Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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

Our beautiful cat died...

27 replies

littlelionroars · 07/12/2023 16:59

Our beautiful cat died last week Friday. We are all heartbroken 😢

She was an outdoor cat and got hit by a car right in front of our house. I still feel traumatised from seeing her lying in the road. And the fact she was a few seconds from being safely home when she was killed. Whoever hit her didn't even bother to stop - we will never know if there was a point at which she could have been saved.

She was only 8 years old and in perfect health.

I feel such utter guilt for allowing her so much freedom, but I also know how much she loved the outdoors and that she was absolutely impossible to keep inside. We tried at first, but she was an escape artist second to none.

I have 2 boys who absolutely adored her. My DS1 is so sad and has been struggling so much. DS2 is too little to understand but I am sure he must be wondering where she is.

Our house feels all wrong now. She was our only pet. I just can't imagine getting another cat, as I'd be too scared of it happening again. Sadly our garden is not really cat proof-able.

I feel guilt that my children no longer have a pet to love and receive love from. But I can't see how we could manage an indoor cat or dog. DS2 is about to turn 2 and he is at a challenging phase. My husband travels with work regularly and at those time I am alone with the kids. We have no family support.

I am rambling... I feel lost without her. I want to turn back time.

Picture because she was purrfect in every way.

Our beautiful cat died...
OP posts:
CharlotteStreetW1 · 07/12/2023 17:02

Oh she is very beautiful.

I know how hard it is, they leave such a hole don't they. Take care xx

LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 17:05

I am so sorry, you have my sincere condolences. Pets (especially cats I would argue!) are such a wonderful, magical addition to our lives, it's only natural to feel their loss very keenly. My heart aches for you.

twobluechickens · 07/12/2023 17:17

I'm so sorry, it's a major fear of mine because people drive too fast around here. What a beautiful girl. Totally understand your reservations around getting another, perhaps park those thoughts for now and revisit them when things aren't so raw.

Iamacatslave · 07/12/2023 17:17

She is a stunning cat. Please be kind to yourself.

Charlingspont · 07/12/2023 17:19

Oh what a lovely girl. So very very sorry. How awful for you all. X

VeryQuaintIrene · 07/12/2023 17:26

What a gorgeous girl! I have one (almost) as gorgeous and as much of a determined outdoors-lover as yours was and fear fthat she will meet the same end. But you did right in giving her the life that she wanted and chose; some cats just want that kind of life and I think you were selfless and brave to give her the freedom that she needed.

Pudmyboy · 07/12/2023 18:02

Oh how sad, what a beautiful cat! So very sorry for your loss @littlelionroars 💐

Hastheslotharrivedyet · 07/12/2023 18:19

She’s beautiful. My heart breaks for you. There’s no way my boy would stay in. He loves the outdoors and needs his freedom but the cars are a constant worry. Sending love x

StopWithYourNonsense · 07/12/2023 18:24

What a pretty cat. I'm sorry for your loss. It is horrible to lose a pet, particularly in those circumstances. My last cat died in the same way, a year ago. You gave your cat a nice life, looked after her well, and it hurts to have lost her. It gets better, in time. Flowers

littlelionroars · 07/12/2023 19:11

Thanks for your kind words everyone 😔

I like to think she lived her best kitty life, and she couldn't have been more loved. ❤️

We just need to get used to our new normal.

OP posts:
Jasmin1971 · 08/12/2023 13:31

I am so sorry

Vermin · 08/12/2023 13:33

Oh wow a beautiful ruddy aby! I am so sorry. We lost our 21 yr old aby/bengal x in November and I still keep seeing him out of the corner of my eye. There are often post-breeding abys available for adoption for indoor only homes if you feel up to it in a while

LongAndWindingRoads · 08/12/2023 13:51

I really feel for you, l also lost a cat recently and we are missing him so much. We still have three others but we feel his loss very deeply, like your cat it was very sudden, heart problems.
I have ordered some beautiful decorative personalised hanging decorations with his photo and name on from Etsy. He was very much a street cat and we live near two schools so the school children will miss fussing him, he lapped it up. I am going to hang them in the front garden, because it's upsetting having people come to the door asking where he is and having to explain.
I wouldn't write off another cat, l have lost a few over the years and have said the same at the time when so raw, but l have always had a multi cat household, mostly little black strays etc, and l think what they add to your life and the memories they leave behind far outweigh the initial heartache of losing them.

CatChant · 08/12/2023 13:55

What a beautiful cat. I am so sorry. It is a horrible way to have lost her. I hope it helps to know she had a happy life with you.

littlelionroars · 08/12/2023 14:44

@Vermin I would be very tempted. But with two young boys who will be going outside to play and not always remembering to keep the doors closed, I feel like it would be a struggle to keep a cat fully inside. Maybe something to consider when they are a bit older and more responsible.

@LongAndWindingRoads I have also ordered a decoration from Etsy, which I have attached a pic of. Lovely to have something to remember her by. Funnily enough we also live right near a school, which my DS1 attends. She would follow us on the school run and caused all sorts of chaos. She was a real character and will definitely be missed by the kids there too.

My husband is of the opinion that our boys need a pet to grow up with, so we're going to leave a few months and then start considering our options. I wish our garden was a bit easier to cat-proof... but we're a corner plot with hedges along both road sides.

Our beautiful cat died...
OP posts:
RusticChips · 15/12/2023 20:15

I lost my cat today, also hit by a car I am so upset like yours he was perfect in everyday and 8 years old ❤

BananaSplitsss · 15/12/2023 20:16

I am so sorry about your beautiful girl 🥺❤️

BananaSplitsss · 15/12/2023 20:16

RusticChips · 15/12/2023 20:15

I lost my cat today, also hit by a car I am so upset like yours he was perfect in everyday and 8 years old ❤

So sorry too 🥺❤️

RusticChips · 15/12/2023 20:27

Sorry for your loss

SandraTeaspoon · 15/12/2023 20:39

She's a beautiful cat. Sorry for your loss Flowers

CrunchyCarrot · 15/12/2023 20:49

So sorry OP, it does hurt so much. She was very beautiful! <3

jingleandslay · 15/12/2023 21:31

💕

JaceLancs · 15/12/2023 22:29

I am so sorry to hear about your loss and she was such a beauty
I hope in time you will feel able to welcome another cat into your lives - you will know when the time is right
A friend sent me this when I lost my 2 Dcats in May within a week of each other
Be kind to yourself - hope the rawness passes soon xx

Our beautiful cat died...
littlelionroars · 16/12/2023 13:17

@RusticChips Apologies, I have only just seen your post now. So sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat, it's such a horrible way to lose him. Be kind to yourself.

@JaceLancs That's a lovely poem ❤️

It's been two weeks since we lost her, and it doesn't feel quite as raw now. The house still feels strange without her, and often my mind plays tricks on me and I think I see her in one of her usual spots in the house or garden.

We received her ashes back from the vets today. We are going to find a lovely spot in our garden to bury them. Hopefully that will bring a little closure.

Thanks again to all the support & kindness shown on this thread. It means a lot. ❤️

OP posts:
Leafytrees · 16/12/2023 13:19

I am so sorry. People without cats will never understand how big a part of your life they are.

Swipe left for the next trending thread