Monte crossed the bridge

I am bawling my eyes out. He wasn't even a year old - his birthday was next month. Rob and I rode out to DHEC this morning about permits, and his parents called us on our way back. They found a cat in the road and thought it was Monte. I knew just by his tone something was wrong, but he wouldn't tell me what the call was about.

Finally I just screamed "ITS MONTE, ISNT IT?!" He said they didn't know, and that the cat was down the street from our house (which, Monte never does. He always stays basically in our yard since it's 5 acres of land). We got home and he wouldn't let me look - he told me to go inside and he went. He came back with tears streaming down his face, and I knew.

This is insanely hard - he was OUR kitten, our child. Katina has no idea what's happened yet, she's still bouncing and playing around the room. I'm shaking, I feel sick, I'm devastated. I'm blaming myself because I should have kept him inside when I got home, but he was on his perch crying to me to let him out. He comes back in 99% of the time, whether it's when I call him, or when my BIL comes home from work. Just last week, he brought me a dragonfly and placed it at my feet, then looked up at me and meowed.

I just went outside and said my goodbyes, and brought Katina so she could smell him one last time. We are bringing him to be cremated, and put him alongside Tigger. My heart feels like it will never be whole again. He was my "Baby Boy", the most social, loving cat I ever met. He loved his "daddy", and was always laying in our laps - he could never waste a perfectly good lap.

I just don't want to accept this. It doesn't seem real, even though I saw him just now and know he never would have survived.

Meowmy and Daddy love you Monte, and we will always miss you.

:sobbing :

Oh I am so terribly, terribly sorry. I feel so deeply for you. Play happily over the bridge , Monte. Go find my sweet Marbles and play with him.
So sorry, I wish there were words to comfort you but I know that words seem so empty at a time like this.

I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

RIP Monte

Such a sweet looking boy, looks so my like my Tiger. RIP little one, and always renember that your meowmy and daddy love you.

Such a sad story. I'm so sorry for the loss of your handsome boy. Rest in Peace Monte.

Poor boy, i'm so sorry

Your safe and well at Rainbow Bridge Monte, theres no cars up there

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I'm very sorry for the loss of your kitty.

I recently lost a kitten that was like my child. She was poisoned while running around outside.

I know the guilt you feel, but remember that things can happen to kitties inside or outside. It's not your fault.

At least he had a very happy life with you before he passed away.

RIP Monte

i'm so sorry. the pain and guilt we feel losing a cat that way is immense.

i found my boy thomas in the road having been hit by a car. he was a stray and we took him on. he had only sustained a lost tooth and conccusion. but only 9 months later his luck ran out and he was hit outside my house and killed. he looked very similar to your precious monte.

don't be hard on yourself. i know it is so difficult not to blame yourself but it wasn't your fault.

RIP sweet monte, play happily across the bridge.

i'm sooo sorry for your loss! I feel for you both and it's so sad that you lost him so suddenly

I hope you take comfort in your remaining kitty as well as eachother

RIP baby monte

I am so sorry for your loss. That is a hard way to lose one.
When I found my darling Webb like that, I had to bring him home myself, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I let Fred see him, and he cleaned him like he always had. It was heartbreaking.
It may be too soon for you, but there are so many in desperate need. I like to think that every time a beloved pet goes to the Bridge, they eventually send you another baby in need. I truly believe Fred led me to all the other 3. They were not things that would happen normally, but I was there to help in places I never go.
Once again, I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I had some words to take your pain away.

I am so sorry for your loss!!

May your sweetie RIP

Thank you all so very much for the kind, heartfelt words.

We are slowly getting back on track. Katina is lost without her partner in mischief. She's been walking along the back of the couch mewing, sleeping in the ramen box Monte claimed as his, and acting more affectionate than she used to.

Rob and I have mentioned getting her a playmate in the future. It always seemed to console my cats in the past when one was lost. There will never be a replacement for Monte and his unique personality that touched so many lives - especially at our wedding reception, where he greeted just about everyone with a purr and a rub. We are debating on what sex cat to get, and what age. We are sliding towards a male kitten, younger than her, as to not intimidate her. It seems like the male-female combo gets along better than a female-female combo, in my past experiences.

When I see Katina lying in Monte's box in the morning, part of me forgets he is playing over the bridge. I think it's him until I can see clearly, and the pain comes back. I've somewhat gotten over the guilty feeling that I did something wrong, it's just so hard when I know if I didn't open that door, and denied him the ability to go outside when I got home, he most likely would still be with us. But I also know it could have been anyone in the house to let him out, and I wouldn't want to have part of me blaming others for what happened either.

I've also decided that I may get a dragonfly tattoo in addition to my current 5, as sort of a 'tribute' to Monte and the short time he had here to make our lives bright. A dragonfly, as I've mentioned, was his proudest present to Meowmy & Daddy, only a week or so before he crossed the bridge.

I am so sorry that you lost Monte so tragically. it is so hard to let go sometimes, esp. when they should have had many more years with us. Sharing your tears and heartache with you today
Susan

I`m so sorry for your loss

Rest In Peace sweet Monte

I'm so very sorry for your loss

RIP sweet Monte

So sorry to hear about Monte's passing. I think the dragonfly would be a lovely memento.

RIP Sweet Monte

So sorry you had to go through this!

He looked like my RB boy Tarzan. He was 16 and had survived kidney stones just to be killed by a dog. Play happily over the bridge Monte. Tell Tarzan I still think about him 29 yrs later!