The loss of a pet

[Gemini]

The sad and unexpected loss of one of our cats last week brought this topic to mind.

Considering the average life span of most pets, it is expected that we will outlive them. Many of us think of them as our babies, but we have to say goodbye to them one day.
It is so painful, however it happens and whatever the age of the pet. The longer we have them the deeper the attachment and the more memories we have.

Why do we put ourselves though it?? The loss is very painful, and almost inevitable. Still we do it. We lose, we grieve, and often we do it all over again. I do know of people who have said 'no more pets' due to the pain of loss. I feel that the majority do go on to have further pets though.
For me, the pain is terrible, but the joy I get from cat owning makes me never want to be without cats. Of course I just want them to live for ever, but we know this isn't possible.

[Grauntie Mag]

I'm sad to hear your puss didn't recover Gemini. I will always be a cat and dog owner even though OH has said no more when our very ancient pair go. Our house isn't a home with no animals, we've always had them. Somehow they find us....
We've never had an animal that wasn't a rescue, even the fancy rats
I'm sure your puss had the best life possible. A friend and I were saying last week that we hope to come back as cats in a lovely home. What could be better?

[Gemini]

Thanks Grauntie xx

[Oma]

I just couldn't go through the pain again after losing Magic he was a cockatiel and people said well it was only a bird , but to me he was my baby I loved him so much ,he died suddenly and it was the worse day ever . He followed me from room to room even coming into the shower with me every morning sitting on my head or shoulder as I showered then I had to dry him with my hair drier before I could use it I would love another bird but cant face the pain of losing them

[Gemini]

Oma, people who say it was 'only a' - bird, cat, dog, guinea pig,, etc etc have no idea. The love is real and deep, and so is the grief and missing them xx

[ZIZI]

My Georgie died two years ago yesterday. I blame myself. The fencing had blown down and I knew he was an Alzheimer's cat so I should have made sure he couldn't get out. But he did, I think he didn't know where he was and was unused to the road so didn't move when a car came toward him. I was horrified to find him but glad someone had been kind enough to put him on a blanket at the side of the road.

We decided that we wouldn't have another cat so once George went that was the first time for over 30 years I hadn't had a cat and it was very strange. when Husband and I were first together we had Fred, Marmalade and chooky who were theirs and Gordon who was mine. Later still had Marms but added Sooty, Ada, Gracie, Mr Chips and George. By the time we moved in here we only had George and Mr Chips. Now we have none.


Still think about my Georgie in particular. He really was a "Mummy's cat"..........

[Bizzy Lizzy]

I just couldn't go through the pain again after losing Magic he was a cockatiel and people said well it was only a bird , but to me he was my baby I loved him so much ,he died suddenly and it was the worse day ever . He followed me from room to room even coming into the shower with me every morning sitting on my head or shoulder as I showered then I had to dry him with my hair drier before I could use it I would love another bird but cant face the pain of losing them

Oma it is sad to lose any pet and Magic sounds like the most incredible bird ever. He would be a hard act to follow - if not impossible. We have gone from eight cats down to none now that Cherry has gone and although I would love another sometime I feel I need s break as the last four were old at the same time and had to be put to sleep in fairly quick succession. This is something none of us that love our pets will get used to. I used to think when people said "no more" because that they should reconsider but right at the moment I do understand. Last week GD said she was sad because she misses Cherry - she then said that I should start saving for a kitten :-) I might adopt an oldie from Cats' Protection but at the moment all our concentration is on our elderly dog and I am dreading what I know is going to be the inevitable before too long.

[Daisy]

BL - you and I are in the same boat with our dogs I think. Clyde is now 14, diabetic, asthmatic and with uncertain eyesight. I know what's coming and I know how painful it will be, just adding to the loss of his litter mate Rusty last November. I've had dogs all my life and have always got another one within a few weeks of losing one. It's not a replacement, but it does help to ease the pain. But this time, we've lost Rusty but still have Clyde (which I'm very thankful for) but Clyde is half of Rusty and it's a very strange feeling. I still find myself waiting at the back door, having let Clyde in, for Rusty to come bounding up the garden and taking a flying leap into the kitchen. Things like that happen every day. Like you, another pet isn't the answer. Clyde needs too much attention and is quite frail. He enjoys having DS2's dog to stay but he's also old and they're used to each other.

