Via Cowboy. The full story here.

“The Vet Assistant brought Betty back in, IV sticking out of her little arm, all prepped to shuffle off this mortal coil. He set her back down on the table and I stood up and just began to pet her. Meanwhile, the faucet started pouring from my eyes. She stood, not wanting to sit or lie down, just wanting to stand, close her eyes, and be petted, straining her neck out so I’d scratch behind her eyes a bit.

Purring.

The Vet came in. Very kind, very gentle, very respectful. Would I like to hold her? Truth was, I did want to hold her, but I couldn’t. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand up. I couldn’t even answer him vocally, just shook my head and concentrated on petting her. He explained what he was going to do. Two syringes. The first clears the line, the second gently stops her heart. She would feel no pain. Though there may be some twitching once it’s over, since between 1 and 2% will experience random muscle twitches as the brain shuts down.

But know that if I felt the twitching, she was already dead.

So with the Vet Assistant on one side, holding her arm steady, and the Vet sitting at her head, giving her a little scratch behind the eyes himself, I stood there, hands ceaselessly stroking her fur as he administered the first syringe. No reaction. Still purring. Then the second syringe. At this, she very calmly folded her paws under her and lay down on the table, then rolled over onto her side as if asleep.

“That’s it. She’s gone.”

I was still petting her. Couldn’t stop. Even though she was dead. Now I was petting her for myself. I didn’t want to break that connection. The Vet asked if I wanted a moment alone. I nodded, still unable to speak.

Alone with Betty, I blinked through tears, not bothering to wipe them away, because I didn’t want to lift my hands away from her. She was still. Quiet. But then, what did I expect? She was dead.

And I noticed her eyes were still open. So I gently closed them.”

Muffin of the femes Muffin Crumbs series had only been with us for a few months and I can’t imagine having to put her down for whatever reasons.

Damn. Excuse me while I go fix the red eyes and nose.