Originally Posted By u k fan Ok, I'm not really sure why I'm posting this as there's nothing anyone can do, but I just kinda want to. Sorry, if you're not interested as I have a tendency to be long winded. Please feel free to stop reading. Anyway, my cat had been sick for a few days and just didn't seem right. He hadn't sat down properly in goodness knows how long and he just kept circling the living room looking odd. Occasionally he would stop and stare at the wall or something, but he just wasn't right so yesterday we plucked up the courage to take him to the vet. He had a catalog of problems including something wrong with his eye (I think a lens had slipped or something). It had never seemed to cause him any problems and he seemed to be able to see fine so we'd never really worried about it. The vet said had he seen it when it happened he would have removed the eye. It's a shame he didn't in one way as I think my cat would have looked cool with a patch. Mind you, he'd have never been able to watch Jaws 3D again! He also had bad teeth, but at age 15/6 (we were never sure) that was to be expected. He also sounded wheezy, but he'd had a bit of a cold so we didn't think much of it. He was also dehydrated. Finally, he had nodules on his kidney. The vet said that the first job would be to rehydrate him so we agreed to let him stay so he could be put on a drip. He then said he would have to have blood tests and possibly x-rays if they didn't show anything, but that ultimately he was a very sick cat and that he wouldn't think bad of us if we decided to let him go. There was no way I was deciding that there and then so we opted for the rehydration while we went away to think. What followed were several tear-filled hours while we talked about what to do. We decided to wait and see how things went before making a final decision. Anyway, around 7 o clock last night we got a call from the vet to say that the cat's breathing was bad and that in his opinion we should put him to sleep. Funnily enough we were almost outside the vet's office when we got the call so we went straight round. To be honest, he didn't seem much worse to me, but he had his head down and was facing the wall again and that's no way to live. The vet left us to say goodbye and then the deed was done. I held him the whole time. We tried to stay as positive as possible for him. I didn't want him to feel sad. We took him home and I'm not embarassed to say he slept in my room (covered up in his cat carrier). I had some really weird dreams last night including one really real one where I woke up and he was alive and we were trying to work out whether to take him back to the vet or just keep quiet. It was so real that when I was woken up during it it was such a shock. We buried him today in my sister's garden next to where our other cat who died last year is buried. I can picture them now fighting in heaven. Sometimes they hated each other! I held him again before we buried him and talked to him. I didn't want to let him go. I felt like I should make some kind of profound statement to send him off, but instead I made a pun based on the Whiskers cat food advert (his name was Whiskey so it was easy). Needless to say it was very tearful. I can't believe he's gone. He's lived with us for 14 years and I can't believe he won't be there when I get home. He's been with me my whole adult life. He was such a nervous cat when we got him. He spent 2 days cowering under our oven. He had previously lived in an apartment with a single guy who sadly contracted HIV and was advised to get rid of him. He was taken in by my brother, but he already had a couple of cats and 3 dogs and Whiskey just couldn't cope with all that so we took him. That first night he was scared on the way over he had an accident (or two) so we got him home and threw him straight in the shower. He was not impressed. As he was used to men for a long time I was the only one he could really cope with and he got very jealous if I was doing something with someone else. After I went to WDW for 2 weeks I got the cold shoulder for ages. Anyway sorry to bore you all, but it was nice to remember him. If any of you who are still reading this have pets go home and give them an extra hug for me. RIP Whiskey
Originally Posted By TXDISNEYNERD I am so sorry to hear that. I have lost a few pets in my 40 years and it is so hard that many times I think I don't want to get another animal because I don't want to go thru the pain of losing another one, but then I remember all the joy they brought to my life. I will go and give my pets an extra hug for you today!
