Euthanasia of a cat can be carried out in several ways, with or without sedation first. Whether a cat needs a sedative injection is assessed case by case, in consultation with the owner.
Cats with an alert mind but a tired body, or who are anxious or difficult to handle, usually first get a sedative injection under the skin of the neck (as with a vaccination). The sedative also contains pain relief.
Cats in a very poor general condition usually do not get a sedative injection, as this further weakens their already poor circulation. The overdose of anaesthetic is given through a needle directly into the liver, which has a rich blood supply, in the abdomen. This lets the cat fall asleep slowly.
Cats react individually to sedatives
Some fall asleep completely calmly, others chew or smack their lips, and some vomit before falling asleep. Others are insensitive to sedatives and may need more to settle.
Nausea can sometimes be avoided if the cat has had little or no food before the visit. Cats are, however, “used to” bringing up hairballs; it is nothing strange for the cat.
Still, I would rather that vomiting is not the last thing a dear friend has to do. I therefore also add an anti-nausea medicine to the sedative, although the effect in cats is not guaranteed.
Cats value their integrity
As cats generally value their integrity and have a larger personal space than dogs, it is usually being held that they protest against, not the injection itself.
It helps if their attention can be distracted by tempting their nose with their favourite food. Ideally, the owner holds the cat and scratches it firmly somewhere else while I inject into the scruff of the neck.
Euthanasia
Once the cat is asleep after 5–10 minutes, the overdose of anaesthetic is given into the liver in the abdomen. To reach the liver best, the cat should lie on its left side.
How quickly cats fall asleep varies a lot, depending on the cat’s condition, its blood circulation and exactly where in the abdomen the injection lands.
Over 5–20 minutes the sleep becomes deeper and breathing irregular, until breathing stops and the heart stops beating. Just as with sedatives, some cats may need a top-up dose to fall asleep for good.
The vet listens to the heart to confirm cardiac arrest. The animal cannot wake up after a medically induced cardiac arrest.
Worth knowing
It is worth knowing that all animals (just like people) pass away with their eyes more or less open.
Sometimes reflex breaths, also called “the last sighs”, vibrations or muscle twitches can be seen, and the fur may rise after the heart has stopped and death has occurred. This does not mean that the cat is alive or suffering in any way; it is only the body’s last muscle energy running out.
If the cat has had heart problems or high blood pressure, fluid may in some cases come out of the nose afterwards. This is due to backward heart failure, which causes fluid to build up in the lungs (pulmonary oedema). The fluid can then flow out freely when all the body’s muscles relax.
If you would like to know more about euthanasia, you are welcome to read the independent project (in Swedish) written by a veterinary nurse, “Avlivning av smådjur på klinik”.
