My Max Has Crossed The Bridge

Kitty Mommy

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So, it finally came to pass that my little black cat Max has crossed the rainbow bridge. He was diagnosed with IBD about 2 years ago and we had been treating him pretty successfully for awhile. In Jan 2019 he started to gradually lose weight. We tried an elimination diet but his appetite was fading and he was vomiting a lot again. All his blood work was good but the IBD treatment of Prednisolone, Cerenia, B12, and Mirtazapine was no longer working like it had been. I took him to another vet at the end of May for a second opinion and we tried weekly steroid and B12 shots and we tried Methimazole since his T4 was at the very high end of normal. That seemed to perk him up for a short while but about 3 weeks later he stopped eating and had gone down to just over 7lbs (he had been 9lbs in Jan). We syringe fed him Hills A/D three times a day when he stopped eating on his own. On Monday night, July 8th he started refusing water. He had his shot appointment the next morning. When I got him to the vet's office he was down to a little under 7 lbs. She said we could try a feeding tube to get him some nutrition and some subq fluids but that he probably wasn't going to get better. He had been through so much that I just couldn't ask any more of him. So, I made the decision to let him go and I held him as he took his last breath. My Max crossed on July 9th at 17 years old.

We had Max since he was 7 weeks old. He had been my special cat; he would sleep with me, and follow me around the house and sit on my lap. He wouldn't let anyone else pet him and he wouldn't go to anyone else. He always greeted me with a trill when I came home from work.

I don't feel any guilt about my decision because I know it was the only thing left I could do for him. I just miss him so much. I've lost several cats over the years and it never gets any easier. :bawling::(
Max 205.png
 

will2002

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You are so right, "it never gets any easier". You did everything possible to extend his life, and in the end you make the right decisions for Max, as difficult as it was.

Having him in your life, as your very own, personal cat for seventeen years, must have been such a honor and blessing. Max was so special, and such a handsome gentlemen, I know there will be a large empty place in your heart for him.

I have no words that will comfort you in such a time as this, so I will just have to say that I am truly sorry for your loss of Max. God bless you!
 
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Kitty Mommy

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You are so right, "it never gets any easier". You did everything possible to extend his life, and in the end you make the right decisions for Max, as difficult as it was.

Having him in your life, as your very own, personal cat for seventeen years, must have been such a honor and blessing. Max was so special, and such a handsome gentlemen, I know there will be a large empty place in your heart for him.

I have no words that will comfort you in such a time as this, so I will just have to say that I am truly sorry for your loss of Max.
Thank you for your kind words. I know there is nothing that can ever be said that will take away the loss. He was my companion for a very long time and he shared his whole life with me. He was my special boy.
 

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You were so blessed to have had him follow you on your life's journey for seventeen years, it was an honor for you to have known him. It hurts so very badly now, but to have never known him at all would have been unthinkable. Your precious memories of happier times are one of life's treasures, they will bring you comfort in the years ahead.
The bond of love you built over all those years will never leave you, not even death can break something so strong. "Death cannot take that which never dies", love is spiritual, so eternal. He is a part of your soul now, and although he took a part of your heart when he left, he left behind a part of his own to perpetuate that love. He lives on through you now, so give him the happiness of finding joy in life that he deserves, just as you would want for him if you were the first to go.
Thank you so much for letting the world know of this precious boy, he deserves to be remembered and thought of by many, and now he will be. He was a special cat that brought love and happiness to your world, and he made your world whole.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please accept my condolences for your pain, and my thanks for giving this sweet boy his everything. Take care.....RIP beautiful Max. You will be dearly missed, you will forever have a special place in a loving heart. May the good Lord bless and keep you, until you meet again!
 

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I am sorry that you lost your little friend, you did all that you could for him but sadly it is time for them to leave us someday even though we don't want it and dread it, but he had a wonderful life thanks to you and the love between the two of you was obvious. He is fine now, just fine, no more health issues, and when you see him again someday he will thank you for taking such good care of him in this life.

"Their last breath on Earth is their first breath in Heaven" :rbheart:

I am sorry for the loss, I hope that your heart heals a bit more each day, God Bless......:alright: :grouphug2: :rbheart:
 
