Dealing with depression myself, I would suggest you see your Dr. It's worth it to get on a medication and start feeling better. You don't have to make excuse for how you feel. How you feel is real to you even if you think it seems unreasonable. Get help, it will make going through the hard times with your pets easier.
The best advice you got here (and you got lots of good advice), is that cats deal and live in the here & now. That should make you feel so much better, I hope. Also, as tough as this is, you don't want your cat to feel your stress and heartache for the time he has left on this earth. Instead, make it the best you can and know this is the way....that we most always outlive our pets and you have given your cat a beautiful and blessed life.
I do completely understand how painful it is losing a cat though. When my DLH cat passed away well over a year ago, I cried and cried. The first few days is the hardest, and then you start thinking positive thoughts.....remembering all the years of love you had with one another.
(08-23-2010 02:16 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]It is a mistake to think of our cats perceiving illness as we do. They are more in the moment and are quite capable of enjoying completely simple pleasures such as sleeping in the sun or being held. They really do not "miss" not being able to do something they enjoy very much, like run. One sees this in the quick change in them when they feel better. They do not have the foreboding of yet another round of illness to come or some period of upcoming discomfort. We are upset for them, but it is a mistake to believe they are in distress. We may know the vet visit is tomorrow. They do not.
I absolutely agree with Jan - our pets live in the moment, & do not anticipate pain or fear of dying. I have 3 rather old dogs who are failing in health, & it is SO hard, & I need to remind myself that they are well-loved & precious. I hope you are able to get through this - it is so difficult.
I know from personal experience, as do many others on this forum, how you feel. I had to let my FatCat go when he was terribly ill and I only wish that I had done it sooner and unfortunately I was working when the vet rung me and said that it would be cruel not to let him go asap so I didn't get to say goodbye or pet him while he left this world and tell him how much I loved him. I will always regret this and never forgive myself. My advice to you is to love your baby as much as you can while he's alive, let him go when it's time (there's no chance of recovery and he's in pain) and say your goodbyes. My best wishes go your way. Live it day by day and for now don't get caught up in the future. Please feel free to vent on this forum when you need to let your feelings out.
Matt
I really do feel for you. My dog is nearly 11, and I am absolutely dreading the day I lose her. She's been though everything with me and my family, and I know I will be distraught. Just thinking about it makes me cry. With her getting older, I kept thinking about it more, but really, I was just stressing myself out all the time! I have learned to put it to the back of my mind, and just enjoy her while we can! I hope you are ok! xxx