Cat euthanasia can be done in several different ways, with or without sedation before. The decision if a cat needs sedation is assessed on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the owner. The sedation is mixed with a pain reliever.
Cats that are normal or have a clear head but a tired body, are worried or difficult to handle usually first get sedation injected under the neck skin (like a vaccination).
Usually only cats that have a very poor general condition do not get sedation as this further slows the already poor circulation in the body.
Cats react individually to sedatives
Some fall asleep calmly. Others lick their nose or chew a little and some vomit before they fall asleep. Others are insensitive to sedatives and may need more to come to rest.
Nausea can sometimes be avoided if the cat only receives little or no food before the visit. Cats are, however, ”accustomed” to vomiting hairballs and not strange for the cat.
I wish that to vomit is not the last thing a loved one have to do. Therefore, I also mix in anti emetic supplements to the sedation but there is no guaranteed effect of this in cats.
Cats have integrity
Cats are generally animals with high integrity and larger personal sphere than dogs. To be held is usually the violation of privacy that cats can protest against, not the injection.
I try to divert attention by letting the owner stimulate the nose with the favorite food. Best is if the owner holds a gentle ”fluid” grip and scratch around the ears firmly while I inject sedation under the neck skin (takes just a few seconds).
Euthanasia
When the cat sleeps after 5-10 minutes, the overdose of sleep agents is given via a cannula directly in the well vascularized liver in the abdomen. This causes the cat to fall asleep slowly.
It is very individual how fast cats fall asleep. It depends on the condition of the cat, the cat’s blood circulation and where the injection is administered in the abdomen.
During 5-20 minutes, sleep becomes deeper. Breathing become irregular until breathing ceases and the heart stops beating. Just as with sedatives, some cats may have to get a second dose to fall asleep for good.
The veterinarian listens to the heart to ensure the cardiac arrest.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the last few moments is that all animals fall asleep with their eyes more or less open.
Sometimes reflective breaths (also called ”the last sighs”) are heard. Vibrations or contractions in the muscles can be seen. The coat may rise after the heart has stopped beating and death has occurred. This does not mean that the cat is alive or suffers in any way. It is only the body’s last muscle energies that run out.
If the cat suffers from hearth failure or high blood pressure there may be some fluids from the nose. This is due to backward failure which cause build up of fluids in the lungs, also called pulmonary edema.
If you want to know more about euthanasia please read the paper written by Veterinary Technician ”Avlivning av smådjur på klinik”.
