How does one actually know what the cat is feeling?

[bassybill]

I held my girlfriend's mom's cat while he was euthanised.

He just sat on the table at the vets, looking old and tired and world-weary, just like he'd been looking recently at home. He had a tumour that was inoperable. He wasn't in a lot of pain as far as we could tell, but he couldn't eat and was getting weaker and weaker. Left any longer, he would have suffered badly. So, kindest thing, imo.

Anyway, the vet injected him (it's a massive overdose of anaesthetic) and for a couple seconds - no more - he sort of looked very confused and sort of groggy, then just closed his eyes. I didn't sense any severe distress or real pain/discomfort. More of a "Hey - what was that? This feels a bit weird...". Out.

It's always sad for a person to lose a pet, but from the pet's point of view I'd guess that this is one of the easier ways to go. Easier than what the big majority of living things get dealt by good old Mother Nature, anyway. Shame we can't do it for humans when they'd choose it.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

This is a legit question.

I think the more "legit" question is

"Can one actually know what the cat is feeling?"

By asking "How does one actually know what the cat is feeling?" you are both giving creedance to the indefensible notion that someone might actually know...and -- ironically -- making your skepticism even more overt than if you simply asked "Can one know?"

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by bassybill

It's always sad for a person to lose a pet, but from the pet's point of view I'd guess that this is one of the easier ways to go. Easier than what the big majority of living things get dealt by good old Mother Nature, anyway. Shame we can't do it for humans when they'd choose it.

I agree on all points.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Putting my childhood dog down was and still is one of the saddest yet most memorable moments of my life. She was in pain, and we knew the end was near. Ebony, my black lab, showed no fear whatsoever. I cried tears onto her face and sobbed uncontrollably as I hugged her and let it all out, in our last moments on the vet table together. She licked my face. Makes me so sad, even 16 years later.

I am sure I was in more pain than my dog was at what was about to happen that day, and looking back, I'm really proud that I allowed myself to grieve in such a raw manner.

I can so relate to that...

When I was only four years old, our family adopted a little puppy...who soon became the family dog during the most formative years of my life and the lives of my siblings. She was our mascot - every bit as much a member of the family as any of us. Everyone in the family adored her...and she adored us too.

She lived to be 15 years old - the year I turned 19. By that point in her life, she could no longer keep (much) food down, could no longer control her bowels, could barely even stand up anymore, much less walk. She was getting skinnier & skinnier, weaker & weaker. My dad brought her to the vet to be euthanized.

Though I didn't make the trip with him, my dad told me what he'd done after he got home. I knew he'd done the right thing, yet soon as I heard the news I broke out into a crying jag - that lasted hours (same as when my mother died about 10 years later - although that one lasted for days).

When you lose a loved one - whether human, canine, feline or other - it feels as if something precious has been torn right out of your very own soul. It hurts. And the more you love, the more it hurts.

It takes time to heal from that...

MM

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I can so relate to that...

When I was only four years old, our family adopted a little puppy...who soon became the family dog during the most formative years of my life and the lives of my siblings. She was our mascot - every bit as much a member of the family as any of us. Everyone in the family adored her...and she adored us too.

She lived to be 15 years old - the year I turned 19. By that point in her life, she could no longer keep (much) food down, could no longer control her bowels, could barely even stand up anymore, much less walk. She was getting skinnier & skinnier, weaker & weaker. My dad brought her to the vet to be euthanized.

Though I didn't make the trip with him, my dad told me what he'd done after he got home. I knew he'd done the right thing, yet soon as I heard the news I broke out into a crying jag - that lasted hours (same as when my mother died about 10 years later - although that one lasted for days).

When you lose a loved one - whether human, canine, feline or other - it feels as if something precious has been torn right out of your very own soul. It hurts. And the more you love, the more it hurts.

It takes time to heal from that...

MM

We had almost the exact same situation, including what was wrong with the dog. I feel you man. It IS tough.

"And the more you love, the more it hurts." - So true.

[HaMMerHeD]

I had a lot of childhood pets. Loads of cats, several dogs. I remember them dying, but I don't remember caring one way or another about any of their deaths.

So...meh, I suppose.

