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Original poster

Just said goodbye to my cat :)

37 replies

Lethal · 26/07/2004 02:12

Have just returned from having my 14 year old cat put to sleep. She has been suffering from kidney failure and was very weak and frail in the last couple of weeks... she's now buried in the back garden and I've been trying to stop blubbering

She was my baby for 10 yrs before ds came along, I feel so bad because most of the love and attention that I lavished on her, went straight to ds after he was born. She probably missed out on lots of cuddles and attention over the last couple of years while we all got on with our busy lives, but it's still hard to imagine life without her. She was such a good cat.

Sorry to sound depressing Just another stage in life I guess.

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nightowl · 26/07/2004 02:45

ive had abut 30 cats come and gone in the last 8 years and it never gets any easier when something happens to them. mine have never reached that age, some got run over or poisoned, some just got ill. 14 years is a good age for a cat although i know that isnt any help right now. dont feel bad because we all tend to ignore our pets a bit when babies arrive, thats just how it is. i still blub about my favorite one sometimes and hes been gone for 4 years. (((((hugs)))))

almost40 · 26/07/2004 02:57

Lots of cyberhugs, Lethal. Sorry to hear. The one cat I had just didn't come home one day after we had him for nearly 6 years. I think I waited for him to come home for nearly one year and eventually gave up. We think he probably got run over. 14 years is a really long time. Don't feel guilty.

Hulababy · 26/07/2004 09:48

(((hugs))) Lethal. My cat passed away just before DD was born about 2.5 years ago. She was 21, and had been my cat from the age of 10. Although she lived with my parents after I left home she was still my cat IYSWIM. My cat is nor buried in my parent's garden, with a lovely tree planted over the top - which is thriving.

Have a cry and a bit of tme to grieve too. Your cat was a real thing and a prescence in your life for 14 years. She and you deserve that.

enid · 26/07/2004 09:52

Sorry lethal, I know how you feel. Our cat had to be put to sleep just before our first child was born and I was a MESS! The vet said to us that part of being a good pet owner was knowing when to say goodbye and that helped.

Hugs, x E

charliecat · 26/07/2004 10:08

Awww poor you, have a good cry when you need to. I still get the sniffles when I think of our cats. And one was put to sleep 10 years ago.
Shes at peace now, playing with all the other pussy catsxx

Original poster
Lethal · 26/07/2004 11:24

Thanks everyone for your kind words. (I just noticed that I put a smiley in the subject line instead of a sad face - DOH!!)

I've had a pretty awful day thinking about her. Every time I went outside in the garden, I expected to see her come running out of the bushes like she always did. Then I thought I heard her miaow a couple of times, and tonight at her dinner time she wasn't sitting outside on the mat waiting to come in like she usually is. It feels so strange and awful to have lost this dear little family member.

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mothernature · 26/07/2004 11:38

AN ode for your cat, Author Unknown.

FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN

Is Heaven all you asked of it,
O little cat? Did Peter fit
A halo for your graceless head?
Is there a quilt for your special bed,
And a bowl of cream just out of reach
Of your thieving paw? Or do They teach
You not to steal in Paradise?
Does the flapping of Their wings entice?
Do you scamper and swing on a golden fence,
Or are They teaching you reverence?
And are there really golden thrones
Up there? Or do the Mighty Ones
Have nice fat chairs that you can claw
And tear and snag with an impious paw?
And do the angels understand
That a little cat in a lonely land
Still longs for a kiss and a friendly cuff?

Celestial joys are not enough.
Please, some small saint in shining white,
Hold him close in your arms tonight

Original poster
Lethal · 26/07/2004 12:17

Thanks mothernature... (sniff)

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Thomcat · 26/07/2004 12:21

Sorry to hear that Lethal.
I couln't understand how there could be a smiley face after the message in your title.
lots of love to you.
TC xx

JanZ · 26/07/2004 12:48

We lost our big softy back in February. He too died of kidney failure - but he was only 9 it all happened within a week, before we took mercy on him and had him put to sleep.

We kept him at home an extra night, justot say goodbye and in the morning, dh videoed him as he took a tour of all hos old haunts. Dh swears that Leo was saying goodbye himslef. I'm sitting her crying just at the memory - and you can see the video shaking as dh cried.

But life does go on. We now have a new kitten to rplace him and be company for his sister. She's also a tabby point Siamese and amazingly, he pedgree name was Cleo, so we didn't changed it.

You'll have your precious memories, as we do ours (Leo walking along the back wall is one) - and no-one can take them away.

{{{Hugs{}}}}

fee77 · 26/07/2004 13:12

Oh , you've all got me crying now. Here is the poem "Rainbow bridge" it always helps me when one of my furry pals passes on. The pain will stop soon, and you will be left with good memories - try to be strong.
Rainbow bridge

melsy · 26/07/2004 13:23

A friend of mine is going through the same right now ,her poor lovely cat was very poorly too. I said that he'd gone to a place of peace now. No more pain and suffering. That poem is making me feel all teary now . Makes me cry every time I speak to her and she gets choked up about it. I hope the loss and grieving you feel turns into lovely memories soon.

bunnyrabbit · 26/07/2004 14:36

I lost my cat 10 years ago. Still have a cry sometimes but love talking with my family about the old times and the things he did.

