Warning: May be a bit upsetting

[Deuce]

I think that euthanizing her would have been the best option. They say she still plays...how? By watching the vets son taunt her with a piece of string she cannot chase with anything but her eyes? Forcing her to scooch around on her stomach and what is left of her legs is cruel. Her quality of life is suffering and I couldn't bear to watch that happening. It's just a matter of time before she becomes obese and then gets feline diabetes and has to be put down anyway. Why prolong the suffering?

[celstu1]

I don't find that cute. That is sad and no way of life for a cat. Poor baby! My heart just breaks for her.

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by linz06

I don't know about this cat specifically in terms of quality of life, but I do want to say that animals don't think the way people think. Yes, at one point she had legs and could run, and now she doesn't, but I can guarantee she doesn't sit around all day thinking about her old days and what she used to be able to do.

I care for my paralyzed yorkie every day and can tell you she is the happiest dog you will ever meet. After she was paralyzed she had to be on strict crate rest for 8 weeks and even though she was not moving, she was happy. We carried her if she needed to be moved, we still need to express her bladder for her, and she doesn't have a care in the world! She does have wheels now but when we're in the house she just scoots around... not getting around as quickly as before, not climbing stairs or jumping off furniture, but she doesn't care about that stuff. She cares that she has a family that loves her, gives her food and water and treats, plays with her, and yes, even scratches her because she can't scratch herself! Her personality has not changed at all between her last 4.5 years of being able to walk, and the last 3.5 months of not being able to walk.

I feel that if the animal is healthy and happy, they deserve to live as much as anybody. I don't feel that loss of mobility is good enough reason to euthanise. I totally respect everyone else's thoughts on the matter and I probably would have agreed before I was a similar situation myself. Just my two cents!

Great Post

[Lou]

I just watched the video again. I couldn't watch it all the way through the first time and didn't see the cat "playing." I also saw her trying to paw at the leash they were dangling over her head but failing because he had no paw!

She was, howerver, curious about everything that was going on around her so she may be a good candidate for couch potatoe. Cats sleep most of the day so that would use up a lot of her time. Perhaps her new owner could let her watch the videos they make for cats. You know the ones I'm talking about - birds and small animals cats love to chase. She sure can't jump up on a window sill or the back of the couch to look out the window can she! And I doubt that a wheelchair would help her much.

Sigh, I'm not trying to start trouble but this is just insane. The poor thing is not going to be happy.

[SweetPuppy]

Special attention is what that cat needs, putting him/her to sleep is not fair. Do you think that the cat would be so happy if s/he knows that s/he's going to die tomorrow? Cats do have survivability instinct, even though s/he has no legs, I'm sure that that cat will strive to live if s/he has a choice!

To those who want to put him/her to sleep are coward, they are escaping from a big responsibility, they can't face the responsibility; feeding, playing, pooping, peeing etc.

Some says that s/he can't grab and play because s/he doesn't have a paw, let's look at the brighter side, that cat still has her/his mouth, teeth and tongue, s/he can use it to play.

I hope someone could give him/her SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by SweetPuppy

Special attention is what that cat needs, putting him/her to sleep is not fair. Do you think that the cat would be so happy if s/he knows that s/he's going to die tomorrow? Cats do have survivability instinct, even though s/he has no legs, I'm sure that that cat will strive to live if s/he has a choice!

To those who want to put him/her to sleep are coward, they are escaping from a big responsibility, they can't face the responsibility; feeding, playing, pooping, peeing etc.

Some says that s/he can't grab and play because s/he doesn't have a paw, let's look at the brighter side, that cat still has her/his mouth, teeth and tongue, s/he can use it to play.

I hope someone could give him/her SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION!

So anybody who would choose to euthanize her is a coward?

[Cha Cha]

That's a tough call. I don't know which is worse, euthanize her when she had her horrific accident, or have her live a life of slow death from obesity and feline diabetes, or other kidney problems from lack of exercise. She will need someone far more skilled in special needs than just someone to hold her, and love her, and clean up after her. She is most definitely a beautiful cat.

[Sookie]

Originally Posted by Lou

I'm not a fan of euthanasia by any means but if you have EVER owned a cat you MUST see the folly in not putting that poor thing to sleep.... especially when she wasn't born that way. She has known another way of life and must be soooo unhappy. Even when a cat is bored out of her mind will paw at something. She looks so confused in the video!

I couldn't agree more. This is an instance where you have to "love them enough to let them go".

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by SweetPuppy

Special attention is what that cat needs, putting him/her to sleep is not fair. Do you think that the cat would be so happy if s/he knows that s/he's going to die tomorrow? Cats do have survivability instinct, even though s/he has no legs, I'm sure that that cat will strive to live if s/he has a choice!

To those who want to put him/her to sleep are coward, they are escaping from a big responsibility, they can't face the responsibility; feeding, playing, pooping, peeing etc.

Some says that s/he can't grab and play because s/he doesn't have a paw, let's look at the brighter side, that cat still has her/his mouth, teeth and tongue, s/he can use it to play.

I hope someone could give him/her SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION!

Very well put. I could not agree more as I have been rescuing Special needs dogs and cats for more then 20 yrs and you will not find anything more grateful just to be alive. Animals do not see things the way humans do, they do not feel pity for themselves as humans do either. This kitty does not really need all that much, mostly love. A simple solution for her not being able to jump would be to make a cage at the top of a cat tree and put her in it several times a day. She will learn to tell her owner when she's ready to get down, go potty, eat, etc... all it takes is a little compassion and patients.
Most people could learn a thing or two from a special needs animal.

