I Miss Him So Much!, Why him? Options

[missy]

Hello, this is my first post. I am so upset about the death of my sweet Opie.
Opie was a sweet flame point siamese cat. I got him 3 years ago as a kitten.
I had seen an ad on the internet to purchase this adorable little flame point kitten. I already had a one year old seal point and I thought the kitten would make for a good companion for her. The breeder was from out of town and she agreed to drop him off. When she arrived she quickly put the kitten in my cage out front of my building. I didn't get to see him until I got inside. When I opened the cage I was horrified to see a little kitten near death! He was skin and bones and couldn't breath! We rushed him to the vet and he spent 3 days in Intensive Care. Then we brought him home and syringe fed him every hour. He recovered! It was a miracle! Everyone at the vet office couldn't believe it, they really didn't think he would make it. He then grew strong and became the strongest cat I ever saw. Solid muscle. And the SMARTEST and MOST LOVING cat I ever met. He wanted to be held all the time. He was ALWAYS purring. He would lick your face like a dog. He was really like a dog in many ways. He waited by the door when I went out. He was still there waiting when I got home. He slept in my arms every night. IN MY ARMS. With our chests touching and his arms around my neck. I would wake up to him still there every morning. He knew a bunch of words. So very smart. He loved to play games. But most of all he loved me so much. I bought him to keep my other cat company, but he quickly out shined her and became the main focus of attention.
I did everything in my power to make sure he didn't get sick. I had already dealt with a cat who had diabetes. I had to give her insulin every 12 hours and then after 3 years of diabetes she passed away at age 10. I didn't want the same for Opie. I waited on him hand and foot. He would get me up at 6 for breakfast. I made sure nothing bad would ever happen to him. My boyfriend loved him so much too. He worried about Opie dying. I would reassure him that he would live to be 18 or so. Opie was so strong and healthy.
Then, out of nowhere this last December Opie started acting strangely. He would have these 'episodes" where he would hallucinate and become aggressive. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. I took him to the vet and he thought it was a behavior problem. I knew that wasn't it. He was having the episodes more and more frequently. I did some research on the net and thought they sounded like some sort of partial seizure. I looked up treatment and found that the medicine was very damaging for the liver. I decided that I would just live with him having these episodes every week. They got worse and I noticed his third eyelid was showing during and after them. I noticed he felt hot. Then a week and a half ago, I was woken up at 4 am to Opie having a grand mal seizure next to my bed!
It was surreal! I couldn't believe this was happening! It was my biggest fear. I worried that these episodes would turn into this, and they did! He carried on for the next four hours running around in circles and acting like something was hurting his head by flattening his ears and squinting his eyes and backing up. It was horrifying to see! I couldn't bare it. It was like he was going mad. He was also acting like he was in pain. I wanted to help him, but there was nothing I could do.
We rushed him to the vet right away in the morning. The vet said all they could do was try him on the meds, but it would be every 12 hours and that the meds would damage his liver. He also said that Opie would probably continue to have seizures since they were very aggressive happening every week. It would be a life long condition. Also, the meds would change his personality and make him sluggish and over weight. Liver problems were guarranteed
The thought of him going through all this, with the meds and still having seizures was too much. I read that they can die during a grand mal seizure because of many things like suffocating, heart attack, core body tempurature going up too high. I couldn't bare it, so we chose to have him put to sleep. I was in shock. Seriously in shock.
I had just seen this grand mal seizure and now he is being put to sleep.
I have been beside myself with grief ever since. I felt at the time it was the right decision because I didn't want him to suffer anymore...but of course you second guess yourself. I miss him so much I can't stand it.
Now the first cat is confused as to where he is. She keeps looking for him and this upsets me more.
I don't think I will ever be the same. I am so upset that a healthy beautiful special cat could be taken away from me at only 3 years old.

[missy]

I'm having a hard time today. It's been six weeks (I think, I'm lost in time) since Opie passed. I am still so sad.
It took a while for the fancy urn I ordered to arrive. Opie's ashes was put in a standard urn from the vets. I wanted to get a handmade pottery urn to put him in. Finally it arrived. I had to break the original urn to get the ashes out (I knew they were in a bag inside the urn) they had glued the lid on. So I went out on the balcony and broke the lid off and pulled the bag of ashes out. I held the bag of ashes in my hands and started to cry. I just couldn't believe this was Opie. It brought back a lot of hurt.
I put the ashes into the nice handmade urn and added the mouse toy he loved. I went to the mall and got a little brass name place with his birth date and death date engraved on it to glue to the urn.
The grief is just so strong. I didn't think I would at this level of grief still. I am starting to wonder if I ever will be okay with his passing. I'm thinking maybe I should see a psychiatrist about it. Opie was like my child and to be taken away so young....it's so hard to deal with. I just can't seem to be at peace with it all.

[Rhapsedy]

Hi Missy,

I think it would be a great idea to talk to a professional about Opie. When my dog Callaway died 7 months ago I went right away to talk to a therapist and it helped me to deal with my loss. I still go and see her every week to sometimes talk about Callaway and other issues in my life.

I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time but I can so relate. After Callaway died I seriously didn't think I would survive but I am doing better. His death affected me like no other and I still miss him so much! But I promise you that it does get better with time. I do think you should see a therapist and keep coming on here to talk, we will help you thru your grief.

Take care,
Rhapsedy

I'm having a hard time today. It's been six weeks (I think, I'm lost in time) since Opie passed. I am still so sad.
It took a while for the fancy urn I ordered to arrive. Opie's ashes was put in a standard urn from the vets. I wanted to get a handmade pottery urn to put him in. Finally it arrived. I had to break the original urn to get the ashes out (I knew they were in a bag inside the urn) they had glued the lid on. So I went out on the balcony and broke the lid off and pulled the bag of ashes out. I held the bag of ashes in my hands and started to cry. I just couldn't believe this was Opie. It brought back a lot of hurt.
I put the ashes into the nice handmade urn and added the mouse toy he loved. I went to the mall and got a little brass name place with his birth date and death date engraved on it to glue to the urn.
The grief is just so strong. I didn't think I would at this level of grief still. I am starting to wonder if I ever will be okay with his passing. I'm thinking maybe I should see a psychiatrist about it. Opie was like my child and to be taken away so young....it's so hard to deal with. I just can't seem to be at peace with it all.