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[Max was loved]

My cat Max died on Saturday. He was only 4 years old and he died instantly with no previous illness or warning. He was sitting on my husbands lap and all of a sudden he screamed and died. We had no warning. Just that morning I had been playing with him and brushing his hair. My husband had just sat down with him to clip his nails. We took him to the emergency room because we didn't know what to do and they confirmed he was dead. The vet said she probably thought he had a clot that killed him instantly. There was nothing we could have done to prevent it.

I'm so sad it really hurts to feel this loss. I think because it was so sudden it's shaken us even more. We just moved to a new city and are not even settled and to have this happen has really shaken us. We loved Max so much. We're a young couple and Max was like our child. He brought us much happiness and I know he loved us too.

I've had pets my entire life and I know the pain of losing a pet. But they've always been old or had a progressive disease. For Max to die so suddenly has really made me realize how quickly life can change.

It's hard to be in the apartment now. I keep expecting him to come around the corner. I see his hair on our things. I havent' wanted to move his litter box yet because then it's really over.

I know that the pain will ease and over time we will have happy memories of him but right now it's painful and makes this unsettled time in our lives feel that much more intense.

Thank you for reading. It helps to know there are others out there who know what this is like.

[Sidney's Buddy]

I am very sorry for your loss.

I know how hard it is. I wish that I could do something, but there really is nothing that any of us can do.

My Sidney died a little over two months ago and yesterday I agreed to take in another cat from a shelter. His name is Eli and he was hit by a car and his back left leg was seriously damaged. He is recuperating now but will never reach 100 percent mobility. They were very worried about him finding a good home at the shelter because most people want a perfect cat. He is so sweet that I could not resist him. I think it is such a fitting tribute to such a great cat to help another that is truly in need. I will pick him up later this week after he gets his final x-rays and clearance from the vet.

I don't know what else could possibly help to heal the pain that I am feeling. Helping poor Eli just may do that. I hope so.

Good luck with trying to get through this. It has been incredibly hard for me. I hope that you figure out a way to make yourself able to think only kind and warm things for Max and forget about the traumatic time that you went through. I keep trying to only think about the wonderful things about Sidney but it has been really tough