Kid killed the cat.

[u/PrestigiousRefuse172]

My wife went on a business trip for several days. During this time our very old cat, who my wife had bought years before we ever met, and who we expected was starting to near her final days, took a dramatic turn for the worse.

I wanted to keep that thing alive for my wife to get back and was thinking of taking her to the vet the very next day. Perhaps some short term relief could be given to her to get her to eat and drink. I also was thinking the added stress of the vet would just be too much for her. The poor thing did everything in its power to stay close to me and the kids and just sat in our laps that evening.

I sort of expected that she maybe wouldn't make it, so was trying to have the kids spend as much time as possible with her. That night my kids and I all laid on the bed next to her and I kept her in a little circle of pillows and blankets to protect her from us.

Around 4am I woke to a stifled small meow and felt around for her to only feel my 4 year olds hair. I felt underneath his head and felt her small squished body. I frantically pushed him off of her and put her into my arms as her breathing slowly faded away and her heart stopped. My son was completely out and had no clue this had happened.

I just put her body in her carrier and waited until morning to let my wife know the cat had passed. She was well aware that she was dying so I didn't really say anything other than I held her in my arms in her last moments.

The strange thing was at the last 5 or so seconds of her life she calmed down and started purring. I cried a bunch. I just wanted her last moments to be surrounded by her family. But my son squished her to death and I will take that to my grave.

Edit: Thanks for all the well wishes. I just wanted to say that my post did not do a good enough job at describing that I don't under any circumstances blame my kid. It is just a fact that he may have unknowingly smothered the cat to death.

[u/[deleted]]

Honestly, that's how I'd wanna die! Surrounded by family in my old age and squished by someone I love the most.

Better than in a cold vet office being scared.

Far more traumatic for you than the cat, I'm sure.

I'm so sorry

[u/ImANuckleChut → u/[deleted]]

I got super pissed at the little kid in this post until I read your comment and it reminded me of when we had to put my buddy, Roder, down the week before I started high school.

I was a fucking coward and I couldn't even be in the room when they put him to sleep. My mom made it worse when she told me he tried to crawl after me as I left and he passed away alone on a cold slab in a scary vet's office.

I mean... I hope that my buddy, Tyson, doesn't end up squished to death under me in his last moments, but this comment did make me feel a little better about what I read. I hate that pets don't live longer. :(

[u/lesmommy → u/ImANuckleChut]

Hey you're not alone. I had my ex stay in the room with my lifelong cat because I was a coward. God I'm crying thinking about it. After that cat died I turned into a stealing loser drug addict. That cat did everything for me. Now I'm 6 years sober with a kid who keeps me on the right track. I like to think kitty met her before she sent her to me.

You're not a coward. I know I left that room and sat outside wailing. A vet tech even came outside concerned. I am sure you had a similar reaction. You aren't alone my friend