Said Goodbye To Our Sweet Reggie Today Options

[Aaron]

Our sweet Reggie lost his battle with liver illness this morning after being diagnosed Monday Oct 18 with fatty liver disease. He was able to pass in the comfort of his own home surrounded by my wife and me. This was rather unexpected as he had made good progress while at the hospital so that makes it hurt even more, although it always hurts to lose one of your best friends. It feels like the pain will never go away, but over time we will find peace.

Reggie "adopted me" back in Nov 2001 when he was just a kitten. I remember hearing a cat crying outside so I went out the backdoor of my townhome and looked around. I didn't see anything at first but then he spotted me looking around and dashed down to see me. He had a collar on, so I told him he needed to go home, but he knew where his new home was. He kept crying outside my back door so I let him in to hang out. And the rest, as they say, is history.

We bonded a few nights later when I laid on the couch and sat him on my chest and picked fleas off him, one by one. He sat there, patiently, with his eyes closed and let me remove fleas from him for what seemed like hours. From that point forward we were best friends until he left us today. I will always have a place in my heart for Reggie and will always remember the joy and happiness he brought into our home.

He was the sweetest cat I had ever known. He could be in a room with 50 people and would be hanging out like it was nothing. He was always there to greet us when we came home, which we will miss greatly. He was our best friend and we will try to take solace in the fact that he is no longer suffering. You will always be loved Reggie and you always be remembered. May you rest in peace, best friend.

[Aaron]

Thank you both for the kind words. They help guide us through this maze more than you know.

We are all still hanging in there and trying to enjoy our time with each other and enjoy the hobbies that bring us happiness. I can't remember what day it was last week, maybe Wed or Thurs, but I began crying for no particular reason other than I just miss my Reggie. My wife began crying, which I am glad she did as it helps with the stress and allows us to talk more, but we were at least able to smile and laugh through the tears as we recalled all the fond memories we had of him. Kylah came into the kitchen with us and was talking to us, which made us smile too. So while we still are grieving over his loss, we can at least find some happiness in the memories we have of him. Kylah is being as sweet as ever and getting as much attention as she craves. She is a "talker" in general, but I still feel she is still at times calling out for her brother. Their litter box is in the laundry room and anytime she went in there, Reggie had to go "investigate", which I think she was fully aware. She will go in there now and meow some as if she is trying to get Reggie to come find her.

While we are a long time from even considering getting a new furball, we both said how we were "afraid" of how our bond with Reggie was so special and so unique that no other bond could ever come close to matching that. I know that is not really the right attitude to take, as each bond we have with our pets is unique and special in its own way. But Reggie was truly a "once in a lifetime" friend. I have never known a more special animal then him and may never have such a bond again. I know if we ever open our home to another pet, it won't be to replace Reggie as you can never replace your friends. It would be because we are ready to love another animal and to give Kylah a new friend. I feel somewhat ashamed even talking about this, as we are not even remotely thinking about finding a new furball. I suppose I am just getting things off my mind.

My mind at times will try and take me back to those horrible last 18 or so hours Reggie was with us, but I am consciously battling such thoughts by redirecting my mind to remember any countless number of happy memories he left us. I am hoping it will become somewhat "involuntary" after enough practice. I am still not sleeping particularly well, mainly because I wake up every 3-4 hours. I am not really sure why. The only reason I can think of why this is happening is because I would wake up those last few nights to check on Reggie, as if I had some internal alarm clock. Or maybe my mind is waking me up to check on Kylah, although she is fine and does not need to be checked on. Some nights I take over-the-counter sleeping aids, which helps some.

While the above might imply we are not doing well, we are pulling through with the help of friends like all of you, family and each other. We know we cannot rush this process and have to take each day in stride. Thank you all again for the words of support and advice. I doubt we would be able to heal from this loss without the support.