Recently, one of the cats I had rehomed in the past died in a home accident. She was only 3 yo. This news broke my heart on Christmas Eve and, needless to say, I spent my Christmas days in tears and sadness. I also attended her cremation, because I felt I couldn't do otherwise.
This was the third time in the last 4 years that a cat I had rescued from a terrible situation died from an accident or disease after they were rehomed, and now I have started questioning myself whether I had done better to leave them all where they were. I can't forgive myself and can't help myself thinking that hadn't I taken them away from where they were living before my intervention, they might have still been alive. I feel that my intervention, my attempt to give them a better life, turned out to be their death sentence.
I know that dozens of other cats and kittens found a great forever home thanks to my help, but these three cats kind of spoiled the joy of giving the others the warmth of a home, and I'm currently considering stopping rescuing other cats in order not to interfere with their fate.
Has such a thing ever happened to you? Did you ever question your actions and the rescued cats' fate?
This was the third time in the last 4 years that a cat I had rescued from a terrible situation died from an accident or disease after they were rehomed, and now I have started questioning myself whether I had done better to leave them all where they were. I can't forgive myself and can't help myself thinking that hadn't I taken them away from where they were living before my intervention, they might have still been alive. I feel that my intervention, my attempt to give them a better life, turned out to be their death sentence.
I know that dozens of other cats and kittens found a great forever home thanks to my help, but these three cats kind of spoiled the joy of giving the others the warmth of a home, and I'm currently considering stopping rescuing other cats in order not to interfere with their fate.
Has such a thing ever happened to you? Did you ever question your actions and the rescued cats' fate?
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