Saying Goodbye to Roc

Almost 19 years ago we adopted 2 sweet kittens from the SPCA, almost 2 years I posted one of them that passed away her name was Gracie and yesterday we had to say goodbye to the other kitten Rocky.  His health had been declining and we kept putting off that final vet visit because he / we couldn't say goodbye, second wind, third wind and lots of TLC till it became that time we hoped would never come.

We had one day to say our goodbyes, since the vet only had an Appt the next day and his health really seemed to be turning and we didn't want him suffering, I think he knew the time had come and he tried to comfort us that he was ready to leave his aging body of nearly 19 years old with multiple medical issues now in play, so the time came and we took him to the vets office who he has been seeing since he was 3 months old who also gave us extra time to say goodbye and even said goodbye himself and we one last long hug and kiss and he gave me one last nibble on the finger and watched him cross over the Rainbow Bridge.

We knew it was the right thing to do, but as always we asked our-self, should we have waited longer or would that be being selfish...  Bringing home an empty cat carrier through the waiting room, into the car and heading home seemed like a nightmare, did that just really happen, did we just say the final goodbye to our boy, but then the reality sets in when you get home and notice someone isn't at the door waiting on your, or in your house meowing out loud for food or needing help to walk to and from the litter box, the spot on your bed is empty as are his cat beds and that's when you know the feeling of emptiness in your house and that your boy crossed over.

I say Goodbye over and over in my head and feel I have lost another part of my heart and soul to a Great Kitten / Cat, Friend, Family Member

Love and Miss you my sweet boy, my you reunite with your sister in the heavens

RIP Roc

OW

I am sorry for your loss, RIP Rocky 

I'm very sorry for your loss.  Rocky and Gracie were beautiful friends.  Bless you for adopting and giving both of them wonderful lives.

I'm so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers go out to you during this difficult time.

RIP Rocky

Thanks for the kind words everyone, its been a very hard time for me the last few days...  I wanted to show off his bright blue eye's, kinda rare on orange and White and we always joked he didn't have a chin ... RIP Rocky

What a beautiful boy.  I'm very sorry--it's so hard saying good-bye to someone who's been part of our lives for so long.  

aww what a beautiful boy, he did have amazing eyes. I am sorry you lost him

Aw, I'm so sorry to hear about Rocky.  He truly was a gorgeous cat and those blue eyes are so beautiful!!  He sounds like he was a very special guy.  Even though you had 19 years together, it is never enough time.  My old Wesley lived to be 19 and I kept hoping for another year, but it was not to be.  At some point, the most loving thing you can do is to let them go.  It's so natural to worry that we acted too soon, but it sounds like Rocky really was ready to leave this world behind.  You gave him a wonderful life and freed him from suffering at the end - you absolutely did the right thing.  Try to be gentle with yourself over this.  

It is so hard being without them, when they have accompanied us for so long.  Every little thing seems to serve as a reminder that they are no longer with us.  With time, that fades, and hopefully you will find comfort in the good memories.  Many people find it helps to set up a little memorial to a lost kitty - something as simple as a photo and flower arrangement can bring us back in touch with our lost one.  

RIP Rocky, you good boy.  Run free with your lovely sister Gracie!          

My heart goes out to you.  Roc was such a beautiful boy, and OH those eyes!  He was obviously a very special boy, and I know you miss him with that searing pain of new loss right now.  One day, some day, the sweet of him with mix with it.  Until then, all there is to do is endure.

Rest you gentle, Rocky, dream you deep.

My prayers are with you, it is so hard to accept that we will never see them again after they were so much a part of our lives. You didn't let him suffer, that is what you must remember when you feel those doubts creeping in, it is so much better to be a day early then to be a day late. Old age and many ailments are not something that can be cured, he would never want you to feel pain at his expense, he loved you too much. Try to celebrate those 19 years of shared devotion, he would want you to think of those beautiful blue eyes with a smile, not the tears that tear at your heart. That hole in your heart, and your home, will take a long time to heal. Time will soften the anguish you feel now, it will allow you to let the sunshine back in your heart, so that he may bask in the warmth once again. Please accept my sincere condolences, I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself and know we share your sorrow........RIP sweet Rocky, you will never be forgotten and will be forever held in loving hearts!

Thanks for the kind words everyone, it's has really helped me deal with losing such a bright light in my life, people that are not pet owners and have not truely felt loved and love for a pet don't seem to understand the pain and  hardship it causes you when a loved one crosses over.  I look back at the 19 years I had with my boy and how fast it seems to have gone by for a day I knew would come and now hate to be a part of, but I rather have felt this pain then never knew the joy such a special boy could bring me with such a truely bright out going personality I have ever seen in any of my cats which just makes this just a heart breaking event for us.

