WC - our Wonderful Wild Cat of 15 years died today

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

She was an awesome cat in looks, personality and love levels.

She and our 15 year old lab, Junior the Wonder Dog, grew up together and were best friends. Junior is still with us and hasn’t realized yet that she’s gone. They spend hours grooming one another - what a sight … a 110 lb lab delicately grooming a 7lb kitty.

W.C. was short for Wild Cat … she was our 21 year old daughters best friend in the world. I had the unfortunate job of telling our daughter over the phone today, long distance, as she is in the Air Force and stationed two days drive away. She was hysterically heartbroken and I wanted to be there and hug her through her loss.

W.C. was willingly dressed in baby doll clothes, pushed around in a doll buggy, and generally doted on by our daughter. She gave us several litters of beautiful kittens, all of which found loving homes. After we ended her ability to procreate W.C. helped care for any kittens she could get her paws on. She was a great mother until her dying breath.

She was also a great huntress in her time… bringing us many gifts of mice, frogs, bream (fish) and a small garter snake or two.

W.C. was not your ordinary cat. She was never litter box trained, yet spent most of her time indoors. She would come and get us when she needed to go outside to do her business. In her retirement years - we made the mistake of moving to a neighborhood home, taking her away from the country she grew up in. She promptly let us know of our mistake by pooping on my daughter and my pillow - just once - just to let us know she was a tad upset. She had a great sense of humor :slight_smile:

It hit me today W.C. has been with me longer than four of my children. 15 years old this month.

Thank you Lord, for allowing us to share her life. We appreciate your loving gift of W.C.'s existance.

2

What a beautiful remembrance. I’m sorry for your loss.

3

She sounds like a wonderful cat who was lucky enough to have a wonderful family.

4

i’m so sorry.

5

I wanted to offer my condolences as well. It may seem silly, but I still miss our Moggie cat (redundancy intentional for any British Dopers reading this). It’s amazing how animals can become part of our lives. Fortunately, they’ll always be part of our memories.

CJ

6

That’s very sad news. Sorry to hear it.

7

You have my condolences on your loss. WC sounds like a wonderful kitty and you were lucky to have eachother.

Our family has pets too, who are really like additional children. We have a 16 year old cat, a 15 year old cat, a 10 year old dog, and an 8 year old cat. I dread the day I have to say goodbye to any of them. My kids (son, 24, and daughter 19) will be especially devastated.

8

I’m sorry… My family thought that our cat of almost six years had gone missing earlier this evening & it twisted our guts until we found him - I don’t wanna think about how hard it’ll be when he goes. Take comfort in Junior, and in all the kitties who now have good homes.

9

I’m so sorry. W.C. sounds like a wonderful cat! I grew up with a lovely Siamese, Princess, who lived to be 22 years old; she was a true member of the family just like W.C. was to your family.

10

I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my girl Dec 23, 2000. She would have been 16 last week. I’ll never get over it. I feel so bad for your daughter too. On New Years Eve 2000 I rescued my new best friend from being put to sleep. So I’m a cat person with a dog. But it makes me believe that everything happens for a reason. :smiley:

11

She sounds like a wonderful girl. I’m so sorry for your loss:(.

Ava

12

Adoptamom–I am with you in spirit. I have also lost beloved kitties and as I am typing this, my 4 year old kitty Rumpleteazer (aka the Goose) is sitting here on the monitor, staring at me. I can’t bear to think what I’ll do in 10 or 12 years when her time is up. I know two years ago, when I lost my cat Precious, these poems helped comfort me and I pray that it will comfort you also. Know that your beloved W.C. is in the hands of Bastet, patron goddess of all things feline now.
Bastet bless and Lady Goddess bless.
The Cat’s Prayer–Authorn Unknown
Although I am too proud to beg, and may appear to be a very independent creature, I ask for your loving care and attention. I rely on you for my well being much more than you may realize.
This I promise you, my benefactor, that I will not be a burden on you nor will I demand more of you than you care to give.