Have a good cry and a drink in his honour. Soon the hurt will fade and you'll be left with a wealth of fond, soft, warm memories.....

Oh no I'm blubbing again....

BR

suedonim · 26/07/2004 15:28

Aw, Lethal It's awful saying goodbye to pets. But your furry friend had a good life and you know that she's at peace now. I'm pretty much a sceptic when it comes to ghosts, spirits etc but for a number of years I occasionally 'saw' our much-loved, tabby cat. He had had a huge personality and just seemed to linger on after his death, not at all scary. Take care.

Jodee · 26/07/2004 23:58

Sorry to hear that, Lethal. I first thought this was a happy thread and she was in a cattery while you went away or something...

We've had 3 dogs down the years but I always fondly remember the cat we had who outlived them all.
xxxxx

highlander · 27/07/2004 00:28

mothernature, that poem made me sob. It's so lovely.

Original poster
Lethal · 27/07/2004 09:56

Mothernature I thought I'd put your poem on a little plaque and place it near the spot where she is buried. I shed a few tears every time I read it.. it's really lovely.

Thanks again.

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Sonnet · 27/07/2004 10:30

Oh Lethal - I have just been through this myself. My cat would have been 17 next week. But on 30th June she had what the vet thought was a stroke. She couldn't walk at all. I had to go to the vets to say goodbye - My eldest DD came with me - it was just so so sad. She started "meowing" when she heard my voice (even when she couldn;t see me!!). I so so miss having her around. She too is buried in the back garden and at the weekend we planted a rose there.
I console myslef with the fact she had a very good life - up to the very end she was active, on the Monday I had to rescue a wild baby rabbit from her....and at least it was quick (IYKWIM).

I do so know how you feel and I am so so sorry it happened...
Sonnet xx

Original poster
Lethal · 27/07/2004 12:58

Sorry to hear that Sonnet. Seventeen is a very good age & it sounds like she had a good life, but it's still very hard to accept isn't it. You just don't realise how much they become a part of your every-day life until they're gone. Hugs to you too. xxx

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Doody · 27/07/2004 13:00

I know just how you feel, I lost my 11 year old Suzie 3 days before we moved which is now 3 weeks ago. I take it that she just wanted to stay. My s found her asleep and said 'bye,bye suzie', he is only 20 months old!! I couldnt bury her in her familiar garden as the new owners are digging up the garden for a conservatory, so she was cremated. I found this decision very hard and miss her terribly, I have no memories of her as we are in our new house and cannot sit by her grave.
All I can say is in a few days time it will be a little less painfull and you must only remember the good memories and not when they are ill. Ive got tears in my eyes now writing this. I miss her, but I have a new kitten now and she has brought me loads of happiness and fun, this helped me. Thinking of you.

bundle · 27/07/2004 13:02

lethal, have you seen the Goodbye Mog story? it's a lovely book which explains to children about how much love is left behind by a family pet, and to be honest meant a lot to me as well as dd.

Original poster
Lethal · 27/07/2004 13:49

I've sat by her grave a few times now Doody. The day she was buried (yesterday), it was the most beautiful, warm, sunny day and it's in such a peaceful part of the garden. I'm glad she's buried here, but at the same time I think of her being down there all alone Silly isn't it.

Thanks for that link bundle, I'll check it out. DS knows she was sick and that she's gone away, but I think he believes that she'll be coming back... I hope he just forgets about her in time. I'm also hoping to get another kitten at some stage, but not just yet.

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Doody · 27/07/2004 14:44

No your not silly, people dont realise how awful it is to loose your pet. She is in the best place, in the garden that she knows. Big Big hug for you.

twogorgeousboys · 27/07/2004 23:00

Lethal, your post brought back the loss of our cat last year. He had to be put to sleep after 13 years. It was just devastating. A pet is part of the family, that's all there is to it.

I also felt he missed out on love and affection in the last couple of years of his life.Once ds1 became mobile he would flee and when he did make an appearance, we were often busy.

We've decided we can't get another cat because we can't face the pain of the loss again.

Big hugs to you.

Original poster
Lethal · 27/07/2004 23:39

Twogorgeousboys we had the same situation once ds became mobile, she didn't like being grabbed and poked at by him although she was still gentle & took it quite well. Most of the time she'd stay out of the way though. Like you, I wish I'd been able to dote on her more in her later years when she was approaching old age & probably needed a bit more comfort at times. Instead it was hurriedly feeding her and giving her a quick pat here and there, while attending to ds & a myriad of other things.

She had it pretty good in the first 10 yrs though.. even used to sleep in bed with us at night, which dh could never come to terms with

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