my beloved kitty

[PinkBike]

my 12-yr-old cat went to kitty heaven today. i got her when she was abandoned at a vet's office when she was probably only a week old. she recently got diabetes and also was getting a little arthritic in her hips. but just this morning she got way beat up by a neighbor cat in our own backyard. i took her to the vet but she couldn't recover from the trauma so i had her put down. i totally blame myself -- i let her become an outdoor cat. i'll never allow that to happen again. she deserved my protection and i let her down.

i had made a "shrine" on my mantel with a mini curled-up gray tabby with a tag that says "who she is" and next to it a little lion in a bed of tall grass with a tag that says "who she thinks she is." the backyard was her own serengetti.

i really miss her hanging around. she always laid on the carpet in the living room, and would get up and follow anyone who walked into the kitchen. and she always came when i whistled. always.

morris, you were such a cutie. are you prancing around in heaven with my dad and his dogs?

[badger]

I'm so sorry :(

but don't blame yourself over what happend, it's in the past and just move on remembering the good memories. Above all, you gave her a good home and lots of love.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((pinkbikes)))))))

I'm so sorry for your loss.






I lost one of my dogs to a dogfight, so I have an idea of the self-blame and your trauma. The grief was much more difficult than the other three dogs that we had to put down because of illness and old age. PM me if you want to talk.

[TsPoet]

((((pinkbikes))))
Don't beat yourself up, you gave her a great life with the adventure of your backyard. Bad things happen on adventures, but they are worth having anyway.

[PamNY]

I'm so sorry. Sounds as if she had a great life, and the description of your shrine made me smile.

[Norse]

I am so very sorry for your loss.

[zoom-zoom]

I love your shrine...I think all kitties have this disconnect between reality and how they view themselves. :)

Both of my childhood cats were indoor/outdoor. They also had no front claws. Oreo was mauled by a neighbor dog (same dog had killed a $500 Siamese maybe a year earlier) when we were all at school and at work and it was probably 12+ hours later before my parents arrived home and discovered him in shock under the deck). Had he had all of his claws he could have potentially defended himself. But our family learned a lesson at the expense of Oreo's hind leg (he luckily survived, but only because he was a pretty badass cat to begin with). No subsequent kitties in our family have been allowed outdoors and all have been left with full claws--on the off chance that they should escape and need that ability to defend themselves.

It sounds like Morris still lived a long and very happy life. She was lucky to have been rescued by you.

[Librarygirl]

Oh pinkbikes, I'm so sorry for your loss :( It's so hard with older cats - freedom or safety? My mum's cat tore a ligament in his leg climbing outdoors, now she is so careful when she lets him outside, but you know, it's so hard to watch them all the time or to keep them inside always. You did the right things, don't blame yourself.

It sounds like you gave your kitty a lot of love, which is the most important thing.

Hugs from Librarygirl (Linda)

[Tri Girl]

so very sorry... :(:(:(

hugs to you!

[runningteach]

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was very loved and had a good life.

[azfiddle]

Very sorry to hear about your kitty. Hugs.

[Bike Chick]

So sorry about your kitty, Pinkbike. Don't beat yourself up for letting her go outside. That's what kitties like to do and she was happy doing it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

PinkBike, I'm terribly sorry to read about your kitty. She was lucky to have you as her loving owner. Time will heal.

[NoNo]

:( I got a little teary-eyed reading that. Feel good about the 12 good years you were able to provide her. I'll give Ruthie an extra snuggle tonight.

[Blueberry]

((((Pinkbike)))))

Try not to blame yourself. What a loving tribute you set up for her:) Time will heal.

[SheFly]

So sorry to read about Morris. We lost our beloved Oreo last month (she was 17), so I understand your pain. It will be tough at first, but it will get better with time.

As my vet said, when you are ready, a new kitty will find you. Two have found us ;).

Warm thoughts and big hugs to you.

SheFly

[Crankin]

Sorry about your cat. And, don't beat yourself up about letting her out. I used to feel really badly when my cat was hanging around the front door, looking out. I did let her out at times.
We had our cat for 14 years; had to put her down 2 years ago. I still think she will be greeting me when I come home. What helps me is that both of my grown sons have a cat now, and both talk about their cats like they are talking about their kids! We really don't want the responsibility of another pet, but she got me to even "warm up" to the idea of having a pet, which was a huge thing for me.

[bmccasland]

(((((So sorry PinkBikes. Big hugs))))))

Our fur babies do leave paw prints on our hearts.

Just know that Morris is happy, healthy, and greeted at the Rainbow Bridge by the other TE gang. Erin and Patches are there.

[Trek-chick]

So sorry for your loss. Please do not blame yourself, it sounds like she had a good life with you. I had a cat when I lived in Vermont (very rural area) and let her decide if she wanted to be an outdoor or indoor kitty. Well, she was definitely an outdoor kitty.:) I wouldn't have an outdoor cat where I live now...too many cars etc. but, I'm sure your cat loved being able to be outside rather than sit in a window daydreaming of the "serengetti" world that was just on the other side of the glass;)

Losing a pet is always hard...my thoughts are with you.

[spokewench]

Pinkbike: I'm so sorry for your loss. Please don't feel bad that you let your kitty be an outdoor kitty. I'm sure she loved being outside. I'm not sure we can protect our loved ones from everything and perhaps we should not even try to do that. I know some are adamant that kitties should stay inside, but I'm not so sure.

The Big Kitty lived to 25 and Little Kitty to 17 and they loved the outdoors. Even Big Kitty curled up in the backyard deck in the last summer of his life. He loved it out there

[PinkBike]

thanks to everyone, you guys are amazing.

[roadie gal]

How did I miss this post before?

I'm so sorry about your kitty. Both of my current cats are indoor cats because of the coyote population around here. But I've had outdoor cats. Cats LOVE the outdoors. Please don't be too hard on yourself. I'm sure your cat was so happy to go out.

I love your shrine. What a great way to remember him!

[WindingRoad]

Pink I'm so sorry. I had a kitty named Morris when I was a kid :) He was an outdoor kitty. He was accidentally hit by a car by one of our neighbors. I can't imagine he would have ever been happy indoors. Some kitties are just so happy outdoors but unfortunately things can happen no matter how closely we watch them. Don't beat yourself up.

[Selkie]

Laurie, I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet kitty.... Maeve, Fiona, and Margot send you big golden retriever smooches and I send you a ((hug)). Y

[nancielle]

So sorry to learn of your loss. Morris was loved for so many years. I took in a cat who'd been abandoned 2 years ago (I've had him only 1 1/2 years). He hasn't adjusted well to staying indoors (my preference). Sometimes I let him out when I take Chloe out. He comes in much more quickly now but I still worry about him when he's out exploring. Morris will always be a part of you.

[teawoman]

Sorry about your Morris. This post got my heart because my kitty is a gray tabby too. :(