OMG I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO Sorry

I am glad that this was not me in this situation. I would be so upset that I would be in tears before I could tell a friend that my cat had killed her gerbil.

Maybe after a few months or years I could laugh about it.

I'm glad that this worked out for you and your friend.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

I'm pretty horrified that so many people think this is funny. What if the tables were turned and the friend had a dog who preyed on cats? Not so funny!

I don't know how your friend took this, but our 3 chickens were killed by a negligent pet sitter (didn't close the door and raccoons killed them) and I still have a difficult time thinking about it and the terror our pets went through, and that was 6 years ago. I know what happened wasn't intentional, no accident ever is, but that doesn't make the end result any less painful.

This was not your friend's fault! She offered her home to you out of kindness, you were in charge, and if you weren't staying there, this would not have happened. I'm sorry, but it's your fault, and I hope you tell her that a few times.

If I were you, I would go out of my way to try to make this up to her. Saying sorry is not enough if you are responsible for someone's pet's death. And definitely don't tell her you will replace her gerbil thinking that will fix things. Think of the reverse scenario again, would another cat replace yours?

I hope this doesn't destroy your friendship but I would not be surprised if it does.

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I don't think it's funny, either.

I'm pretty horrified that so many people think this is funny. What if the tables were turned and the friend had a dog who preyed on cats? Not so funny!

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Nor do I think it's funny. At all. When I read the original post, I was wondering how the OP would have felt had it been a dog that killed her Bella. And no way could I have giggled when I was trying to tell a friend that my cat killed her pet. People react to things in different ways, I guess. I think it's horrible.

I'm glad that it worked out for you. But still.....

I think this has been taken completely out of contest... The OP didn't think it was funny... She was in tears, she was pretty freaked out about what happened and telling her friend about it...
For those who are judging her giggling when telling her friend - this is a common nervous reaction, it happens to the best people when put in situations like that; having laugh attacks is not at all that uncommon - it does NOT mean she thinks it is funny that the little creature got killed, or is mocking the situation. She just had a nervous reaction.

Originally Posted by Carolina

I think this has been taken completely out of contest... The OP didn't think it was funny... She was in tears, she was pretty freaked out about what happened and telling her friend about it...
For those who are judging he giggling when telling her friend - this is a common nervous reaction, it happens to the best people when are put in situations like that; having laugh attacks is not at all that uncommon - it does NOT mean she thinks it is funny that the little creature got killed, or is mocking the situation. She just had a nervous reaction.

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I agree 100%. She said herself how horrible she felt about it. It's a sad situation all the way around. Let's not make her feel any worse about it guys.

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

Ok listen, I broke the news to her...and as I was trying to explain the events leading up to the "murder" of Solomon...I started giggling...and couldn't stop. Really, I thought I was going to wet my pants. It didn't help that
(as I was trying to express my apology) Bella was sitting on the back of the couch all puffed up with pride. She is quite pleased with herself. She looks like a lioness that just took down a heard of buffalo to feed her family.
I am sorry, though, I am an animal lover. I am sure she will get over it. I put the "remains" (his tail) in a tiny box and offered to say a prayer.
Well, I certainly hope my air conditioner gets fixed ASAP so I can take Bella The Gerbil Killer back home. She totally cheated on her diet today!!!

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I am trying to see the comparison........

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

I feel TERRIBLE about this. So now I'm waiting for her to come home so I can break this to her. I don't want to call her and tell her this over the phone.
As I wait, I'm thinking about going to Petsmart and buying her another gerbil--I'm not thinking very clearly right now.
WISH ME LUCK GUYS
p.s. I'm not going through with the Petsmart idea

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Originally Posted by Bellaandme

You're a sweetheart. Thanks!! I was in shock-now I'm in tears.

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When doing your "comparison", don't forget about this... How she felt about what happened...

Originally Posted by Kailie

I agree 100%. She said herself how horrible she felt about it. It's a sad situation all the way around. Let's not make her feel any worse about it guys.

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I really don't want to make her feel worse about it, it's such a tragic story, but I can't be the only one who detected humor in the OP's tone if so many others in this thread said they were laughing over this...

and BTW, I think a thread of this kind should have been in the crossing the bridge section, maybe then people would have taken it more seriously.

You're right. It's the OP's fault. You're an evil, evil person for appealing to my dark side Bellaandme .

About the fast eating, there was a Netgeo film that followed a domestic cat in the city. They filmed it from afar and even had a kitty-cam on it's collar. It caught a mouse by a dumpster. The cat pretty much swallowed it whole in a few seconds. Didn't leave the tail behind though.

