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A confession

post #1 of 22
1/20/10 at 10:46am
Thread Starter 
I want to share something with all of you about all my beloved babies that I have lost over the years. I have only told this to one other person (a non-cat person) who just rolled her eyes at me. It really pertains to my last three cats who were very close in age and unfortunately all past away in a two year period. I clipped a small portion of their fur off to keep with me and also wrote all of them a letter of love to be buried with them. I don't think this forum is a place I am going to be judged. I feel safe saying this and would like to know if I am the only one who has done this...
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post #2 of 22
1/20/10 at 10:55am
I think that is very touching and sweet.
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post #3 of 22
1/20/10 at 10:55am
I wrote poems about some of my cats that I lost and I saved some fur and whiskers.
In fact when Yoshi and Stormy were pts 2 years ago a month apart I asked the vet for the fur and whiskers and they said no problem.
I also have Stripe,Yoshi,Stormy and Lucys ashes here.
Patches is in Bubbling Wells and the rest are in my dads back yard.
There is nothing wrong with what you did.
My aunts dogs are buried with her.
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post #4 of 22
1/20/10 at 10:56am
I think its a very sweet thing you have done

everyone deals with their loss in their own way and yours is touching
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post #5 of 22
1/20/10 at 11:27am
I have 3 medium sized plastic bags, and each one has the name of my cats wrote on them. Everytime i brush them i save their fur and pop it in the bag and seal it, because i know one day i'll want to touch and smell them again when their not here anymore. So what you did isn't strange to anyone here, because we all understand when it comes to our babies
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post #6 of 22
1/20/10 at 11:37am
I think that is lovely, why would you be judged for that? Cats are our family too and alot of people do that for humans so why not cats? They understand us and are as important to us as another human being. So sorry for all your losses x
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post #7 of 22
1/20/10 at 12:55pm
Very touching and sweet!
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post #8 of 22
1/20/10 at 6:35pm
And this would be strange exactly how? I would guess you're not unusual at all. We all seriously love our cats, and a memento is not at all odd.
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post #9 of 22
1/20/10 at 6:35pm
I have a small bit of Alley's fur that I placed inside a locket
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post #10 of 22
1/20/10 at 11:42pm
I think its beautiful!
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post #11 of 22
1/21/10 at 3:34am
I always save a snip of fur from my sweet kitties. I have a little cedar box and it sits on the window in the living room. I also snip a piece of my hair and place it near their heart.

A couple of years ago I was going through some old papers of my dads. I found a small envelope with the name "Fifi, 1964" She was my little poodle when I was a child. Evidently, when she was trimmed, my mom or dad saved the fur. I cried.

We have a small kitty cemetary behind our barn. My husband always makes a wooden cross and engraves their names on it when they pass. We will be creamated and our ashes will be buried along side all our kitties. It is a comfort to me to know I will not leave my beloved farm and will rest along with my husband among the truest friends I have ever known.

So you are a deeply caring and feeling person to care so much for the small friends who have shared your life.
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post #12 of 22
1/21/10 at 4:59am
I, too, save the fur from brushings. I have an envelope for each cat, past and present. I save whiskers too, though since I don't know who has dropped each one, they are all together.

When I was away at college my younger sister used to send me the brushings from my cat in her letters.
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post #13 of 22
1/21/10 at 5:27am
I saved my baby boy's collar, which has a few strands of his fur still sticking onto it. Its hung in my office where I see it everyday, and I absolutely forbid anyone to touch it lest the little furs drop off. Its all I have of him, that used to be ON him, a part of him. I completely understand why you save furs from your kitties.
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post #14 of 22
1/21/10 at 10:41am
When our first cat, Betsy died, we were heartbroken. When I cleaned the floor, I found some of her hair and a toenail was on her scratching post. I have them inside the clear frame that holds her picture. When my soulmate, Max, died from ACF 2005, we were in such shock we didn't think to save fur. Instead I wrote a story of his life and put it in booklet with a picture of him. I included a picture of "The Max Tree", which was a hibiscus my best friend gave to plant right outside our screen porch. I gave a copy of the story to his first owner and to the vet who took care of him all those years. He was 14. I wanted everyone to know Max was more than just a cat. Writing about him did two things. I know I won't forget the little things because I wrote them all and also it provided a tremendous healing for me.

My husband has never read the story.
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post #15 of 22
1/23/10 at 3:30am
I too write small little things about my cats. It really does help.

I can understand your husband not reading the story. I think that shows a tender heart.
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post #16 of 22
1/23/10 at 4:54am
Yep, he told me maybe one day he would read it, but Max died in 2005 and that day hasn't come yet. Now we are dealing with Max' buddy, Speedboat. He is a 14 year old cat, just diagnosed with CRF. Prayers needed. Thanks
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post #17 of 22
1/23/10 at 4:35pm
I also save a fur clipping, which I eventually place in the urn containing their ashes. I place a small jewelry bag between their paws which contains a clipping of my own hair, along with something else they enjoyed... a toy, carpet clipped from their scratching post, a picture of us together, a few pieces of their favorite kibble, etc. And I usually write something in their memory.

I know people who would roll their eyes too. I consider them acquaintances, not friends.
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post #18 of 22
1/23/10 at 9:09pm
I saved a lock from fur from my heart dog Ginger in her scrapbook and saved some of my dog Pooch's fur as well... I also saved the fur (undercoat) from whenever I brushed Ginger, to make into chiengora(wool.)

And I had one of these pendants made with Ginger's DNA:
http://perpetua.us/perpetua-dna-uno-pendant.html
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post #19 of 22
1/23/10 at 11:20pm
For a year after my oldest cat died, I wore a heart locket with some of his ashes in it. It was comforting.
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post #20 of 22
1/25/10 at 11:27am
We all have different ways of dealing with our grief.
What you've done gives you comfort.
They were loved, that's the best life you could have given them - so don't be afraid of what others think - you know what is best for you to heal.

Blessings!
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post #21 of 22
1/25/10 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaJH View Post
They were loved, that's the best life you could have given them - so don't be afraid of what others think - you know what is best for you to heal.
Exactly...you are all so very, very sweet. Everyone grieves differently. I have actually put a notice in the obituary for my pets with poems to go along with it. I’ve also slept for months with a collar or a favorite toy under my pillow.

I also have a habit of mourning the animals that nobody loved. The dog or cat at the rescue that was found a stray that no one wanted and had to be put to sleep. I like to think at least one person cried for them, they deserved at least that. Do people look at me funny when I tell them that? Hell ya they do. To me they are weird, not me… how can loving something be weird?

You are all so wonderful.
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post #22 of 22
1/25/10 at 5:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BaloneysMom View Post
I also have a habit of mourning the animals that nobody loved. The dog or cat at the rescue that was found a stray that no one wanted and had to be put to sleep. I like to think at least one person cried for them, they deserved at least that. Do people look at me funny when I tell them that? Hell ya they do. To me they are weird, not me… how can loving something be weird?
That is beautiful - it is why I will go to shelters in strange cities & visit the kitties there. Some people tell me that it's cruel because I'm just going to leave them there, but IMO, I have given love & comfort & I pray over them -sometimes it works & they do get adopted out right after Others tell me that it's weird, cuz it's a sad place, but, hey, aren't those the places where someone needs a visit the most? the old people's homes, the animal shelter, the jails etc
With Joey, I didn't think to trim any fur. I did cut off my long hair & cover him with it - I loved my long hair, but I love my Joey more I plan to hold a memorial & paint some rocks to decorate his grave. I am just waiting for my older daughter & my grandson to be able to attend.
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