Goodbye to a dear sweet little friend

[Gemini]

Anyone who has owned or loved a pet understands the pain and sadness at losing them. We know it will happen one day, but they are like our babies in a way, and losing them is unbearable.

Our dear little cat Daisy died on Thursday, a few weeks after her 19th birthday.
All cats are wonderful in my eyes, but this one was extra special. I adored her on first seeing her. Her good nature, fun, bravery and intelligence were noticeable. She really thought she was a person, and loved nothing more than visitors turning up. She loved people and tolerated other cats, as long as they accepted her place in the pecking order. She would give us a hard stare if she thought we were giving another cat more attention than her

She was at my side for 19 years through so many changes in my life.
She could climb the loft ladder (and loved to) but calmly let my OH carry her down the ladder, no claws, no panicking.
Her party trick was to run across the lawn and straight up the apple tree! Our other cats can't do that.
Until she was 17 she had no vet visits for illness, not one.
She had cystitis then ,which cleared up quickly and nothing more until this year.
What appeared to be bouts of cystitis eventually proved to be a large untreatable bladder tumour.
This was just over 7 weeks ago. She was still eating and happy, so she was on palliative care, just daily anti imflammatories and lots of love and care from us, which we were glad to give.
We cancelled many things as we were not happy to leave her for more than 2 or 3 hours. I was hoping one of OH's friends would take my place on holiday, as I could not imagine leaving her for 9 days. She has always been loving, but much more so lately, being on one of our knees a lot of the time. If she was child you would say she wanted mummy.

As it turned out, her end came before my holiday. OH and I had a discussion and we both had been feeling that for a day or so she wasn't as happy and life was becoming an ordeal for her. Despite wanting every extra day we could with her, I had said I wouldn't let her suffer, so on Thursday we asked the vets to come to the house. We didn't want any more stressful car journeys or vets visits for her, just to go to sleep at home with those who loved her.

I miss her so very much.
We wrapped her in the little blanket I had when GD was a baby, and OH made her a wooden box to lie in. We buried her under the apple tree she loved to climb, with daisies in the box with her and on top of her. I will buy something to plant on her grave,as we did for OH's cat Alice, 5 years ago.

Rest well sweet girl

[Libra Gran]

It's so hard to say goodbye to a beloved pet they certainly leave paw prints on our hearts. So sad her time had come, but her suffering is over and she will be waiting for you at the bridge.

[Oma]

Its far from easy making that call Gem and you don't need me to tell you that you did the right thing for her ,
Having said that its like a piece of your heart has been torn out doesn't it .
Plant something that will make you smile when you look at it like she did everyday xxxx

[Grauntie Mag]

😿 Glad the end was at home Gem, and you have a good resting place for her. I feel sad for you, I really do. Xx

[Nana]

Awww. What an extremely heartbreaking time for you Gem & S. Thinking of you.

[Daisy]

Gem, it's such a hard, sad choice to make to say goodbye to such an important part of your life. But you did the absolute best you could for little cat, and I hope that when you're feeling sad and missing her she will put out a soft gentle paw to you and say 'thank you' for the love you've given her for 19 years.

We may not be able to see these old friends but they are always in our hearts. I hope whatever you plant in her memory will bring you comfort every time you look at it. xxx

[Clover]

Been thinking of you Gem and S.xx

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, you did the kindest thing for her.
I know how you feel,we had to do the same when our Lucy (cat) was 18½ years old.
For quite a while after,it felt as though she was still in the house.
She will always be in your heart.

[Gemini]

Thank you so much everyone for you kind words and support.
That was a long time to have your cat Nan2.

Her sister also 19 must be missing her. She is a bit of a nervy cat anyway, so it's hard to tell, but she must be. They were together from the start.
We are trying to give her extra cuddles.

[Daisy]

Gem, this was one of my concerns when we 'accidentally' ended up with littermate puppies. In the fullness of time one of them would be left behind. We were very lucky that Clyde, the survivor for almost a year, didn't seem to miss Rusty at all. It may have been that his own failing health and eyesight kept him fully occupied, or he could have felt the pressure of his much livelier and always playful brother was off. We don't know, but we were always grateful that he rode that wave with no apparent problems. Yes, he always wanted cuddles - but he had always been the cuddly one of the two.

I hope it's the same for your girly. xxx

[Gemini]

Thanks Daisy.

Today I got a lovely card from the Vets, with a rainbow on the front. A kind touch I thought.

[Daisy]

Gem - that's a lovely gesture. You some times think vets must get hardened to such losses, but I don't think most of them do.

[Gemini]

I wouldn't have opened it, as I have several birthday cards which have arrived early so I would have put it with those . It had my ex OH's initial on it not mine though, the vets stuff was in his name for some reason. I was expecting it to be the bill, so this was lovely and a bit tear-jerking.

[Daisy]

It brings it all back, doesn't it when somebody says something nice like that. How are your other two cats coping? I know cats can be very independent, but the two girls had always been together hadn't they?

[Gemini]

I have been giving the others extra snacks (they are always asking for food) Today I told them their official mourning period was coming to an end, so snacks would be far less frequent

I don't think our boy cat will be affected too much. Although twice her size he was quite scared of the cat we lost!
Her sister does look a bit lost I think, but now has a choice of knees to sit on, as invariably if we were sitting down OH and I would have one girl cat each on our knee (boy cat prefers to sit next to you and lean on you)