I've had better days than today.

I know that when one of us animal lovers posts about the passing of one of our beloved pets, those among us who don't feel the same way about animals as us think it is the dumbest thread they have ever seen. That's ok, I really don't care. Today we had to put the last of our old cats to sleep, and it is really tough.

Alto was her name, and she got that name because she was Dan's cat and he plays the alto sax. When she was a very small kitten she got out of his Girlfriends house and the neighborhood Tom cat beat her up terribly......it took $ 1,000 worth of stitches to close her up. Dan stayed in his room for one week solid and nursed her back to health, and she has been fine for the past 16 years, but time finally caught up with her this past week. She just got old, and her systems started shutting down.

Last January, when we moved, we could only take two cats into our new place, so we kept Chewy and Lucky, and my ex wife Nancy graciously took in Alto. The decision was made because Chewy and Lucky gave Alto no peace at all, always wanting to play, and she was older and just wanted left alone. Nancy was never a cat lover, but grew to love Alto. They would curl up on the couch and watch TV, and Alto always took over the pillow at night.

She has gotten increasingly frail and lethargic, and today Nancy and I took her to the vet. He confirmed it was just time to let her go, and the decision was made to do just that. The call to Dan was one of the hardest I have ever had to make, but I think he knew last night this would be the outcome. We went over and spent time with Alto and didn't say one word on the way home.

So, if you are a pet lover, you will understand how broken up we all are today. She was one of our original 4 cats. Sniffy, Scooter, and Sassy were the other 3 and they also are gone and were about 16-17 years old. Sassy was Don's cat, and I know he had the same terrible thing to go through a little while ago. Here is a picture of Alto sleeping with Lucky on happier days. She is the little multi colored one. RIP Alto. :(

Don

she was beautiful and i fully understand. Our pets become a true part of the family. They watch over us and never expect anything more than to be loved. You made one of the hardest decisions there is to make. But I believe that you made the right one. as part of our responsibilty as pet owners it is our job to make sure that our smallest loved ones are kept from pain. when there is no other options left we are given the opportunity to end their suffering. For that i know that they would truly thank us. It is the greatest gift that we can give them.

There's a poem, called "Rainbow Bridge".... Google it, I am sure you'll find it.
I am so sorry, I am an animal lover, always have been, always will be, and know just how you feel. When the time comes, though, you have to think of it, as the ultimate act of love, to not let the animal suffer.
I know it doesn't make YOU feel any better, though, I've been through it a number of times, and the tears are starting again right now, just thinking about it.
Kitty is now out of pain, young again, and playing and just generally being a cat again.
I'm sorry for you and your family.

PS and if anybody thinks that you are "dumb" for posting this, or feeling like you do, Let me have them....

Don that bites..
I have had to put down a few & the most recent was Miss Abby(last Dec).
Great dog & I still can see that knuckle head running around the back yard acting as goofy as she always was. Man I miss her.
People w/animals think as them kinda like kids..
As far as someone thinking these are dumb posts, well that just tells me #1 they have never owned an animal, #2 they must not have feelings...joe

Mr. Don, I've been there way too many times myself over my short 69 years of having and loving those critters. No need to try and tell you that she won't leave a hole in your heart now that she' gone but that hole can be filled with the good memories that you have of her while she was enriching your lives. Here's part of a poem I wrote after my old dog named Snowtoes died. I thought I would share a few verses with you.

I lost a friend today
and I am hurting more than you know
you say she was just an animal
so why not let it go?

Just an animal? are you crazy
she was a friend of mine
a loving and loyal companion
that filled a space in time

Altho my heart is aching
and feels like it will break
I'd do it all again, my friend
because knowing her was great

Don I feel your pain,wish i had the words to make this better. you will be in my thoughts.As everyone else has said i believe you did the right thing.Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Thanks Folks. 26Tudor, that is a very touching poem, thanks for posting it.

I have to give some real credit to my ex, Nancy, for the wonderful life she have Alto the last year of her life. Nancy was always DEATHLY afraid of cats, when we brought Sniffy home 18 years ago or so, Sniff got out of the big box we had her in, and we found Nancy standing on a chair out of fear this little kitten would hurt her. :LOL: Over the years she learned to accept and tolerate them, but was never a true cat lover. But when she took Alto in that all changed...........Nancy is a heartbroken as the rest of us, maybe more......her roommate buddy is gone.