Thank You for letting me vent

OW

Wow he was gorgeous with those blue eyes and orange coat. I'm very sorry for your loss. RIP Rocky.

Rocky was stunning! Nineteen years means a lot of sharing and memories, so his loss must be wrenching. My condolences.

Looks like we both lost our kittehs at the same time. Mine was 19. This is my first week without her, and yes, its very tough. As the tv is on she would have been right here. She was MY baby. We have other cats, all very young, all special, but me and her obviously were inseperable. It was almost ridiculous lol

What I tell people, is when you love an animal, you stop seeing an animal. It becomes way more than that. Ive lost many people and many animals. Loss is loss. Grief is the same. Just different depths of it.

I an so sorry for your loss, I am going through the same. It's very hard, they are our family. . This site has helped me so much, everyone understands our loss. Many hugs.

Please post picture of your kittens for us Meowkitteh and Little Cutie66 and tell us about your crossed fur babies, it helps to read about other peoples experiences and let uis know the story of you and your kittens. I have already ordered a great Cat Paws frame and ordered 5 x 7 prints of my fav photos and I am waiting on his ashes to come back. Last Friday was one week mark since I lost my boy and I had a candle burning for him to remember him by, but it's hard not to think about him all day and how the house just isn't the same.

My other cats seem to be trying to fill in the missing hole left behind, but it's just not the same around here knowing he has crossed over

OW

I am so, so sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful boy, & yes those eyes are rare on a "gingy."  I empathize with you, & am shedding tears with you, as I just lost my Angel two weeks ago yesterday. (also a "gingy & white)

It really is hard. You miss everything,  I know. 

You were blessed to get 19 years with him. I know it doesn't make it any easier though. I only had my boy for about 6 &1/2 yrs.  

You did the right thing. I waited probably almost a week too long, not wanting to say good-bye either, hoping he would pull through, but deep down fearing the time was coming, so everyday, so many times, I told him ALL the things I wanted to tell him. They say you will know when it's time, & they are right.

As much as it tore my heart out to make that decision, I knew I couldn't let my baby suffer anymore, I had done everything I could do for him.  

So trust that you knew it was your baby's time as well. As hard as it was, It's our final gift of compassion to them. 

I like to think that all of our kitties greet each other when they cross over.  They were all part of our TCS family.   

I will be praying for you.     May you feel the peace & comfort  from all the thoughts & prayers going up for you.  I know it helped me. 

Kelly

owest said:

 
Please post picture of your kittens for us Meowkitteh and Little Cutie66 and tell us about your crossed fur babies, it helps to read about other peoples experiences and let uis know the story of you and your kittens. I have already ordered a great Cat Paws frame and ordered 5 x 7 prints of my fav photos and I am waiting on his ashes to come back. Last Friday was one week mark since I lost my boy and I had a candle burning for him to remember him by, but it's hard not to think about him all day and how the house just isn't the same.

My other cats seem to be trying to fill in the missing hole left behind, but it's just not the same around here knowing he has crossed over

OW

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The two cats I've had most of my life and have lost are as follows:

- The one I just lost Monday was almost 20, had her since I was 15 (im 35 now). Renal failure. She was my baby. My sidekick. THE perfect cat. Literally on top of me. My wife would laugh because of how ridiculously inseparable we were. 

- The other one was 21. I lost him around 2011 and have had him since I was like 12. Mouth cancer..Skittish guy, wasnt a lap cat or super lovable, but was a major part of my life ofcourse.

I also lost two other cats, but didn't have them for nearly as long:

- One we took in from my mother-in-law who was about 19 and in renal failure. We took him knowing we could give him a comfortable last year or so.

- The other guy was about 4 months old that we saved from a gas station and only had for a week. I think he had a number of undetected health issues. Before we took him to the vet, he had been leaking pee everywhere. Vet said his bladder was full, an infection, gave us meds. Anyway, he had an adverse reaction after he got home from the vaccination and didnt make it. That broke my heart.

Its tough. There's no way around it.

The only advice I have for anyone about grief is talking and time. 

Fella my husband found him when he was 6 weeks old. He was 17 1/2 years old and we put him down. He had liver disease. We stayed in the room with him when Dr put him down. It was very peaceful Fella had a tear in his eye when he passed. He cried with us as we said goodbye.
Little Girl 8 yrs old died in our home 2 days later!! That was a shock! Two days before she died, she was breathing heavy, we rushed her to ER, had tests, she had an aggressive Lymphoma. We had no idea. That was my baby. I still cry everyday. We have there ashes and light a candle for them.
I still have 1 cat Batman his 15. He misses them. I gave him a lot of love, but his not a loving cat. His a loner. He only loved Fella.
Only time heals this pain, some days are easier then others. I miss them so much..

Fella and Little Girl