RIP Patches

Carbo

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2000
5,270
11
81
Every pet owner knows this day will come, but that doesn't make it any easier. Today I had to euthanize our cat of 17 years. Patches was found in the street when she was around three or four months old. She's been with me ever since. Two cross country moves. Shot in the leg. Injured diaphram. Terrific battler and mouser all these years. Well, until the last two or so when she slowed down. But always a great companion, even through last night.
She had been losing weight the past year, and was noticeably slower. But still she was active enough and her personality remained the same so as not to alarm. But last week she stopped eating just about anything I served her. Then she developed a nose bleed on Sunday. She was just looking frail and not herself, and I braced myself for the worst.
Sure enough, yesterday the vet examined her and quickly found a large, ulcerated tumor on the roof of her mouth. Which would explain the bloody nose and her refusal to eat.
The decision was a necessary one, but damn difficult and painful. This afternoon we had her mercifully put down. Buckets of tears from all of us right now, and a gaping hole in my heart. I know it'll get better. But I'm a mess right now.
RIP Patches :brokenheart: :beer:
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
0
She's pretty, RIP :( When you're ready, make sure you go to a rescue!
 

MrWizzard

Platinum Member
Mar 24, 2002
2,493
0
71
You did the right thing. 17 years is a long cat life, longer than a lot of cats live who have no problems.
 

ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
1,188
0
86
I really feel for you I would hate to lose any one of my four cats, RIP Patches he/she is in a better place now where the catnip flows freely and he/she is fur ever young
 

flyboy84

Golden Member
Jul 21, 2004
1,731
0
76
Sorry for your loss, my 17 year old cat, Persephone, is on her last legs as well. We will probably have to put her down in a week or two. She has almost exactly what you described in Patches (mouth tumor, nose bleeds). The vet says once she stops eating and showing interest in "being a cat" then that's the time :(
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,932
1,129
126
RIP Patches! Haven't had a cat in years, very sad when they leave us. Weird how you can have a boring ass pet like a Turtle that could outlive you. But the best pets like a Cat or Dog are only around 15 or so years.

nice looking cat, and as others have said 17 years is a good life for a cat. I like the name too.
 

Carbo

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2000
5,270
11
81
Originally posted by: flyboy84
Sorry for your loss, my 17 year old cat, Persephone, is on her last legs as well. We will probably have to put her down in a week or two. She has almost exactly what you described in Patches (mouth tumor, nose bleeds). The vet says once she stops eating and showing interest in "being a cat" then that's the time :(
Yeah, that's what convinced me my decision was the correct one. She could no longer be a cat.

 

Carbo

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2000
5,270
11
81
Originally posted by: QueBert
RIP Patches! Haven't had a cat in years, very sad when they leave us. Weird how you can have a boring ass pet like a Turtle that could outlive you. But the best pets like a Cat or Dog are only around 15 or so years.

nice looking cat, and as others have said 17 years is a good life for a cat. I like the name too.
17 years is a nice run. Wish she could have had some more, though. :(

 

Kreon

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2006
1,329
0
0
I'm sorry

I fear the day that that happens to my cat, TC

A very pretty cat
RIP
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
From the title I thought you meant something about operating system patches or something. :confused:

Anyway, RIP Patches! :(
 

gooseman

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
4,853
1
0
I'm sorry for your loss. I have a cat (Bud) whom I've had since he was about 6 weeks old. He is now 16 years old and we have been through a lot together. He is my best buddy. It breaks my heart to think about the day he will leave.
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,856
321
126
i lost my buddy of 16 years last year. She was a really good cat and enjoyed her life even after she went deaf at about 14yo. Still would catch mice...even after going deaf.
rose.gif
to Patches.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,705
5,829
146
:beer: I lift a toast to Patches, a Kitty life well lived. My condolences to you, Carbo.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
sucks...it's even bad when you find a stray that's been killed/died. I had to pick up one out of my driveway a few months ago that I was just watching eat and playing with its littermates the night before.

There are too many strays in my neighborhood due to poor cat owners letting their pets run wild.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
33
91
Originally posted by: Carbo
Every pet owner knows this day will come, but that doesn't make it any easier. Today I had to euthanize our cat of 17 years. Patches was found in the street when she was around three or four months old. She's been with me ever since. Two cross country moves. Shot in the leg. Injured diaphram. Terrific battler and mouser all these years. Well, until the last two or so when she slowed down. But always a great companion, even through last night.
She had been losing weight the past year, and was noticeably slower. But still she was active enough and her personality remained the same so as not to alarm. But last week she stopped eating just about anything I served her. Then she developed a nose bleed on Sunday. She was just looking frail and not herself, and I braced myself for the worst.
Sure enough, yesterday the vet examined her and quickly found a large, ulcerated tumor on the roof of her mouth. Which would explain the bloody nose and her refusal to eat.
The decision was a necessary one, but damn difficult and painful. This afternoon we had her mercifully put down. Buckets of tears from all of us right now, and a gaping hole in my heart. I know it'll get better. But I'm a mess right now.
RIP Patches :brokenheart: :beer:

I feel your pain OP. I had a cat for 17-18 years that finally passed on to kitty heaven last year. He died peacefully in his normal resting spot on my bed. Ironically, the other two cats, one of which never really got along with the other two, were sitting at the foot of the bed side by side in apparent vigil just waiting for someone to get home.