My Cat is Gone

[Velocivixen]

:( My Cat, Theodore, aka Theodorus, Ted, Teddy Bear is gone. He was 17 years old and was with me for more than a third of my life. He has had renal disease the past 3 years which was managed with prescription food and he had done well. During the past two months he began eating less, then stopped eating, stopped purring, just sleeping mostly and drinking. I honestly hoped that he would die in his sleep. He couldn't have been feeling very well. I took him to the vet this morning and he weighed just over 5 lbs, was dehydrated.....

He was a good boy.

Given some time, we will adopt again...

[indysteel]

(((((Velocivixen))))). I'm so sorry that you lost your boy. I lost a cat last summer to kidney failure, too, so I understand. It's so hard, but you made the right decision. Hang in there.

[Tri Girl]

oh, I'm soooo very sorry you lost your Teddy Bear. :(:(
They are family, and losing someone you love so much is so very hard. Be kind to yourself and take it easy. You did the right thing for your Ted, and you have to know he's grateful you let him go before he suffered more than he could handle.
(((hugs))):(

[Owlie]

I'm so sorry. ((Hugs))

[spokewench]

So Sorry about Teddy Bear. What a sweet name. I understand how hard it is to lose a kitty that has been around for a 1/3 of your life. I lost my Big Kitty a year and a half ago and he was with us for over 20 years (the entire time that I had been married and dating my hubby).

Big hugs to you.

[Pax]

So sorry to hear about your little fella, they sure take a firm hold on our hearts.

[Velocivixen]

Thank you all for such quick replies. Here's a photo of him. He was such a big, vital boy. He was sort of the relaxed, gentle giant type of boy. He loved to be petted and had the best purring motor. I used to tell him that he was the "orangiest of all orange cats".

Here's a photo.

I have to leave now, but will be back later. Thank you all for your understanding and support.

[Catrin]

Awwwww, sorry to hear of your loss. They certainly do worm their way into our hearts, that is for sure!

[lph]

I'm so sorry! He looks like a real sweetheart :) I think he had a great life, and knew it.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Velocivixen)))))))

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[redrhodie]

He was lovely. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Blueberry]

(((((Velocivixen))))) I'm so sorry for what you're going through now.

So many of us have been through what you're going through now. Mine was a big orange baby too (he's on the left of my Avatar in full knead mode).

It takes time, but you do start to heal. Hang in there, and be kind to yourself.

[PamNY]

What a handsome fellow he was. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It's very painful, especially when they have been with you for so long.

[Savra]

It's so hard to lose a pet. Big hugs.

[Atlas]

I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost Fred nearly ten years ago and I still miss him. Good thing those years with them are so great so we can endure being without them.

[zoom-zoom]

Oh, he looks just like my Thor. I will be a disaster when my Thor-Piggy is gone. :(

RIP, Teddy Bear. Our Lola will be 18 on Halloween. Old cats are so sweet, but it's hard to watch their decline. Lola has been on thyroid meds for a few years. She still is so thin. And she's slowing down and stiff. Like you, I hope she just passes painlessly in her sleep.

[Norse]

(((((Hugs))))) So sorry for your loss Velocivixen. He looks like a big orange Teddy Bear! I lost my Boo-Boo cat at age 19 a couple of years ago to kidney disease. Like you, I knew when the time had come. I know it was the best thing for him, but damn it's hard. Know that you gave Teddy Bear the ultimate last, most loving thing you could do for him; he had a wonderful, loving life with you and he will suffer no more.

[nancielle]

So sorry for your loss. I lost my Hunter almost 3 weeks ago. I like to think that he was waiting for your Teddy Bear over at Rainbow Bridge.

[jamijo]

I'm so sorry for your loss *hugs*

[westtexas]

Very very sorry for your loss. My kitty is also a Theodore, but I just call him Theo. It's hard when we lose someone we love so much. I will be keeping you and your baby in my thoughts tonight.

[Velocivixen]

Well I'm back. I volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and my "little", who is 6 and is Kindergarten was in a play at school. I went to see her and we came over to play a little. She immediately asked about Theodore (I told her last week that he was sick and that I would likely have to take him to the vet to be euthanized). In her wise way she said something like, "yes, they eventually wear out, sort of like batteries". So I told her on the way over that I took Theodore this morning, and that he wasn't suffering any more.
While she was here she said she missed him, as she typically runs to find him the minute she gets here. I bought a toy carrot that you open & put catnip into, a few months ago, but Theo had quit playing with toys long ago. My "little" asked if she could keep Theodore's collar, and I told her "No", but gave her his carrot toy to play with her one year old cat with.
Anyway, we will adopt two cats in the future. Maybe in Autumn or in Winter. Time to remember and to grieve.
Thank you all.

[Roadtrip]

I feel for your loss. Lost my very own "Teddy" what feels like just yesterday, but it's been over two years since he left our lives, tho we still havent welcomed another into our home. Teddy just left an indelible mark on ours lives we have yet to really "recover" enough to give our hearts to another.

Thinking of you,
Shannon

[Koronin]

I'm so very sorry. (((HUGS)))

[bmccasland]

((((((Velocivixen))))) Am so sorry, there is a hole where our fur-babies used to be.

[jessmarimba]

Aww, he looks like such a cuddly baby. I'll give both of mine a hug and a treat in his honor. It's so tough to lose them but he had a great mama.

[Velocivixen]

Thank you all so much for sharing and support.
I finally decided to go for a slow, leisurely ride this warm evening just to get out of the house. I must say that my legs felt like lead like my bike just wouldn't go. I even stopped and checked to make sure I didn't have a flat tire. Now I'm back, I am aching and sore all over my body, especially my legs.
When my mom died suddenly 18 years ago I was so shocked that I really couldn't cry for about one year! During that time I experience 24 hour, non-stop pain all over my body from my neck down. It was only when I was able to start having "real" cries that the pain slowly went away, until one day I was pain free! It seems that I somehow hold in my grief, and it manifests as physical pain.
I guess I better have a good cry. I haven't even been married 17 years. Theodore is the one being who has been with me the longest (other than parents).

[smilingcat]

Velocivixen,

Do have a good cry. There is nothing wrong to cry when your pet, well more than JUST a pet, he was your family member, passed away of ripe old age. He had a wonderful long life. 18 years is a very old age. His old age is a testament to how you loved and cared for Theodore.

Remember the good times and cherish the memories.

Peace be with you. and have many good cries.

[Brandi]

Yes cry! I bawl when I loose a furry friend so does my big tough hubby. If they on;y lived as long as we do! (((((hug))))) adopting is good but give yourself time to heal.

[spindizzy]

Love orange kitties- he was beautiful! I am so sorry for your loss. Crying is good.