Anyone else lost their beloved cat?
 

I notice there's quite a few cat lovers in here.

I had to put my cat down in January this year. It was one of the hardest things I've ever ever had to do.
She was sick with cancer, and in the end I called the vet everyday to gauge if today was the right day to do it, as I didn't want her to suffer, but I wanted her with us as long as possible.

Sounds weird, but my cat and I had a special connection. I'd had her for 15 years - she was my baby. She licked my face when I fainted once with pneumonia, she stayed close when I was ill, or sad.

I miss her so much!!!!

My kids want to get another cat, but Mummy's so not ready, and maybe never will be.

How have your animals been special to you?

All animals are special. Several years ago we had to put down our dear Buddy. we had had our shelty for more years than normal for a shelty so we were blessed. we replaced her when I was ready with a dear little kitty from the humane society named Adora. I remember the cat we had when I was growing up. My sister had cancer and was at home a lot and my parents got a kitten for her. She was so smart, she knew how to open doors. She was such a wonderful mother to her young. She would catch a bug, take a leg off of it then let it go so her litter could learn how to catch it. Some of out favorites when our girls were older were our sugar gliders. They gave us about 20 babies or joies which gave us a lot of money!!!!! They were so interesting to watch, play with and watch them grow up. Animals teach children about the rest of this living world, such as with the sugar gliders the daddie would take care of them for hours so mom could have her hours of rest without two little wiggly things crawling back in her pouch and nursing! Oh I could go on and on about the pets we have had in our life

I know how you feel. You miss your precious cat. time will heal and eventually you will let another animal in your life and you will wonder how in the world you were able to live without it!

Dont get me started! I moved to NH in 2005 and very soon after my best friend Maxxie the cat got very sick. He was my buddy. my breast cancer cat. I cried on him when I lost both my breasts. I cried on him when I couldnt face another day of my children petting on me with that look in their eye. I cried on him when I threw my DH out of the house because I didnt want him to watch me die. I cried on him when I found the strength to get up and start living again. He was 19 when I put him down in 2007.

Morgan my black and white kitty who was quiet and always in the back ground stood up and took his place. I was so amazed each and everyday how social she became, and in the end I got several great years with her that I would have never gotten had Maxxie lived and continued to be the boss. She didnt learn to meow till after Maxxie died because she never had to! He got everything for them. I put her down last year at the ripe age of 24! That was a record for the vets office. She was still lively, but blind and deaf and was going to end up falling off the stairs and breaking her neck. It ripped me in two to do it.

Jack my orange tiger has been so sick and even tho he just made 5 i swear I thought so many times that it was game over for him. Scary scary stuff.

I love love love my babies, and they are part of my world. One of the reasons I love this space is that they understand.

Yes, this place is full of cat-lovers! :)

It's been a long time since I've lost a pet. But I have three cats right now and I know losing any one of them would be devastating. They're my babies and I love them dearly. Just like children they each have their own personality and are different in their own ways but I love them all equally.

I'm so sorry you had to lose your kitty. I can only imagine how hard that was but you know in your heart you did the right thing....as hard as it was. Because that little cat depended on you and it was because of you that she didn't suffer needlessly.

One day you'll be ready for a new pet. Everyone is different....some people just need more time than others. :hug:

We have two kitties, Daisy and Rocky and love them to pieces. They are our babies and act like kids. We lost Sweet Pea a few years ago, had to have her put down. She had constant pain and was losing her sight and hearing. It was heartbreaking and one of the hardest things I ever did. I was there in the room with her and she didn't go easy so it broke my heart. :( I hope that our current kitties will go quickly and peacefully in their sleep like one of our previous pets. Tiger Puff died at about 8 years old, suddenly after having a good day of playing. We found him in the morning and he was smiling and looked peaceful.

I have loved many cats and dogs but like you pointed out there are several that have been my soul-mate babies. The great news is that your heart is a muscle and can make room for others, try not falling in love while watching the antics of a silly kitten.

Personally I think that all good cat Moms owe it to the world to have as many as they can financially afford to care for but then again that might just be the excuse I use for having so many. :D

Aww Freesia, I'm sorry you lost your buddy. Our family had two cats we adopted when they were around 6 months old. We lost the first one when she was 17yrs old. She had a very hyperactive thyroid and did not tolerate meds well. One day her body just shut down and by the time we realized it she was almost gone. She passed peacefully with me holding her.

Our second kitty, had to be put down last summer. At 18 yrs old her body just decided to shut down. She was in a lot of pain, so we said that's enough and took her to our vet. I held her as she passed.

We still are not ready for another animal in the house. Not sure we ever will be. We pet sit for neighbors to save them boarding costs and get our animal fix that way. We also try to volunteer some time at a no-kill shelter when we can.

I am so sorry to read about your loss. I understand completely.

We lost our two elderly cats this past winter. I was very upset since both needed to be put to sleep and that alone is very upsetting I think.

I understand how you feel. When Sheba passed in Oct 10, I had no intention of getting another. Then Tippy had a stroke on Jan 3 11 and I had to have her put to sleep. That double event was too much for me. So I decided to get a new kitten, and as luck would have it, she is just wonderful, fun, and engaging. I have some example pictures in my album.

It wasn't an easy task finding a kitten in January...but I did..she was the last of a litter, and all black and somewhat timid, so she was left behind. No one wanted her. With patience and kindness her fears are less today (but still there a little), and she has blossomed into a wonderful companion!
It can be said that God may close a door for you, but he often opens a window instead.

You will be able to get a new kitty eventually. Kittens are so much fun, they help with the grief process. I still keep my screensaver pics of my late elderly cats, and going upNorth this summer will bring back many memories. But we still have Oreo and now the new Weezie, to help with the grief.

Two years ago I had to put down my 11 year old Kitty. It was very hard and I spent the day before her appointment telling her how much she had meant to me and how I hoped she had a good life with me as well.
I could not go into the room with her and to this day I feel as though I betrayed her trust. They took her down the hall and she was looking at me as if to say, "hey, what's going on?"
I took her home to bury her and she looked so sweet and beautiful curled into a little sleeping kitty position. She was a very small cat, only about 4 pounds with big round eyes.
To top it all off, about 6 months later my mother passed away.
Sometimes when I watch the Humane Society commericials, I realize that Kitty had a super life with my family. So deep in my heart I know that just having and taking care of a pet is an act of kindness. We do as much for them as they do for us.
Now I have a 'stray' named, Baby. She has become the love of my life. I think little Kitty sent her my way to "unbreak my heart" and to soften all the loss I experienced that year.
Attachment 6385 Kitty
Attachment 6384 Baby

Thanks everyone for sharing your lovely stories.

Karilann - You did what was right for you, and I believe your Kitty would have understood afterwards. You told her the day before how special she was to you - so she knew on some level.

I did the same with my cat Lizzy: I'd have chats with her in the weeks before she died about what she'd meant to me in my life. Once during one of those 'talks' she looked into my eyes and reached out her paw to me as she laid on my bed. It was so special!!

I went into the room with her when she was put to sleep, but I regret not holding her. She stayed curled up in her bed. I guess I didn't want to have to hand her over to the vet afterwards.

I'm sorry to hear about your Mother too.
My Dad passed away 2 months after my cat. He and I weren't close, but there was some tough double grief happening there for a while.