How Much Do You Cry

I am a sixty some year old woman who has seen my share of heartaches. Over the years, I have lost numerous pets. I have lost three cats, Betsy, age 11. I had her ten of those years. She died of cardiomyopathy. Max was a 13 1/2 year old tuxedo cat, and my soulmate. I had him 12 years. He died of acute renal failure. We had no idea what happened to him. On Monday of this week we had Speedboat put to sleep. He would be 14 years old this spring. We had him since August 1996. He quit eating all of a sudden. Bloodwork showed low white blood count, low blood platelets, 3rd state kidney failure. We have no idea if it was all connected or two different ailments. We gave him fluids and did other things to try to help him. In less than two weeks, he went to end stage failure and was in danger of spontaneous bleeding because of his blood. I cry because I miss him so much. I still miss Max although he died in 2005 his loss is still very real to me.

I have two more cats, one 10 years old male and a five year old female calico. I love them both and am committed to them until they die. But I dread the thought of having to go through the pain of it all two more time. How do you folks deal with the pain of it. I will see these two through to the end, but I hurt so much from losing my Speedboat this week, I don't think I can ever take in another one.

When the time is right, there usually is another cat led into your life. You are dealing with a fresh hurt from losing Speedboat and it will take time for it to lessen. Until then, we are here for you

We learn many useful things from our pets, and the transitory nature of life is probably one of the most important. If we had to learn about death from losing humans close to us, we might not be able to take it.

The metaphor I have used many times is that every cat creates a place in your heart, and when he's gone, he leaves a hole in your heart that no other cat can fill, but other cats can help fill up some of the hole.

Our Snoopy, our first cat together, lived with us 14 years. He, too, went from apparently healthy to being put to sleep for kidney/liver failure in the space of just over a week. It was one of the most traumatic experiences in our married life.

But being at the shelter, as I am, I know that there are always cats who desperately need a home and who will love every minute they have with you.

Oh, I know how you feel. We all do. It is the price we pay for loving. We go into owning cats knowing that our heart will break sooner or later. But we do it anyway. It is so hard, I know. Two years ago I lost 2 cats in 2 days. My sweet Baby K had hyperthyroidism and was having a terrible time with his bowels. He was 13 and we had to put him to sleep. Two days later, I found my sweet Farley Velcro dead in his bed in the morning when I went in to say good morning. He was 13 also, a diabetic. I have no idea what happened.

My mom lost a precious kitty suddenly years ago. We were so worried about mom because she started having heart palpatations and wouldn't get dressed or get off the couch. Totally unlike her. It took time. That is the best I can tell you. It took time for me, mom, and all who love. Your wound is raw right now. But having lost other kitties, you know you will come out the other side of grief. When you are feeling bad, ask yourself, "if I could, would I bring him back, even being ill?" He lived the full life of a cat. He knew only love.

I hope this has helped somewhat. I know I dread the day when I will write a post like yours. But I will. The best tribute you can give Speedboat is opening your heart to another little one when the time comes. It will reflect the happiness he brought you. This world is the land of the dying. The next is the land of the living.

God bless you and your family. Speed is watching over you.

Aww, it's only been a very short while since you said good bye to Speedboat.

I cry for months when I have to send a beloved kitty to the bridge. I lost Ootay in May 2009, and it's only the last two months or so I can think of her at all without bursting into tears. I still miss her so much.

Baby, who was my soul mate, I lost suddenly to acute kidney failure (due to stress) in January 1998. Just sitting here thinking of him, I have tears in my eyes.

It does hurt. It hurts terribly. But....I will always have cats to live with, I can't live without them. I have five cats waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge so far, and one dog.

You have to let yourself grieve. It takes a long time. You're barely out of being in shock over it all.

{{{{hugs}}}

I appreciate your kind words, all of you. My Muffin, who has seen Speedboat every day of his ten years of life, is lost. I am trying to give him lots of hugs. I know he wonders where his buddy of ten years is.

When I lost Snowflake, almost ten years ago now I felt the same way, I have lost many more since then, its hard each time. I still think back to the days when I was ten and we first brought Snowflake home, I stilll cry when I think of how I lost her... I remember right after she passed someone asked me "when you gonna get another cat?" I felt so insulted. I DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER CAT< I WANTED SNOWFLAKE! My mother had a print made for me last year when I lost my Casper, I think it fits most perfectly; " Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a worn out coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that have succeeded but not replaced one another." ~Irving Townsend

I think that is appropriate, true and hopeful. You as well as your remaining feline friends are in my thoughts.

We cry because we loved them so much. They are precious to us and deserve every tear that falls. Grief is both friend and foe. When my Riff-Raff died in my arms 15 years ago I was so devastated I sat in a rocking chair with his body for hours. If we couldn't feel the pain of losing them then how could we feel the joy of loving them? God Bless you.

I cry every time I think about my dear little Fred lately. He has been gone nearly 5 years, and sometimes it feels like yesterday. I still look for him when I sit down in my chair at night, because he would run up between my legs and jump up to me, always trusting that I would catch him.
It has been really hard lately because I have been dreaming about him. He is healthy, young and playing with his brother at the Bridge.
I still miss him so much.

Today it is raining & cold, and a pic of my Joey (12/18/09) showed up on my slideshow/screen saver, and how the tears come uninvited Joey's basking in the golden glow of Heaven's love, though; his earthly troubles are over.
I've lost my share of loved ones, furry & human; yes, it hurts, but think of that Wonderful Reunion wating for us someday - ancestors, beloved pets, wonderful people and cats we never met on this side of RB