How did you deal will your pets death?

Question

my cat died on 8-28-06 at about 7:30. her kidneys were failing so we put her to sleep. she was suffering. she seemed happy till just about 5 days before she died. she was exploring every last place possible that she hadnt before. before we brought to the vet we all said our goodbyes just in case. we could pick her up in a towel thats how weak she was. she was 4 pounds and dropping. her normal weight was 8 pounds. so im just wondering how did you deal with a loss of your pet. she was 13.

i am very depressed. she was a wonderful cat and would have died 13 yearss ago if my older sister hadnt brought her home.

she even let my dog give her a kiss on the nose. they were best friends but my cat never physically interacted with eachother other than chasing eachother.

Answer 1

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It's very hard losing a furbaby. Remember all the good times with her, and know that what you did saved her from a lot of pain and suffering. And also know that she loved you and that you loved her all that you two could.

May I suggest, when you feel comfortable again, consider rescuing another cat? Not one with the same colors/markings/personailty as your last cat, as you are not replacing her, but you are saving the life of another furbaby that you will make new memories with.

Answer 2

I had my cat Booby for 17 years and when I lost her I felt terrible and very sad. She was sick and she died at the vet's. I decided to bury her at a pet cemetery and I am glad that I did that. I even wrote the story of her life in my notebook so that I will always remember our life together.

After Booby's death, I couldn't decide whether or not to get another cat. I wanted to find a street cat again - Booby was a street cat. As it turned out, I didn't find a street cat for another year and I think it was meant to be that way. I mean I had a year to just mourn Booby.

However, I am very glad to have my new cat now because once a cat lover, always a cat lover and I must have a cat in my life - she is my best friend.

So my advice to you - is let yourself mourn as much as you need to and when you are ready, get another cat - of course, the new cat cannot replace the old one because all cats are different - but she will be your friend.

Answer 3

My childhood cat was put down at 16 yrs old because it was discovered too late that she was full of cancerous tumors in her stomach. I was very sad because I wanted her to come live with me in her final yrs (because my mom was tired of the hair she shed) but my husband at the time thought it was more important to follow the pet policy of the apartment complex we lived in at the time ....Even though all the neighbors had cats!

Any way I knew she was getting old and i loved her... She went to my sister's house and all she did was complain about Puddy being at her house. I would have loved to have her - it was very hard for me - because I knew she was old and didn't have much time left. Then one day I found out my mom took her to the vet to have her put down and I never got to say goodbye to her!!! The vet disposed of her body... It is so hard to think about her to this day - and that was 10yrs ago!

Thank goodness you were there for her in the end and were able to say goodbye. I know it is going to be sad for a long time - but she knew you loved her and you did everything you could to make her life better...

One thing I did years later was get another cat that looked like her and it did heal something deep inside me. So, sometimes that is a good way to help deal with the loss.

Answer 4

Losing a pet, especially one you had for 13 years, is a very hard thing to experience, so let me tell you how I had to deal with losing our cat of that same age, or maybe 14. Our aged cat was peacefully enjoying her new home in the new wooded land we bought and built our new home on. She was being fed wonderfully, and enjoying her new "playground" of many acres. And then, one day, when she was going back towards her food bowl, one of our new pups that we "rescued" from a pet store that took in strays and gave shots to, played too hard with her, and she was near death, only feet from her house and food bowl. One quick look would tell you that no vet was going to keep her alive for long, and we quickly realized she had to be put to death in order to stop her suffering death. And, as a way of saving time, so that she could get here out of her pain quicker, I had to go back into my new house, get my new rifle, and shoot our pet of 13 or 14 years, in the head, at close range, so she would FEEL NOTHING of my shooting her, and no more of the pain from the new pet puppy who didn't know her own strength. So, I can understand your loss, and maybe because I'm probably much older than you, I've had to deal with death and loss a lot more than you, so far. But death always seems to happen when we least like it, and sometimes you have to "take death by the horns" as I did when I had to shoot our 13 or 14 year old cat, and, ironically, I felt better about it all, because I had to overcome my DREAD of shooting a pet I had taken care of for so long, and yet I realized that in my suffering through having to shoot her, I did her the greatest favor that could be done for her. I put her out of her pain and misery, quickly, and painlessly. I know your hurt. You will understand more of this as you get older. And even though your learning will be somewhat painful, you'll come to understand it better with age, and you'll come to accept death when you have to, and you'll be strong enough to deal with it less painfully, even though some of the sting will always be there. God Bless you.

