<p>I think you did the right thing. Years ago we kept our first cat alive for far too long, in hindight, with the same renal failure problem. We were too young to face the reality, I think.</p>
<p>Last year we lost our cat literally overnight, and with no warning, as I came downstairs and found him dead …after seeming to be just fine the night before. I was completely stunned, and it happened on a Friday when we had a long drive planned. He was 11, but hadn’t had any symptoms of anything.</p>
<p>More about my vet-I get a phone call from her just a few moments ago. She wanted to know how I was doing as well as the cat at home. So far my little princess kitty is doing just fine, although I do think she still looks for her brother.</p>
<p>The vet wanted me to know that the tech’s made a plaster mold of my cat’s paw print. She thought my daughter might like it since she is away at school. She said it could be used as an ornament; I didn’t have the heart to tell her we are Jewish!! Still, we can still hang it elsewhere if my daughter decides not to have it at school. </p>
<p>Again, I am sure this is something they must do for all their patients, but it is a kind gesture.</p>
<p>Snowball, that was a lovely gesture by your vet.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, older D’s cat just fell over (D1 was away in college) and started gasping for air right in front of younger D and I. I scooped the kitty up and younger D drove like he** to the vets’ office. She rolled through stop signs and we were both sock-footed. In my head, I knew there was nothing that could be done, but it was so sudden my heart didn’t want to believe it. Kitty was already gone when we got there but the youngest vet on staff took him from me the second we hit the door. They were all incredibly kind in the aftermath that day.</p>
<p>A week or so later, we received a lovely letter from the veterinary school at one of our stateU’s. It said that our vet clinic had made a generous donation to their “Pet Trust” in our cat’s name. The trust was set up to “honor the human-animal bond” and contributed to the school in many ways - gave scholarships to students who exhibit a special understanding of that human-animal bond, purchasing equipment for the school, etc. We were very touched by the gesture of our vet. We wrote them a thank you with our cat’s photo on the front - it remains in their office to this day. I saved the brochure that accompanied the letter from the veterinary school and send them donations when friends and family lose a pet we know they had that special bond with.</p>