Euthanising your cat at home, for a peaceful end to life

The process and stages of home euthanasia

The entire home euthanasia process has been designed to be a moment of trust between you, your cat and our vet.

Respecting the animal's well-being is a priority for our teams. In his last moments, it is essential that our patient is treated with the utmost respect, taking into account his illness, pain and discomfort.

Here are the steps involved in euthanising a cat at home:

1. The general consultation: the vet makes sure that your cat is at the end of its life and that euthanasia is a reasonable option for it. By mutual agreement, you then ask our vet to carry out the medical end-of-life procedure.
2. Putting your cat under general anaesthetic is an essential first step if you are to be able to provide the care that follows in the best possible conditions. Once anaesthetised, your cat is unconscious of the manipulations and gestures that are performed.
3. Lethal injection: after inserting a venous access, the vet injects your cat with an overdose of barbiturates, causing cardiorespiratory arrest and therefore the death of your pet.

Emotional aspects and preparation for cat owners

When your cat is at the end of its life, responsible decisions are hard to make because emotions are so strong and sometimes difficult to control.

One of the main advantages of having your cat euthanised at home is that you can face these difficult moments as a family, in the comfort of your own home and surrounded by those closest to you.

The guilt of the decision

When you decide to end your cat's life, you may feel a great deal of guilt. The role of the veterinarian is essential in helping you to avoid feeling guilty. Euthanasia can be a responsible medical act in the face of your pet's pain and distress. Your vet will help you to make a reasoned decision and to know whether the time has come.

Losing your pet and mourning

Losing your pet is always an extremely painful time for the family. Grieving is an essential step towards regaining your serenity.

There are a number of associations and bereavement professionals who can help you, but the first person you can trust is your vet.

What to expect during the cat euthanasia procedure

During the various stages of euthanasia, your cat may experience a number of reactions that you hadn't anticipated. The most common are as follows:

1. Trembling, muscle spasms
2. Deep breaths
3. Complaints
4. Relaxation of the sphincters and uncontrolled release of urine or faeces.

In consultation with our vet, you can choose to be present at any stage of the process. You may also ask not to be present during the procedure. Our vet can act alone, without assistance.

Keep in mind that euthanasia is a gentle and respectful procedure. If you have any doubts about your ability to be present at this difficult time, ask our vet for advice. We're here to help and support you!

Euthanising your cat at home in Greater London

In London, all vets are qualified to carry out euthanasia. However, our service is one of the few that can carry out this procedure in the comfort of your own home.

There are a number of situations in which it may be necessary to euthanise your suffering cat.

We can therefore be called upon in an emergency, when the decompensation is sudden and your cat is on the point of dying, or in more chronic situations in which you can anticipate and plan for the medical end of life.

To deal with these different situations, here is the procedure we recommend:

1. Call our operators on 016 1394 0942
2. Explain your cat's situation and the urgency of our intervention
3. Confirm the proposed appointment with our teams

Euthanising my cat... and afterwards? Cremation of pets

Once your cat has been euthanised, you have a number of options for dealing with the remains of your deceased cat:

1. Shared cremation, in which your cat is cremated in the company of 2 or 3 other animals. His ashes are then scattered in the garden of remembrance.
2. Individual cremation, in which your cat is cremated alone and you can recover the ashes in a personalised urn at the end of the procedure.
3. Burial in your garden, a procedure permitted in London and the surrounding area but subject to certain health and regulatory conditions.

Here again, our veterinary surgeon is on hand to answer your questions and help you make the best choice for you, your loved ones and your pet.

If you wish to have your cat cremated, you can entrust its body to our veterinary surgeon, who will monitor the process and hand it over to the cremation services.

If you wish to keep the body with you, be sure to place it in a cloth and then in a watertight plastic bag.