Missing Him Badly

Here is Tom, he was a rather big cat, very lovable and always by my side. He's only about 8 years if age. So here's the back story. My sister and I found him in a corn field across the street from our house, my father, who is allergic to cats, was telling my sister not to go up to him, being herself, she went up and pet Tom anyways. Being lost and/or abandoned as a kitten he saw my sister as his 'mother'. So after about fifteen minutes of him following us around, we decided to take him in. From there on, he met our love able dog Bear Bear, a Norwegian Elkhound, whom loved to clean Tom. Slowly, Tom progressed to be my cat as we both grew up together, and since he was an indoor/outdoor cat he got dirty and roughed up, so eventually, he became my best friend. For the past 5 years of bonding with him as 'my' cat we both kept each other company, warm, sleep for 16 hours straight on the weekends, and he would even sit on my lap as I played games. Now, I am currently 15 years of age, Freshman, and a week ago we noticed Tom's left leg swelled up, turns out, an aggressive cancer got him, and it was rather extremely aggressive, due to how quickly it formed, less than a week. And it was last night at 7:00pm EST December 18, 2013 that my mother and I went into the vet and we had to let god take him over the rainbow bridge. I am happy that he is not suffering, and I know that he'll meet up with Bear, our other cat, Cupcake, but I am devastated at this loss. I bawled my eyes out, having to leave him. Now, for some reason I always feel sick to my stomach and there is a part of me missing, I'm getting better at dealing with his passing, but I will most likely always have this 'gap' inside me. I also have much harder time sleeping and I can't get the image of him lying there.

Until I meet you again, Tom, I will have this hole in me forever. -Michael

Very sorry for your loss. You will find lots of support here

I am so sorry. Cancer is awful.

I am so very sorry for your loss.  He was a very handsome kitty.

He was a handsome guy and it sounds like he was a great friend. Time will eventually soften the pain of loss some, but that gap will always be in your heart. And that is ok. You cannot feel great sorrow without having felt great love. I am so sorry for your loss.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. It sounds like Tom was real loyal to you and truly your best friend. You have so many great memories of Tom. He'll never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, sweet boy. 

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.

I'm so very sorry you have to go through this, especially this time of the year. I lost my little one on 12/08/12, and it's hard to be happy like everyone else. I'm happy you didn't let Tom suffer, he'll be safe and warm at the Rainbow Bridge. Please know we'll offer you whatever comfort we can, I know the emptiness and the pain you are going through. Time is the only thing that helps, one day you will be able to remember him with smiles instead of tears. Remember that he would never want you to be so sad when you think of him, please try to celebrate the love you two shared and not dwell on his death. One day you might fill that emptiness with another little soul to love. Please take care of yourself. RIP beautiful Tom!

I'm really sorry that you have lost your best friend and feel this big hole where he has been. Tom wasn't unwell for long but he also wasn't suffering and in pain for long which is a blessing.  He is still in your heart, and with God and your other cats, so you know he is forever close even if you can't see him.  Hopefully the pain you feel right now will allow precious memories to come through so you can remember all the good things you got up to.  Until then there are plenty people here who can relate to what you're feeling right now.  I lost one of my tabby girls 3 years ago on the 18th December and she is as precious to me now as she was then but I don't feel sad now when I think of her, I feel the love I had for her and remember the time we had together.  I hope that comes to you too when you are ready.  For Tom. 

I'm very sorry you lost Tom so unexpectedly and at such a young age. Of course you miss him and probably always will, but the pain fades more and more with time, to be replaced with a warm feeling every time you think of him and the time you shared. RIP, Tom.

So very sorry to hear about your loss. I had to say goodbye to my 14 year companion, Buddy, December 17, 2012. The hardest thing for me was finding a way to keep the image of our last moments together from being the primary focus. I would give myself a few minutes to feel the grief and then would try to replace those thoughts with some of my favorite Buddy moments. The important thing to realize is that it is okay to feel the sadness you feel. You lost a beloved family member. The sadness will subside in time. Be patient with yourself and take time to embrace all of the good times you shared with Tom.

Mikeu, most of us here know exactly what you are going through now, as I read your post I couldn't help but get teary-eyed, knowing so well that empty feeling, how hard the first few days/weeks will be to get through.

It surely feels like forever, but time truly does somehow make it not hurt so badly, and the last memory with him will eventually fade, as you heal, the better, happier memories, the way he smelled, his sleeping positions, his lounging, or playing, all the things that made him the special friend he was.

You will soon enough find comfort that you were such a great and loyal friend to him as he to you, and you gave him all the love you had to give, all the way through his life and all the way through the end of it.

You were there, he knew you were with him. That is the greatest and best gift any of us can give to our loyal friend when it's their time.

Great big hugs from us all who know just what you are going through now. 

Feel free to come here and tell us about him, or how you are feeling, we are always here.

RIP Tom, you were so very loved.

Beautiful Tom  

I'm so sorry.  Tom was a beautiful cat and a friend you'll never forget.  

Tom was a beautiful friend.

I feel the same way. My precious angel died Dec. 8th. I remain grief stricken and desolate. You are not alone.