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Original poster

I feel very sad for my mum

13 replies

FlyMeToDunoon · 10/07/2009 18:25

She just found her cat dead on her doorstep. He didn't have any signs of damage but she can't face looking too closely yet.
She is on her own and she said 'what am I going to do without my cat?'

OP posts:
imbored · 10/07/2009 19:11

oh no thats awful my cat had to be put to sleep because he was ill and thats heartbreaking but this is terrible.
what are you going to do?

differentID · 10/07/2009 19:20

how sad. Was he elderly at all?

Mintyy · 10/07/2009 19:25

I feel very sad for her too.

Is your mum young enough to have another cat in time? Maybe a slightly older cat from a rescue centre? I know its much too early for you to mention this to her and, sorry, seems disrespectful to her just deceased cat, but ... maybe your Mum could, when she has properly mourned the loss of her much loved pet.

.

Original poster
FlyMeToDunoon · 10/07/2009 19:46

He was a rescue cat and not that old maybe 9. But he was a Cornish Rex and very nervy, highly strung and with some health issues like poor teeth and ears that had to be kept cleaned regularly.
My mum is 75. She used to talk about what would happen to the cat when she died.
Another cat from the rescue home is what I immeadiately thought but as you say it is too early to say to her now.

OP posts:
surreylady · 10/07/2009 20:04

Sorry to read this - I had to have my lovely Cat put down last year (rescue cat 12 years old)- it is a raw feeling and took me a long time to feel better- I found that other than my DH most people didn't really appreciate how I felt - so wanted to say that you have the chance to give your mum that understanding which will truly help - and how lovely for her that you are so caring. we still have his sister which I know makes it different but for me a replacement was not what I wanted it is a personal choice of course.

Original poster
FlyMeToDunoon · 10/07/2009 20:17

Thank you all for your thoughts.

OP posts:
Mintyy · 10/07/2009 23:03

.

Do you live nearby? Can you go with her to the vets or help her deal with the dead body?

Feel very sad . Maybe he was injured in a road accident and managed to get home just before he died? I hope he didn't suffer too much.

Original poster
FlyMeToDunoon · 11/07/2009 08:30

I live 400 miles away. My brother is going to see her today to help. I phoned this morning and she has brought him in and had a quick look.
He had black marks down one side and on his paws plus grit in his fur so it definitely looks like a car but wether he was laid at the door or made it himself is not clear.
DDs are making granny a card today.

OP posts:
nickschick · 11/07/2009 08:43

Its so very sad isnt it.

My FIL lost his dog 3 years ago and still fills up with tears thinking about it.

What we did was treat it a bit like the loss of a person.

we planted some bulbs and spoke about her often and didnt treat it like it was just a pet,older people become very dependent on their relationship with their pet.

As it was a rescue cat could you manouvre the topic around to how she managed to turn the cats life around when she adopted him and how very loved the cat was.

We knew fil wasnt getting over his loss very well at all and this was one of the biggest reasons we ourselves got a dog to enable fil the pleasure of looking after a dog (he babysits the dog often) he can still walk the dog and pet him and he now can still but dog treats and hes almost got a pet but without the responsibility and the 'replacing the old pet' issue never has to be discussed.

nickschick · 11/07/2009 08:45

Forgot to add what kind of helped Fil was that the dog originally belonged to my late Mil so I said to him often 'she's back with her owner,you were only her guardian until she went back to xxxxx'

He often tells ds3 that he thinks nanny and the dog are watching us.

Original poster
FlyMeToDunoon · 11/07/2009 10:37

Yes when he is buried I think I will send a plant or some bulbs. It is good to remember that she took him home from a rescue centre.

OP posts:
LadyGlencoraPalliser · 13/07/2009 14:00

Oh your poor mum.
My cat died in November. I'd had her for 19 years. I thought it would be such a long time before I could have another cat, but after six weeks of having a huge catshaped hole in my life, I gave in and took on two kittens who needed a home. They have been such a joy. (One of them has now gone missing, but that is another story.) I know it might seem too soon, but maybe in a few weeks time, you could help her start thinking about it. If you are a cat person, a house is so lonely without one.

Original poster
FlyMeToDunoon · 13/07/2009 17:40

I am hoping that she will get another eventually.
Thank you LGP.

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