Originally Posted By beamerdog This indeed is very sad. RIP Whiskey. My cat was 19 when she went to cat heaven. That was 21 years ago. It was years before I could walk down the cat food aisle in the market without tearing up. I still see her out of the corner of my eye at times. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I prefer to think of Whiskey walking around haunting you with that patch and a slight swagger! It sounds like he was a great cat.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda I am so sorry to hear about Whiskey. I know how hard it can be to lose a family member. Thanks for sharing.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I'm so sorry that you lost your furry buddy but it really sounds like he was ready. >>I can picture them now fighting in heaven<< I ready every word of your post and it was a wonderful remembrance and tribute to a kitty who was lucky enough to have found you. >>After I went to WDW for 2 weeks I got the cold shoulder for ages.<< You knew what he was feeling and thinking and you knew it was the right thing for him to let him go. Hugs for you and I'll be sure and give my Mittens and Minnie an extra hug in Whiskey's honor.
Originally Posted By u k fan Thanks for your thoughts everyone. In the last 6 weeks I've had two human family members die (my Grandfather and an Uncle) and neither one of them has affected me as much.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck I'm so sorry for your loss ukfan! I totally understand not wanting to let them go! When Taz died last year at home I refused to take her out of the house until DH got home from work - I just really couldn't let her be alone even though I knew her spirit was long gone. Maybe Whiskey will meet Smudge and Oscar up there and they can swap stories about their weird hoomans!
Originally Posted By Route66 I'm sorry for your grief, I really am. A cat can mean so much more than we ever know. Its when loved ones are gone, or gone home I should say that all the emotions of thier life become so clear. This time of intense emmotions is very hard, just please dont be consumed by sadness.. Even though Whiskey is gone now, just think.... What a gift it was to know him!... Such a Character he was
Originally Posted By bloona Sending you hugs Kieran, know exactly how you feel . Take care, your cat was obviously a very very lucky one to have such a loving owner.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I'm so very sorry to hear about your "baby." We love them so much that it hurts to even think about the day we have to let them go. I'm glad you were holding him as he went to sleep. I know he found comfort in your arms. *HUGS*
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Big hugs my friend. It is always hard when we lose an animal, especially one that is part of the family so long. I have buried many cats and dogs in my life, and each one feels harder. I am glad you had each other and hope the pain passes quickly. Also my condolances on the loss of your family members. I find with grief, sometimes it manifests itself in oh so many different ways (I remember crying like a baby at DL in the Opera House as the memories of lost family members passed). I dread the day we have to explain to the kids about Mocha. Sadly I have had to put down a couple of pets, and it is very, very difficult. I wish I could hug my dog, or indeed my family (it has been a rough few days recently), but I am stuck in a hotel room in Stafford. Here is a virtual hug for you my friend, and here is one for Gel and Josie. All my love and best wishes, Dave
Originally Posted By iamsally I am so sorry for your loss. And I read every word of your wonderful tribute. As with so many here; I have been there and made that decision. >>>>If any of you who are still reading this have pets go home and give them an extra hug for me.<<<<<< My dachshund Sk8R sleeps with me, travels with me, makes me laugh. I can get teared up just thinking of the night I have to go to bed without him and he is only 5. Heartfelt condolences from the iamsallys.
Originally Posted By llanatoye You were the last loving touch he felt ukfan, and that is irreplaceable. So hard to let them go but what you did is the utmost in unselfishness. I just stopped and went and gave a pat and a hug to my 'fur faces', {{{{{uk fan}}}}}
Originally Posted By STILthDestroyer >>Mind you, he'd have never been able to watch Jaws 3D again!<< That was just adorable.....so very witty. Aw, uk fan, that was just a beautiful story all the way around. I know you'll be missing Whiskey in your life....♥ {{{{uk fan}}}} I am so sorry for your loss. xoxo
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Sorry to hear about your baby, uk fan. Any pictures of Whiskey that we could see?
Originally Posted By AGentlRose I am so sorry for your loss. I understand how you are feeling. I lost my beloved Princess on Nov. 7, 2006 and will always feel that loss. They are our family members. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
