My darling cat died

[DearRussell]

My beautiful boy died on Friday. He was almost 15 and I took him to the vet because of drastic weight loss. He was the heart of our family. The vet examined him and said it’s very bad news. He has cancer and needs to be put to sleep.
im still reeling. She let me take him home for a few hours so my children said goodbye. I even took my little boy out of school for a bit to say goodbye.
when the awful time came I held him in my arms and took his last breaths with him.
i am broken. Overwhelmed with sadness

So sorry. Been there and it's awful.

It is heartbreaking, so sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry @DearRussell . It is heartbreaking to lose our furry family members.

I was here earlier this year. Take the time you need to process. You need to grieve. And I think it's is important that you were able to say goodbye. Although it may not seem like it now, it will help with closure.

Have you decided to get his ashes?

thank you all. Yes I will have him cremated and bring his ashes home. His brother died 5 years ago and that was the worst grief I have had. I have never got over the loss. I can’t bring myself to call the crematorium but I have the leaflet.
being able to hold him and have goodbyes was honestly so important. I got him a piece of steak from Waitrose meat counter. I was sobbing as I ordered it. He ate it quickly and I have that memory. I was also given time before and after at the vet. I held him for maybe 30 minutes after he died. I loved him so much. Dear Russell we all love you so much. It feels unbearable but I have that time with him to hold on to

I'm so sorry. I had to have my boy put to sleep yesterday after a sudden collapse. Its just devastating isn't it. Sending you hugs.

I'm so sorry for your loss, it's such an unexpected shock and the house doesn't feel the same without them.
We had to put our boy down in June suddenly after finding out he had sarcoma and we also took him steak. Sending lots of love at this sad time x

I’m so sorry you are going through this too. Yes it’s devastating. I had to miss a work meeting on Friday and although that won’t be a problem I know that my bereavement won’t be understood

@DearRussell - hope this helps

The Last Battle
Author Unknown
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can’t be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
Don’t let the grief then stay your hand,
For this day more than all the rest
Your love and friendship stand the test.

We’ve had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears.
You’d not want me to suffer so;
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they’ll tend
And stay with me, if you can, to the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time, you will see,
It is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last was waved,
From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.

Don’t grieve that it should be you,
Who must decide this thing to do,
We’ve been so close, we two, these years;
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I really feel for you - we lost our darling girl yesterday at just 10 and it feels like part of our future has been stolen. Sending love

I am so sorry. It breaks your heart every time you lose them.

Be kind to yourself. You’ve lost a much loved friend and it’s natural to be sad.

Everyone here understands how you feel.

I’m so sorry for your loss too. We lost Russell’s brother Milo 5 years ago when he was 9 years old and honestly I have never got over the loss. They were litter mates and were so loved and cherished

I'm so sorry about Russell. It's just heartbreaking when they die.
You did the right thing.

So sorry @DearRussell @Ilmiopinguino and @Beck30 it's absolutely heartbreaking. I've been there, more than once sadly. Sending love and hugs ❤️🫂

Thank you everyone for the kind words and my deepest condolences to everyone else going through the same thing. It’s such a hard process. So so sad

Hello I’m sorry about your lovely cat.
my beautiful old lady was pts yesterday. My children are heartbroken (as am I) as they’ve not known life without her. She was 16 so a good age but the end happened very suddenly. It’s so quiet in the house and it’s hit us all badly x

Sending love and hugs. I’ve done this five times now and it’s just so hard. They mean so much to us and we just love them to bits. The decision you had to take was your final act of love for Russell. Take care of yourself and allow yourself to be sad. xx

I totally understand and I’m sorry for you and your children. I’m still devastated. I have a cremation service on Monday that I will travel to and attend on my own.

Thank you so much. Yesterday was the worst day for me. I’m so down

It takes a very long time to get over the death of a loved animal.
I'm so sorry.

Thank you. I thought I was managing and then yesterday was hell

Grieve as much as you need and whenever you need, we're all animal lovers and understand what you're going through 💐sending lots of love. It's been 3 months for me and I've randomly cried twice while being out on a Saturday night down the pub because of flashbacks of my cat out of nowhere. It's painful but also a testament to how loved & cherished they were

Thank you. I just feel so lost and distraught. I had to take my son to a tour of a school last night and I could barely keep myself together

I've just cried at your post - for you and poor Russell and over my own precious boy who was run over 4 years ago in front of me. Still not over it, will never be over it. Also for my childhood cat who died in very simliar circumstances, age 15, lost a lot of weight (will never forgive the vet for just taking him away and not even giving 18 year old me the opportunity to hold him or have his ashes, different times)

Grief worst for me than losing a human as I couldn't 'justify' my emotions to anyone (if that makes sense as of course, some people think, it's just a cat)

Never just a cat. Look after yourself.

Ended up with 3 cats to get over my boy who was run over. Just caused myself 3 more heartaches in the future though tbh as they're all amazing too.

We said goodbye to our dearly loved boy this week and it’s just devastated the family. I honestly didn’t think it would hit us all as hard as it has. Probably wishful thinking.
Condolences to all of you who are going through this as well. It’s so hard, I’m not sure I can do this again.

Thank you so much for your understanding and I am so sorry for all that you have been through too. My mother died less than two years ago and honestly that was nowhere near the loss I feel for my Russell. And yes, people say sorry about your cat. But they don’t think the grief is as overwhelming as it is.