I think this is the big one actually
 

Kind of like Fred Sanford here. I think you all know that Knuckles has had cancer surgery. He had fibro sarcoma. Felt a huge lump on him today. It just seemed to pop up. The vet told me it was a possibility of it coming back. I told myself, no more surgeries for him. He is 17. I found this lump, and am thinking, oh, just one more time. It is not nice, or kind to put him through that again. But I just cry, I want to keep him forever. It is really hard to say goodbye. But when will I know it is time to say goodbye? I just have to get some balls over this. I have to do what is best for him. Not what is best for me.

This might sound weird, but does Knuckles have an opinion on the subject? Sometimes they do. I've had more than one friend put down an elderly pet, and the pet in question *knew* on some level what was up and went to the vet with an unusual amount of good cheer. I also have a friend whose 18 year old cat spared her the pain of the decision she was weighing by - I kid you not - walking straight out into traffic on a busy road, getting knocked down right in front of my friend's neighbor - so that the neighbor was able to scoop up her body immediately and return it to my friend.

*hugs*

^this

Also, you will know exactly what to do and when and when it happens there will have been no other way it could have happened. Even if it feels like there could have been, and it will.

...and then you'll find yourself in a weird place, because all these people that you've never met will say the nicest and most supportive things to you and they don't have to and you'll feel like they are just as upset about Knuckles as you are, if even for a moment. And we will be o_o

Knuckles had his "Senior Wellness" check up today which involved a blood test, and urinalysis, and all of that is fine. But, yes, the tumor is back. There will be no operation, the vet and I agreed it is for the best. Knucks has already been through this, and it is a cancer that will keep on coming back. The vet seems to think he will have several more months, and once he seems to appear as he is pain, that will be the time to put him down. He is enjoying life now, and eating like there is not tomorrow. So, that is what he and I will do. It is funny, the vet techs love him, they poked and prodded him today. He just purred. He is my good boy. Thank you Bman. I needed that, I have been having a case of the sads lately. 18 years with my good boy have gone by in a blink. I remember when he was just a bit of a thing. Now I have to decide when his time is up. I just really hate this.

Thanks for this. The vet said I am doing a great job with him, it is only a matter of time. After he has passed, I am not sure what to do with his body, do I want it, what am I going to do with it? Should I have it. What do I do with it?

a.
Vets will cremate for a fee and many people take advantage of this low hassle alternative, or
b.
many people, especially families with children (for the "this is death" educational value from losing a pet), take the body home and bury it in a garden pet cemetery perhaps already in place. They might make or buy a small grave marker, perform mini pet funeral, etc, etc as elaborate or simple as one desires, or
c.
a select few will take it to a taxidermist and keep a creepy doppelganger of their dead pet in a corner, or curled in front of a hearth, to gather dust and creeped out comments from their dwindling pool of human friends, or


I went with b. but am lagging on making the head markers because life got busy

Cats are fairly small, so if you live in a place with a yard that has topsoil my personal preference is to plant them. You can even plant a tree on top of them, then you have a Knuckles-tree for however long you live in the house, or however long either you or the tree lasts :)

I really like this option. You and Coffee think alike. I just had to have a huge tree taken down in my front yard. So, when the time comes, I will bury him in that spot, and plant a new tree. I am finally accepting of this and not crying everytime I think about it. He is still enjoying life, and seems healthy, despite what is going on internally with him.

OMG, c. freaks me out. I don't want to dust Knucks body. And, I want to keep the friends I have. He will be buried in my yard. Like b. very much.