I will be a quiet peaceful island of serenity for you to gaze upon; a soft soothing body to caress, and I shall purr with pleasure to rest your weary ears.

Since I am a gourmet who appreciates different taste sensations, I pray you will give me a variety of nutritious foods and fresh water daily.

You know dear friend, how I love to go. Allow me, I pray, a warm sheltered place where I can rest peacefully and feel secure.

If I am wounded in battle or suffering from disease, please tend me gently, and see that I am treated by loving and competent hands.

Please protect me from the inhuman humans who would hurt and torture me for their own amusement. I am accustomed to your gentle touch and am not always suspicious nor swift enough to avoid such malicious acts.

In my later years when my senses fail me and my infirmities become to great to bear, allow me the comfort and dignity that I desire for my closing days and help me gently in my pain or passing.

Hear this prayer, my dear friend, my fate depends on you.

Lend Me A Kitten–Authorn Unknown,adapted from the poem “To All Parents” by Edgar A. Guest

I will lend to you for a while a kitten, God said.
For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he’s dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief,
you’ll always have his memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true,
And from the folk that crowds life’s land I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take my kitten home again?

And my heart replied, “My Lord, Thy Will Be Done.”
For all the joys this kitten brings, the risk of grief I’ll run.

We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness that we’ve known, forever grateful stay.

But should you call him back much sooner than we planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

If by our love we’ve managed your wishes to achieve,
in memory of his sweet sweet love, please help us while we grieve.

When our cherished kitten departs this world of strife,
Please send yet another needing soul for us to love all his life.

IDBB

13

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your pet. Sounds like she had a happy kitty life. Rest in peace, WC

14

Thank you all very much for sharing your thoughts. I think I’ll print these out (responses only to protect your privacy) to send to our daughter. She will be so touched that so many other folks understand the love shared betwixt critters and creatures.

DH carved a beautiful plaque this evening for W.C.'s marker. We’ll be planting a tree to remember her by. Junior the Wonderdog is wandering aimlessly … does anyone know how long his mourning will last and how we might help him through this?

Thanks once again.

15

It really depends on the animal and their personality, Adoptamom. Rumpleteazer, who’d been with Precious nearly all her life (we got her when Precious was about 6 mos old and Rumpleteazer was about 10 wks old), was devestated and wandered around the house for weeks, crying and looking for her beloved companion. To this day, she refuses to get into the Bad Box ™ because I think she knows that Precious went in and never came back.
Buttercup, on the other hand, never seemed to notice. Whether that was due to them not being together long (about 3 mos) or her own extremely laconic personality, I don’t know.

Tell your daughter that it’s ok to cry and yes…it will hurt for a long, long time. Even now, nearly 2 1/2 years later, sometimes I will see a cat on TV or outside that looks like Precious and just sit down and start to weep. It’s ok to grieve over an animal and I"d love to smack the people who told me “Oh it’s JUST a cat.Get over it.” badly. These animals aren’t JUST animals to us. They are a part of the family and we grieve for them as we would for a dear relative. Adoptamom–also check with your local branch of the ASPCA or the HUSA. I believe some branches (I know ours does) offer a type of grief counseling for owners.

IDBB

16

Thank you for sharing a little about WC with us. I am sorry for your loss, but thankful that you had her in your life…and she had you. My family also lost a very special kitty this past year, the morning after thanksgiving. It’s very sad without her, but I am so glad that she came into our lives. She, like WC, was a gift.

17

I’m sorry Adoptamom. :frowning:

Condolences to you and your family.

18

I’m so sorry for your loss.

19

I had to put down my 12 year old Siamese about 7 years ago. I haven’t been brave enough to bring another cat into our lives yet. I understand and am sorry for your loss.

:frowning:

20

{{{Adoptamom and Family}}}

And a “Headbutt with Purr” from Boots. What a special sounding kitty. I’m sure she know how much she was loved and wanted.

Love, zoogirl