Sorry, I didn't know where to post this. I don't know where to start. I have had several cats in my life that I loved dearly and last summer I had to have my dear 20 yr old Bear to sleep. She was such a great cat. I grieved for her but I knew she was so much better off and not suffering anymore. I had her Mommy-Punky for 16 years. She was a beautiful Calico. In Nov. my DD and I went to Petsmart for dogfood. When we arrived, there were shelter cats and four kittens of course right in front. My DD was telling me to get one. My head said no-my heart said yes. It justs rips the heart out of me every time I lose a pet and that's why I hesitated . Long story short, there was a beautiful little Tortie that I picked up. She was black with rusty brown markings-sort of a reverse Calico. As soon as I took her out and snuggled her into my neck she purred. That was it. I was hooked. My DD laughed b/c I had to go back in the store for litter box, food, etc. She said Layla was a mix of our black cat Bear and Bear's calico mommy. DD drove us home. We named her Layla-DH and I are big Clapton fans. I had to take her out of the carrier b/c she was crying. As soon as I took her out, she stretched her little legs out across my lap and there she stayed for the hour ride home! Needless to say, we bonded very deeply. DH just shook his head and grinned when I came home with her. Right away, she and my 7 yr old dog Ripples started playing after their initial "shock" of meeting each other. They have been buddies ever since.
I had her spayed in March and started letting her outside to play. She just loved it. She loved to lie in my perennial garden especially under the bird feeders-what a BRAT! Thank goodness the birds were faster than her. Well Saturday nite, she asked to go outside before dark and I let her out. About an hour later, I decided to go to bed and I FORGOT to let her back in. I woke up at 1:30 AM Sunday to the sound of screaming cats. OMG I jumped out of bed, ran downstairs and opened the door and called to her. As soon as I did, the screaming stopped. I called her a few times and thought maybe it was the neighbors "wild" cats they feed in their barn for the past 10 yrs. or so. So I went back upstairs and listened for Layla thinking probably my DS or DH had let her in. When I got up Sunday and realized what had happened, it was like being punched in the stomach! I could not believe how irresponsible and stupid I was to forget her!!! I can't eat, I can't sleep, I pace the floors not knowing what has happened to her. For the most part I'm thinking that something got her but a tiny part of me has some hope. My dog just lays by our screen door and looks out everytime she hears a noise and then sadly puts her head back down. She wouldn't even get up and come sit by me for her nightly loving last nite! She looks at me as if to say "where is she" and "how could you forget her". I am so very very devastated. I feel as though I've lost my child-because I have. How could I be so STUPID!!! I cry all the time. My dh even cried this AM. He keeps telling me it's not my fault, but it is. I cry doing dishes b/c she used to love to scare the bejeepers out of me and jump up in my window by my sink and meow to come in. I cry when I look at my garden, I cry when I let my dog out and expect her to come flying in and go flying right back out to play with the dog. I miss her so when I'm sitting on the couch and she climbs up on me and I pet her. And if I stop to soon, she reaches her little paw up and pats my chin til I pet her again. I miss her sweet little kitty kisses on my face and arms. I miss her sleeping with us. It hurts so BAD!!! Please everyone, say a prayer for her that no matter where she is whether it's here on earth or up in Heaven, that she is safe and warm and not in pain. I pray to God for her safe return and if not I pray for the strength to move on and forgive myself for what I have done. There will never be another cat in my life. I just can't stand this pain. Thank you for being here ... I thank God I found this site today. Keepin' the faith...Dawn
I had her spayed in March and started letting her outside to play. She just loved it. She loved to lie in my perennial garden especially under the bird feeders-what a BRAT! Thank goodness the birds were faster than her. Well Saturday nite, she asked to go outside before dark and I let her out. About an hour later, I decided to go to bed and I FORGOT to let her back in. I woke up at 1:30 AM Sunday to the sound of screaming cats. OMG I jumped out of bed, ran downstairs and opened the door and called to her. As soon as I did, the screaming stopped. I called her a few times and thought maybe it was the neighbors "wild" cats they feed in their barn for the past 10 yrs. or so. So I went back upstairs and listened for Layla thinking probably my DS or DH had let her in. When I got up Sunday and realized what had happened, it was like being punched in the stomach! I could not believe how irresponsible and stupid I was to forget her!!! I can't eat, I can't sleep, I pace the floors not knowing what has happened to her. For the most part I'm thinking that something got her but a tiny part of me has some hope. My dog just lays by our screen door and looks out everytime she hears a noise and then sadly puts her head back down. She wouldn't even get up and come sit by me for her nightly loving last nite! She looks at me as if to say "where is she" and "how could you forget her". I am so very very devastated. I feel as though I've lost my child-because I have. How could I be so STUPID!!! I cry all the time. My dh even cried this AM. He keeps telling me it's not my fault, but it is. I cry doing dishes b/c she used to love to scare the bejeepers out of me and jump up in my window by my sink and meow to come in. I cry when I look at my garden, I cry when I let my dog out and expect her to come flying in and go flying right back out to play with the dog. I miss her so when I'm sitting on the couch and she climbs up on me and I pet her. And if I stop to soon, she reaches her little paw up and pats my chin til I pet her again. I miss her sweet little kitty kisses on my face and arms. I miss her sleeping with us. It hurts so BAD!!! Please everyone, say a prayer for her that no matter where she is whether it's here on earth or up in Heaven, that she is safe and warm and not in pain. I pray to God for her safe return and if not I pray for the strength to move on and forgive myself for what I have done. There will never be another cat in my life. I just can't stand this pain. Thank you for being here ... I thank God I found this site today. Keepin' the faith...Dawn
