My beautiful girl died on tuesday 4th April after a 6 days hospital stay. I had her for 13 years since she was 8 weeks old. She was diagnosed diabetic in 2004 but had been doing really well with insulin. I noticed she had lost a bit of weight, but since she was a stone when diagnosed this had seemed a good thing. Two weeks ago (exactly) she wasn't bothered about breakfast, most unlike herself, and when i came in from work she was floppy and lethargic and felt cold. I wrapped her in a towel and hugged her till I got her to the vet. She had developed ketoacidosis. I got tremendous support from felinediabetes.com which I would totally recommend to anyone with a sugar cat. I phoned the vet twice a day and after a shaky start, she seemed to be rallying. I'd phoned last Monday and was told she was a bit 'flat'. I asked if I could visit as I missed her terribly and was told it would be OK, so I took an old pillow case and her twin sister to bed with me to get it smelling of home, so I could bring it in to her. The next morning, she died.

I collected her from the vet the following day (too upset to do it on the tuesday) and took her home. She looked really peaceful and content, with her paws crossed, lying on her side like she does. I spent some time alone with her, wailing and hugging her, then wrapped her in red velvet (I was bored with the sofa throw anyway, and she did like it), put her in a pretty box with her food dish, a sachet of food, catnip, a photo of me in case she got lonely and wondered where I was, a pink rose and a letter which a dear friend who adored her had written to her, We all stroked her face and paw and told her we loved her. And cried. A lot. My partner dug a lovely place for her under the tree and we laid her there which was just awful _ i wanted to keep her with me forever.

Its been a week now and its not getting any easier. I am not getting the comfort you'd expect from her twin Whitey and my other kitty, Lily as Stripey was more 'my' cat and very much a one-person kitty. I miss her lovely tabby face and her beautiful black eyelashes, the way she would roll on her back with a paw behind her head like a Hollywood starlet, how she would purr and pat my face gently when I stroked hers, how she liked to head butt people if she wanted attention. My partner has never had animals and though fond of the cats, is not entirely understanding. My work colleagues have been very kind. But I just feel that everything is such an effort. I am tired, listless, everyone around me and their problems seem trite and irrelevant. The oddest things can trigger me and I end up weeping. I feel guilty because I didnt visit her and feel that she probably thought I;d deserted her. I feel guilty for not noticing earlier. I am relieved that she was in no pain and that I didnt have to make the awful decision to have her pts, but it doesnt help. I'm not interested in anything and I dont know what to do. This has been worse than losing my grandparents was when I was in my teens. Last year, a very close friend died very suddenly and I was there when he was discovered in his flat. That was absolutely the worst thing I'd been through. Until now. I miss my beautiful girl so much and when I think about not seeing her again, I can't bear it, I really can't. I've had a quick read of some of the postings on here and will read more once I am home from work - it really does help to know that others feel the same way and that I am not, as I believe some people think, overreacting. I tell myself it will get easier but in a way I dont want it to because then I will feel guilty about not being upset all the time and that this will mean I love her less.

Help.

Fiona

Hi Fiona,

We certainly know how you feel. My best buddy died a month ago and I am still having a very hard time realizing that I will never see him again. I work at home and we were near each other on average twenty hours a day. His presence is sorely missed, hour after hour.

I'm not sure if anything helps but I have gone out of my way to memorialize my little guy. I have been jotting down everything that I can remember from his life in a nice little book and I have also gathered together all of the photos of him that I can find into a nice album. These activities have helped me some.

I am very sorry for your loss. Good luck.

Thank you so much for that, and I'm terribly sorry for your loss too. I've asked all my (and Stripey's) pals to send me any pictures they may have, have saved all the condolence cards, have some fur from her brush and amazingly my parents have found some video footage from when she was a kitten which I will have put onto dvd. I too had thought about compiling an album and have found that writing about her really helps. Thanks so much for understanding and replying.

I am so very sorry for your loss also..your post really hit home..tears running down my cheeks as my mind goes back to Jake. I couldn't bear to let him go, I was afraid that he would be cold..he looked just like he was sleeping, so peaceful, in the position that he loved. We took his favorite blanket, the purple sweater I was wearing when I held him as he took his final breath and lay his head on my chest...We wrote Jake a letter, put pictures and some of his favorite toys next to him, we pet him and cried and talked to him, and told him how much we loved him, and covered him, sealed the lid, and laid him to rest under his favorite tree.

Something that upset me very much was that there was one of his balls he liked to bat around that I couldn't find...he played with it outside, and, we are in the process of finishing our new home, and so there is a lot of traffic in and out of the "yard" and driveway....I figured that the toy had been broken and in a million pieces...

...about 2-3 weeks ago--maybe a month ago, I was in the side yard walking around--actually, I was going over to where Jake is buried, and I saw this bright object directly across from his grave....I went over closer, and, there it was--his favorite ball--a little dirty, but all in one piece--and when I shook it, the bell jingled. I was so surprized. I turned to my fiance, and, with tears in my eyes, told him, "I found Jakey's favorite ball"... I brought it home, and am looking at it through my tears right now, right in front of one of many pics of my baby. God, I miss him....I have memorials of Jake everywhere...I will never put them away. Jake was our "son"--we have no children together, and I have felt the loss tremendously. I was so happy to have found this site, where people really DO understand and listen and show care and support.

I was able to research the Feline Leukemia Virus, and, being a student, put together a research paper and PowerPoint presentation for my final exam/project last semester. This was one way I was able to honor Jake, and keep his memory alive. I am also currently putting together "Jake's Story"--a writing about all the little funny things he would do, and how he would keep us on our toes...it does help.

Fiona, I will be thinking of you, and we are all here whenever you need to talk, vent, or whatever you need to do at the time. Good luck to you.

Sandi

Hello. You are not overreacting. The loss of a loved pet and companion is unbearable. Others who have recently been bereaved can sympathise with you deeply. Our little tabby guy Sidney was killed on the road 2 days ago and it has really, really helped to share it with everyone on this forum. Good luck and love to you at this sad time. ***xhugs*** from Sid's mum and Dad

Fiona, you are not over reacting. This was your best friend, who was at your side for so long. Yes it does get a bit easier, as in, you will have days when you are not crying QUITE so much. But it's peaks & valleys. I have good days, & still have bad, bad moments.

& no, not being constantly upset does not mean you love them less (was that a quadruple negative??? goodness). It just means our agony isn't showing on the outside.

Anyone who says you are over reacting is not evil, they just don't understand. This may be a valuable time to see who your close friends really are. I know it was so in my case. I learnt a lot from the bad times in my life. Not to judge, just observe, & Know for Next Time, who I want to be close to, & who I shall pass in the hall & say hello & keep walking. Wisdom is hard won. Animals know all this already, this who's who & what's what. It's we humans who have the toughest time...sorting...

"when people show you who they are, believe them,"-Maya Angelou

That is a beautiful, precious picture of a happy cat. I pray he is with mine...CBW

Thank you all so very, very much. I cannot begin to say how much it helps the hurt to have people who relate to me, and who are saying what I think and feel. I hope that I wil be able to offer support and understanding to others the way that you have to me.

very sincerely,

Fiona, and Stripey (in spirit), Whitey and Lily