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Original poster

My old girl has died

59 replies

ILoveNigelTufnel · 29/12/2023 17:51

Just that really. I am so incredibly sad. I feel like my heart has broken and I don’t know what to do with myself. I had her 17 years from when she was a tiny kitten. The house feels empty without her.
I love her more than anything and I just want her back.
I know no one can fix this but I just need to tell someone.

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CottonPyjamas · 29/12/2023 18:09

I'm sorry to hear about your old girl. My own old fella died in August, also at the age of 17. They certainly leave a furry void in our lives. Would you like to tell us about her?

LikeIDontExist · 29/12/2023 18:09

I’m so, so sorry Flowers

Would you like to share a photo and tell us a bit about her? You gave her 17 years of love, she must have had a lovely life with you being so adored.

EspressoMacchiato · 29/12/2023 18:12

So sorry OP. They leave such a raw gaping hole.

Tell us about your girl, share some stories or photos?

GoodVibesHere · 29/12/2023 18:14

I'm so, so sorry OP. I've been through it and it's heartbreaking. I really feel for you. They leave a massive hole when they go don't they? I think it's because they are always there, everyday like a family member.

Your kitty was so loved, I'm sure she had a lovely life with you.

oxblood · 29/12/2023 18:20

So sorry OP. Lucky cat to have had so much love all her life. Rest in peace dear pusscat.

Allthecatseverywhereallatonce · 29/12/2023 18:21

As a fellow cat owner I am so sorry for your loss. They leave such a hole the furry little things.
I bet she had an amazing life and felt very loved. 17 is a great age. I have a 13 year old and I dread it every time she looks a bit under the weather?

Would you like to share a picture?
Look after yourself.

LemongrassLollipop · 29/12/2023 18:25

Come and talk to us. I'm so sorry about your loss and I understand, having lost our furry boy last October. You are so lucky to have shared 17 years together 🐾❤️

Pollyparkin · 29/12/2023 19:02

I'm
So sorry too. Most out 19 year old and although she had a great long life it left a gap that's still waiting to be filled. We have a dog but they give different things
Have you any pics or stories to share?

TastyLikeARaindrop · 29/12/2023 19:22

I'm so sorry op. The grief at losing a much loved pet is very very hard. Take care of yourself. Sending you lots of love xx

ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 29/12/2023 19:30

It is always hard to lose a cat, whatever their age, but with an old cat there is an added sense of a part of your own life ending. When my 19 year old cat died, I couldn't believe he was no longer there - when I adopted him as a kitten, I'd been with a different partner, in a different town, in a different job - he was one of the few things that had stayed constant, and I felt as though I was staring down a long, bleak empty road without him.

I cried on and off for weeks, there was no easy way through it. A couple of months later, I did find another cat to adopt - another black boy as I had lost - and I felt a strong sense of him being sent to me by my old boy. He has turned out to be a soulmate, and I still talk to him about the cat who came before him, which is an immense comfort.

Allow yourself to grieve in whatever way you can, OP. You will get through this, but it will take time Flowers

reddaisies · 29/12/2023 19:34

It is so incredibly painful OP.
What a lovely life your girl must've had to be with someone who loved her so much.
Remember her and she will live on inside of you x

Pudmyboy · 29/12/2023 21:00

So very sorry to hear of your loss, when you are ready please share any details that you are willing to share. Thinking of you 💐

Original poster
ILoveNigelTufnel · 29/12/2023 21:12

Thank you all for your kind messages. It is very much appreciated. I’m so sorry for all your losses as well. They definitely leave a big hole - part of the family (and much preferred over much of my family!!)

Posey was gorgeous tortoiseshell with a white patch on her leg with all the attitude that comes with being a tortie.

I’ve been writing down all the things I can think of so I remember them. It’s daft things like running to meet me when I came home from work, zoomies at 9pm on the dot every night, running round carrying a small cuddly monkey, waking me up hitting my nose with her paw, sleeping in the sunbeams and sitting next to the radiator and glaring at it because it would any switched on. We would just hang out together most of the day and I’m going to miss her companionship so much. She was there when I got divorced, through a couple of house moves, meeting my now husband (who she approved of straight away - that’s how I knew he was ok), job changes. She’s been the consistent thing in my life for so long and definitely helped my mental health through tricker times.