[two fingers]

In my view, one doesn't know. Many humans are weak emotionally. Therefore, some of us have to project emotions into our pets that WE can live with. We would never put a cat down if we allowed ourselves to believe that the whole process is agonizing to them. So we rationalize the whole thing by filling in our own blanks so that WE can live with it. There is no human who has any idea what goes through the mind of an animal.

(BTW, when I say "we" and "us" I really mean "you" and "them" because I don't get that attached to animals.)

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by two fingers

There is no human who has any idea what goes through the mind of an animal.

Body language is almost uncontrollable. If you can tell that someone is uncomfortable and it's obvious - TECHNICALLY, like you say we might not be 100% sure, but come on. You know.

When you live with an animal for it's lifetime, especially a dog which is capable of displaying all kinds of emotion, you can get fairly accurate ideas of how your dog is feeling. You know what things it doesn't like, reason they might shut down and act despondent and so on.

[skychief]

Originally Posted by placedesjardins

Well, cat euthanization can be done with less pain and be less inexpensive with decapitation. It sounds inhumane, but if you think about it, death is instant wheras an injected drug takes longer.

Most competent vets will administer a sedative to put the cat to sleep before the euthanising agent.

So, i would disagree with the decapitation method as being the least painful.

[mjac28]

Just ask cats are usually pretty open to conversation.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

I think the more "legit" question is

"Can one actually know what the cat is feeling?"

By asking "How does one actually know what the cat is feeling?" you are both giving creedance to the indefensible notion that someone might actually know...and -- ironically -- making your skepticism even more overt than if you simply asked "Can one know?"

Wow can't even ask a question the way I want to.

[AaronMB]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Many humans area weak emotionally... (BTW, when I say "we" and "us" I really mean "you" and "them" because I don't get that attached to animals.)

Yikes. (When you let yourself care enough to become attached to an animal, get back to us on this.)

[nortonrider]

In America there are 4000 cows killed every hour (100,000 per day)
and
Every day, 23 MILLION chickens are killed in the U.S. for food--that’s 269 deaths per second!


I wonder if they feel less than a cat?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

In America there are 4000 cows killed every hour (100,000 per day)
and
Every day, 23 MILLION chickens are killed in the U.S. for food--that’s 269 deaths per second!


I wonder if they feel less than a cat?

One may never actually know.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by mjac28

Just ask cats are usually pretty open to conversation.

Mine talk to me all the time. I sometimes get the impression that Rufus would love to speak to me in English...if he only could.

Fortunately for them, I've become fluent in "meow"...

MM

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

In America there are 4000 cows killed every hour (100,000 per day)
and
Every day, 23 MILLION chickens are killed in the U.S. for food--that’s 269 deaths per second!


I wonder if they feel less than a cat?

And the way the earth is being populated you may be adding dogs and cats to that list as well

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Thanks guys. And again this is a legit question I'm asking.

People are so quick to describe what the cat is feeling and going through but does one really know.


It's like how can a human who has never had their veins burned with acid really know how it feels to some one who has?

Euthanization is usually an anesthetic overdose, at least in the UK it is the common approach. So the initial sensation will be just like that of going under anesthetic, you just don't wake up after it.

It doesn't always work, that's true, if an animal is amped up enough their adrenaline overrides the supplemented anesthetic.

[HaMMerHeD]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Body language is almost uncontrollable. If you can tell that someone is uncomfortable and it's obvious - TECHNICALLY, like you say we might not be 100% sure, but come on. You know.

When you live with an animal for it's lifetime, especially a dog which is capable of displaying all kinds of emotion, you can get fairly accurate ideas of how your dog is feeling. You know what things it doesn't like, reason they might shut down and act despondent and so on.

Oh yes.

"I just know!"

Where have I heard that one before...

[AaronMB]

I think it's pretty obvious who has had close relationships with their pets and who hasn't.

[Turock]

Originally Posted by placedesjardins

Well, cat euthanization can be done with less pain and be less inexpensive with decapitation. It sounds inhumane, but if you think about it, death is instant wheras an injected drug takes longer.

"less inexpensive" means that it costs more.
Ever heard the expression "running around like a chicken with its head cut off"? It's because they do run around after its head is cut off, and the eyes blink; I've seen it.
It is not instantaneous.