lost my cat and best friend today

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03-09-2010, 19:45
jc121

lost my cat and best friend today

Sorry but need to get it out. I had to have my cat put to sleep this mourning and it was very hard. real bad kidney's with no good way to go. she had really stopped eating and when the test and xray's all came back today I knew it was the right but hard thing to do.

All the memories from 19 years of her being around all are coming back in the last 24 hours. My wife which was my girl friend back in 1991 wanted to get a cat so we were off to a shelter in auburn CA. and she came up to us and we knew she was the one to take home. She travelled with us everywhere. she loved to travel with us all over the western states and used to ride with her head in my lap or when in the truck she lay behind my head.
She came with us when we moved to colorado and spent a few trips around the ohio valley on vacations. My wife divorced me and moved to ohio back in 2002 and took the cats with her. then in 2004 one of the cats died in ohio and my ex asked me if I would want the cat back and I went and met her and picked up my cat in St. Louis back in nov of 2004.

My ex died in nov of 07 and I went back to the funeral.
so my cat was my best friend and companion for close to 19 years which was 1/3 of my life
03-09-2010, 19:46
hobowh

Sorry to hear that it is always hard to loose a pet.
03-09-2010, 19:48
Mtn.man

Pets are your family... Hang tuff you will move on.
03-09-2010, 19:52
jerrymrc

Sorry to hear that Jon.
03-09-2010, 19:55
crzy_one

cat lived a long time and sure sounds like it was loved a ton...

hang in there and when you feel up to it go give another cat a chance at an awesome life...
03-09-2010, 20:26
ronaldrwl

Sorry to hear about your cat. Sounded like a special companion. I agree to getting another. It won't be the same but possible another special companion.
03-09-2010, 20:27
Troublco

I agree, pets are family. It's always hard losing one. You just have to focus on the good, and remember that. That doesn't make it any easier, though.
03-09-2010, 20:34
Birddog1911

I'm sorry for your loss. It is always tough, particularly when you had her for so long.
03-09-2010, 21:01
Hoosier

Sorry to hear it. I have two cats that are 12 years old now, and they are loving companions.
03-09-2010, 21:52
pickenup

Sorry to hear the sad news.
It is never easy.
03-09-2010, 22:22
BPTactical

Sorry for your loss of your friend. Always tough to to lose a pet, they become so much of you.
We had to put our 22 year old Siamese down 3 years ago. Watched him born and was my wifes "Buddy".
Miss him something awful sometimes.
This is kinda mushy but I always liked it. My dad was a Veterinarian and whenever a client lost a member of the family he always sent out a card with this on it.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
03-09-2010, 22:29
vegas976

Sorry for your loss. Its weird of sometimes we grow more attached to our pets than other people.
03-09-2010, 22:31
sniper7

sorry to hear that, it is the hardest thing to lose your pet and best friend.
03-09-2010, 22:53
Bailey Guns

Sorry to hear you lost your friend. I think we all know what you're going through and it's tough. Take care.
03-09-2010, 22:57
denval420

sorry for your loss
03-09-2010, 23:16
funkfool

Aw hell. Sorry to hear it man. Tough to lose a close friend.
03-09-2010, 23:28
theGinsue

I'm terribly sorry for your loss. Lots of folks love to tease cat owners but that never makes them any less your closest friends and family.

Having to put a friend down usually comes with doubt and guilt, but it shouldn't! I sincerely believe that, when you know that they've reached the point where they are suffering and death could come at any time, the most loving thing that you can do for them is to let them go gracefully, with love and dignity.

This past January marked the second anniversary of losing a cat with more personality than I've ever seen in a cat or dog. Her name was Snickers. She was smart, talked constantly (mostly bitching), loved to go for rides in the car, and would wake me up seconds before my alarm clock would go off - by licking the top of my head! She had the most amazing colored coat I've ever seen in a cat. What's interesting is that she adopted us when we lived in Massachusetts (she had belonged to my neighbor who practically shoved her at me when he found out she was always at our house). We had only had her for about 5 years; not nearly long enough.

We've had another cat (Whiskers) since 1996 and we picked up a male kitten (Leonidas..Leo for short) the day after we lost Snickers - he's now 2 1/2 and has become my little buddy.

While the pain seems overwhelming now, those memories you spoke of will continue to provide you with warmth and happiness for the rest of your life. Hold on to those memories and don't ever wonder if your buddy didn't love and appreciate you as much as you loved and appreciated her - she did!
03-10-2010, 00:39
KevDen2005

Sorry about it man, I love my dogs much more than I like to admit.
03-10-2010, 00:52
d_striker

Bummer...Sorry for your loss.

