My neighbour had a cat who was an absolute darling. For 10 years she has come to visit me and has become a rock in many ways especially as I have been through such a tough patch over the past few years. The other neighbours all adored the cat also but she used to come to me all the time and of course I got incredibly attached. I don't think my neighbour liked that she did that and he always seemed a bit off with me when I texted concerns about the cat such as it came round with a limp one time so I sent a text just saying that I'm sure he already knew but the cat was limping. As I said, the responses when I texted on these rare occasions either seemed to be a bit off or confusingly friendly.
Anyway, a fortnight ago, the cat came round with a swollen eye. I didn't mention it to the owner as thought he would already know and not appreciate me telling him. A few days later it seemed to get better slightly. But then the cat in the past week was extremely tired, quiet and eye seemed quite bad again as well as looking really dirty round the nose and mouth/breathing seemed laboured etc. I made her comfortable with a blanket and then I watched her go home. I was reassured she would be cared for. Didn't see her for 3 days and then this morning was told by another neighbour that she had died. They didn't say much else but now I feel intense guilt. I know she wasn't my responsibility but I feel I let her down. I can't get past the last image I have of her all dirty and exhausted in my garden. I'm embarrassed to say that I've been in tears throughout the day. Please be kind to me with your replies. Feel bad enough as it is. Before anyone accuses me of trying to take over her care it was never like that. She kept coming to me and I always knew she was not mine but it didn't stop me really loving her. She was just a beautiful cat and such a light in my life.