Question:
is it wrong to video tape your cat getting put down?
nancy
2010-02-24 23:40:48 UTC
i know its a terrible thing to have to do and i feel like a terrible person to want to video tape it...but i want to have those last moments with me forever :(. i love him so much, he is 16 years old, hes urinating everywhere, diabetic too. the vet said hes very healthy for his age but the urinating :(....my mom wants him put down and she would like me to take him. she would probably be furious if she knew i wanted to video tape it. and i wouldnt want to do it just for kicks, like i said i love him so much and i want to have his last moments documented so i can remember him:(. i know i can have pics of him but this is different....is it wrong? :( i found this video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LY_aeYbL9g
Sixteen answers:
Patty O
2010-02-25 18:26:12 UTC
Please don't let strangers on here change what you feel in your heart is best for you and your beloved kitty. Everyone copes with a loss of a pet in their own way. I watched the video that you listed, but there were quite a few other videos of cats dying or near death. The only thing I suggest is you don't do the actual taping, let one of the vet assistants or techs do it, so you are free to comfort your kitty as he transitions to spirit.



Before you or your mom makes the final decision to euthanize him, see what can be done about the urinating. Having had a diabetic cat -- diabetic nearly 6 years until I lost her to cancer -- they urinate a lot, it comes with the illness. Is his diabetes under control? Does he take insulin? Did you know you can diet control diabetes with just simple food changes? Please see the website below dedicated to people caring for a diabetic cat. Maybe someone on the board can give you some hints for the urinating.



But the fact that he is urinating in places other than his box could be a medical problem, such as a urinary tract infection. Cats with diabetes have lower resistance to illnesses and take longer to heal. My Kelley was prone to ear infections and I kept prescription medications to treat her when she had a flare up.



Or it can be behavioral--have you moved the location of his box or changed the type of litter? Has anything changed in the household, some moved in or moved out, has your schedule changed to where you are gone longer during the day, has there been any other major changes in the household, etc. If you are in multifamily housing (townhouse, condo, apartment), has there been a change in an adjacent residence, especially one that has pets?



The fact that the vet said he was healthy otherwise is very encouraging. Also speak with his vet for some ideas to solve the urinating problem.



If you do decide to euthanize kitty, you have my heartfelt sympathy on the loss. I lost my three oldest kitties in just 18 months (9 months apart) and I was devastated. I did not think to video them, but I took lots of pictures from every angle so that I could remember every little thing about them. Since they had all been ill and their coats were a mess, each got a bath, dried and combed before I took them to be cremated. This was something I had to do for myself and them -- they had to be beautiful.



In the last year I have read so many books about loosing pets and a common thread among the authors is that animals are not afraid of death like humans are. They know they will be returning to their spirit state and be whole and healthy again. Many animals will stay here longer than they want because they know their humans are not coping with their pending death. This poem is a good example from the Pet Loss website:



Poem For Cats



And God asked the feline spirit

Are you ready to come home?

Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul

And, as a cat, you know I am most able

To decide anything for myself.



Are you coming then? asked God.

Soon, replied the whiskered angel

But I must come slowly

For my human friends are troubled

For you see, they need me, quite certainly.



But don't they understand? asked God

That you'll never leave them?

That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?

That nothing is created or destroyed?

It just is....forever and ever and ever.



Eventually they will understand,

Replied the glorious cat

For I will whisper into their hearts

That I am always with them

I just am....forever and ever and ever.



Author Unknown
Marcia
2010-02-25 01:22:32 UTC
Ok, so you sound like you're on the young side of "old fart" or "old fuddy-duddy". In my youth, I can remember that some of the older adults thought that the phone was an "evil contraption." I would guess that close to 50% felt uncomfortable using a phone; even one that was not on a party line. (Back in the day, you didn't pay extra to "join a party line" and talk to/among multiple people at one time. Rather, in some areas all you could get was a party line: Who ever had the receiver to their ear could listen and/or talk to ever else was on the line and as long as at least one phone was off the hook, no one else could call in or out. If you lived in an area with an option of a party line or a single residential line, the party line was cheaper.) In general, kid type, telephone time was heavily monitored when I was a kid; probably much more so than most computer, internet, or game time is today. And, I can remember my mother hanging up one of my conversations when she found out it was with the girl up the road but next door: How rude, lazy, and inconsiderate was I to talk on the phone and tie up the line when in 5 minutes I could be having a "real conversation", in person, and face to face!



Culturally, most of us have obviously gotten over our phone phobia and have progressed to a multi-generational development of repetitive motion injuries (RMI's) to the thumbs. Back in the day, there was a common saying of: "A picture paints a thousand words." And, all too often we sat around carousels of a 1000 vacation picture slides or watching burning, melting, 8mm footage. The digital camera solved the film and developing cost problem of taking pictures while the cell phone took care of the cost of a digital camera and then the cost of a video camera. Between the time and labor to text, the general acceptance of pictures, and the limits of 120 characters per transaction, picture taking of even the sublime and video graphing any and everything that could be possibly be important is all the more of an every day thing the younger one gets.



For the person who did not video tape the funeral...Even among the old farts, I'm hearing of an increasing number of folks who dissappointed because they did not video tape their loved ones' funerals. One woman I know even said that a couple of months after her father's funeral, said that she would trade her wedding tape for a funeral tape: Her father is gone as are a number of the things said at the funeral which she missed/doesn't remember due to her grief. Her husband is still (lovingly) with her as are most of the people who were at her wedding; further, she remembers much more of the whole wedding day than she does of the funeral day.



