My beautiful boy went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday...

[virgdem]

A day I had been dreading finally arrived yesterday. He was 17.5 and had a severe case of Intestinal Bowel Disease along with many other problems. He had become rail thin and was not absorbing his food. He was very sick over the Summer and really never bounced back. I knew his time was almost at hand, but kept on hoping that he would rally back to better health. It was not to be. I was very close to this cat - I called him my Cat-son and he would come to me and sit on my lap for cuddles all of the time. I acquired him and four of my other cats in Guam, where we were stationed in the early 90's. Now I'm down to three of the girls from Guam who are around 17. It's so sad to see them go, but they had a very good life and were were well and truly loved. My philosophy is that when quality of life declines to the point that they will not eat or are simply not enjoying life anymore, it is time to consider the inevitable. I will miss him forever, but he is in a better place.

[Longhorn]

1. I'm so sorry.

We know it has to happen but that doesn't make it any easier. You've got some tough times coming up but good memories to help you through it. :hug:

[virgdem]

3. Thanks for your kind thoughts..

the memories are the glue that hold me together right now.

[undeterred]

2. I'm sorry.

I lost my almost 16 year old dog a few months ago and I know its the pits. Enjoy the memories and be glad for the long life he had and all the days you shared with him. :hug:

[virgdem]

4. Thank you...

it's so hard to let them go, but the memories of the years we had together will never fade.

[bluethruandthru]

5. I'm so sorry.

You two were lucky to have had each other for so many years. You gave him a good, long, happy life. :hug:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I am sorry that you had to say goodbye to your Cat-son.

No matter how long they are with us, it is never long enough.....
I am sure he had a wonderful, love-filled life with you, and your final act of unselfishness was to let him go with some dignity.
No doubt he will be watching over you, to make sure you are OK.
:hug: :cry:

[roody]

7. Tears will leave no stain,

Time will ease the pain.
For every life that fades
Something beautiful remains.

from Tina Turner's Wildest Dreams

[radfringe]

8. :hugs:

so sorry.. :cry: :hug:

[yellerpup]

9. I'm so sorry that you've been separated from your beloved

Cat-son. I'm sure you will miss him forever until you meet up again at the Rainbow Bridge. You gave him a good, stable life full of love and affection. No Cat-son could have done better. :hug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. I'm sorry.

:hug:

[ginnyinWI]

11. What is comforting is knowing you did your best for him.

That's what I said when our 18 year old cat finally died. The last five months were a trial, but I took care of him until the end.

I like to think of all cats as having a common "cat-ness" or "cat-soul". You can continue to love him through loving your other cats.

As fate would have it for our household, we were asked to do long-term cat-sitting for our son's two cats just a few months after the old cat's passing. So we are a catty household again, at least until his work contract in Australia is over and he's back in the States. I guess Nature abhors a "cat vacuum"!

I'd love to get a new kitten again sometime, when there is room.

[virgdem]

12. Thank you for your condolences..

and thanks to all the others who have expressed the same. It's going to be very tough for a while, but this is the third cat I've had to say goodbye to and I will bounce back eventually. This guy was very special to me and it's hitting me really hard right now. I appreciate all the comments and good wishes to my OP and I know that each of you speak from experience with letting our babies go.

[spooky3]

13. I am so sorry about your loss

I've had several pets with IBD and it is a very difficult disease. You definitely made the right decision.

As you said, your baby has a long and very happy life with you and loved you as much as you loved him. I hope that your other kitties stay reasonably healthy and happy and painfree until the very end.

Thank goodness (or nature or anyone you prefer) for wonderful pets. They are a great gift.

[virgdem]

15. Thank you..

they are indeed a gift from the cat gods. This is the second cat that I've had with IBD. Not fun to deal with, but I managed all these years with both of them and survived to tell the tale. I just came to the realization that the disease had progressed to the point where even medication was not effective. It is for the best, but damned difficult to deal with emotionally.

[catrose]

14. Condolences

I had to part with my cat-girl on September 1. And then a foster kitten with FIP died a few weeks ago. Madeleine L'Engle said at her husband's death, "It is so hard to let beloved flesh go." That applies to beloved fur as well (particularly fur on fur on fur). May your remaining girls comfort you.

[virgdem]

16. I'm so sorry for your loss with both cats..

One is hard enough to deal with, but one loss right on the heels of another is doubly difficult. I hope that the road ahead is easier for you and that you have some kitties to give you comfort as well.

[Eurobabe]

17. I'm so sorry virgdem

:grouphug:

I have a senior who is having his share of health issues these past 6 months too. It's very sad to see them decline.

RIP to your Kitty. :cry:

[virgdem]

20. Thanks so much for your kind thoughts..

It is sad to see them decline and it never gets easier to make that final decision. I was looking at a photo of him that we took about a year ago, and his face was so much fuller and he looked so much more alert. It was shocking to see the difference and how gaunt he looked those last months. It was for the best. We picked up his ashes today and I'm now in the process of looking for a decent photo urn. The place seems so empty without him even though he wasn't doing much those last few months.

