Time marches on but it still makes me sad.

[Bridget]

My oldest cat, Snowball, is 15 years old and she has always been very agile. Because of her age, I can't help wondering from time to time how much longer she will be with us, but she has never shown signs of any infirmity, until today. It always seems like Snowball never changes or ages. I keep their food and water on the counter because of the dogs. Snowball attempted to jump from the counter to the kitchen table, which is only about a foot and a half; she missed and fell to the floor! I've never seen her miss before. I picked her up and cuddled her and sympathized and she seemed to be ok. But, for me, it was one of those compelling moments that you never forget. I do keep a chair there so they can get up to the counter easily, but that was really for Spooky who is overweight more than Snowball.

[farleyv]

Oh I so hear what you are saying. You just go on and on down through the years and your furkids are always present. Always doing their thing, living side by side with you....then comes the realization.

Seven of my 11 cats are seniors. Now one has come down with hyperthyroidism. Another has diabetes. They all sleep more than they used to. But they still get crazy from time to time. Goofy, the diabetic chases shadows. We have a contest who falls over first when they get catnip. I realize these are the things we will remember.

I would say that the most important thing I can offer is we must realize that "these are the good old days". If we realize that now, and make the most of the time we have with our kitties we will not regret anything when they are gone. Oh, if I had just sat down with kitty and let her sleep on me more often. We won't have to say "if only".


I guess I have gone on a bit, but I join you in your thoughts. It's so hard to see them get older. Just give them that extra hug. It's good for the kitty and its good for your soul.

[stephanietx]

I totally understand your feelings! Callie, my 13 yo can no longer jump up on the counter in the bathroom to get to her favorite drinking hole. I had to teach her an alternate route...up on the toilet lid, then the tank, then over to the counter. I've also put a couple of shorter "step stools" for her to jump on in other places of the house so that her jumps don't have to be so high. I'm not sure if it's her arthritis or her cataract that's caused her to not want to risk the jumps. She gets Cosequin daily for her arthritis and she's still playful and energetic. It's still hard to watch her age and lose some of her agility.

[farleyv]

I usually just yell, "Night guys" when I go to bed. Last night I went around and gave everyone a hug.

Thanks to your thread, I am going to do that every night now!

[jcat]

I understand what you're saying. Jamie is 10 1/2, so not really old, but this past year he's had two UTIs, and now has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. More and more I find myself thinking about how horrible it will be when I lose him.

[Bunnelina]

I, too, understand where you're coming from. In September we lost Bunnelina, a calico I totally adored, at 16, and we have two others who are 15 and 14.

When our first and oldest cat, Chloe, died three years ago, at 18, I finally realized what was coming down the pike and felt that we had been misguided to have three cats who were so close in age, and who would all become seniors around the same time.

But I'm beginning to see that it wasn't "misguided," it's just life. You never know what's going to happen, just that cats never live forever. I'm trying to make the best of our remaining time with our two seniors.

We thought our tortoiseshell was dying at this time last year, but she regained her strength after a long illness and began playing again. When we saw her jump on the bathroom sink without falling, for the first time in months, it was a great day. Not every illness is a steady decline even at that age. Even old, fragile cats can surprise you.

Cats are a gift for as long as they are with us. I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone that. What I didn't realize is what a comfort kittens can be. I thought I'd never recover from losing Bunnelina but decided to "distract" myself with a couple of feral kittens who needed a home. Best thing I ever did, even if they did bring every contagious parasite and microbe into the house. The new relationships are never the same as those we had with cats we loved and lost, but they can be just as wonderful. Somehow, I think Bunnelina's last gift was to teach me that. Life and love go on!

[farleyv]

Amen to that.

[Auntie Crazy]

Originally Posted by Bunnelina

...Cats are a gift for as long as they are with us. I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone that. What I didn't realize is what a comfort kittens can be. I thought I'd never recover from losing Bunnelina but decided to "distract" myself with a couple of feral kittens who needed a home. Best thing I ever did, even if they did bring every contagious parasite and microbe into the house. The new relationships are never the same as those we had with cats we loved and lost, but they can be just as wonderful. Somehow, I think Bunnelina's last gift was to teach me that. Life and love go on!

Here, here. I have tears in my eyes reading these posts.

I lost a Yorkshire Terrier last year at 11. That's young for her breed and she was active and bouncy right up to her final moment (she was eating dinner and - the vet believes - had a brain aneurysm). Her passing was sudden and horribly shocking, and combined with Ollie's death in the 2007 pet food poisoning, it's left me with a deep gratitude for the five I still share my life with. Even though they are all very young (the older cats are only three), I hold onto every purr, every headbutt, every leap into my lap.

I second Bunnelina - everything about a cat is a blessing and every moment with them is something to cherish.

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by Bridget

MSnowball attempted to jump from the counter to the kitchen table, which is only about a foot and a half; she missed and fell to the floor! I've never seen her miss before.

Maybe that was a bit of a fluke? One of mine jumped into the side of the table earlier and bounced off.. He's not old, he just misjudged his jump.

If it keeps up, talk to the vet. Maybe she's just a bit stiff?


Thinking about your pets, and family, getting older and losing them is sad. But who can say you won't lose someone young tomorrow? That your cat won't go on till in her 20s. No one knows the future.
Plan for problems but most importantly, make the most of every day that you can.

For me it's getting around that time of year again. Back in Dec of '99 I lost an uncle to a bad car wreck. Just the night before we had went Christmas shopping together, we had plans to pick out a couple more gifts that day - He was actually getting into the holiday mood (usually he wasn't much for Christmas) and was looking forward to it.

[katachtig]

With a senior, every day is an added blessing. But it is hard watching them age. Much at 16 has become so thin. She was 10 lbs at her peak but down to 8. The vet says she is healthy even with the hyperthyroidism. She limps because of arthritis and her back will make all sorts of crackling noises when I pick her up.

But every night, she stakes her territory in the bed between me and my husband. Commandeers any lap that is available. Tells us enthusiastically that she is bringing us a sock.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Maybe that was a bit of a fluke? One of mine jumped into the side of the table earlier and bounced off.. He's not old, he just misjudged his jump.

If it keeps up, talk to the vet. Maybe she's just a bit stiff?


Thinking about your pets, and family, getting older and losing them is sad. But who can say you won't lose someone young tomorrow? That your cat won't go on till in her 20s. No one knows the future.
Plan for problems but most importantly, make the most of every day that you can(

I have in the last 2.5 yrs lost two dogs and one cat and my mom ... All had chronic health issues but I would not trade the time I had any of them...

So far the youngest I have lost a cat I had since babyhood was 14 ( the others were 19.5 and 5 weeks from 19)... Your baby likely has a number of good yrs left

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by sharky

I would not trade the time I had any of them

An overall message we can all agree on, I think. To all that have lost pets, family, and friends lately.