Letting Go of A Beloved Pet

June 20, 2016

Dear Cat:

I am 45 years old and have never been married so many people are already calling me "The Cat Lady." Some joke that I will be an old maid with plenty of cats running around the house. The problem is my cat is sick and I have spent a lot of money on her. She is blind in one eye and only have 3 legs. When is it time to let go of a beloved pet?  Cat Lover, Virginia

Dear Cat Lover:

Over 60% of family homes today have a pet, mostly a dog or cat, so you are not in a league of your own. Animals can be just like family members. Loving animals is a great way to live your life, however, when it gets too expensive to care for your pets, you really should rethink letting them go.

Especially if the cost to take care of them is too high for you to invest in their care. You should always put your health and well-being before anyone and remember a cat is a pet, not a human being. 

I know that replacing an animal with another animal will be extremely hard, especially if you have had your pet for years, but sometimes you are just putting them through needless suffering so the best thing to do is to let them go.

It might be true that a cat has 9 lives but when it's time to let go, you need to recognize the signs. Only you and your veterinarian knows when its time to say goodbye to your beloved pet. 

Remember you gave them the best years of their lives by taking care of them so be grateful that they were a part of your life.