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Hobbesmanc · 29/12/2023 21:23

Aww we're on our third generation of cats now and there's too many little grave markers at the bottom of the garden. I loved each of them very much and they were all unique and special.

When you fall for a cat you fall hard. Remember the wonderful times and take pride that yours lived their best life

caringcarer · 29/12/2023 21:25

Posey sounds like she was an amazing cat.

caringcarer · 29/12/2023 21:28

I bought a large photo frame with lots of cut out shapes in and made a collage of photos of my old boy Stripey when he died at 19. He was my son's cat and he told me he was his best friend because he never judged him or complained to him, just loved him unconditionally.

purpleme12 · 29/12/2023 21:34

Oh my god this thread is making me cry 😢😢😢
I'm so so sorry OP
She sounds like such a lovely cat xx

Original poster
ILoveNigelTufnel · 29/12/2023 21:38

Thanks everyone ☺️ she really was the best cat. Such a character and just so lovely. Going to miss her purrs and her sleeping on the bed. Whilst I want to go to bed and for this day to be over, I don’t want to go to sleep without her and then to wake up without her. It just feels so awful. And so awful knowing that tomorrow will be my first day without her in 17 years. 17 years - that’s such a long time.

Love the idea of the collage of photos. I’m getting over paw prints from the vets so that would be a nice thing to add to it as well.

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Original poster
ILoveNigelTufnel · 29/12/2023 21:40

I really do appreciate you all taking the time to talk to me. I really, really do. I didn’t know if I’d get any replies but I really need people who ‘get’ it and you all do.

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CottonPyjamas · 29/12/2023 22:05

Posey sounds lovely. This was Frankie (Frankenstein). I understand what you mean about them always being there through the stages of your life. I got him in my first year of marriage, and he was with me every time my husband was deployed, and through each of my pregnancies he'd snuggle with the bump. Something that helped me was to create a special place for him. We buried him in the corner of our garden and made it a nice place to sit. We've called it Frankie's Patch (he happened to have a patch on his leg after breaking it when he was one). Since then, I have got a new kitten. She's not a replacement for him; it's like having a second child where the love isn't shared, it grows. It still breaks my heart that he's gone, but that's a testament to the relationship we had. I'm sure that's the same for you and Posey.

My old girl has died
My old girl has died
Lookingatthesunset · 29/12/2023 22:43

I am so, so sorry that you lost your darling Posey!!

This time 2 years ago, we knew our tuxedo boy was dying. He was 20+, we don't know, as he came to us as a stray aged around 8. He made it into January before he passed away peacefully in his favourite bed, god I'm crying again now!!

I know you won't feel it right now because your heart is breaking. But 8 weeks after we lost our adored boy, we adopted two tortie and white girls. I had several T&W cats growing up and when I was first married, and I just adore them! My last few cats found me, rather than the other way around, so this time I wanted to choose rescue babies.

I still miss my boy - like how he wolfed down turkey and these two dames aren't into it at all! - and how he used to sunbathe with me in the garden and these two are indoors only! - but they have their place in all of our hearts, and have helped to heal the hurt. I couldn't cope with a house without cats!

Sending you the biggest of hugs! xx

Lookingatthesunset · 29/12/2023 22:44

My boy's last Christmas...

My old girl has died
TastyLikeARaindrop · 30/12/2023 08:20

We've also adopted cats again pretty soon after our losses. One time it was just a week. We couldn't bear the thought of a cat sitting in a shelter when we have a lovely home and a ton of time and love to offer ❤️

Original poster
ILoveNigelTufnel · 30/12/2023 16:13

I’ve said I can’t ever do this again 💔 but I don’t know how I can not have a cat…
My husband is so sad too and that makes it worse. Grief is the price you pay for love or some such words of wisdom.

I’ve found today really odd. I keep expecting to see her in all her usual places but she’s not there. There’s an empty space where her food bowls were and the litter tray etc it all looks and feels wrong. I know it will get easier etc but I miss her so much.

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Original poster
ILoveNigelTufnel · 30/12/2023 16:15

@Lookingatthesunset @CottonPyjamas what gorgeous cats! They are so beautiful. Lovely photos of them too.

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