Because I foster severely sick kittens, euthanasia is something I’m very familiar with. And because I work with shelters who are comfortable with my experience, it’s often “my” decision if a kitten is euthanized. In other words, I know that if I call them and say it’s time to euthanize, that will almost always be the outcome.
It is extremely difficult decision to make when dealing with neonatal kittens because it is neither the right nor the wrong time.
What does that mean?
Well, it’s not the WRONG time to euthanize because the kitten is suffering. To end that suffering is almost always a humane decision, especially if the chance the kitten will survive is extremely low.
And it’s not the RIGHT time because the kitten could recover. It can be very difficult to determine if the kitten is able to survive or not.
Spots’ Rapid Decline
Last night, Spots declined and showed several signs that she was dying. When I went to feed her, her limbs were cold. (Sign #1) She was more lethargic. (Sign #2) And she was twitching/jerking, known as myoclonic jerks. (Sign #3) She lost control of her bowels. (Sign #4) Her urine was dark. (Sign #5)
As it was late, I decided not to try and take her for euthanasia. As I foster for a shelter, euthanasia after hours involves calling the emergency line and going to an emergency vet, which is 30 minutes away from where I live. Kittens in this state typically do not last long enough to get to the vet. So unless the kitten is suffering, I keep it warm and comfortable and wait.
After holding Spots for a while, I decided to put her back in the incubator and go to sleep. There was nothing more I could do and I needed sleep. If she cried out, I would hear her.
But when I woke for the middle-of-the night feeding, she was still alive. And she seemed better. More alert. And that’s when things got difficult. Spots had improved, but still had major signs that things were not well. Her belly was bloated. Her urine was still dark. Dark urine can indicate that the kidneys were failing.
By noon, I was facing a dilemma: give her time or request euthanasia.
The Survival Success Stories are Misleading
If you spend anytime on social media, you will see some amazing survival stories. Kitten found frozen thawed out and survives is one that comes to mind. These are popular because they are RARE. Most kittens will not overcome the odds against them and survive. If you think this way, you will end up doing more harm than good.
Letting a kitten suffer because it might overcome the odds is cruel. But it is also difficult to accept that it is time to give up hope, especially when the kitten seems to have that “fighting spirit.” I’m no different. I looked at Spots and wondered how I could give up on her when she was so clearly not giving up.
However, you have to take your feelings out of this equation. No one who fosters kittens feels like killing a kitten. You have to deal with the facts of the situation. If you have done everything you think will help, if there is nothing more that is reasonable to try, then it’s time to euthanize.
I say “reasonable” because there are always unreasonable solutions. You take the kitten to the vet and pay for round the clock care. That’s an unreasonable solution. I know of people who have done this. They ended up with a vet bill in the thousands and a kitten who died anyway.
If you are still not sure, ask another person in the business. Get a second opinion from someone you know will be able to tell you to euthanize or give you reasons why you should keep trying.
And once you have decided to euthanize, let it go. You did all you can do. Focusing on the “what ifs” isn’t healthy or helpful.
RIP Spots
In this case, I contact the foster coordinator at the shelter and requested she evaluate Spots. I explained why I felt Spots should be given time and pointed out why euthanasia was appropriate. She recommended euthanasia and I agreed. It broke my heart but it was the best decision to make.