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Kitty Mommy

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You were so blessed to have had him follow you on your life's journey for seventeen years, it was an honor for you to have known him. It hurts so very badly now, but to have never known him at all would have been unthinkable. Your precious memories of happier times are one of life's treasures, they will bring you comfort in the years ahead.
The bond of love you built over all those years will never leave you, not even death can break something so strong. "Death cannot take that which never dies", love is spiritual, so eternal. He is a part of your soul now, and although he took a part of your heart when he left, he left behind a part of his own to perpetuate that love. He lives on through you now, so give him the happiness of finding joy in life that he deserves, just as you would want for him if you were the first to go.
Thank you so much for letting the world know of this precious boy, he deserves to be remembered and thought of by many, and now he will be. He was a special cat that brought love and happiness to your world, and he made your world whole.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please accept my condolences for your pain, and my thanks for giving this sweet boy his everything. Take care.....RIP beautiful Max. You will be dearly missed, you will forever have a special place in a loving heart. May the good Lord bless and keep you, until you meet again!
Thank you for those thoughts. I am so thankful he was part of my life. I think it was fate that brought me to him. Max was born at our vets office to a feral. I saw him there on the day I had to have my cat Brat put to sleep. Max was the only black kitty in his litter and I knew the moment I saw him that he would come home with me.
 
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Kitty Mommy

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I am sorry that you lost your little friend, you did all that you could for him but sadly it is time for them to leave us someday even though we don't want it and dread it, but he had a wonderful life thanks to you and the love between the two of you was obvious. He is fine now, just fine, no more health issues, and when you see him again someday he will thank you for taking such good care of him in this life.

"Their last breath on Earth is their first breath in Heaven" :rbheart:

I am sorry for the loss, I hope that your heart heals a bit more each day, God Bless......:alright: :grouphug2: :rbheart:
Thank you for you kind words. It is so hard to let go but he will always be in my heart.
 

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I am so sorry for your loss. Max was a very handsome and cute cat. I know exactly how you're feeling right now, as I lost my 19 year old cat soulmate Blue less than 2 weeks ago. From your post, it is clear that you did everything you could for him and made him a priority in your life. He was lucky to have you, and you him.

I know it is so hard to let go of someone who shared your entire life with you. Nothing any of us can say will make it easier, but please know that we understand how much it hurts. I believe that we will see them again someday, where we don't have to worry about any health issues again. :redheartpump:
 

Mamanyt1953

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Rest you gentle, Max, dream you deep. Your pawprints are on someone's heart forever.

This is the deepest Truth I know, that love never dies, it only changes form and continues on, still Love. And Love abides, always and forever, Love abides. Although you will desperately miss his physical form, that best part of him, his love for you, is now transformed, purified into Love, and is with you still and forever.
 

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I am very sorry for your loss. Yes, it never gets easier. But at least, you have made Max's life filled with love, companionship and happiness. It is always our privilege as animal lovers to be able to spend our years and our life with our furry friends, and being able to provide them the quality of life that all of them deserves.

Rest in eternal peace, beautiful boy Max. You were loved, and always will be, by your family.
 
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Kitty Mommy

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I'm
I recently lost my 16 year old Hannah to IBD. I know how hard it is to watch them slowly fade. I'm so sorry. RIP, sweet Max. :rbheart:
I'm sorry about Hannah. It is torture to watch them become so sick and know there is nothing you can do.
 
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Kitty Mommy

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I am so sorry for your loss. Max was a very handsome and cute cat. I know exactly how you're feeling right now, as I lost my 19 year old cat soulmate Blue less than 2 weeks ago. From your post, it is clear that you did everything you could for him and made him a priority in your life. He was lucky to have you, and you him.

I know it is so hard to let go of someone who shared your entire life with you. Nothing any of us can say will make it easier, but please know that we understand how much it hurts. I believe that we will see them again someday, where we don't have to worry about any health issues again. :redheartpump:
Thank you for your thoughts. I miss him so much but at least he is no longer suffering. I have so many happy memories of him that I will never forget.
 
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Kitty Mommy

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I am so sorry for your loss. Max was a very handsome and cute cat. I know exactly how you're feeling right now, as I lost my 19 year old cat soulmate Blue less than 2 weeks ago. From your post, it is clear that you did everything you could for him and made him a priority in your life. He was lucky to have you, and you him.

I know it is so hard to let go of someone who shared your entire life with you. Nothing any of us can say will make it easier, but please know that we understand how much it hurts. I believe that we will see them again someday, where we don't have to worry about any health issues again. :redheartpump:
I'm sorry you lost Blue. At 19 he had a good long life with you. Thank you your kind words. We will always miss our beloved companions.
 

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Im sorry that Max has passed away, and it is 100 percent true that it doesnt get easier. The fact that he isnt suffering any longer and you loved max dearly and you both shared many memories together is all that matters. It is a difficult decision to make even if its the only option left, you tried everything you could do. RIP Max, you are now in heaven being looked after by the angels that will keep you warm and comfy till you meet with your owner who loves you with all their heart.
 
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Kitty Mommy

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Thank you everyone who responded. The kindness and compassion I've received here is so comforting. This is such an amazing community.
 
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