I guess I'm just full of inconsistencies. I saw an injured bat on the walkway back from lunch 2 days ago. I felt really sorry for the little guy. But right now Mia is chasing a tiny lizard around in the house. I'm happy with that. She can't go outside to the enclosed pool deck tonight becasue it was just resealed but I had the door openned before and one of the tiny little lizards that run all over pool decks in Florida got in the house. I'n not going to save the lizard. In fact, I'm kinda happy she has it to hunt since she's a very vocal little Siamese who would be screaming at me because she can't sit out by the pool tonight.

Didn't you know from the first two lines of the OP that it wasn't going to end well for little Solomon.

Well fed cat's usually like to play with their prey for a while. Maybe there is a terrified little tailless gerbil hiding under something.

Okay, how many of us are reminded here of the "Chuckles the Clown" episode on the Mary Tyler Moore Show? I know she was upset, and she did have a humorous way of telling us, but everyone reacts differently. I feel horrible for the gerbil, I can't even kill bugs and I have nearly caused an accident braking for low flying birds. Give the OP a break...

I break for squirrels even though I hate them. They run outside the cats enclosure chattering at them. Mia hates the squirrels for their freedom.

I don't remember the Chuckles the clown episode.

Originally Posted by threecatowner

Okay, how many of us are reminded here of the "Chuckles the Clown" episode on the Mary Tyler Moore Show? I know she was upset, and she did have a humorous way of telling us, but everyone reacts differently. I feel horrible for the gerbil, I can't even kill bugs and I have nearly caused an accident braking for low flying birds. Give the OP a break...

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I saw the Chuckles the Clown episode; in fact, I think that was one of most watched MTM episodes. And I understand that everyone reacts differently to situations.

I understand that the OP was feeling terrible about what happened. But I really didn't need to know that "Bella the Gerbil Killler" totally went off her diet yesterday. Trying to purposely add humor to a situation like that is inappropriate.

Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by Winchester

Nor do I think it's funny. At all. When I read the original post, I was wondering how the OP would have felt had it been a dog that killed her Bella. And no way could I have giggled when I was trying to tell a friend that my cat killed her pet. People react to things in different ways, I guess. I think it's horrible.

I'm glad that it worked out for you. But still.....

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I may have giggled in her situation. I'm one of those people who giggle in stressful situations. It's terrible. It's has nothing to do with thinking it's funny. At my mother's intervention (the least funny thing on earth), I was smiling because I was terribly scared and uncomfortable.

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

I put the "remains" (his tail) in a tiny box and offered to say a prayer.
Well, I certainly hope my air conditioner gets fixed ASAP so I can take Bella The Gerbil Killer back home. She totally cheated on her diet today!!!

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I am not trying to make anyone feel bad. But the statements above do seem an attempt at humor.

My Siamie once killed a baby bluebird that fell right on top of her head. I know it's a cat's nature to kill, but I felt horrible. It happened so fast I didn't have time to react. If I had posted a story on here about "Siamie and the Suicide Bird", it would have sounded as though I thought what she did was cute and amusing.

Some posters do think the gerbil story is funny. I'm just not one of them.

Originally Posted by Carolina

I think this has been taken completely out of contest... The OP didn't think it was funny... She was in tears, she was pretty freaked out about what happened and telling her friend about it...
For those who are judging her giggling when telling her friend - this is a common nervous reaction, it happens to the best people when put in situations like that; having laugh attacks is not at all that uncommon - it does NOT mean she thinks it is funny that the little creature got killed, or is mocking the situation. She just had a nervous reaction.

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I totally agree with you. The OP was really torn up about what happened and I do still believe it was the owner of the gerbil that was at fault. You don't just leave your gerbil loose when a known predator is in the house, unfortunately Solomon paid the ultimate price...that is the sad thing. Solomon is the only one I have pity for.

The thing is though this may not have happened at all if the friend hadn't tried to introduce Solomon to Bella and Bella got his scent. Anyway it is done now and obviously Bellaandme is trying desperately to make it upto her friend.x

Originally Posted by Dave_PH

Didn't you know from the first two lines of the OP that it wasn't going to end well for little Solomon.

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No.
...........................

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

The thing is though this may not have happened at all if the friend hadn't tried to introduce Solomon to Bella and Bella got his scent. Anyway it is done now and obviously Bellaandme is trying desperately to make it upto her friend.x

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I see both sides equally responsible for this tragedy, I guess we will never know if the friend with the Gerbil found it funny in any way.....Hopefully she doesn't read TCS

I am sorry, but I gotta say this is starting to be pathetic IMHO- this thread is becoming an IMO. She shared an experience she went through, and all of the sudden there are pages and pages scrutinizing her writing.... gee... It is almost cruel, if not already. I wish this thread could be closed, it is getting quite pointless...

Since I agree that there is nothing to be gained by having this thread open any longer and that people are talking in circles, I am closing the thread.