess it worked out as it should. I held her, cuddled in my arms, as the vet gave the injection, and they gave me a few minutes afterwards too. It was a peaceful room--sofa, low light, waterfall and soothing music in the background. I guess being an ER, they're more than prepared for this type of thing. If it'd been any other morning than Sunday, I could've made arrangements with my own vet clinic to have someone come to the house, but it just didn't work that way. I did call the ER and ask if they knew a vet on call who would make a housecall, but there's none in our area. Oh well....it is what it is. Now she doesn't have to make the looong move with us. Casey will always have a piece of my heart and always be my baby. She'll be the standard against which all future pets are measured. Now to have to answer family and friend's question "how are you doing?" I hate crying in front of people, but I can't imagine even mentioning her name without crying for awhile. Anyway, thanks SO much for all your support these last few months. I'll check back from time to time because I got used to following everyone's stories with their pets, etc. (even if I don't post much). I'll let you know when I get a new kitty to love, too. We'll get settled in our new location first, maybe take a trip or two since we haven't in about 4-5 yrs (since Casey got older and more "needy"). Gotta first find some wondeful neighbors I can trust to care for my pet when we're away....we have the best here where we are--I was sure going to miss them. Later, Tracey

I am also an addict. Here is a list of my machines. I have 15 machines which are all in working order, and I use them ALL THE TIME. As you can see, I am a Bernina fan. 2 Bernina 640 flat bed 2 Bernina 730 free arm (for my children to sew on) Bernina 830 (mainly for mending) Bernina 153QE (Just for Quilting) Bernina 160Plus (for most sewing projects) Bernina 217N-12 Industrial machine with 12mm zig-zag. (for doing sewing jobs on sports equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, 45 Boy Scout uniform alterations in 3 days, heavy canvas holders for baseball equipment, etc. My husband was a Scout Master and city recreation coach for 30 years.) Bernina Deco 650 (small embroidery designs) Bernina Deco 330 (large embroidery designs) Bernina Serger 1200DE free arm (threaded in black) Pfaff Hobbylock serger 778 (threaded in white) Of course, all of my machines have all of the possible attachments and presser feet. Old electric Singer, flat bed, early zig-zag mechanism that can fit in my antique oak Singer treadle cabinet. I made my wedding dress on this zig-zag machine as a treadle in 1978. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. New reproduction of Singer treadle machine and cabinet. Straight stitch only. My father ordered it for me from a catalog. (He didn't know I already had a treadle.) Older model Pfaff flat bed in a mahagony cabinet with a lot of decorative stitchs. I have put my flat bed Berninas in the Singer treadle cabinets, but the machine is 1/2" too short to reach the front of the cabinet. If I don't tighten the screws on the machine to the rods of the hinges, I can push the machine forward enough to catch on the front of the cabinet. The Bernina 640 flat bed machines have an external motor and motor belt. I take the motor belt off and put the treadle belt over the handwheel. Now I have a "modern" machine with 40+ feet that can also do buttonholes. I have seen a new electric Singer flatbed with utility stiches and buttonhole listed in a catalog for about $375-$400 which can fit a Singer treadle cabinet and run without electricity. It is fun to sew old-fashioned with new technology!!!!

There is another way to approach the older and driving issue, one that doesn't require input from family and friends. 4 1/2 years ago when Mother may have had a TIA (age 84, her doctor and neurologist couldn't be sure, it was so temporary), her doctor had asked her to not drive until the status of her health more clear. Then, when a few months passed, he told me his employer (Kaiser) wouldn't let him assume the liability of telling her she could drive again. We took her to an occupational therapist who did a cognitive evaluation. Then, checked for any physical limitations....vision, flexibility, could she look over her right shoulder when making lane changes etc and not too arthritic to do that ;0) He drove with her. His assessment was she could drive with his blessing (in writing, and he did have the liability coverage to do that) if she would take two brush up driving classes. Mom had never had a driving lesson and was somewhat offended. But she arranged two private sessions with a licensed instructor as required and drove three more years - until moving to a retirement apartment in a much larger city when she sold her car and gave up driving.