RE: It has not been a good Fall for me and my cats

My big, lovable orange Himalayan (or maybe he's a Persian, I forget which) mix died some time last night . . . it has not been a good Fall for the cats in the Johnson household.

Look at that lazy SOB- too damn cute. I'm really sorry for your loss Jake. That cats and dogs don't live longer is (IMO) life's biggest injustice.

Did another cat have an issue as well?

The guy I work with looks like that!

A few months back Teddy Roosevelt disappeared after I let him out earlier than normal one morning . . . I suspect coyotes or a fisher may have got him.

Aw, Jake, so sorry to hear of your second loss this year. Pets are so special.

Oh, no. So sorry to hear that. I saw your post and thought of your kitten--glad that it wasn't the little guy, as I think that would have been doubly heartbreaking.

I used to have a GSD that I would put on a down-stay on our porch if I was out and about. She knew the expectation, and instead of minding it, would ramble the yard and make a dash for the porch when she heard the car coming, and be sitting politely on it when we pulled into the driveway. I'd only know she'd been off because I'd see the flash of fur through the trees as she beat us to the porch. Wretched dog.

After she died, I'd sometimes swear I'd see that flash of fur through the trees as I pulled in, and my heart would leap--I'd think for a nanosecond that there had been some kind of error, and then logic would take over. I talked that over with a friend who knew the dog well, and asked her what her theology of dogs was. She smiled and said, "She'll be waiting for you on the porch of heaven."

So that's my visual--I figure you'll have a few friends lined up there, trying to keep their tales clear of the rocking chairs, and there'll be a few dead mice laid neatly out in welcome. (I am not sure what my theology of mice, but how could it otherwise be heaven for cats?)

Sorry about your buddy jake...

loon

I'm sorry to hear about your little friend.

It has been a few years since we lost our golden, but I still miss her. It is never easy, that's for sure!

It always helped me to spend some extra time with the ones I still had. Your other pets probably feel a little out of sorts too.

-SF

Sorry for your loss.

We had 3 cats when we bought our house 18+ yrs ago, down to the last one which will be 19 soon. She loves it when we fire up the boiler in the winter as the basement is home to the boiler and her. But, even at her old age she manages to come upstairs twice a day to say hello. I can't say she was my favorite of the 3 but I'll certainly miss her when she goes.

I'm sorry Jake. Do try to stay at least a lil bit otpimistic about the missing cat. My big orange cat went on "walkabout" last summer and returned to us at the beginning of this past spring (8 months to the day). I will put in special request with my dieties.

Sorry for your loss, Jake, no matter that we know it's coming someday, doesn't make it any easier, even as much of a pain as they can be.

Sending Dixie & Matisse snuffles your way Jake. As others have said, it's never easy. Sounds like it was on his terms.

I feel for ya Jake... I said it before.....I like animals more than I like most people... :smirk:

Sorry to hear that Jake. Very sad. Times too short with our furry friends.

Another very sad part is when the owner's time has come. Most of their pets just end up in shelters. Too old to get a home with someone new. Except us, We adopt the older ones to let them have a full happy ending if you know what I mean. When your heart can take it, Adopt one.

Sorry about your loss Jake. Had to put one of our cats down last year as she had cancer, and after a year of IV's it was just takin a toll on her. I hate it when one of our little friends passes. Just feel sad, thats all.

Jake, just saw this. Very sorry to hear.
We're waiting for the day when our old Newfie passes. Not hopeful, but expecting. She's at least a couple years past normal lifespan, and still seems strong, but stumbles every once in a while.
It's never easy.
One of the biggest reasons we don't breed Dachsies anymore.

Bummer, Jake, so Sorry to hear it.
But, it's sort of a gift when they go on their own without (apparently) suffering, and you don't have to labor over having to make that tough decision for them.

Sorry...I feel your pain...

Well after a short search my wife and I have a new kitten . . . while I was looking for a Manx or Maine coon mix we ended up with a regular ol' long-haired domestic cat which I picked up from one of my co-workers as their cat had kittens and he was looking for a home for some of them. Later on I'll post some pics of Andrew Jackson.

Honestly, not to be callous, but it was a bit easier this time around . . . I think for two reasons. 1) I try not to have favorites, but I loved Theodore Roosevelt as he was a truly special cat and 2) When you have a body, you have some closure -- not having a body to bury is pretty tough.

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone.

I'm sorry for your loss Jake. I have a great cat named Archie, and I know how much I will miss the little guy one day.
Although your new kitten will never replace your other cats, I'm sure he's going to grow to become very much a part of your family and bring his own unique idiosyncrasies and personality that you will appreciate for many years!

The cat doesn't technically wake me in the morning, but waits until I flutter an eyelash or two, and then comes in and enthusiastically greets me. Get up and feed her, let her and her dog buddy out, tend to the stove, and then if time permits, I get on here for a few minutes.

Our dog was in really rough shape, limping, tired, and then a few weeks ago developed a swelling on her back leg. Got that checked out, decided to watch and wait, and then it ballooned and she had surgery last week. Turned out to have been pretty deep, and it had apparently been there for awhile. She's had a new lease on life in the last few days. I thought she was just getting old, but I'm guessing now she was in pain that she couldn't tell us about. Actually got up on the couch a few days ago--she hasn't done that for months now.

This thread just served as a reminder to be grateful for the little things--those day-to-day interactions that make life a little more fun. I asked my son the other day if he ever thought about how much lonelier we'd be without domesticated animals, and he thought for a moment, and said yes. That's one more thing that I appreciate about the critters--they're good for our kids. Like tending a stove, they just make better people out of them.

My brother went through the same with his golden and she's in surgery having an amputation maybe as I type this. Hoping the best for her.

I had to have my 11 year old house rabbit put down a month or 2 ago. I blubbered like a baby over this 3# bunny- feeding him raisins and saying goodbye. I think I'm getting more sentimental and softer as I get older.

Jake so sorry to hear about your cat. No, it has not been a good Fall for the felines, although things are looking up for Harry. I'm so glad you got him.

one of the few Important True Things I have learned on my ride is that you can't quantify grief. Another is that you don't have to explain it to anyone. Pain is pain. Grief is grief.