Thread: May lose a good friend tonight.

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".....I really apologize for bringing this thread up....."

No apology needed Don. You made a hard but (I believe) correct decision. I'm sure Scooter had a good life with you. My thoughts are with you too.

My condolences, Don. Sorry I almost missed this thread... I am sorry for your loss; I've been there, too, and it's a tough decision. Losing a pet that has been around that long is like losing a family member.

Cats are special because they each have such distinct personalities. I've always liked the observation that "Dogs have owners; cats have staff!"

I'm a bit late but Don, I am sorry to hear about your cat. I am pretty good with deaths and such but I know how you feel (even though it's a pet) after you have been with a dog (or cat) for years and you have to watch it leave or pass away. I had a few dogs when I lived in california since I was very little. We moved and couldn't bring them with us. My father got rid of one while everyone was at work and school. I came home and she was gone. I guess it was better that way. Then my other dog I had to watch him go away in the back of a pickup and whining while the guy drove him away and him looking back trying to jump out to come back. Made my eyes water and funny thing is, most people think they are just a pet and who cares. When you have an animal for so long it's like a kid I guess. They get their own personalities, get attatched to you, etc. The only thing they can't do is talk.
Anyways, hopefully you will still have your other cat for a while and only time will make things better.

Thanks guys, and I'm so sorry to interject such a downer subject into the forum. I just needed to talk to someone about it, and I feel most of you can relate.


Don,
Downer, I have been out hugging my dogs every time you gave an up date. I think my dogs think something is wrong with me, they look at each other like, what's up with him?
It would be awful to go threw something like this without us.
Ken

Thanks guys. You know Ken, it's funny, I've been doing pretty much what you mentioned about hugging your dogs more often now. I've been looking at the other 4 cats a lot differently too since this happened. Sniffy is about 8 months older than Scooter was, and Alto (my Son Dan's first cat) is about 13, so they are aging too. I usually spend lots of time playing and talking with all of them, but the last day I have been trying to pay even more attention. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Same with loved ones, we so often regret not spending enough time with someone, and then they pass on and we never get that chance again.

At least Scooter was her happy, loving self right up to the very last couple of days, and because Dan and I have been spending so many long nights at the shop I had time to play and be with her. We had this game where I would get up from my chair and she would move from her chair and take over mine. You and I have talked about "fate" Ken, I think the extra time I got to be with her was by someone's plan.

Don

Don,
Max and Otis send there condolences, I swear I told them what happened and they got this very sad look.
Ken

Don,

Our pets become family whether we want them to or not and losing them is just as tough. Wishing you the best to get through these difficult times. You know that you will. You made the tough but right decision.

Pat

Ken, that picture is fantastic, thanks for posting it. You can't look at that without smiling.

Pat, thanks. You are right, today is a little better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better yet.

Don

Don I'm so sorry. I haven't been on very often in the last couple of days, and missed this thread entirely!
The hardest thing my wife and I have done as a couple was to put our dog Sierra to sleep Christmas before last. She was our daughter. It still chokes me up to talk about it. She had cancer and suffered toward the end, until, I couldn't take, and told my wife it was the humane thing to do!
I'm so sad for your loss right now. RIP Scooter
here is a shot of Sierra that always brought a smile to my face.

Thanks for the nice thoughts Steve. Sierra was a beautiful dog for sure. So sorry for you having to go through it too. I'm sure some folks look at the grief I and all you others go through and think it is silly to some degree......."it's only an animal, not a human after all." But to those of us who love our pets as deeply as we all do, we know differently. They really ask for so little, and yet bring us so much joy. They are sometimes more loyal than even the humans we have surrounding us, they never criticize and a simple pat on the head makes their day.

They also have a totally different personality and sense of humor from every other pet we own. Scoot was a funny cat, and I remember her for the way she would muscle her way under me when I was trying to lay on a piece of cardboard working under a car. Pretty soon she would be spread out taking up the whole piece, and I would have to get her to move so I could get some work done. She would also lay on my tools and I would have to pick her up to find some missing wrench hiding under that fat body of hers.

Don

Scooter sounds like she had one great sense of humor and was one of those companions that will never be replaced by a new pet! I'm glad you still have other cats to keep you company, it won't make up for her loss, but they are comforting none the less.

Don--Sorry to hear about your friend. I held my dog when the vet had to put her to sleep, and I cried for an hour. Same thing with my cat, a couple of years ago. I'm not a particularly wimpy fellow, but I bawled like a baby, and I know how you must feel.---Brian

Yep Steve, having Sniffy at home really helps. Today I took a nap on the couch and had three of them cuddled up with me.

Thanks Brian. I'm like you, I'm not ashamed to say I shed more than a few tears over this. I get teary eyed just thinking of her, and I couldn't even talk to finish my conversation with the Vet the other day. Very sorry to hear you went through it a couple of times too.

Don

Ok maybe this will make you guys feel better for crying over an animal (which is ok by me)... I had a pet hairless rat about 2 years ago I think it was. These things are VERY smart and can be just as smart as a dog and it's funny because even have a personality. It would come when you call it (mine was named HairyIt or however it can be spelled), it would sit on your shoulder while you watch tv and sniff at your ear or just sit there and watch it like a human. Anyways about 2 years ago or more on Holloween night actually, she started to get really sick and bleeding out from the nose, mouth, ears, etc. Something weird happened and she was dying while I watched her to see what was going on, she tried to sniff and come to me but just couldn't. Made me sad and teary eyed just about. OVER A DARN HAIRLESS RAT!!! I have a picture of her somewhere I just have to find them.

Don, you have a lot of people thinking about what you are going through, and feel your sorrow.You cannot have an animal for length of time and not get attached to them; the strays that come our way are just looking for food. I tell my wife no more cats, I start to feel sorry for the new one and it starts all over again. The one I was calling the visitor his name is now Michael, he just fit right in with the others. We were not going to keep him but he was sick when he got here, and we had to get him well before giving him up. I’m sure some of you guy’s know how that goes by the time you get them up to par he has found your weak spot, and is now your friend. Michael wasn’t going to go through the long process off getting us trained he came right in ahead of the one we have been feeding since our little Libby our only little dog we came to the country with had to be put to sleep. The other cat (my wife calls him socks because of his white paws) right now that has made it through the winter; we have been putting food and water out for him. Just the last few days he will let us pet him while he is eating. Now the guy has a bad front paw, we try to get him so we can take him too the Vet but he will not let you get him.

I think if more people had an animal around the house they would be less uptight and maybe have a little more compassion for people less fortunate.

Don, this latest cat could be a twin to your Sniffy, same markings.

Richard