L.B.
My 10 year old cat was just diagnosed with Liver failure this weekend...I have him on medication that may or may not work (will know by week end). But, I will do what I have to do keep him healthy and happy until such time that those efforts are prolonging his suffering instead of maintaining quality of life for him. He is my pet and trusts me to take care of him. He is my pet and I made a commitment to take care of him when I adopted him.
I am a little disturbed that you would feel "little relieved" to "get rid" of your pets because of their medical needs. And what does get rid of them mean? Will you take them to the vet and have them humanly euthanized while you hold them? Or will you dump these pets at the local animal shelter and let them die alone, scared and bewildered that their family of over a decade abandoned them?
Stomach issues in your cat could be as easy as changing cat food. Have you talked to a vet about this? Seizures in a cat can be caused by all manner of things so a vet visit would be in order to find out what is causing it and if it is treatable. Really, take them to the doctor.
I could never imagine getting rid of any of my pets just because they were old and/or sick. And think, what lesson are you teaching your children if you get rid of your pets when they sick....that animals are disposable and we have no responsibility for them?
Pet ownership, like parenting, means you take care of them no matter what. Pets, like children, are not disposable.