Feeling guilt - is this normal for everyone?

I had to have my kitty put down yesterday. I've had her for 21 years. I found her as a kitten when I was in 2nd grade. So as you can imagine, I was very attached to her, and I loved her very much. She was so sweet and affectionate and fun and beautiful. She recently developed mouth cancer and it was causing her pain and there was nothing we could do to cure her. So my husband and I spent the last several days just hanging around her and giving her special treats and giving her shots to help with the pain. We spoiled her, and I just wish I had always spoiled her and always given her just what she wanted when she wanted it. I think of times when I could have been nicer and paid more attention to her. Over all she has had a good life for a cat. She got to go outside a lot, and she got to sleep with us in bed, and we'd give her special treats and pet her a lot. But I feel guilty about the last day. It went by so fast. I gave her special treats that day, and petted her and sat with her. But I didn't spend as much time with her as I should have. I was picking up the house because the vet was coming over on a housecall to put her down in the evening. And I went out to buy flowers and a stone for her grave. I meant to lay with her for a long time, but then I forgot I had to go pick up my husband from work, and I couldn't be with her for as long as I wanted to be. And then the vet came, and putting her down went much faster than I thought it would. It was all over so quickly. My cat likes to sleep most of the day anyway, and she didn't really want to be petted all day long, especially when not feeling well. But I still feel like I should have just laid with her all day. Just to be there. If I had it to do over again I would just lay with her all day. I know I've treated her well for the most part all her life, but its the times that I could have spent more time with her, petted her more, not put her in the basement when she started peeing on the carpet at night. But I couldn't let her keep doing that right? But still, I feel bad about anything that wasn't perfect for her. I feel bad she had to live with my mom for a few years when I was in college, and she had to live with the dog, and didn't get as much attention. I feel bad for getting upset when she woke me in the middle of the night and I pushed her off the bed. Stuff like that. I just hope she knew how much I loved her. And I hope there is a heaven where cats go. I wish I could see her again, and I'm very sad. I keep thinking about her and crying. I hope I will come to peace with it. :-[

Im sorry to hear that :( I had a cat who's back legs got run over by a car. I felt it was my fault and i could have prevented it...... I too also felt that i should have treated him better. The bad part about having a pet for a long time is when their life ends. May all pets rest in peace.... :(

I had to have my dog Snoopy put down yesterday too...he was 16 yrs old and was in renal failure. He also had an enlarged heart, arthritis, cataracts and couldn't hear.....the renal failure was just too much for him and he gave up...he didn't eat for 5 days, nothing I tried worked, I tried chicken/rice, groundbeef/rice, scrambled eggs with chicken, plain boiled chicken and even chicken baby food but he would just turn his head away....he could barely walk and I knew the time had came to let him go, you could see in his eyes that he was tired of fighting. Please don't beat yourself up over what you didn't do and think of all the things you DID do with your precious kitty. My Snoopy knew he was loved just like your kitty did...You were a good mommy for 21 long years...feel fortunate you got to have her with you so long...my cat Tinkerbell only lived to be 16 yrs old. I laid in the floor and told Snoopy he was a good dog and talked about the fun times he had and told him how much he was loved. Then as we were driving to the vets office I was sitting in the back seat of the car with him crying, he reached out and licked my knee like he was telling me goodbye and letting me know it was ok...I'll never forget him licking me like that.. Just know your kitty is in a better place now, no more suffering and pain...you did everything you could to make her happy in her life...life isn't perfect and sometimes there are times that we wished we had done something different. Hugs, Suebee