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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

My beautiful Gruber died yesterday

69 replies

BrevilleTron · 22/08/2018 09:37

We got a call from the vets to say he'd gone into arrest and they couldn't bring him back.
He'd gone in for an X ray as he wasn't using a leg. He also had high blood pressure and a heart murmur and kidney problems.

He was 9. I'd had him for 7 years.

He'd had a bad start in life. Abused by a child and he'd rolled in bleach. No fur on his legs. Scared of everything.

Within a month he knew I wasn't going to hurt him and so he ruled the roost. He would greet me at the door with a 'performance' (stretch forwards then backwards then flop onto the back for a belly rub)

He would tell me all about his day, direct me to his foodbowl and then shepherd me to bed.

He brought me various 'dead fings' as I clearly couldn't be left to provide for myself

He saw me through a marriage although wasn't keen on my choice. I should have listened to him

First night he met my DP he was straight on his lap, then delivered a massive dead rat straight to my DP's trainers and then pissed on him through the duvet whilst we were in bed 😂 That signed an unbreakable bond between the two of them.

Gruber was now His.
DP was Premier Slave with the preferred lap. He never brought any 'dead fings' home again.

Clearly finally I had chosen well and Gruber decided DP was capable of providing for me 😜😂 and that he (Gruber) could retire.

He had many twat moments such as sliding off the neighbours plastic conservatory roof in the wet and ending up in a bush! Falling off the fence and total inability to corner at speed on laminate.

We loved him. It's not 'home' without him.
We got to the vets within half an hour of his death and cuddled him and took a lock of his fur. We are getting a paw print done.

I'm posting this to tell my MN friends and people who understand how much a pet can be loved and how much of a hole they leave.

R.I.P. GruberCat Prince of Darkness TM

My beautiful Gruber died yesterday
OP posts:
catlovingdoctor · 22/08/2018 09:44

I’m so so sorry for you. There is nothing like the feeling of loss is there. What a lovely little thing. It sounds you gave him a wonderful new life and he was very very happy with you!

maybeIwillmaybeIwont · 22/08/2018 09:47

Flowers for you and RIP Gruber, a most beloved cat.

BertrandRusselI · 22/08/2018 09:52

Aww, that picture of him is so beautiful. He sounds like a Prince among cats. His hard start in life obviously built impeccable character which is why he chose you and DP. So an impeccable judge of character too. You are lucky to find him and he was lucky to find you.

RIP Gruber Flowers

BrevilleTron · 22/08/2018 09:52

Thank you. It's nice to be able to tell people about him.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 22/08/2018 10:06
Flowers
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2018 10:13

I'm so sorry, what a beautiful cat. RIP lovely Gruber Flowers

Incrediblehulky · 22/08/2018 10:21

I'm so so sorry. I lost my old boy 3 years ago and my old girl in February and it's so so hard. I do understand. People who are not lucky enough to know the true friendship and love of an animal sometimes dont understand so try to surround yourself with people who do at this difficult time. I understand and am thinking of you.

TheSpottedZebra · 22/08/2018 10:24

So sorry for your loss.
But so happy that Gruber found a safe and happy life with you. Flowers

Toddlerteaplease · 22/08/2018 10:26

So sorry to hear about Gruber (love the name) he sounds an amazing cat!

Toddlerteaplease · 22/08/2018 10:27

Lost my girl two weeks ago. So I know it's awful.

Lynne1Cat · 22/08/2018 10:29

It can be heart-wrenching when a much-loved pet dies. I've had that several times, and it is horrible.

You gave your little Gruber a good life (after a pretty terrible time before you got him)

I had to have my little Stella (an old lady at 18) PTS in April. She'd had a heart murmur, overactive thyroid, kidney failure and heart failure.

I could never imagine life without cats (still got my Mr Cooper)

We love them, don't we, but we don't forget them.

Babdoc · 22/08/2018 10:31

So sorry - he was very much a member of your family, wasn’t he.
Try to take comfort from the fact that you gave him a wonderful loving life after his abusive past, and you have lots of funny and heartwarming memories of him.
I know it’s far too soon, but I think that, out there somewhere, there’s probably another little abused rescue cat who would be delighted to have a home with you when you feel ready. Condolences, OP.

Toddlerteaplease · 22/08/2018 10:43

I'm having some of Fatty's ashes made into a glass ornament. Really not what I ever thought I'd do, But it just seems right. Maybe you could do something similar? Might help to feel a part of him is still with you.

Vinorosso74 · 22/08/2018 11:13

RIP Gruber. What a handsome lad and it sounds like he had a lovely life with you. It hurts so much when they go and they leave a big hole. We lost our old girl late last year- it's the worst part of having pets. We have her ashes in a wooden cat ornament.
Flowers

thecatneuterer · 22/08/2018 11:29

Your post made me well up. Gruber was very luck to have you (and him). I'm so sorry Flowers

Aaaahfuck · 22/08/2018 11:33

Aww so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful cat x

HumbleCrumble · 22/08/2018 11:38

I'm so sorry Flowers He sounds like a brilliant character. And so handsome!

BrevilleTron · 22/08/2018 11:40

He was. I've had a collage of photos done with a little brass plaque

OP posts:
LoveVelo · 22/08/2018 11:45

As others have said, you gave your lovely boy a happy and fulfilled life after such a sad start.

I still have three (and one is getting on a bit) and have had to have a couple of much loved cats PTS in the past. I found creating a memorial online with Blue Cross really helped, may be something to consider? www.bluecross.org.uk/node/add/profile-pet-memorial (They also offer a support service for pet bereavement and pet loss.)

RIP Gruber, you were a very fine cat. Flowers

Ollivander84 · 22/08/2018 11:47

Godspeed Gruber

cricketmum84 · 22/08/2018 11:58

Fly high Gruber the prince of darkness.

OP your beautiful words have had me in tears Thanks

LucheroTena · 22/08/2018 12:55

I’m so sorry. He sounded a real character. He had a good life with you. RIP Gruber.

QOD · 22/08/2018 12:58

Ah he sounds amazing. I do love black cats

Sorry 😐 😿

FrankieChips · 22/08/2018 13:06

BrevilleTron I'm in tears reading your beautiful post. I'm so sorry. My first cat Bonnie looked just like Gruber and she was a rescue too.

We worry about our Chi Chi all the time. She's 14 now (a rescue) and has a really deep bond with my OH.

We can't imagine our home without her. In fact we bought her house more for her than us! I'm so so sorry xxx

ToothTrauma · 22/08/2018 13:18

I’m so sorry. He was a beauty. You gave him a wonderful life Flowers