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Last year we had to put down our little 4 yr old cat Nimmie. We had adopted her from an animal shelter when she was 6 months old and she was malnourished, plus we think she was abused because she was extremely skiddish. She warmed up to us after a few months and was the most unconditionally loving cat - all she wanted was snuggles and answered if you called her name! She was always a runt - weighing a max 5 lbs - but the vet always said she is just a small bugger.

Last year, we started to see her health decline. She wasn't eating as much and was having accidents - but the vet couldn't find anything wrong. After the tornado last August in NYC, we had to spend the night at my parents since we couldn't get home. When we got home, I couldn't find her anywhere! Finally, I heard a faint cry and she was lodged between furniture and had no energy to move. We took her in and it turns out she was born with a kidney disease (which no one ever tested for since it was so obscure), which started getting progressively worse as she aged. The vet said it reached a really bad point and we could do aggressive treatment, but it probably would not work. I cried for a long time at the vets office, but we finally decided to let her go peacefully. When I said goodbye, her eyes were all glossy and I knew it was time to let her go.

I will never forget her sweet loving cuddles. She always did this thing when she was really happy, she cuddles with her tongue sticking out. I miss her so much and wished she would have stayed with us longer.

I'm so sorry that Sparky has taken a turn for the worst. I haven't had to put my own pet to sleep yet, but we have two dogs and a cat and I know the day will come way too soon. Pets become such a part of your family! Our puppies are seriously like our kids. I just pray that it will be quite a few years from now.

@Bee-I'm so sorry about Sparky.
We had a cat that one day just acted as if she had no energy. We knew something was wrong and took her to the vet. The vet said, "she's just really old". She was adopted from a shelter so we weren't really sure of her age, but DH had for 12 years. Vet estimated her age as 18+... We ended up just taking her home and watching her carefully. She was alright for about a week.(she was slow moving, but still eating/drinking/getting around the house) She didn't seem to be in pain. Then she stopped eating and drinking and we thought it was time to put her down. The next morning we said we would wait until DH came home from work....So when he got home that evening he picked her up to pet her and she looked at him, purred a little and then gasped and took her final breath....it was like she waited for him to come home.

sorry about sparky. she was definitely in good hands. she wouldn't have had the quality of life she did with anyone else!

when i was about 12 or so, we had to put down our dog. but my parents didn't tell me she was taking her so i never got a chance to say goodbye. i cried so much and every now and then, when i still think about her, i tear up a bit.

I'm so sorry Mrs. Bee. It's such a hard choice to make, but I've made it three times.

The first time, I wasn't even in 6th grade. My Dad came home to pick me up and take me to a friend's house. When he arrived at the house, he told me that Tipsy was at the vet because he'd been hit by a car. As he took me to the vets, he tried to prepare me for seeing Tipsy. He told me that whatever we did would be my choice.

Once we arrived, the vet took us into a room, showed me Tipsy's x-ray, and told me how Tipsy would never be able to walk and, if I took Tipsy home, I would have to do everything for him. Obviously, kid me wanted my cat to live.

She went back to bring Tipsy to me; she held him in her arms as I cried and then she offered to let me hold him. I sat waiting to hold my Tipsy Cat. He screamed as she put him in my arms. It was then I knew that Tipsy needed to be put to sleep.

Some people may think it was a poor decision on my Dad's part to let me decide, but I truly believe that it's my Dad's best parenting moment.

Since Tipsy, I also put down my Bugsy Cat and Duchess Dog. And this may sound a little weird, but if a snow storm hadn't happened, I would've put down PJ Mouse too.

I was so sorry to hear about Sparky. It's so hard losing a pet that you've had for forever. I had to put my kitty down last year. It was so hard losing her because she had been my baby since I was 5 years old. She was 19, and even though I knew for a while that the end was coming soon, it was still really really hard. She had stopped taking care of her grooming for a while, then we really knew it was coming when she started hiding in weird places and just walking around aimlessly. It was the hardest decision that I had to make, but I knew it was the best for her. She was in pain and her body was slowly shutting down and her quality of life was being affected. I still miss her every day and am crying just typing this. I can't imagine what you're going through with all the stresses and hormones in your life right now.