Hello, everyone. My name is Melissa and I just recently joined these forums FINALLY. Like the title says, I am 18 years old and I just lost one of my two cats on February 5th, 2010. That was a month ago from yesterday......His name was Tiger and he was a Maine Coon. He was the most beautiful cat in the world, in my opinion. Black and brown furred tabby with white paws, face, neck, and belly, green eyes, and a pink nose. He was soooo colorful. And he was the smartest cat my family had ever had.......SO intelligent. I grew up with him, so he was like my brother, my child, and my best friend all in one. He meant SO much to my family and I. I will quickly tell a little bit about his life and how he died..............

When we first saw Tiger, he was a stray cat who would hang around our street looking for food. My mom says that we first saw him in 1997. We adopted him, or really, HE adopted US, because he needed a home really badly and we let him stay with us. He was between 1-2 years old at that point. So then years went by and he lived with us happily. He protected us from big dogs when they would come around our house. SERIOUSLY. One night when I was like 7 or 8, we came home from somewhere and Tiger was outside and these 2 big dogs came around our house and Tiger ended up scratching them in the nose and they ran away! He never liked dogs.............And he knew how to fight them! He was a lot like a dog. He would follow us around our neighborhood when we would walk places. And he BARELY EVER used the litter box. He would always go outside to do his business. Another really cool thing about him was that he had a verrryy strange way of meowing. Instead of the normal, standard "meow", Tiger meowed like "g-nahh" and "rahhh" and he would make like a squeak-sound when we would pick him up and hold him like a baby. So he was a VERY unique and interesting cat. He lived a very happy and mostly healthy life with a very loving family. He lived to be about 13, we think.

So.........it was about January 26th, 2010, when we started to realize that something was wrong with Tiger. He wasn't eating or drinking water. He was sleeping a lot more than usual. He seemed to be having pain coming from somewhere in his abdomen. Then I looked up the symptoms for a dying cat, and these were some of the symptoms. So we decided to wait and see what other symptoms he developed. Over the next week, he started having some trouble breathing. He also started drooling. We just thought that these were symptoms that he was dying. We didn't think that he had anything REALLY wrong with him, other than being old. So then we waited and waited and then we FINALLY took him to the vet on Thursday, February 4th, 2010. The veterinarian said that Tiger had heart disease. She actually said that he had Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is believed to be an autosomal dominant inherited trait in Maine Coon cats. His heart wall was enlarged, he had a heart murmur, his pulse was too low, he had fluid in his lungs, and he had a partially collapsed lung. All of this, and we had NO IDEA. So they kept Tiger overnight that night in an oxygen cage and on medication, and a cat cardiologist came in the next morning to check on his status. Then, we got a call at about 11:15 a.m. saying that Tiger's medications weren't working and now his kidneys were starting to fail. We decided that Tiger was not going to make it through this and we wanted to end his suffering. So, we had him euthanized. I was there to comfort him, along with my mom and my best friend, Kelly. I got to see his last moments and I got to see him go home to Heaven. I was so grateful to have gotten to see him go. He died between 1:35 p.m. and 1:40 p.m. on Friday, February 5th, 2010. I will never forget that.

After Tiger's death, I was a mess. I didn't think I could possibly go on without him in my life. I went through every single one of the stages of grief. But now, a month later, I am finally starting to accept the fact that he is really gone forever. I am starting to think about the happy memories I had with him in my life, rather than the sad and depressing thoughts of the last days and weeks of his life. I am SOOOOOOO grateful to have had him in my life. We were the luckiest family in the world to have had him come into our lives. He truly changed our lives, and we will never, ever forget him. Now, I am trying to focus on our other cat, Cupcake, and making the last few years of his life great.

The pictures in my signature are of Tiger. See how beautiful he was? I can post more pictures if anyone would like. I appreciate anyone who has read all of this.

The pictures in my signature are of Tiger. See how beautiful he was? I can post more pictures if anyone would like. I appreciate anyone who has read all of this.[/font][/size][/color]
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Yes, Melissa, Tiger was very beautiful! What a cool looking kitty! I had one years ago, Chloe, who would fight off dogs and take long hot walks with us in the desert and stuff like that, and I adored her. She used to lure coyotes onto our desert property, and then skitter up a tree and my dogs would come rushing out to drive off the coyotes, and Chloe would be up in the tree say, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, you can't catch ME! See how I set you up?!"

You sounds very grounded for a young person who has just lost her first pet. The grieving process is strange and unpredictable and unique for all of us, but it you're already able to focus on the "good stuff" and not as much on the bad, you are making great strides.