Me and the SO don't plan on ever having kids. Our cats are our kids... I dread the day you just experienced.
03-10-2010, 00:54
Seamonkey

Sorry to read about your loss.
03-10-2010, 08:23
iamhunter

I feel what your going through.

It's been about a year since my dog (a border colly) died. He had stomach cancer and refused to eat his dog food.

So we bought him hamburger's from wendy's.

He ate that for a while, and when he finally refused to eat that, we bought him steak.

After he refused to eat that, I knew it was over.

We just let him rest for the following days until one night I woke up to the most horrible noise I've ever heard in my life.

I found him laying on my bedroom floor, yelping, seizing, and foaming at the mouth.

I laid down with him for a while, hoping it would just end, but after about 20 minutes I felt like it was cruel to keep him in pain.

It was close to 1 in the morning and all vet's were closed, so I grabbed the .22, drove down out into the desert, and shot him in the heart.

It was one of the hardest, most heartbreaking things I've ever done

I know how bad it hurts to lose something you love like that. But in time it will heal. I still haven't gotten another pet, but I think I finally will in the coming year or to.
03-10-2010, 08:33
Brassie

Sorry for your loss., When we lost our 4 yr old yellow lab to a heart attack, I said no more animals, but wife ended up getting not one but two cats, I thought I hated cats until they became part of the family. I would be heart broken if the 23lb Mainecoon "Dean" and his litter mate "Mia" were gone.
03-10-2010, 20:01
jc121

I just want to thank all of you for your kind words and helpfull thoughts.

everything I did today reminded me of her and its hard not to be emotional thinking you have your best friend who trusted her life to me. I held her while she was being given the shot and she was just looking at me like I trust you with my live. she just became limp and laid her down gently looking her in the eyes and talking to her how much I loved her with a prayer also. I feel I betrayed our trust we had but kept my promise to always be by her side to the end.

will pick up her ashes on friday mourning.

Thank you again friends
03-10-2010, 20:43
theGinsue

You didn't betray her.

When Snickers (I told you about her yesterday) died two years ago, it came on unexpectedly. She died of a blood clot. We got her to the vet as soon as we noticed she wasn't acting right. She was in a great deal of pain (the heart pushing blood against the clot is painful). She was scared (for those who question this statement, if you know your cat, you can tell when they are scared). Her passing wasn't gentle or graceful. It was horrible, but at least it was relatively quick. I expect that I will be buried with her ashes.

iamhunter: I'm terribly sorry to hear of your loss too. People may argue that I'm using the word improperly, but I think ending the misery of a friend and family member - a pet, is one of the BRAVEST things a person can do. To have to do it yourself must have been horrendous. Bless you!
03-11-2010, 00:12
pr1ncess45

My condolences go out to you.I know what it's like to lose part of your family.My family has lost 2 dogs one was hit by a car and the other was stolen.I can relate it is hard but time does heal.
03-11-2010, 02:10
Fentonite

So sorry for your loss. Like many who have posted, I've been there, and it's terrible. Ending her suffering was an act of true friendship, loyalty and kindness - don't feel guilty.

Shortly after we had to put down our old-girl, I had a photo of her turned into a hand-drawn pencil sketch. It's framed on our wall, and is a neat reminder of lots of good memories. (I took a pic, but it doesn't seem right to post a pic of her on your thread). I'll PM you a link to the website.

Hang in there.
03-11-2010, 12:26
funkfool

Quote:

...laid her down gently looking her in the eyes and talking to her how much I loved her with a prayer...

You were there for her.
And cared enough to do the difficult thing.
You stuck by her to the end.
03-11-2010, 13:17
bellavite1

Sucks.
03-11-2010, 14:35
rondog

My condolences and sympathies, JC. I know it'll have to happen to my Beagles someday too, and I dread the time.
03-11-2010, 17:51
BPTactical

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkfool

You were there for her.
And cared enough to do the difficult thing.
You stuck by her to the end.

This-
You made the hardest of choices out of love for your companion.
She went to sleep and you were her last vision and thought.
You cared enough not to see her in pain.
That is not betrayal by any means.
That is true love.

We should all be as blessed to pass in the arms of the one that loves us most.
03-12-2010, 09:10
GunTroll

I know the feeling. Put my buddy down last fall. 13 1/2 year old malamute mix. Roughest day of my life. But it was right even though it didn't fill good at the time or even now. I keep saying I want another but I can't bring myself to do it just yet. I'm sure I will just as you probably will as well. Hell I go over to his grave often to chat with him still. I miss that bastard!

Good luck buddy. You did right.