I remember Uncle Bob posting something one time when we first found Lucky in the street. He said to the effect "sometimes pets come into our lives for reasons we can't explain, but they are meant to be there." He was 100% on the mark with that one. All pets ask so little and give so much in return.

As a side note, I've mentioned we have a bunch of stray cats that come to our shop every night to eat. We go over every night and there are usually a bunch of eyes peering out from under my utility trailer where I feed them. 4 were our favorites, Mama Kitty, Shmoo, Blackie, and Whiskers. Whiskers and Blackie were kitten siblings and were always together. A few weeks ago Blackie stopped coming around and Whiskers looked lost. Now, for the past 3 nights none of the 3 has been there, and we are worried about what might have happened to them. I only hope someone picked them up and has given them a good home.........but I fear that is not the case. :(

Life can be a real b**** sometimes. :(:(

Don

Shoot Don I know exactly what you mean. i had to put one of my Boxers down last year and it just about broke our hearts. He was our road Dog when the Wife and I drove over the road he kept us safe always watching out for us in truck stops and out of the way place's. When we slept he was on guard or when we have to leave the truck, he made sure no one broke in. When we came home he loved to relax in the pool, He would get in on the second step and sit down then swim around far a minute come back and sit on that step again. I would go in to try and drag him out and he would give me a little moan as to say hey this is my off time let me relax. So I would leave him in there and look out the window every now and then. When he was done he would get out walk over to the door and bark a couple of times and we would let him in. He always knew we had a warm towel there to dry him off he loved it. More than a campanion, budy or a friend he was family. Kurt

Don, I've gone through it to many times and the older I get the harder it becomes. I had to put Mitsie down a few years ago and since my wife and I couldn't have children, cats took their place. It was the hardest thing I had to do and when they say men don't cry, bullship because I did for a few days. I feel for you and time will make it better. Bart

Sorry to hear of this Don, like you guys I've got one that adopted us! I was out walking the dog and the dog wasn't dragging me like usual. She was constantly looking back so I finally wake up and turn around to see this little cat following us! He came right to our house and waited patiently at the back door. We let him into the foyer and the next day took him to the vet where he was given a clean bill of health! He had already been fixed and has been the most affectionate cat I've ever been around. He's just one of those characters, ya know? I guess all you can tell yourself is, you gave them a good loving home and kept them from want. They had a great life and you and the sons should take comfort in that!

Don I'm sorry for your loss. Pets can be our best friends, my dogs certainly are. I'm glad your ex was able to take her in and give her a loving home this last year. 16 years is a long life for a cat. I think it makes it so hard for us, because of their short life spans.

The animal lovers on this site are amazing – I’ve been there Don. We had an Old English Sheep dog named Goliath and a cat named (you guessed it) David. We had David for 16 years as well and the day came when the feline leukemia caught up with him. My wife cried for days. My heart goes out to you my friend as you.

Years ago we had a couple strays – one an obvious mother cat that was nursing who used to skit around the house – never came real close – but we set out food and she’d grab some and run away a bit and eat it. I always felt sorry for her as she was thin as a rail and I knew there were kittens somewhere. One day she showed up with a small one in tow – only one. They were both real skittish and way too fast to get close to so they soon became known as “Mother Jugs and Speed”. One day they just stopped coming and I often wondered if a coyote or dog got them or maybe they just moved on.

Animals can be such a great gift from God if we take the time to enjoy them. I know they certainly played a role in the lives of my kids growing up. Again – my heart goes out to you.

Regards,
Glenn

Really nice stories and sentiments everyone......thank you all. The problem with getting older is that our friends start dying off, both human and non human. It makes us understand how brief and iffy life is. You are right 34-40, we have to take comfort in the fact that if we hadn't taken them in and given them good, loving homes, their lives would have been so different. I can't watch those commercials where the show animals who are looking for homes, they all look so sad that it makes you want to go out an adopt all of them.

