Feel so painfully sad

[peggotty]

I had to have my 16 year old cat put to sleep. It was time and he wasn't going to get better but I feel so bloody sad. I miss him so much, I keep 'seeing' him in his familiar spots. I know he was 'just' a cat but this grief feels so strong. He was a gentle laid back beautiful soul who's been with me through loads. When does it get easier?

Oh peggotty. And he wasn't 'just' a cat.

Time overlays things a little. It's trite to say, but it does get a little easier as the days and weeks go by.

Raising my glass to Puss.

So sorry for your loss of your friend best wishes tonight xxx

:(
He wasn't "just" a cat, he was a family member that has been through many things with you. It is a huge loss.

The acuteness of the pain will go away eventually, and then you will be able to look back with smiles when you think of him.

Be gentle with yourself for the next few days/weeks.

What ThesseGo said.

And someone will be along to laugh at me for saying this, but if you're 'seeing' him, maybe he's just popping back to let you know he's ok?

Thank you. I'm sure it will lessen but it feels so raw.

It is a terrible time, but it does get easier.

I used to catch glimpses of my dearly departed cat out of the corner of my eye for the first couple of weeks after she was gone. I used to tell myself that she was coming back to let me know she was OK.

I keep thinking I see my cat coming around the corner, it is hard.

A cat becomes part of the family, so of course you are grieving.

My mum sobbed when her cat died, she didn't shed a tear when her mum died.

It just floors you doesn't it? It does get easier, eventually. We love them while their here and that's all you can do.

Oh my dear, it's so hard. Never just a cat, a friend, a dearly loved companion that leaves a huge hole. The rawness will ease, but it really does take time.

I understand how your feeling, i lost my 3 old boys quite quickly together, it broke my heart. The only way I could cope was filling the house with new purrs. Not replacing, but filling the emptiness, and I find myself loving these 3 but desperately missing my boys too.

Take care.

Oh Peggotty I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my cat four weeks ago tomorrow and I'm still struggling a lot. It does get a little better each day but what I'm learning is that we have to allow ourselves to take our time to grieve.

Don't ever think that he was "just" a cat, he wasn't - he was part of your family and an important part of your life. I hope you start to feel better soon

peggotty. We had to have our beautiful cat put to sleep in April. He would have been 15 next month. Like so many others on this thread, I keep thinking I see him waiting for his food or stalking through the garden.

We remember all the happy times we had with him

Much love and to you

Oh, it is hard. Feel so for you. Re the seeing thing, it is odd. When our lovely girl died suddenly and unexpectedly a few years ago, both DH and I felt her sleeping on the bed, just for that night. Not again, but it was as if she was with us for just a few stolen hours.

Things will get better but I know how rubbish it is. .

Sorry for your loss.

It will be 2 years in August since we had our 16 year old cat pts. I still think about him but it is not upsetting to do so anymore. It took months and months to stop looking under his favourite bush as I came home though.

And hugs from me too. I know just what you're going through, because our cat got hit by a car today and was killed. We're trying to take comfort from the fact that the vet says it was instantaneous and he won't have felt anything, but we are so sad.

I haven't been able to put any of his things away - the bowls are still there, the litter tray is still there. DS was looking for patches of fur round the house to remind him.

I guess the best we can do is take comfort in the fact that they were both loved and cared for during their lives.

RIP PegottyCat.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Just remember that the fact you feel so sad is proof that you loved your cat and have him a good life. He would've said thank you, if he could talk.

RIP.

Thank you all so much. I knew I would get support here. I sorted out the garden round his grave area today and planted some ferns around it. It looks nice. He loved being outside. I still keep thinking I'm seeing him around and unfortunately I've still got too many memories of his illness (although short) and how he looked after he'd been put to sleep. I think this will pass - I keep pushing those pictures out of my mind and replacing them with when he was in his prime. I'm finding it is dominating my thoughts at the moment but my dh has been great, he loved him so much too, so I can talk about him as much as I want. We still have our other cat too, who is very affectionate and she's been getting smothered with kisses!

Thank you all again for your kind words.

Someone described grief like wearing a new ring, feels all wrong and uncomfortable for a while, but in time you adjust and it is part of you. Always there but not so jarring or sharo anymore.

I remember my past cats now with a wry smile but no more wrenches.