My family had a cat who lived to be 23--I was the only child and we got her when I was about four, so she was the only continuous consistent playmate I had. By the time she died, I was long out of college and living 2000 miles away, but I still felt as if a part of my heart and my childhood had been cut away from me.

We're glad to have you here--please keep posting and do share more pictures. Everyone here understands how you are feeling--that's why it's such a great Forum. Feel free to share anything at all here, and keep on trudging through that grieving process. Things DO get better and better with time.

Big Hugs--

Margi and Ladywolf

Hi, Melissa, please permit me to offer you my sincerest sympathies in the loss of your beloved Tiger. Losing a beloved companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we have been blessed with the privilege of their company. Euthanasia is the last gift of love we can give to our beloved companions on this side of eternity so that their journey to the angels is as peaceful and comfortable as possible. And it doesn't matter if it's our 400th loss or our first loss - - the deep grief that we feel when we are separated from our beloved companions is painful - - both physically and emotionally.

I am so glad that you are now being able to focus on your good memories with your precious Tiger. This is what he wants you to do. His sweet living Spirit is forever with you in your heart and memories, and he continues to share your life in whatever you do and wherever you go.

Thank you so much for sharing pictures of your beautiful Tiger. He certainly is a handsome young man. This grief journey is filled with a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, and many unexpected sorrowful moments. Just when you think you have come through the worst part, something may happen - - you hear a song or think of a memory of him - - and all of a sudden you find yourself sobbing as though it is the first moment when you have held your precious Tiger for the last tiime. Please know you are among friends here who do understand the sorrow and loss you are going through. We are here for you for as long and as often as you need us. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your precious Tiger with us, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Melissa
I am so sorry for the loss of your cat. He was a beautiful guy. Reading your story has helped me tremendously. We put our dog to sleep on Dec 7 2009 and I haven't had the easiest time with it. She was my first pet - my first dog. I am going to try and focus on the happy times and be grateful for the time I had with her -- just as you said.

Thanks again
Sharon

So very sorry for your loss Melissa, Tiger sure was a beautiful little cat, so cute. He had similar markings to my cat Ulriich, except his fur was a lot shorter than Tigers. I'm so glad you got to be with him right to the end, he was a very lucky cat to have wandered into your street and been adopted by your family. Most of my cats and dogs have been strays. My daughter has a cat called Tiger too, we all call him Tiggy most of the time. Sending my love and hugs to you Melissa xx

madi xx

Hi Melissa

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear Kitty, Tiger. What a beautiful cat and with such a character. He seems to have enjoyed the most wonderful life and was obviously loved very dearly, especially by you, as you grew up together.
He has been such an important part of your life and its so good that you are now able to focus on the good, happy times, and all that he brought to your life, how he enriched it, and how we are so blessed to have these darling fur babies in our lives.
I know you will be missing him like crazy, that is the hard part, but he will want you to continue to think 'Happy' thoughts of him.
Thinking of you. You sure are one brilliant Kitty Mama. Thanks for sharing your story and the wonderful photos of Tiger.

Love and Hugs

Jan, Pixie, and my Angels xx

Hi Melissa,

I too had a cat named Tiger when I was a little girl, and he was a stray too! He sounded just like your Tiger, a wonderful friend! Anyway, your Tiger sure was a beautiful cat and I'm sad you are missing him so much, I completely understand how you have felt! It is terrible losing our four legged friends, as they are sometimes better friends than humans!

Just remember how beautiful he was and what a great friend too. It's never easy losing your pet, I too have learned how hard it is as I lost my 14 year old dog whom I had since he was 12 weeks old. He was my first dog, and losing him was devastating. Anyway, just thinking of you and your beautiful cat and hope you are doing okay.

Moira

Thank you all so much for your wonderful stories and thoughts. I loved reading them and they have helped me cope with this. I just wanted to let you all know that I recently purchased a 100 picture photo album and I had the cover of it engraved with designs and words for Tiger. The top of the cover has a cat engraving in the center and paw print engravings on both sides of the cat engraving. On the bottom of the cover, I had them engrave a few sentences to honor Tiger's life and death. It cost, in all, about $170, but it was worth EVERY PENNY because it turned out beautifully! I plan to put 100 pictures of Tiger in the photo album. We will keep it forever to honor Tiger's life. My parents still don't know about it.........It's a surprise and a secret. They will love it when I show them. Now I just have to gather all of the pictures up and put them all in the album! I will eventually post pictures of the cover of the album, if anyone cares to see it. It is very special and beautiful! =]

Once again, thank you all so much for reading my story of Tiger's life and for leaving such wonderful comments. I really appreciate it! I'm so glad I joined these forums. =]

Melissa, I'm sorry you lost your dear friend Tiger. Losing your first pet is hard. It's something we've all been through before. I recently lost my cat Friend but before him I had a dog named Tasha. She was my first pet and I grew up with her. When I lost her it was devastating. It took me years to get over her death. I actually wish this site was around during that time. It would've helped me immensely. I'm glad that you have decided to make the photo album of Tiger. I think it's a great idea and could help you and your family heal. I'm excited to hear what your family thinks of the finished product. I'd love to see your tribute as well.