I would encourage anyone who can to go to a shelter and save a little life. Even adult cats and dogs make super pets, although most of us lean toward getting them as a kitten or pup. Some of the adult cats that show up at our shop look so tired and sad, like their daily survival has taken a real toll on them. They never let us get real close but they know my car and show up as soon as they see it coming at night. One old cat in particular just has the saddest face and he sits at a distance while I talk to him.

I hope my ex changes her mind about getting another cat. Alto not only got a loving home, but it enriched Nancy's life too. She is going to be lost without her there. She had Alto so spoiled she was only giving her bottled water. :LOL: Alto ran that house and loved every second of it.

Don

Don, Sorry to hear about your loss...............pets always seem to forge a special place in our lives,and i'm sure Alto will be sadly missed. He was as lucky to have you and your family as caretakers and i'm sure you have many happy memories.

We both feel for you Don,,,over the years,animals have come and gone,it always hurts,but I have always gone out and found another to take the last ones place..The biggest hurt was taking my 11 year old German Shepherd to the vet 10 days before Christmas,knowing I was gunna come out on my own,,and I did..It was the worst Christmas I have EVER had...as my ex wife had gone a few years earlier,,in fact losing my dog hurt heaps more...:eek::D We currently have two cats,a ten year old tabby which has Abyssinian blood in her,and Sofie,the old tabby b*tch,:D who is a real character,and rules the house.She is coming up 15 in early January,,still climbs onto the house roof,and hunts...Her father was a bush cat,and it shows...But,man,are we going to miss the old tart when she goes,which hopefully,wont be for another year or three...That cat has travelled with us half way around the North Island when we shifted house to we we are now and life wont be the same without her.
Bear up,mate,,,another will happen along for you,,as there is probably a cat colony in your neighborhood,that just KNOWS the two Dons and Dan are Floridas easy touch when it comes to cats...:D:D THEY also know the old saying about dogs having owners,and cats have staff...:D
If I knew where to look,I would post a couple of pix of our motley crew...

I have never been owned by a cat (or been on their staff (like that one, lamin8r :D)), but we've had lots of dogs through the years and that trip to the vet knowing that you'll likely be leaving alone is one of the worst. Just reading all of the words from pet lovers has put a lump in my throat and made tears well up... Don, Don, Dan and Nancy you all have my deep sympathy, and I hope that memories of happy/funny/loving moments with Alto overwhelm your sadness soon.

That is one thing that separates this forum from some others.........a person can come on here and bare their soul and it is understood and comforting words flow freely. I know of some other forums where this would not be received so well. Thanks for that opportunity everyone.

I knew for the past week Alto was getting worse. Nancy and I talk every day and she kept telling me she thought the end was near, but I was trying to put off the inevitable until after Daytona this week. Dan, Don, and I need this week away badly and I didn't want this on Dan's mind. I guess God had some different plans.

GIve your pets an extra hug tonight, I have done that with Lucky and Chewy.

Don

Really sorry to hear about the cat, Don. Hey, that's a lot of years for a cat! Probably had a ton of good times with her, anyway if you're like me you can't stand to see them suffer so it becomes choosing a lesser of two evils....

Again, I must stress, you did the ULTIMATE ACT OF LOVE FOR A PET.
Nope, that doesn't make it one damned bit easier for you, I know (been there, done that, more times than I have wanted to) but you know what? Alto appreciated it.
Alto WILL be waiting for you, when the time comes...imagine the reunion !!!!
and again I say, if anyone gives you any crap for "baring your soul" give me their e-mail address, I got your back on this one...

Well Pops, it ain't ever easy is it? Hard as it is, we need to focus on all the years they kept us employed in their service. Our current pair are still pretty young so we hope to have them around for another dozen or so years. They provide so much joy it will be hard to let them go, but the time always seems to come for that.

Grieve as you must, support Nancy and Dan as you will, that's the best you can do. We feel your pain, but time heals.

I've got one that looks just like her, Don. Monika is her name and she's about 11 now. I have a Scooter, too! Sorry to hear she passed; cats are pretty special companions.

