Euthanasia

I have 2 cats a mother and son aged 14 and 13. The son has cancer and we’re having him put to sleep before he really starts to suffer. Is it really bad for us to get them put to sleep together? The mother is not that well herself she has constant diarrhoea but seems ok in herself. I know she will really miss her son when he goes. Hence the reason I was going to do them both together. I just feel so bad and upset as I don’t want to lose either of them. I suppose I’m just looking for reassurance that I’m just not being wicked in having them both put to sleep at the same time

Hello - what a fascinating question, although for me it does bring up more questions than answers.  I do not know a definition for 'wicked' but I think people seldom are.  Mostly people who suggest unusual things are doing their best with the knowledge, understanding and situation that they have - and I do not know the details of yours.   All i know is that you have two cats and feel that one needs to be put to sleep as they have cancer.  You are therefore considering euthaasing both together - this does not really present itself as the most logical step to me.

All I know about your second cat is their age and that they have chronic diarrhoea and a mate who needs to be euthanased.  This sounds like a difficult time for them, but nothing you've told me about this cat points to a solution as severe as euthanasia.  To be anthropormorphic about it, nobody suggested euthanasing my Dad when my Mum died.  Of course, this cat might turn out to have lymphoma or cancer and a deterioration to be imminent, so euthanasia may be on the cards in that event.  But on the other hand, they might be stressed because their mate is ill and that diarrhoea may settle, or they might be hyperthyroid or wormy or have chronic pancreatitis, which can all be treated.  Therefore I would reccommend taking one cat at a time and finding the cause of this one's ailments.   Euthanasia is seldom a solution for an animals' greif.  The exception to this is if you were to feel that the second cat is suffering and you do not have the resources to help them.  I think that most vets would be sympathetic to that.

Gently but honestly, having them both put to sleep at the same time just because one will miss the other isn’t usually the right reason. Grief in animals is real, but most cats do adjust over time with support, routine, and extra care. If the mother is still eating, moving comfortably, and enjoying parts of her day, then she still has meaningful life left. The kindest approach is usually to make the decision for each cat individually, based on their own quality of life. Your son’s situation sounds clear and compassionate—you’re trying to prevent suffering, which is exactly what love looks like in this moment. For the mother, ongoing diarrhoea is something a vet might still be able to manage or at least evaluate properly before making that decision.