Carleton, my angel, is gone

kitkatfla

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It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that I am writing this tribute to let you know Carleton passed away yesterday. šŸ˜¢ He was slowing down but we attributed it to his senior age, approximately 14 years old. His appetite kept dwindling, he was lethargic, urinating more and had difficulty sitting in a comfortable position. I called the vet and brought him in for an exam and treatments. I had high hopes because he had always bounced back before and I didnā€™t want to face the inevitable. But when his labs indicated end stage renal disease I knew we had to make a decision for his sake. It was the most humane thing to do.

My husband and I are devastated. He meant so much to us and we would have moved heaven and earth to keep him here longer. I have written about his background before in other posts. He came from deplorable conditions at a hoarder. After receiving medical care he was adopted to a couple who returned him a year later for the only reason that they didnā€™t want a pet anymore. Our dog had passed away and shortly after Neely, our last cat. We were without a pet and the house felt empty. It was actually our oldest daughter who found a small shelter that was called in to rescue 23 Persians. The neighbors had called the police to report a horrific stench coming from the hoarderā€™s garage. Long story short, when we heard Carletonā€™s story I put in an application to adopt him and the rest is history. I later found out that the hoarder had to pay a fine up to $1,500 for each cat with the possibility of serving time.

The first night we brought Carleton home we set up the bathroom in our bedroom with a furry teepee, litter box, food water and toys. But he kept meowing so DH went in there and slept on the floor next to him. When my husband's back started hurting he said, ā€œwhat the heck,ā€ and let him out in the bedroom. Carleton jumped into bed, cuddled up with us and we knew adopting him was the best decision we ever made. He was our baby boy, the most loving and affectionate cat we could have hoped for, giving us almost nine years of complete joy and happiness. :catlove:

As so many of you have sadly experienced, we can not stop crying since yesterday. Everything we did out of habit we cannot stop doing, e.g. looking for him resting on my slippers by the patio door, refreshing the food and water bowls, even checking the litter box. But the one habit that I miss most is when he kept me company on the family room couch while watching tv at night. He would curl up next to me and weā€™d fall asleep together. He was unable to jump up the past few weeks. But the night before we brought him to the vet to be PTS he somehow managed to jump up on the couch and with tears streaming down my face I told him this would be our last night together. šŸ˜æ

Rest in peace my baby boy. You will be missed beyond belief. If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. ā£
View attachment 480383View attachment 480384View attachment 480385
Though words can't ease your sorrow, hearts can share your loss. May you find comfort and peace remembering all the love and joy you and your husband received from sweet Carleton. The memories will last forever. So sorry.
 
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neely

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A very dear teacher friend I used to work with met me for coffee today. She's an avid cat lover and brought this gift for me, (wind chimes), accompanied by a poem, Pawprints Left By You.
IMG_2493.jpeg

you no longer greet me as I walk through the door,
youre not there to make me smile,
to make me laugh any more,
life seems quiet without you,
you were far more than a pet,
you were family member, a friend,
a loving soul I will never forget,
it will take time to heal,
for the silence to go away,
I still listen for you,
and miss you everyday,
you were such a great companion,
constant, loyal, and true,
my heart will always wear,
the paw prints left by you!šŸ¾
 

tarasgirl06

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A very dear teacher friend I used to work with met me for coffee today. She's an avid cat lover and brought this gift for me, (wind chimes), accompanied by a poem, Pawprints Left By You.
View attachment 481525

you no longer greet me as I walk through the door,
youre not there to make me smile,
to make me laugh any more,
life seems quiet without you,
you were far more than a pet,
you were family member, a friend,
a loving soul I will never forget,
it will take time to heal,
for the silence to go away,
I still listen for you,
and miss you everyday,
you were such a great companion,
constant, loyal, and true,
my heart will always wear,
the paw prints left by you!šŸ¾
How thoughtful of your friend, and what a lovely enduring tribute to sweet Carleton. Hoping they will bring some comfort and even smiles when you hear them. I find wind chimes very serene and comforting, and have them inside and outside. Some of them are little memorials I've bought myself after the ascendance of a beloved one. Some belonged to my mom. Some have been gifts to me, or bought by me.
007.JPG
 