Don, I just now saw your post and I know what it's like to lose or have to put a pet to sleep. I will say for that amount of time you took care of the Cat's they had a good life, I know that doesn't make it any easier to take but what can you say other than we understand. We have lost two this year one got out and was run over, that cat was born in a box while I was trying to comfort the mother. Going to get her to bring her home was one of the toughest things I had to do.

I think there are some pretty tough guys on this site. I've fallen off a building had many surgeries, lots of pain but never shed a tear but when we lose a pet I can't stop the tears from coming, you just get so close and they just want you to treat them with kindness and they will give it back. Don I'm so sorry to hear this.

Anytime I would say Don in Florida to my wife about something going on, I have to say Don with the blue eyed Cat.

Richard

Don I am truly saddened and sorry for your loss. You did the humane thing for your beloved friend.
My wife and I had to do the very same thing with our 2 Doberman's that we got when we first married. Misha was our first Doby, she was with us for 15 years, the smartest dog we have ever owned. The day we took her in for her scheduled day (how else do you put it) she was as sharp as a tack mentally, but father time had taken a toll on her body. She could no longer walk without assistance. It's funny, as I type this I get a tear in my eye, seems like yesterday. When I placed her on the examination table that she absolutely hated, she used to be on all fours standing on her claws! She just laid there and looked up at us with her big brown eyes, as if to say it's OK, it's my time. Shortly there after she was gone. I don't care how tough you are, it still tears you up inside. Our second Doby was Cody, he was with us for 12.5 years. He too, was healthy as a horse. One day he was very lazy and weak. The wife made an appointment to see the vet. The morning of his vet visit he came from our room and was walking down the hall and fell right over on his side, all 75 ponds of him. My wife was able to get him loaded in to the SUV by herself, as I was at work. She took him to his Vet appointment with our young children (4 and 7) in tow. I got a call from my wife asking me if I wanted to see Cody one last time, as he wasn't gonna make it through the evening. What a shock! I was a wreck and raced back home to the Vet's Office. He had a tumor that had ruptured and he was bleeding internally. I was crushed, as was my wife. We stayed at the Vets office till they closed before we had him put down. I will say both Vets offices were very professional and sensitive to our situation/needs. There is nothing easy about putting an animal down that has been totally faithful to you and your family. I will never forget them. Sorry to bring you my sob story, just letting you know we all go through it if we have animals. They truly become one of the family.

Keith

It's really comforting to know others feel the same way we do about our pets. They sat men don't cry, but we know differently. Sometimes we find ourselves remembering something one of them did, and we choke up for a while.

Tonight Dan, Don, and I went to the shop and worked on our cars, getting ready for our trip to Turkey Run on Thursday. It took all of our minds off of today's events for a little while and did Dan some good. He and Don get along so well that it was good medicine for him. On a happy note, Mama Kitty, Shmoo, and even Whiskers came back tonight to see us and get some dinner. We were really relieved to see they are still ok. Shmoo is getting to be a big cat now , but Whiskers is still a kitten. I wish I could convince Nancy to take that one in, but I know how she feels about never wanting another pet again. Maybe after the pain of Alto passes a little we can approach her again.

Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

On a happy note, Mama Kitty, Shmoo, and even Whiskers came back tonight to see us and get some dinner. We were really relieved to see they are still ok. Shmoo is getting to be a big cat now , but Whiskers is still a kitten. Don

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As they say. One door closes while another one opens! Your a good man Charlie Brown! :D:D We're such a "soft touch", aren't we?:LOL::LOL:

Sorry to hear about your loss Don. There's nothing anyone can say to ease the pain. Hang in there....CR

Don, I am sorry. Nothing I could say that has not been said; we animal folk accept it as a condition of partnership. They give us unconditional love, acceptance, devotion, and we return it as we can, and accept the responsibility that goes with the territory. My heart goes out to you all.

The people on this forum are as good as they come..........thank you all. Today was better for us all and tomorrow will be better yet.

Nancy gave me all of Alto's stuff so she wouldn't have it to look at, and Chewy already took over her bed. Lucky is not happy because he likes to snuggle with Chewy at night on the couch, and there is no room for both of them in the cat bed. :LOL:

Pets are just the craziest people! :3dSMILE: And we still have most of our extended family at the shop to keep us entertained. :LOL:


Don