Answer 5

My first cat, Sylvester, passed away seven years ago, from old age(he was 14 years old)and thyroid problems. His fur started falling out and he was not his usual, happy self. My vet told me the best thing was to have him euthanized. Because I did, I know in my heart he died in peace. I was devastated for a while because he was my companion in good times and bad times. I talked to my counselors and used Pet Friends(a pet grief phone hotline in my area) and made a small scrapbook of his pictures as a memorial to him. I know how it is to lose a pet. Always treasure your cat in your heart and know she crossed the Rainbow Bridge to a better place and that she is happy.

You might want to get another cat too.

Answer 6

Just know that you are not alone. I had to euthanize a cat with mammary cancer just three years ago this Labor Day weekend. I didn't even know he was sick and it had metastasized to his lungs so that he couldn't breathe. Right now I have a cat with baldder cancer, there is no treatment for this cancer so I may soon have to face that again.

It is truly tough and my heart goes out to you. I still miss my Spookie very much -- his little black face and big blue eyes. He would lie in my arms like a baby.

I try to enjoy each day with Mincho. He is only twelve and I cuddle with him every chance I get.

Since our pets do not live as long as we do it is something most of us will have to face -- maybe many times.

You kitty did not have a long period of suffering fortunately and I know you did your best for her.

Answer 7

It is very hard. It's hard to go thru the day, and then people will wonder what's bothering you. Sometimes people don't understand. I lost my kitty Nala I had for six years. I caught her wild, and it took her a long time to get use to me, and when she did, she'd only let me pet her. She never had kittens, because she never let another cat near her. I could never bring another kitten home, because she'd get jealous. But in spite of it, she was a sweet tabby cat. She got hit by a car and attacked by dogs. That was very hard. I knew she wouldn't live forever, but I thought she'd never die either. The hardest part was I had to tell my daughter. We had Nala since my daughter was 3. The next day I took my daughter to get her ears pierced, bought a pretty yellow/orange miniature rose, and when we got home I told my daughter. It was devastating even more for her. It took her months to get over it. We planted the mini rose where we buried her, and it was also the same day my daughter got her ears pierced. Several months later we got another female tabby cat, and named her Kiara, Nala's daughter, like off "The Lion King" Disney movie. All of us here knows what it feels like to lose a dear pet. You have the memories, and pictures. There is nothing to dull the pain, only time will fade it. I wish you comfort while you wait for time to heal your pain of your dear kitty.

Answer 8

i put my kitten to sleep on 8-28-06 at 11:20am because she had severe nerve damage i also had to pick her up in a towel as she couldnt move or pick up her head...(someone had stepped on her befoer i got her and i was trying to make her better) i took all the pics i had of her and mad a little scrap book of her and i also am getting a box that i can put her picture in the front and im going to put all her favorite stuff in there like her collar her favorite toys the hair that i saved from her and other various things that will remind me of her and when i get sad i kno it will help to look thro all of it..... i still miss her so much and im still going throu periods were i just burst out and cry

im so sorry for your lose

Answer 9

I under stannd compleatly when i was 4 or 5 my cat bootsie got hit by a car and died instantly after she was struck i woke up to go to school and found her dead body on the ground near my home she was the best cat ever im only 13 now it still hurts im crying right now!
Any ways im so sorry for your tragic loss! :'(

Answer 10

Just remember that you gave her a good life and she was happy till the end. Dealing with the death is different for different people. You did not want her to suffer. The sorrow will get better in time.