My cat.

I totally understand how distraught you must be feeling. I have pets but it is hard for people who aren't "animal" people to understand how this feels. You need to grieve and don't feel bad about it.

I don't know you but a "big hug". Losing a loved pet is terrible.

Bless you. xx

I've cried myself dry many a time after losing my pets; dogs and cats. It's compounded by the fact that they are with us 24/7 so the void they leave in our lives and homes is immense. I know awful things are happening around the world, but this is happening to you now and it's your pain and you have every right to be hurting. At least you were with him at the end which I think is VERY important and, strangely enough will help the healing process. We also, with pets, have to make every decision for them, and I've often tormented myself with feeling that I've got it wrong sometimes. My pony died in my arms several years ago, and I can't even think about it and very rarely go to the field where she died. I still miss her terribly.

crimson, thank you. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing him die, but when the vet phoned and suggested it would benefit him as well as me, I went immediately. I'm so, so glad that I did. I don't think I could go through this again. We've no other pets and a few years ago would've been tempted to get another rescue cat before long. Maybe as you get older it seems to hurt even more. I don't know.

I think it is actually more helpful to be with your pet when they are put to sleep. I have always done this. Now we have an elderly dog who is just old and frail. For some reason we have got a puppy before he goes...and the puppy adores the old boy, licks him and loves him....

We did that with an old spaniel or ours; at first she sulked [she really did sulk and ignored me for ages] but then the youngster breathed new life into her for a while.

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. It's awful and you miss them so much. You'll miss him for ages and it's OK. It's a big thing to you. ((hug))

So sorry to hear your news greenmossgiel ...the grieving process will take time ...you've lost a family member and friend. Perhaps the process is harder as one gets older ...as there is less to fill our days...but the first few days will be very raw. hug

Thank you, christineH. These posts actually are helping a wee bit. I just had to fold up his blanket and put it away. Oh my goodness.....

Crumbs, this has brought it all back when our ginger cat was knocked down in the road. After a week of being at the vet's we took the huge decision to have him put to sleep. We all caught each other crying for days (if not weeks).. He used to scrounge the lamb bone after a Sunday roast, and I thought What will I do with the lamb bone? I just didn't cook lamb for months on end. I still miss him, and that was about five years ago.

Jacey, thank you. The hug helps a lot, it really does. And christineH, that was the first smile I've had today - I have visions of you standing there in your kitchen holding a lamb bone! Each cat we've had had their own personality as, of course, they do. Each one is still missed for himself and his little idiosyncrasies.

Your cat was obviously very much loved. Pets - big and small - are part of our lives and their death is bound to cause distress. I've cried buckets over our animals and it's so comforting to know that others do too.

Oh green what a sad day for you I know how you are feeling it is a terrible
loss to the family when a loved pet goes from you,I held my old bulldog of 13
yrs when she was put to sleep she was so poorly and my darling girl was not
going to get better,I cried for day's and still miss the snoring to this day,
maybe when you feel stronger you may think about giving a rescue cat the benefit of your family's love and affection.xx

At the moment all I can think of, is that I just couldn't go through this again. Each cat we've ever had has been a rescue one - and I think that within a short time, I'll very likely be contacting Cats' Protection League to see if they know of any wee moggies needing a new home....

How sad for you. Love and hugs to you. Remember you will never get over loosing your lovely cat, but it will get easier. When it does, also remember that there are some very lonely cats out there waiting for a wonderful home with someone like you. You could adopt one in his memory.

Bless you, nanapug. xx

Hugs from me too. Remember that our pets live always in the present and it's quality of life, not quantity, which matters. Your cat died gently with you there and though you'll miss him desperately you did everything right for him.
Getting a new pet isn't disloyal, you won't forget the old one but a new one will just distract you and make you smile again.
I used to work for a vet and was always pleased to talk to bereaved owners, often grieving alone after being told "it was only a cat (or dog)" by friends and family.
apricot

apricot - thank you so, so much. You've no idea how helpful your post has been to me. Someone else told me that, as well - that animals live in the present. It makes sense I suppose, that that would be the case. I know I did everything right for him, and I was just so glad that I did what the vet had advised and was there, holding him when he was put to sleep. My DH is very against having another cat, because of all this pain, but time will tell. We'll see. Bless you.

I am so sorry to hear about your cat - I seem to remember you were worried about him on another thread. We have had to have two put to sleep, one just a youngster, and it is so awful. I sat up nights with my last cat before it all got too much for her, and I said I would never have another one, but we did and now she is old and not in the best of health. But I expect when she goes, we will welcome yet another, as I am sure you will in time - if cats are in your blood, you can't give them up easily....

Everywhere in my house are 'cat things', whether they be paintings, ornaments or cushions. My cat had developed acute kidney failure, so that would have accounted for his change in eating habits. He was a happy boy, that I can be sure of. It's good to talk to others about how they feel (or felt) at these times.

So, so sorry greenmossgiel, xxx

Thank you, numberplease. Nice to see you back, but how could you bear to leave Kintyre?

Their lives are so short compared with ours that grief at their deaths is the price we pay for all the joy they bring us. I have said goodbye to so many pets and know that my six cats have only a few years left, but I would rather have had them all and cried when they went, than not have had them at all. My beloved dog died in my arms on New Year's Day a few years ago and my husband reckoned that he'd only hung on through an illness that had developed over Christmas so that he could be there on New Year's Eve – an occasion I hate and when I always ended up cuddling my dog and weeping. But most of the memories are full of laughter and fun, strokings and cuddling, loyalty and love. I know just how you feel greenmossgiel.