RIP my sweet Rita

I lost my sweet angel, Rita on December 22nd and I am finding it very hard to cope with her loss. This baby was my world.
Rita was diagnosed with feline heartworm disease at the end of August when she was rushed to the vet in respiratory distress. She had been hospitalized five days and with drug and oxygen therapy, she made an amazing recovery.
She did so well for months, but in mid November she suffered a pleural effusion and needed a thoracentesis done. She did so well for about five weeks and then went into respiratory distress again on December 22nd. I rushed her to the vet, hoping that she could recover again. She was taken back for oxygen therapy right away. Within 10 minutes a tech came to tell me she was passing away and that I needed to come back immediately to say goodbye. My baby died in my arms within seconds.

I have known for a while that Rita's life would likely be cut short due to the heartworms, but she was up playing that morning. I was not expecting it to happen when it did.
I have been overwhelmed with grief, but also guilt. I did not know much about heartworm disease in cats before Rita's diagnosis, but if I had educated myself more, Rita might still be here.
I miss her so much.

My brother and I rescued Rita after she had been thrown from a car on a busy highway in May of 2008. She was just a kitten. I had no intention of getting another cat, so I called all the rescues in my area the next day. All were full. It was just as well because I had already started to get attached to this sweet kitten.
Rita was the sweetest, most affectionate cat I have ever known. She absolutely loved every person she ever met, and when I had guests she always made sure she greeted everyone.
I miss how she used to wake me up in the middle of the night just for pets, and how she carried her toys around in her mouth. I miss her taking my ponytail holders and playing with them. I miss just knowing that she would be there to greet me every time I came home.
I could go on and on with all the things I miss about my baby. I would give years off my own life if I could just have her for one more.

I have not felt this much pain from a loss since I lost my grandmother in 2002.
I wish that my family and friends could understand how I feel. I can only describe that it feels like loosing any loved one, but not many people understand that to some, pets are family.
I posted on here in August when Rita was hospitalized, but came here now because of people who understand exactly what I'm going through right now.

RIP Rita
March 2008-December 22nd 2016
I will love you forever, my Angel.

Your sweet angel has gained her wings. Rita knew you did all you could, she was satisfied that she was loved and cherished, and she carried that love with her when she crossed that Bridge to her paradise. There was just not the possibility to know and to prevent everything that can possibly happen to bring harm to our loved ones. We try the best we can, but we are human and prone to not cover everything that can happen. She shared your life's path for a while, she brought much to your life. Don't dim her precious memory with sorrow and grief, try to remember what she brought to your life that meant so much to her, your happiness and bringing you joy. She would never want to be the one to bring you unhappiness now, as you would want for her if you were the one to go. The bond you formed is strong and can never be broken. She will be forever tied to your soul until you meet again, your paths may have split apart but the love that you have for each otter will tie the two of you together for evermore. she will send her comfort and love along that bond for you, don't shut your heart by filling it with grief and tears, open it to receive that love and greet her with smiles and sunshine. I'll pray for you both, my heart cries for what you are going through, but you don't have to go through it alone. Take care........RIP precious Rita, the world is a little darker with your passing. Let your love light up the heart of the one who loves and misses you so much, sleep tight little princess!

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your little precious girl, you did the best that you could for her so please know that, and any negative thoughts you are having now is just the grief which can manifest itself in many ways both mental and physical. And yes we here do understand what it is like to lose them and they are a family member, and you did a wonderful thing by rescuing her after some idiot threw her out years ago.

And I also want to say that the intense emotions you are having are magnified because she died in your arms; while it is nice to look back later and know that you held her right now it is unbearable to know that, but she is glad that you held her. I know this because 11/23/15 Sebastian died in my arms when I came home from work, and while it was a terrible, traumatic experience it also is comforting now to know that I got to hold him one last time, I was the first to hold him when I brought him in and the last to hold him when he left this Earth, he and Rita did not die alone, so take comfort that she was held by the one she loved and the one who loved her.

God Bless, hang in there, cry, let it out, and with time it does slowly get better. Sorry for your loss.....  

I'm so very sorry for your loss.  Your Rita was incredibly lucky to have had such a wonderful custodian.  I work as a regional manager for a large property management company, and I see homeless, destitute and ill cats on apartment grounds everyday.

There are so, so many of them.

Your Rita was one of the lucky ones.  She never knew the sadness of sleeping in the rain and cold, or an owner discarding her when they moved.

You were a spectacular caretaker for her and she knew she was loved.

That right there is so much more than so many cats ever know.

Rest in peace, Rita.

Your love for Rita will give her comfort as she moves on to her next journey. She will love your forever back for the kindness you have shown her. RIP sweet girl

mkc61187 said:

I lost my sweet angel, Rita on December 22nd and I am finding it very hard to cope with her loss. This baby was my world.
Rita was diagnosed with feline heartworm disease at the end of August when she was rushed to the vet in respiratory distress. She had been hospitalized five days and with drug and oxygen therapy, she made an amazing recovery.
She did so well for months, but in mid November she suffered a pleural effusion and needed a thoracentesis done. She did so well for about five weeks and then went into respiratory distress again on December 22nd. I rushed her to the vet, hoping that she could recover again. She was taken back for oxygen therapy right away. Within 10 minutes a tech came to tell me she was passing away and that I needed to come back immediately to say goodbye. My baby died in my arms within seconds.

I have known for a while that Rita's life would likely be cut short due to the heartworms, but she was up playing that morning. I was not expecting it to happen when it did.
I have been overwhelmed with grief, but also guilt. I did not know much about heartworm disease in cats before Rita's diagnosis, but if I had educated myself more, Rita might still be here.
I miss her so much.

My brother and I rescued Rita after she had been thrown from a car on a busy highway in May of 2008. She was just a kitten. I had no intention of getting another cat, so I called all the rescues in my area the next day. All were full. It was just as well because I had already started to get attached to this sweet kitten.
Rita was the sweetest, most affectionate cat I have ever known. She absolutely loved every person she ever met, and when I had guests she always made sure she greeted everyone.
I miss how she used to wake me up in the middle of the night just for pets, and how she carried her toys around in her mouth. I miss her taking my ponytail holders and playing with them. I miss just knowing that she would be there to greet me every time I came home.
I could go on and on with all the things I miss about my baby. I would give years off my own life if I could just have her for one more.

I have not felt this much pain from a loss since I lost my grandmother in 2002.
I wish that my family and friends could understand how I feel. I can only describe that it feels like loosing any loved one, but not many people understand that to some, pets are family.
I posted on here in August when Rita was hospitalized, but came here now because of people who understand exactly what I'm going through right now.

RIP Rita
March 2008-December 22nd 2016
I will love you forever, my Angel.

Click to expand...

So sorry for your loss.  We bond and get so attached that it's so hard

to let go.  Don't feel bad and enjoy all the good memories that you 

had.  RIP Rita

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. It means so much to me.