Kwik

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A very dear teacher friend I used to work with met me for coffee today. She's an avid cat lover and brought this gift for me, (wind chimes), accompanied by a poem, Pawprints Left By You.
View attachment 481525

you no longer greet me as I walk through the door,
youre not there to make me smile,
to make me laugh any more,
life seems quiet without you,
you were far more than a pet,
you were family member, a friend,
a loving soul I will never forget,
it will take time to heal,
for the silence to go away,
I still listen for you,
and miss you everyday,
you were such a great companion,
constant, loyal, and true,
my heart will always wear,
the paw prints left by you!šŸ¾
That is so beautiful,cried like a baby reading it-what a lovely gift from a really wonderful friend.....ā¤
 

IzzysfureverMom

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A very dear teacher friend I used to work with met me for coffee today. She's an avid cat lover and brought this gift for me, (wind chimes), accompanied by a poem, Pawprints Left By You.
View attachment 481525

you no longer greet me as I walk through the door,
youre not there to make me smile,
to make me laugh any more,
life seems quiet without you,
you were far more than a pet,
you were family member, a friend,
a loving soul I will never forget,
it will take time to heal,
for the silence to go away,
I still listen for you,
and miss you everyday,
you were such a great companion,
constant, loyal, and true,
my heart will always wear,
the paw prints left by you!šŸ¾
Lovely and a wonderful friend. Sometimes people aren't great when you lose a beloved pet. Especially if they have this thought like well he/she was old. Like that is what's important. A very kind gesture a true sentiment.
 

Stormy accepts you

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A very dear teacher friend I used to work with met me for coffee today. She's an avid cat lover and brought this gift for me, (wind chimes), accompanied by a poem, Pawprints Left By You.
View attachment 481525

you no longer greet me as I walk through the door,
youre not there to make me smile,
to make me laugh any more,
life seems quiet without you,
you were far more than a pet,
you were family member, a friend,
a loving soul I will never forget,
it will take time to heal,
for the silence to go away,
I still listen for you,
and miss you everyday,
you were such a great companion,
constant, loyal, and true,
my heart will always wear,
the paw prints left by you!šŸ¾
That is so amazing. I cried so hard reading this.
 
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neely

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Today is exactly one month since Carleton passed away. šŸ˜æ It still hurts and I keep seeing reminders around the house which I can't bring myself to remove. I pick up his toys when I vacuum and put them right back where they were when I'm done. I made his memory box this week and put all his favorite mementos in it along with his adoption papers. This was the very last pic I took of him at home.
IMG_2477.jpeg
 

Margot Lane

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Today is exactly one month since Carleton passed away. šŸ˜æ It still hurts and I keep seeing reminders around the house which I can't bring myself to remove. I pick up his toys when I vacuum and put them right back where they were when I'm done. I made his memory box this week and put all his favorite mementos in it along with his adoption papers. This was the very last pic I took of him at home.
View attachment 482264
He looks very loved in that photo.
 

artiemom

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Today is exactly one month since Carleton passed away. šŸ˜æ It still hurts and I keep seeing reminders around the house which I can't bring myself to remove. I pick up his toys when I vacuum and put them right back where they were when I'm done. I made his memory box this week and put all his favorite mementos in it along with his adoption papers. This was the very last pic I took of him at home.
View attachment 482264
I hear you.. It is so hard to deal with..

I still have a sponge ball and a Yellow Banana, and the towel Geoffrey would lay on, in his hiding spot... They are all in the exact same areas... and it was May 27...

