I’m glad to hear that things are starting to get a little better. So many people don’t understand that for many of us, losing a furry companion is losing a family member! Going through the grieving process and feeling a sense of loss is completely normal. Nothing sucks more than having someone minimize or even criticize your pain and sadness because they lack the ability to bond with and love an animal. I don’t hesitate to let people like that know that I care more about most animals than I care about them!
I lost my baby girl Anna, the most beautiful 13-year-old black/white (tuxedo) domestic longhair kitty on 12/03/12. I had her for 10.5 years and wasn’t expecting or prepared in any way to lose her. 11 weeks before she died, my vet did a full range of blood and urine tests and everything was perfect. She always had high quality food and treats and went to the vet at least every six months for teeth cleaning, nail trimming and a general health check.
Suddenly one Saturday night, I noticed that she looked bloated and she was having a hard time climbing onto the bed. I took her to the Vet E/R at 1am on a Sunday morning and learned that she had a fatal disease called FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). Her abdomen was filled with fluid which is why she appeared bloated and it was also making it more difficult for her breathe. The emergency vet told me she could live several more weeks but it would become increasingly more difficult to breathe. I knew the only loving thing I could do was to end her suffering before it became any worse. I brought her back home to say goodbye and planned to be at my regular vet the following morning at 8am when they opened. In approximately 30 hours, I went from everything being fine to holding my baby girl as my vet ended her life!
I was in shock for the first week or so. The first few months were very difficult and even now, two years later, I still haven’t been able to get another cat. My Golden Retriever (Bailey) was Anna’s best friend (she slept on top of him at night) and he hasn’t ever been quite the same since she died either.
Sorry to ramble on and I certainly don’t mean to hijack your thread. But we all grieve in different ways and feeling the pain and the loss is part of learning to live without the one we’ve lost. I’m glad that you have your other furry kids to help you through the process. =)
Rummy’s had two doses of antibiotic now and is doing a bit better this morning. He’s eating again - not alot but better than before. Happier and coming for snuggles too so that’s good. I have the heat up today because it’s -2ºF and a bit chilly, and every time the heat kicks on Rummy rushes over to the heat vent and lies down on it for a nap. He even left my lap the last cycle! Since when is a lap not warm enough?
Here he is on the heat vent this morning: Rummy
Anna is happier too now that Rummy isn’t ignoring her anymore. The two of them were curled up in bed last night next to me licking each other nonstop.
I like hearing everyone’s stories - it helps the healing - feel free to keep sharing, guys, I really do appreciate it and like to hear about everyone’s pets.
Your Anna sounds like a beautiful kitty! My girl is Anna too, except she isn’t a tuxedo. Here’s Anna
Anna used to sleep ontop of Baby - she doesn’t know what to do now because Rummy doesn’t like her piling ontop of him! Anna sleeping on Baby
I bet your Bailey misses his “fur blanket” at night.
Anna’s a rescue cat and a CH cat - sat at the shelter for 1-1/2 years because no one wanted her. I got her at 2 years old and she’s 6 this year - hope to have her for many more years - best girl kitty I’ve ever had!
That’s great that your dog found another “leader”! Anna is the chief in my household, Rummy the clown and Baby was always the “big brother”. He was a big boy - 16 pounds in his prime - and the other two loved to cuddle into him like kittens. I will definitely be getting another to fill the hole. Trying to find one that fits the job description is a task though
Here’s a shot of my baby girl from about three years ago. She loved to lay directly in front of the heat vent on my laptop and put her head on the edge of the keyboard…never mind that it caused it to overheat! =) ANNA
I’m so glad Rummy’s doing better. Antibiotics can make cats feel bad, so don’t be alarmed if he’s not 100%-he’ll likely be better once he’s off them. Just make sure he continues to eat.
When my Scotty was euthanized, I just stood there staring at her, until my vet asked if he should call a cab so I wouldn’t have to drive. I did drive home, and held it together until I opened the door to my now dogless house. I fell on the floor and cried, yelled, called her name over and over. The next day I took every bit of dog stuff to the shelter because I couldn’t bear to look at it. I combed the internet for a pet loss board and found a wonderful woman in Canada who talked me into a calmer state, and then called me a few days later just to see how I was doing. The next big obstacle was picking up her ashes, which was almost as bad.
I made a display of Scotty things that reminded me of her; I decorated a basket for her ashes and added doggy poems to it; and I have a picture of her or of a Scotty in every room of the house.
I started out for a walk in early Spring, a few months after her death and turned back almost immediately because her little pawprints were there in the still-frozen mud.
She’s been dead for 8 years, and I still sleep with her favorite stuffed toy.
I still miss my winken the wonderful. What a good girl she was, she even spared me that final decision as she passed away at home before the vet opened.
I have a whole new crew now, and I still miss my first crew. 2008 was an odd year as I had 2 cats pass, and 2 cats the universe decided I should have, arrived.
Fluffy, I didn’t see this one the first time, but it sure seems timely to read it today when I have just lost one of mine. His brother Bruno and I don’t know what to do. Yesterday I thought maybe if I just took a few hours to cry it out, I could get a handle on it, but today I’m tearing up as much as ever. It’s been thirteen years since the last time I had to deal with this and I’d forgotten how horrible it is. At least I know that I’m not overreacting.