[badgerpup]

18. Thoughts are with you...

Been there. Done that. Will do so again...but it never gets easier, does it?

They stay with those with whom they've been loved and happy...I truly believe this. :hug:

[virgdem]

21. Thank you...

all of my guys that have gone are always with me in spirit and will always be the rest of my days.

[hamsterjill]

19. Crying with you!

I'm so sorry. Your philosophy is absolutely correct in my opinion. Thank you for loving him and giving him a good home for all of those years. And thank you for having the courage to do what needed to be done when the time came. Certainly not an easy thing to do, but it is the right thing.

May you find peace and comfort. And may we see them all again one day at the bridge!

[virgdem]

22. Thanks for your thoughts..

I know that what I had to do was very difficult and I was dreading the day when I knew that decision had to be made, but I have no regrets whatsoever. He was suffering and I couldn't let him decline any further. He was very much loved and I'm sure that he knew that we loved him and all of us will miss him terribly, but he is now at peace.

[demnan]

23. I'm so sorry

I know you will miss him as I've missed all the ones of mine who have passed. I'm glad you still have his sisters to help you through.

[virgdem]

24. Thanks, Demnan..

for your thoughts. I have been reading your posts for a long time and really enjoy your stories about your three guys. What happened to the "new" cat that you brought in recently? Did he end up staying or going to someone else? My three remaining cats are a great source of comfort in these tough days, but as each day passes, it gets just a little bit easier, as I know I made the right decision. He was so old and frail, and he was really nothing but skin and bones at the end. IBD is really a horrible disease that makes it difficult for the cat to normally absorb nutrition. I've had two cats with this disease and it's not easy to deal with. But he's at peace now and that is what is important in the end, along with the great pix and memories that I will always have.

[demnan]

25. Thanks for asking about Guy

He is still hanging around outside. I feed him twice a day and he always talks and wants to be petted. I'm hoping he will be more willing to come in in a few weeks when it gets colder outside.

[blondie58]

26. my deepest sympathies, virgdem

it is always so difficult. But you made the right choice.
Just a question of curiosity- do 'Guam cats' have any distinguishing features from cats from the mainland?

[virgdem]

27. Thanks for your kind thoughts...

and your interesting question. As for Guam cats, they are no different than cats from any other part of the world. As a matter of fact, many cats were brought to Guam from the U.S. by military who were stationed there. Five of six of my cats were brought back by us to the States, and they were all Domestic Short-hairs that look and act the same as cats here in the U.S.

[AZBlue]

28. I'm so so sorry!

:hug:

[virgdem]

29. Thanks for your sympathy...

It's never easy, but I have good memories and we got a beautiful urn on which we put the best picture that we had of him that was professionally done in 1992. He is home again and will be forever with us.

[OrwellwasRight]

30. Sending hugs your way.

I'm sorry for your loss. I know how it feels. :grouphug:

[virgdem]

31. Thank you for the hugs...

they are most welcome. It's been three weeks, and I still feel the loss of my guy, but every day gets just a little bit easier. The wonderful memories are still there, however, and that gives me strength.

[lavenderdiva]

32. I'm sorry, virgdem

I didn't see this until tonight. I'm so very sorry about your Cat-son's passing. It sounds like he had a wonderful and loving family and brought you many years of smiles and love in return. I'm sending you hugs :hug: :hug: :hug:

[virgdem]

33. Thanks so much for your hugs...

much appreciate!!!

[Vinca]

34. I'm sorry. The down side of loving our cats is their life span is shorter than ours.

It's especially hard when you have several that are older. That happened to me, too, a few years ago. It was horrible losing them all, but the 2 that have come along since bring a whole new round of joy. I still tear up though over pictures of my dear kitties lost more than 20 years ago. They're all so special in their own ways.

[demnan]

35. I'm so sorry for your loss

But he lived a long and wonderful life.


:hug:

[virgdem]

38. thanks so much demnan...

and all of the others who have recently sent your sympathy for my loss. I can't believe it's almost a month and I still miss him so much, but he is at peace now and not in pain or discomfort, and that is all that matters. I will always have the memories and the pictures that will get me through to better days.

[mr_hat]

36. My deepest sympathy. I lost a pup

to protein-losing enteropathy and, although we knew him only 10 months or so, his little spirit was seared into my families' souls and memories forever.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

37. I'm so sorry

I know how much it hurts. I'm sure he knows how much he was loved on earth. RIP to your beautiful beastie. :hug:

[roguevalley]

39. your baby is with mine, the one in the sig, and its happy and filled with joy,

ever faithfully with you now and waiting for you to return to him someday. Your babies follow you on your path and you can feel them if you listen really well. I wish you and yours peace, my friend.