We lost our Rikkashay during the summer.

It was so puzzling to us.  She was old,(she was 18), but she wasn't sick.  I let her out, because she loved it outside.  She couldn't jump very high anymore, so I knew she couldn't get out of the fenced yard.  When it came time to bring her in, I couldn't find her.  We searched the yard for hours, every nook and cranny.  We also searched every part of our house and basement just in case maybe I had let her in and didn't remember doing that. I expected she would be at the back door by morning, but  she wasn't.  We have never found her.  Do cats go off and hide to die?

Now Kodak is l9 and wanting to spend more and more time outdoors.  It worries me that she might do the same.  But she seems to be healthy.  She just sleeps a lot, but all cats do that.

She is older than Rikkashay was (she will be 19 this December) and still eats "like a horse". 

But we'll never be able to find another Rikkashay who talked all the time.  It seemed she cried for the babies she never had.  She carried socks around like kittens and if she found money laying anyplace, she picked it up and hid it with the socks she took.  She had a stash of things in closets and we dared to move any of it.

I tell myself I'll never have another cat when Kodak is gone, but I know better.  I think you always have certain pets that are a little extra special even though you love them all.  Rikkashay and Kodak fit that description.

To add to out sorrow is that I also had to put down my Great Dane.  She was 9 but suddenly lost the use of her back legs.  The vet said at her age it would be too expensive to investigate the cause and recommended putting her down, so we did.  We've lost two of the sweetest pets this summer and it's been tough.  Kodak seems to know there is a big change at this household now, so I have to give her a lot of attention, which I'm willing to do, of course.

I'm very sorry for your loss. How long has it been since she's been gone? The not knowing would be very bad for your mind. Yes, cats do go off to die. Puzzling how she'd get out though if she couldn't jump high.

I understand your pain. Sorry you sweet person I hope you can find peace.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Is it possible that someone let you cat out of the yard through a gate or something? Did you get any deliveries or anything where someone may not have closed it all the way? Have you put up any fliers around to let your neighbors know she's missing? Good luck. I hope she turns up OK 

I'm so terribly sorry for your double loss, it takes a long time to get over a broken heart. Both were a valued member of your family and the pain can seem unending at times. Cats do want to be alone when the end is near, although it is puzzling that she disappeared like that. The not knowing can be worse then finding her. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, take care.......RIP beautiful Rikkashay and faithful friend!

We went through our neighborhood telling all our neighbors and several helpled us search. We also searched through the horse barn joning our property where Rikkashay had gone once before when she was young.  I even wondered if maybe a falcon or hawk might have gotten her.  She weighed about 12 pounds, and that was quite a bit for a bird to carry, but could that have been a possibility?  They stalk the squirrels in our walnut tree.  Rikkashay went missing in early July and I had to have Lojack, the Great Dane, put down three weeks ago.

Thank you all for your sympathies.  It helps a lot to know that others understand your feelings .  People who have never had a pet just don't understand at all.  My daughter just had to let one of her dogs go and told me she was going to have to put the other one down, also, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it only two weeks after the other one.  I certainly understand that.  But she can't make the dog suffer if it gets too sick.  Since she had rescued dogs for many years, she knows that only too well and I'm sure she will know when the time is right.

I'm very sorry for your losses.  And for your daughter's, as well.  Please tell her that I think she is a blessing, for rescuing.

My condolences. It's so difficult to lose our longtime companions.

I'll tell her that.  People need to know their hard work didn't go unrecognized.  She had as many as 17 dogs and cats at one time at her house that were rescue animals.  We have a large yard with three separate areas fenced separately and even fostered some for her while she found them homes.  She would spay or neuter them, get them immunized  and vetted and then was advertising on the internet searching for homes for the cats and dogs she had.  She shipped them across the country to new homes in crates she found on eBay and Amazon.  Good thing her husband was in it 100% with her.  God bless these two people.  It's a sad thing all her rescued animals were right from our own area (and some of them were expensive breeds).

When her husband lost his job because of the economy causing his company to leave town, she had to give the rescue up, but she kept several of the dogs and cats, and still people drop animals off in front of her house knowing she won't turn them down.

Bless her for her work, the world needs a lot more like her!

Rikkashay 

Thank you for  your words of comfort.  We do have such fond memories.  Not only of Rikkashay, but of several other cats over the years.  Each was different, just like children are from each other, and each brings back the sweetest and funniest memories.  We catch ourselves often saying "Remember when" and getting into great conversations about them all.  It's easy to spend almost too much time on memories when there are other things needing done, but it's easy to indulge ourselves.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your little one I lost my first cat this year, Frodo. I got him at age 18 and lost him when he was 11 (I'm 29 now) to advanced hyperthyroid. We had to put him down, and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, my heart is still broken. I have his portrait tattooed on my calf (and my other cat on the other one) to remember him by. Keeping him close that way helps, and remembering when he was happy and healthy. I also like to see our new kitten Max doing "Frodo things," it makes me not feel quite so sad. He was one of a kind though. I know it might be hard that she wandered off, but to me that would be more reassuring in a way, that she went on her own terms and that you didn't have to make the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize.  (hug)

I'm sorry you lost your Frodo.  You're right about putting a pet down.  It's the most difficult thing to do.  I've had to do it several times and possibly it's easier if the vet does it while you're in the waiting room, but I want to be with my pet saying "Goodby".  It's like they know what's happening and they need someone beside them.