I cannot bring myself to place him (box) out of my site, in my bedroom, on top of Artie. I have his pickle on top of him, along with the last bits of litter and cardboard (scratcher) which I found. I just cannot move them away. It would be a finality...
Love....
 

rubysmama

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Today is exactly one month since Carleton passed away. šŸ˜æ It still hurts and I keep seeing reminders around the house which I can't bring myself to remove. I pick up his toys when I vacuum and put them right back where they were when I'm done. I made his memory box this week and put all his favorite mementos in it along with his adoption papers. This was the very last pic I took of him at home.
View attachment 482264
These anniversaries are tough. Yesterday was 3 months for Ruby. I've put all her stuff away, but I have her little memorial display right in the living room where I can see it several times a day.

Carleton looked so gorgeous in that picture. Just a big ball of fluff. Sending you hugs. I hope your pain will start to lessen a bit soon.
 

tarasgirl06

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Today is exactly one month since Carleton passed away. šŸ˜æ It still hurts and I keep seeing reminders around the house which I can't bring myself to remove. I pick up his toys when I vacuum and put them right back where they were when I'm done. I made his memory box this week and put all his favorite mementos in it along with his adoption papers. This was the very last pic I took of him at home.
View attachment 482264
Ever handsome, ever gorgeous, ever LOVED, sweet Carleton. On this World Lion Day, his leonine aspect is very apparent in this beautiful memento of him.:heartshape:
 
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neely

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neely

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November 14 would have been Carletonā€™s 9th Gotcha Day. I was hoping he would make it but he couldn't hold on any longer. šŸ˜æ I feel so many emotions thinking about him and the day 9 years ago that we adopted our cherished boy. There are so many times we wish he was still here but we only have memories. Memories of how sweet, affectionate and loving he was to us. Always happy to be in the same room where we were, sleep by my side and greet us at the door when we came home. One day we will be reunited and when that day comes I can tell him weā€™re finally home. šŸ¤—

We waited and waited but could not stand the emptiness of Carleton being gone and not having a cat in the house. So three weeks ago fate stepped in and we adopted a new guy, Seymour, named after the movie Little Shop of Horrors - Feed me, Seymour, Feed me. He had such a ravenous appetite that the name just seemed to fit him. :wink:
 

Kwik

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November 14 would have been Carletonā€™s 9th Gotcha Day. I was hoping he would make it but he couldn't hold on any longer. šŸ˜æ I feel so many emotions thinking about him and the day 9 years ago that we adopted our cherished boy. There are so many times we wish he was still here but we only have memories. Memories of how sweet, affectionate and loving he was to us. Always happy to be in the same room where we were, sleep by my side and greet us at the door when we came home. One day we will be reunited and when that day comes I can tell him weā€™re finally home. šŸ¤—

We waited and waited but could not stand the emptiness of Carleton being gone and not having a cat in the house. So three weeks ago fate stepped in and we adopted a new guy, Seymour, named after the movie Little Shop of Horrors - Feed me, Seymour, Feed me. He had such a ravenous appetite that the name just seemed to fit him. :wink:
Oh neely neely I'm so happy for you(& Seymour) certainly Carleton must've put in a good word to have this bundle of a Blessing sent to you

I noticed somewhere in the Forums you posted a photo that for a moment I said ' hey that's not Carlton"? And read " Seymour".... I wondered,who is Seymour? Now I know!!!!

There'll never be another Carlton and he will never be forgotten - but surely he'd not want you to have an empty home with no one to look after youā¤

Rip Carlton - we all miss you baby
 
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neely

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I'm so happy for you(& Seymour) certainly Carleton must've put in a good word to have this bundle of a Blessing sent to you
Thank you, I think Carleton did more than put in a good word because Seymour has been sitting in all of Carleton's favorite spots. In fact, sometimes I have to do a double take because I think I'm seeing him. šŸ™€
 

rubysmama

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Gotcha day anniversaries are tough. As you know, yesterday would have been Ruby's 11th one. It's hard not having them with us, and the empty space they leave really is almost unbearable. I'm glad you have Seymour now to help heal your heart, just like I have Pretty.
 
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