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

So anybody who would choose to euthanize her is a coward?

Really! My question too!
I think the coward may be the one that can't stand to face the truth.
It takes a boat load of courage to do the right thing and put an animal out of its misery.

I think some of you may forget how independent cats are!

Remember people this cat is missing ALL Four paws not just one. It is missing most of all four legs too!

[SweetPuppy]

Originally Posted by Lou

Really! My question too!
I think the coward may be the one that can't stand to face the truth.
It takes a boat load of courage to do the right thing and put an animal out of its misery.

I think some of you may forget how independent cats are!

Remember people this cat is missing ALL Four paws not just one. It is missing most of all four legs too!

If our parents can't make things on their own like eating, bathing and most of all going to toilet and wash themselves, does it mean that we're going to euthanize them?

It's you who can't face the reality. You are only thinking about yourself, you think that one pain is the answer, I think no, I think enduring lots of pain is what makes us a better creature.

Do you think that that cat is in misery? Does the cat thinks the same thing?

Let us all look at the brighter side:
Who will think that a 3-legged dog fought with a bear to save a woman?
Who will think that a blind dog would save a man from Hurricane Katrina?

Do these animals deserve to live?
14 Handi-Capable Pets and ‘Tails’ of Animal Heroism : WebEcoist
http://www.petswithdisabilities.org/stories.html

If you take away the life of that cat, you are prohibiting him/her from proving him/herself.

For me that cat and those who are handi-capped can make a difference!

[Ellie May]

Human medicine isn't the same as vet medicine. We can give animals the gift of ending their pain and misery.

It's not that easy with a person. But not every human with no arms or legs would want to live.

Here is the concerning part. Imagine no hands or feet. Constant help would be given to a person in this state. But nobody is going to carry around a cat 24/7, nor should they. That's extremely unhealthy. So what is it supposed to do? Walk on the ends of its legs? Try to pull itself across the floor (with almost no arms left)? It may work for a few, but generally the whole thing would be extremely unhealthy for an animal.

It has nothing to do with the responsibility of owning a special needs cat. I have a special needs dog, but the difference is, her quality of life is excellent most of the time.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by linz06

I don't know about this cat specifically in terms of quality of life, but I do want to say that animals don't think the way people think. Yes, at one point she had legs and could run, and now she doesn't, but I can guarantee she doesn't sit around all day thinking about her old days and what she used to be able to do.

I care for my paralyzed yorkie every day and can tell you she is the happiest dog you will ever meet. After she was paralyzed she had to be on strict crate rest for 8 weeks and even though she was not moving, she was happy. We carried her if she needed to be moved, we still need to express her bladder for her, and she doesn't have a care in the world! She does have wheels now but when we're in the house she just scoots around... not getting around as quickly as before, not climbing stairs or jumping off furniture, but she doesn't care about that stuff. She cares that she has a family that loves her, gives her food and water and treats, plays with her, and yes, even scratches her because she can't scratch herself! Her personality has not changed at all between her last 4.5 years of being able to walk, and the last 3.5 months of not being able to walk.

I feel that if the animal is healthy and happy, they deserve to live as much as anybody. I don't feel that loss of mobility is good enough reason to euthanise. I totally respect everyone else's thoughts on the matter and I probably would have agreed before I was a similar situation myself. Just my two cents!

I couldn't agree with you more...outstanding insight on the disabled pet from a animal perspective vs human!

I can tell you that TeddyBoo (in my avatar) who is a Tripod Doggy is very thankful for the family who adopted him recently! Animals seem to have a resilience unlike humans when facing a disability and deserve every chance at life whatever their limits are.

With that said, I do believe any animal who is suffering in pain and can not be helped to live a pain free life should be humanely put down...but, with this kitty that is NOT the case.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by SweetPuppy

Special attention is what that cat needs, putting him/her to sleep is not fair. Do you think that the cat would be so happy if s/he knows that s/he's going to die tomorrow? Cats do have survivability instinct, even though s/he has no legs, I'm sure that that cat will strive to live if s/he has a choice!

To those who want to put him/her to sleep are coward, they are escaping from a big responsibility, they can't face the responsibility; feeding, playing, pooping, peeing etc.

Some says that s/he can't grab and play because s/he doesn't have a paw, let's look at the brighter side, that cat still has her/his mouth, teeth and tongue, s/he can use it to play.

I hope someone could give him/her SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION!

Those who can humanely euthanize an animal that they believe are suffering or will not have the quality of life are definitely not coward in my book.

I just happen to disagree with this situation and see life in this sweet kitty that is still deserving of living where they do not.

Agree to disagree...

[Wylie's Mom]

I think it's sorta easy to use the word "coward" when the animal is still alive.

However, if this was your cat - and it got hit by a car, and you raced to the vet, and the vet said - "this cat needs all 4 legs amputated, and I can't even say that she will survive the surgery, given the level of trauma" -- and if that owner, who loves that baby as much as anything, puts this baby to sleep - would she be a coward too?

I'm just asking.

I had to put my cat, Einstein, to sleep when she was 20. She couldn't articulate to me as to whether that choice was correct or not (for her). Making that decision sure as heck didn't feel cowardly. In fact, it hurt like hell. And it still does.

I can't speak for the kiddo in this video, but I'm not a fan of using cowardice as a scapegoat for the decision to euthanize. I think the decision to euthanize is very personal and it's not a simple decision .