EUTHANASIA: Putting your cat to sleep

We understand that the decision to put your cat to sleep is not an easy one. Yet sometimes it is better for the animal to say goodbye. Very few cats die a natural death. We cannot make the decision for you, but we can assist and advise you.

When do you put your cat to sleep?

There are several reasons for putting your cat to sleep. The most important question to ask yourself is whether your pet still has enough quality of life and whether any side effects or recovery from surgery outweigh this.

Is your cat in a lot of pain? Discuss with our veterinarians what the options are. Even if your cat is no longer housebroken indoors or no longer eats or drinks, treatment may be able to make improvements. We always examine your cat thoroughly to see if a treatment is possible that can extend your cat’s life expectancy.

If our veterinarians can no longer envision an appropriate treatment, sometimes it is better to put your cat to sleep. This is always done in consultation, you are ultimately the one who decides.

How does putting a cat to sleep go?

You can choose to make an appointment at our clinic to put your cat to sleep. Another option is to have your cat put to sleep at your home. One of our practice’s veterinarians will then come to your home. Putting your cat to sleep at home can ensure that your cat experiences less stress. The cat does not have to go in the car but stays in its familiar surroundings. Please note that this is often not possible in the evening hours and on weekends, unless you have an emergency. We perform home visits within a certain distance from our clinics.

Putting to sleep

Our practices are Cat Friendly Clinics. Our team makes every effort to put your cat, as well as you as the owner, at ease. The euthanasia of your cat is not painful; the animal will not feel anything. The euthanasia is done through 2 injections. The first injection is a sedative. Often the cat falls asleep very quickly, in some cases it may take a few minutes. The second injection contains the drug from which your cat will pass away. Again, your cat will not notice anything about this. The veterinarian checks that your cat’s breathing and heart have stopped.

During this process, we will give you all the time and space you need to say goodbye to your cat.

After being put to sleep

What you should keep in mind is that your cat may release feces and/or urine once the heart has stopped. This is a natural reaction as all of the cat’s muscles relax. Also, cats often keep their eyes open after being put to sleep and muscle twitching can sometimes be seen. This does not look scary, but it is good to be aware of.

Your presence while putting your cat to sleep

Putting your cat to sleep does not look scary. It is as if your cat is quietly falling into a deep sleep. Our veterinarian makes sure your cat is at ease and tries to make the environment as comfortable as possible. It is often a peaceful process. Therefore, it is also not scary for children to be present during this. Sometimes it can help in the grieving process to be able to be with your cat until the last moment.

What is the cost of euthanizing your cat?

How much it will cost to euthanize your cat depends on a number of aspects. The heavier the cat, the higher the price will be. In the case of a home euthanasia, there will be additional charges for the home visit. And if your cat needs to be euthanized urgently, in the evening or on weekends, the cost will also be higher.

Always ask our assistants to provide you with an estimate of the cost so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.

Saying goodbye to your cat

There are a number of different ways you can say goodbye to your cat. It is good to think about them in advance, so that you do not have to face this difficult choice at the time of death. If you don’t know what to do, we can advise you.

• Cremation You can choose to have your cat cremated individually. You can take your cat’s ashes with you in an urn or a scatter jar. You can also choose a joint cremation. Your pet will be cremated together with other animals and the ashes will be spread on a field near the crematorium.
• Burying You can also choose to have your cat buried. Here you have the choice of burying your cat yourself on your own property or buying a spot in a cemetery. If you want to bury your cat in your own yard, it is wise to check in advance with your city council to see if that is allowed.
• Destruction Destruction involves the distruction of your cat along with other animal material such as horses and cows. To do this, you leave your cat at our clinic. It will then be collected along with the other deceased animals to be destructed elsewhere.
• Donate to science Lastly, you can choose to donate your cat to science. Deceased pets can also be donated to veterinary studies. By doing so, the studies aim to contribute to the reduction of thousands of laboratory animals in the Netherlands.

In addition to performing the cremation, a crematorium often offers various options for remembrance. For example, you can have a plaster paw print made of your cat.

The cost of your cat’s funeral varies. See which option would suit you best or consult our clinic for advice.

We understand that putting your cat to sleep is a difficult choice. If you have any questions about having a cat put down, please do not hesitate to contact us.