Thinking of you and your family and sending hugs your way,
Hopelessheart

Hi Melissa

What a wonderful idea the album is, it will be a beautiful tribute to your darling Tiger, and something that you will always cherish. I would love to see some pics as you progress with it.

Thinking of you.

Hugs
Jan and Pixie and my Angels xx

Melissa-

The album is such a marvelous idea and it sounds like the album itself is really beautiful! Yes, please do post some pics of it on here, and don't worry--$170 is a trifle when compared to how much our loves ones mean to us.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss of your precious Tiger. He was a honey of a kitty!!

Hugs--

Margi and Ladywolf

Hi Melissa, I'm so sorry for the loss of Tiger. I also found this forum because of the death of my Maine Coon too. They are amazing kitties, yes? I'm so glad you're remembering the good times with Tiger.
It's a theraputic way of getting through the loss. I'm bias when it comes to kitties like ours, they're gorgeous.

Post more pics in your thread please, I love seeing them.

Talk to you soon

Hey everyone. I haven't been here for a while. Sorry. This is what I TRIED to post on Facebook just now, but it was WAY too long. I wanted to share it here:

3 months ago from today.......WOW. I had a dream that Tiger came back from the dead this morning. Woke up crying, then couldn't STOP crying for like an hour. Then I went out to where he's buried in our yard and said some words. It was lovely and peaceful. I told myself not to cry for the rest of the day, but NOW I am, AGAIN. WHY? I thought I was over this crying-when-I-think-about-him thing, but CLEARLY, I'm not. I'm supposed to be thinking of the great times I had with him in my life, NOT crying at even the thought of him. I tell ppl I'm over it and I'm fine, but I'm not. I don't think I EVER will be over this. I just wish that everyone could understand just how AMAZING Tiger was, and how important he was in my life. I wish that everyone could understand how devastating losing a PET is. No one understands, until they go through it. I didn't understand, until I lost my beautiful baby 3 months ago. There's such a stigma about losing a pet in our society. Lose a PERSON, and OH that's a big deal. But lose a PET, and it's like OKAY now get over it. It shouldn't be like that. Because I know that I was more attached to Tiger than I am to most people. I just wish that everyone could understand what I'm going though and how hard it is. But I feel like no one does, and I have no one to talk to about it. Oh, and sorry if I'm annoying you all with this LONG status update, but I REALLY don't care. Because aside from about 6 of you, I cared more about Tiger than I care about you and what you think about me. R.I.P. Theige-a-day<3

I'm NOT over this. =[

Dear Melissa,
No one can tell you how long your greif will last...just that it does get better. I am going through the same thing.. When our furbaby's touch our lives so deeply so does the grief. Just hang in there and try to put in you mind a very happy memory of your furbaby. I also printed pictures of my BooBear so I sould see it first thing I woke up and last thing before I went to sleep. The first days it seemed to make it harder but as time passes I love seeing his face, even if it is only in a picture. It does get better....I will keep you and Tiger in my prayers.....Tina

Melissa, I totally hear you. First of all, dreams can really bring back emotions that you thought were moving along on their way. I think you're right when you say that you may never get over losing Tiger, because you probably won't...but you will get used to it after a while, I think...that 's what I'm hoping will happen to me after losing Stew. Truth is, we can't get understanding from most of our family and friends because it is impossible for them to understand the depth of our relationships with our kitties. Even if they want to understand, they can't, because they didn't know him like you did. I also agree that there is only a handful of people in my life that I would put in the same category as Stew, as far as how much I care about them. And for the people out there who think "it was just a cat" I feel SORRY for them, because they've obviously had to go their whole lives without the kind of love that Tiger and Stew brought to our lives.
My family is sick of hearing me talk about Stew, I can tell. That's why I come here. People here understand.
For the most part I keep my grief to myself, I spend time outside where Stew is, talk to him, think about him. If I try to talk to people at work I end up crying; and I don't feel it's any of their business. I can get through a work day, make it back to my car, and then I break down and cry the whole way home. I wonder how long this will go on.
I've only survived 2 weeks since Stew passed away, I'm sure at 3 months I'll be feeling the same as you too.
I'm thinking of you.

Kelly