Personally, I have never taken up a vet on the offer to watch an animal die. There for quite a while, I was the one who made the trip to the vet's to put a number of animals down; some my own pets and some for folks I knew because I could and would. I do make appointments so that the animal doesn't sit in a cage in the back. I do cradle and comfort the animal but take great effort to not allow my grief show so that the animal doesn't pick up on it. - Those that I've taken to be put down were pretty sick and/or dying when I took them in; a couple, not mine, were pretty hard to cradle and comfort due their physical condition. - I do like the offer of the collar back which I do take, save, and keep when it is my animal.
Abel H
2010-02-25 05:53:12 UTC
You really should think this through. Is putting him down making life easier for him or your mother? If his biggest health problem is urinating everywhere then you can buy diapers for him. You say he is very healthy for his age. Keep trying don't give up on him. Video taping it is up to you. The reality is do you want to see his last moment on television. This is different from say video taping a funeral. This is the last moment of life we are talking about.
Whiskers
2010-02-24 23:48:45 UTC
I wouldn't want to video tape my pet dying..I don't want to see their last moments over and over, I just want to remember them when they were young and happy, before they were suffering.



I guess if having the video makes you cope better its ok, but personally I wouldn't do it.



To the people saying it's wrong to put him down - I wouldn't want to live with incontience (which is what it sounds like she means), and diabetes, and being so old. Sometimes its better to do it a little early than a little late and have them suffer more then needed.

If it was a young cat whos only problem was urinating where it wasn't allowed to, then I'd be against putting it down, but don't make it harder then it already is for this person.
2016-04-12 04:59:04 UTC
ESPECIALLY if you have a cat that enjoys clawing things, I would not recommend you get a leather sofa. Leather makes a nice sound when cats sink their claws into it!! My in-laws though they would be okay with a leather sofa as their cats pretty much stuck to clawing their scratching post -- however, the leather couch in their living room is now torn up beyond belief! Yes, your cats could unintentionally scratch the leather while jumping onto/off of it - especially if they are playing a game or get frightened. I'd stick with the microfiber!
radio hysteria
2010-02-25 01:57:32 UTC
I don't think there's anything wrong with filming your cat's last moments. I watched the video; it was very sad, but at least that person's cat went out purring. I think if you film your cat's euthanasia, you should do what that person in the video did- pet your cat, play with him, make him happy before he goes.



If I were getting my cat put down, I'd much rather take a video of him before the euthanasia; at home, playing with him, and even of him just eating his food.



I think you should record the euthanasia if that's what you want. You're not a terrible person for that.
.
2010-02-25 00:00:46 UTC
Wrong, no, it's not wrong but it's already a difficult time for your cat and all that he will need is your presence, your voice and not a "camera" which will stress him more. So take pictures when he fall asleep.

My animals don't even like when I try to take pictures now, so I think it's not a good idea at that time to video tape.
2010-02-24 23:50:40 UTC
" the vet said hes very healthy for his age but the urinating :(....my mom wants him put down and she would like me to take him."



Ok, I know it's awful to say this but I would have your mom put down! The vet says he's healthy and just because he pees on stuff your mom is making you kill your cat??? They make diapers you can put on animals (they have them for dogs I know, the small dog size would probably work). Or you could fix him a place to stay outside if you have a yard - get a dog house he can stay in, he probably won't go far if he's 16 years old. I'm sorry but this makes me so mad! If I was a vet I would not put a cat down just because it was an inconvenience to its owner, jeez!



I can't even answer your actual question, that makes me so mad. Can you see if your mom would let you keep him in the yard or the porch? It's so incredibly sad you have to put down an animal who isn't in pain. Lots of elderly people have to wear incontinence pads or diapers - should we put THEM down too?
2010-02-24 23:56:16 UTC
If you would like to Video your cat being put down that is okay by me , a few years back i wanted to video my husbands funeral but was stopped from doing it , the funeral was a very big event with mounted horses etc and i would have liked to look back on it later and also listen again to the words that were said, and i have regretted it ever since,.so don't let people stop you it is your choice
sweety
2010-02-25 03:34:49 UTC
No there is nothing wrong with it.You have the right to preserve the precious last moments forever,and making the video is the best way!
eve eldali
2010-02-24 23:56:37 UTC
whats wrong with?? that video you put out there was the sadest thing i ever seen you reminded my of my dead cat she probably went through the same thing too you just ruined my day having this video posted thank you so much how can i ever manage to hold my tears at this time of the night.
~1/2 My heart is in Afghanistan~
2010-02-24 23:43:07 UTC
That's not what you want to remember is it? You want to remember the happy times not the day he passed away. I can almost guarantee, that if you to tape it you will only ever watch it once, then you will realize that you do not want to repeat that day.
ZotsRule
2010-02-24 23:53:19 UTC
That's very morbid. You should want to remember him in LIFE - not in death. Don't do it.



If the vet says he's healthy and you're going to put him down solely because he's peeing on things - surrender him to a no-kill shelter. I wonder how mother would feel if she was older and healthy but you put her down? Evil.
Just Breathe
2010-02-24 23:43:12 UTC
Yessss it is very wrong, you should remember your cat for how they were. Why would you want to remember death? Do you not want to look back and remember the good times?
2010-02-24 23:42:15 UTC
It sounds kind of creepy, but who cares if it helps you grieve.
Kevin
2010-02-24 23:45:31 UTC
would you video tape your family member's last moments? i know i wouldn't!


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