I'm Heartbroken!, Lost kitty Options

[RitainMN]

Our gorgeous cat, Louie, has disappeared from our neighborhood. We live on the end of a cul-de-sac with no busy streets, and all of our cats have been let out daily for awhile. Louie never came home this past Tuesday. I've done EVERYTHING to find him - you name it. There's nothing more I can do, and I miss him horribly - as does his buddy here at home, Leo. Jasmine, who is a 22 year old tortie, doesn't miss him - she only got along with one other cat in her life, Lester, and she has way outlived him.

Louie was my baby - I called him my "little ray of sunshine," because I suffer from several ailments, including clinical depression, type II diabetes, bad osteoarthritis, and Crohn's disease. All are pretty well under control now, except for the awful depression, which has made Louie's loss unbearable. I took the day off from work the day after he disappeared to put up flyers at some businesses, deliver them to homes, call the Humane Society, the microchip company, three local vets' offices, and just cry my eyes out. I still call for him every morning and every evening, but I cry after that. He was such a loving cat, and following me from room to room when he was in, slept with me, purred madly with me, stood up against the kitchen counter and waved his paw at me when I was getting ready to feed him, played with Leo - I just miss him so much I can't stand it. With depression, something like this is just unbearable, as I said. I've seen my therapist, and called the psychiatrist who prescribed my recent medication. I emailed four friends on Friday asking them to please call me this weekend if they get a chance and told them why. Only two have called so far, and only one was helpful. As you all know, many people just don't get it when a pet dies or is lost. The man I work with started making little jokes until I flat-out told him, "It's NOT funny." Now he's been nicer.

I have a husband and two adult children who are living at home now due to the economy. My husband works 12 hour shifts plus every other weekend, many nights, so I rarely see him. I am taking this so hard, I'm sure, because when we had to euthanize two other cats we loved, they were very sick, older, and deserved to be relieved of their pain. With Louie, he was 5 1/2 years old, healthy as an ox, muscular, 16 pounds, had all his claws, was a good tree-climber (we have lots of trees around our neighborhood) and could defend himself well, I'm sure. He is microchipped, and my only hope now is that someone took him in and will eventually take him either to a shelter or to their own vet, and his microchip will be checked. It's been 4 days now, and I'm not even functioning well.

I guess I just had to get all of this off my chest and I figured people on this forum would totally understand my grief and sense of helplessness. Thanks for letting me vent!

Rita in MN

[RitainMN]

Thanks so much, Beth. I don't think the rest of my family is grieving about Louie as much as I am. In fact, I know they aren't. But to me, pets are fur-children and deserve the same respect and love as a child. Their loss is almost as great as a person. In fact, I am grieving more for this loss than my parents and MIL. I think that is because they were quite old, sick, and ready to go, and it was almost a blessing that they were relieved of their bodies. I have no idea what happened to my Louie, and I may never know. I know you've all been through this before and have felt the same pain.

[goliath]

But to me, pets are fur-children and deserve the same respect and love as a child. Their loss is almost as great as a person. In fact, I am grieving more for this loss than my parents and MIL.

I feel the same way Rita. No matter what the outer shell of a sweet little soul looks like, it's the content of what's inside that we fall in love with. We care for our furkids in the same way we care for human children. Always tending to their every need. They depend on us for food, water and shelter......and ask for no more. We give them lots of love and they love us in return.

I completely understand how deep the grief is first hand. The blow I endured when my Goliath passed away so suddenly put me completely out of commission. Never in my life had I experienced such enormous amounts of pain and depression. That includes when my parents both died in their 50's, not much older than I am now. I loved both my parents very much but did not carry the burden of sadness and grief nearly as deep nor with such the intensity as when Goliath passed way.

My little Browser went missing when he was just 8 weeks old. We live in a heaving wooded area on a lake. Many thought Browser would not make it through the cold night in the cold rain. Some thought if the temperatures didn't get him the foxen or coyotes would. I never lost hope and prayed God would keep His watchful eyes over Browser and keep him safe and sound. He did find his way home and I thank God every day that he did. Browser's miracle rescue is posted in this section if you care to read it. His story is truly a miracle of faith and trust.

I continue to keep you and Louie in my heart and prayers. Sometimes miracles do happen when we believe.

Hugs,
Beth

[RitainMN]

I feel the same way Rita. No matter what the outer shell of a sweet little soul looks like, it's the content of what's inside that we fall in love with. We care for our furkids in the same way we care for human children. Always tending to their every need. They depend on us for food, water and shelter......and ask for no more. We give them lots of love and they love us in return.

I completely understand how deep the grief is first hand. The blow I endured when my Goliath passed away so suddenly put me completely out of commission. Never in my life had I experienced such enormous amounts of pain and depression. That includes when my parents both died in their 50's, not much older than I am now. I loved both my parents very much but did not carry the burden of sadness and grief nearly as deep nor with such the intensity as when Goliath passed way.

My little Browser went missing when he was just 8 weeks old. We live in a heaving wooded area on a lake. Many thought Browser would not make it through the cold night in the cold rain. Some thought if the temperatures didn't get him the foxen or coyotes would. I never lost hope and prayed God would keep His watchful eyes over Browser and keep him safe and sound. He did find his way home and I thank God every day that he did. Browser's miracle rescue is posted in this section if you care to read it. His story is truly a miracle of faith and trust.

I continue to keep you and Louie in my heart and prayers. Sometimes miracles do happen when we believe.

Hugs,
Beth