It’s been two years since our very sick fur-baby walked out of the house and didn’t return. I believe she died on her own terms, but it took months, if not years, for us to stop seeing imaginary flashes of movement, and rushing to open the door to the sound of phantom scratching.
This morning I missed her particularly badly. Until my runny nose and sneezing began and I remembered how her (utterly wonderful) presence had started to trigger my allergies.
Posted to the Ragtag Daily Prompt | pet
Zimmerbitch 
She was a beautiful looking cat Su.
Leslie
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Thanks Leslie— she was.
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🙂
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I am so sorry, Su. I had the fortune (misfortune?) to have had indoor only cats so I held mine until the very end when we had them put down. I wish they could let us know when it is time, because no matter what, the memories always bring tears.
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Thank you. We knew she was very ill, and were hand feeding her and making sure she had water, and we kept telling each other that as soon as she seemed to be in pain we’d take her to the vet, but I guess our assessment wasn’t a patch on her own.
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Such a beautiful cat. It is so hard to lose them, they are family.
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10 years later, still seeing a black cat out of the corner of my eye 😟.
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🙁 so get that.
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😢 I would be heartbroken if Theo left me this way. I understand their need to hide when they know they aren’t well, but as you said, it’s hard to get closure when you don’t get to say good-bye.
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That’s exactly it. I held our other cat as he died and that felt right. Ah we humans and our anthropomorphising ways.
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Awww. Such a beauty. It is so hard when cat fur babies go off to die on their own. 😢
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Thanks. It was the first time that had happened to us, and while my rational brain knew to expect it, there’s a little bit of me that feels I let her down by not being there.
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What a sweet cat. Sorry for your loss, Su.
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Thanks Deb; she was pretty special.
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We have had many cats and they do tend to do that when they are dying, don’t they? At least you had time with her.
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I’m glad she died on her own terms, but I still tie myself in knots because I wasn’t there to hold her, as I was when her brother had to be put down.
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I still miss every cat (and dog) we’ve ever had. They all take up space in our hearts and take it with them when they go.
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That’s true. I am now wondering about short-term fostering of a kitten, to test how allergic I actually have become to cats. It is just so hard to live without one.
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Good luck. It’s a good idea because at least you know that you can “give it back” without guilt. But once you get attached, that might be very hard.
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Thanks. That what I was thinking.
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She was a beauty – very much like my cream tortie, Moppet, who was such a sweet-natured cat (unlike her mother) and ace at playing football with marbles!! Our pets always have a place in our hearts.
Sending hugs ((( ))) xx
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Thanks Jude. She was gorgeous, and had the softest fur. She was almost 17 when we lost her, so lots of wonderful memories — and a very large hole in our lives. And you are right; pets hold a very special space.
I’m impressed by the marble-football. Our carpets “retired” to the sunshine pretty quickly. The neighbourhood lizards and cross-the-road’s dog were pleased!!
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So very sorry for your loss, Sue. Such a beautiful cat she was. This picture brought back memories. Our beloved tabby who looked very alike, just darker with the same emerald green eyes, got a bad gum infection after a surgery, and didn’t respond to any treatment. At the last stages, he didn’t want to leave my lap, and slept under my blanket every night. Then one morning he went to the door and asked to let him out. Of course I didn’t want to, but he cried and looked at me the way I knew I had to do it. I thought he wanted to have the last stroll, and waited for him to return. He never did. I think he didn’t want to upset me, and decided to die alone. We looked for his body for months. I still cry when I write this, 19 years later.
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Oh Inese; I understand exactly how you feel. In her last days our baby was much the same. Our son was visiting, and had been holding her. She struggled off his lap, went to the door, looked back at us and that was it. I sometimes wonder if she was waiting for the boy to come and say goodbye, as she had been a part of his life since we was two years old. I’m in tears now thinking of both our beloved cats.
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I have no doubts that she was waiting for the boy to see him one more time. My daughter’s cat was dying in July 2016. Each of the family members spent an hour with him to say good bye. He didn’t eat or drink anymore. Then for no reason he started getting better overnight. He recovered. Their third daughter was born in August and the cat’s health started declining again after a month. Yet he sit next to the baby’s rocker, and loved everyone’s company. He died in October. Sure he heard the baby’s heartbeat and decided to stay a little longer. There is no measure of their love for their family. May they run free in heaven and wait for us to be together again.
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That is so beautiful.
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Sad and touching. One never forgets one’s pets. They are our children too…..
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Absolutely. Our cats and our son grew up together.
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That must have been so hard, waiting for your sweetie to come back and then realizing that she wouldn’t. 😦
And I’ve read your comment about maybe fostering a kitty to see if your allergies are kicking in or not – I think it’s a good idea, that way you can be sure. And maybe you’re lucky… ☺ xxxxxxx
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I hope so. I miss not having a cat around much more than I expected to. And I know T would sooooo love another one.
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Oh dear, that’s pretty heartbreaking… My cat did the same last year. I think they prefer to be alone when their time comes.
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I think you’re right. I admire that cats do stuff on their terms, but it is so tough on their humans.
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