Will we have another dog when the inevitable happens? I can't imagine not having a dog, but we might take a short break and have a few holidays without worrying about dog-care. And being realistic, at our age, is it right to have a puppy? In another 14 years' time I'll be in my mid 80s (if I'm lucky!) We've had rescue dogs before, so perhaps that will be the answer. I don't want to think too much, and I'm trying to take one day at a time, knowing each day with Clyde is a bonus.

Oma - Magic sounds just like his name. What an amazing pet, and how awful to lose him so suddenly.

Gem - I guess we keep on giving our hearts to a furry animal (or feathery one) because they give us so much in return. If my DS2 was sad, or in trouble when he was little, he would always cuddle up with our labrador until the world seemed a better place to him. I think that sums it up. The world seems a better place with a pet to love. Big hug to you - I know what you're going through. xx

[Libra Gran]

They are more than just a pet,I know with all the animals I have had they have been part of my family. Bramble is my baby a furry one at that,okay he has his issues but we know how to "manage" him.His problems are not of his making bless him,it was the formative years when the input should of happened that didn't. We do pay the price in some ways as trying to even book a holiday for the two of us is proving impossible as I have searching for someone to stay at the house.Kennels are totally out of the question because of his separation issues,but we wouldn't be without him for the world. And yes Id do it all again tomorrow.

[Libra Gran]

[Gemini]

Libra, I have a friend who is a pet sitter and dog walker, who ,lives near Portsmouth so somewhere at your end of the country (my geography is poor LOL) She will live in if required, I can put you in touch with her if ever you are interested.

[Glammanana]

It is now 16months since we lost the delightful Barney and I still miss his snoring up to this day,he was such a character even though he was an older dog when we rescued him,he had always been made to sleep outside and was never given any TLC until Mr Glamma brought him home that day and introduced him to a doggy basket/fleece and toys etc even a bath after a few days was a new experience for this little man,we had him 5 wonderful years and everyone locally got to know and love him he was a long hair JR and soon learnt that Jack Russells should chase Squirrel's lol,as you all know we now have Poppy and she also was rescued she has fitted in well and is spoilt but she seems to enjoy the attention and again she has made friends with the neighbours they ask after her before they ask after me or hubby,we have had animals all our family life and the children where brought up with them but it really pulls on your heart strings when its time for them to go leaving us in floods of tears but with super memories.

[Avo]

Oh how you miss your little friend when they pass on. People who don't have pets just don't 'get it'. I'm a doggy person and the house is so empty when our four legged friend is not around. Currently babysitting ds cockerpoo whilst they are away so we have two little furbabies running around!

[Oma]

You are right people without pets don't understand , Magic was one of a kind ,he only went in his cage at night or if we went out he had full freedom of the house if I lay on the sofa for a nap he would sit either on my head or shoulder fluff up and go to sleep with me, I even trained him to fly at Brian and squark his head off if I said Kill hahaha . He once escaped and I thought he was gone forever but that day I put a add in the lost and found section of our local echo and he had been found on a golf course 6 miles away by the green keeper , when I went to collect him he went barmy he whistled and screeched while tucking his head under my chin ,I cried buckets , He made lots of noise and boy was the house quiet when he was gone .

[Elisi]

I've had 4 dogs, all except one rescue dogs. The only full bred dog I had was gently put to sleep as he had an incurable tumour on his little spine, and he was only 10 months old. Several dear cats, two of whom were a bit of a handful, but loved dearly. Rabbits, hamsters, all when DD was young. The last darling cat we had passed on 2 years ago. We have decided not to have any more pets. We can't legally as we are in a rented house whilst looking for a bungalow (soon hopefully) but because this situation is forced on us, so to speak, we have made the decision not to have any more animals once we have our own home again. We've become used to the freedom it has given us not having to think about whether we can go out for a day or a weekend to see friends and on holiday. We now don't need to factor the pet into our activities, and whilst on one hand this is very freeing, on the other, we certainly do miss our pets.

We do have lovely Bella, an Irish Setter, and Ollie a gorgeously marked tabby over at DD's and we 'share' them