- Joined
- Jul 19, 2017
- Messages
- 114
- Purraise
- 571
Well, this is it. The post no one here ever wants to have to make. First off I want to say I appreciate everyone sharing their stories here as it has been helping me through my grief. I’m sorry to you in that you’ve lost your pet as well. Also a quick note to thank those that gave me advice for the five days before Moo’s passing. I will be forever grateful.
Moo. A silly name for a cat that lived up to it in color and size. It was love at first photo. I saw his tiny face and black and white pattern behind bars on the animal shelter’s website, a small black dot on the left of his mouth, and immediate inquired about him. It was late on a Friday so I had to wait until Monday to meet him. He was alone in his space and I put my hand up to greet him. He started meowing and licking my hand. With his little squirmy body in one hand and a pen in the other, I adopted him.
I already had Lux who was a two year old solid black cat then. I thought he could use a friend for days when I was working. Throughout Moo’s first year, Lux took to him and taught him how to be a cat. He grew and grew...and grew to an impressive 14 lbs. He was a little chunky but overall he was just a big cat. Always looking for an opportunity to eat I quickly learned I had to keep all food put away as he would counter surf and binge. I always paid the cat tax of a couple bits of meat or a few shreds of cheese when I was cooking meals. Nothing stopped him from eating, not even his dental extractions or a urinary infection.
He had his routines as all cats do. When he heard my alarm I could hear him leave the cat tree and full speed sprint up the stairs. He would launch himself from the top step and into my bed, chirping and purring. He would roll and flop and we would cuddle before getting up for the day. If I was lucky I would get to scratch his belly for a few seconds. Then we would go downstairs with Moo’s non-stop chirps all the way to the kitchen for breakfast. Right after I would go to bed I could hear him downstairs batting and running with his toy mouse or caterpillar before settling in to sleep.
He was the sweetest cat I’ve ever met in my life. He loved to be close and be touching me in some way. Always beside me on the couch. I had never heard him hiss or growl and I don’t think he knew how. His heart was filled with nothing but kindness and love.
While searching for solutions and talking with the vet in the span of five days since his non-regenerative anemia findings, he went downhill. I could get him to eat boiled chicken for me even though I could tell he didn’t want it. The last day, he wouldn’t eat. He used what little energy he had to use the litterbox and could barely walk after. He howled with every wobbly step. He was breathing heavy. My heart sank, I knew it was time.
I got to hold my boy and talk to him throughout the process. All of the loving and caring things I never told him enough, I did then. I felt his little heart stop through his chest with my hand and he was gone. I spent some time with him, petting him, talking to him, telling him that I was sorry this happened to him and goodbye. The vet gave me hair clippings and a clay paw impression. I also had him cremated instead of doing a burial.
Lux was his bonded brother (from another stray mother) and it has affected him too. It’s clear that pets grieve as well. We have each other for comfort. I’m so lucky that Moo chose me to spend his life with and will be forever thankful for his love. Again, goodbye sweet boy, I love you and I’ll miss you so so much.
Moo. A silly name for a cat that lived up to it in color and size. It was love at first photo. I saw his tiny face and black and white pattern behind bars on the animal shelter’s website, a small black dot on the left of his mouth, and immediate inquired about him. It was late on a Friday so I had to wait until Monday to meet him. He was alone in his space and I put my hand up to greet him. He started meowing and licking my hand. With his little squirmy body in one hand and a pen in the other, I adopted him.
I already had Lux who was a two year old solid black cat then. I thought he could use a friend for days when I was working. Throughout Moo’s first year, Lux took to him and taught him how to be a cat. He grew and grew...and grew to an impressive 14 lbs. He was a little chunky but overall he was just a big cat. Always looking for an opportunity to eat I quickly learned I had to keep all food put away as he would counter surf and binge. I always paid the cat tax of a couple bits of meat or a few shreds of cheese when I was cooking meals. Nothing stopped him from eating, not even his dental extractions or a urinary infection.
He had his routines as all cats do. When he heard my alarm I could hear him leave the cat tree and full speed sprint up the stairs. He would launch himself from the top step and into my bed, chirping and purring. He would roll and flop and we would cuddle before getting up for the day. If I was lucky I would get to scratch his belly for a few seconds. Then we would go downstairs with Moo’s non-stop chirps all the way to the kitchen for breakfast. Right after I would go to bed I could hear him downstairs batting and running with his toy mouse or caterpillar before settling in to sleep.
He was the sweetest cat I’ve ever met in my life. He loved to be close and be touching me in some way. Always beside me on the couch. I had never heard him hiss or growl and I don’t think he knew how. His heart was filled with nothing but kindness and love.
While searching for solutions and talking with the vet in the span of five days since his non-regenerative anemia findings, he went downhill. I could get him to eat boiled chicken for me even though I could tell he didn’t want it. The last day, he wouldn’t eat. He used what little energy he had to use the litterbox and could barely walk after. He howled with every wobbly step. He was breathing heavy. My heart sank, I knew it was time.
I got to hold my boy and talk to him throughout the process. All of the loving and caring things I never told him enough, I did then. I felt his little heart stop through his chest with my hand and he was gone. I spent some time with him, petting him, talking to him, telling him that I was sorry this happened to him and goodbye. The vet gave me hair clippings and a clay paw impression. I also had him cremated instead of doing a burial.
Lux was his bonded brother (from another stray mother) and it has affected him too. It’s clear that pets grieve as well. We have each other for comfort. I’m so lucky that Moo chose me to spend his life with and will be forever thankful for his love. Again, goodbye sweet boy, I love you and I’ll miss you so so much.
It is so so tough to have to put them down, but he left this world being held by the one who loved him the most and that was a comfort to him. You did what you had to do albeit the hardest thing, but he is fine now, just fine, and you will meet again one day and it will be wonderful.
His eyes were so expressive and beautiful! He looks so very happy and it was indeed a joyous day with many happy times to come. Have you been giving Tux some comfort grooming?
