She was doing pretty well until we had to get out the carrier. Then we all started to lose it. Well, not Baby, she did fake cry to keep us all company though.The hardest part for her (and me, honestly) is the empathy for him. Just feeling so overwhelmingly sad that he only got to live for 5 months. It is very hard not to anthropomorphize animals. But, we talked about it (for days) and we wondered if we would have adopted him even if we knew he was dying. Wouldn't we have brought him home and given him the best possible 2 months he could have? Love him, and let him live out his days sleeping and playing with his brother? Wouldn't we have wanted to make sure he didn't suffer? Of course we would have.
His short life was, sadly, inevitable and we need to focus on the quality of life he got to have. That he did not know he was dying, as we did. And was able to die peacefully and humanely in the arms of a loving family member. However short, he did have a good life for the few months he lived with us.
Right before he left with Mr F this morning, I gave him a pile of treats (he had stopped getting up to eat regularly). While he was eating he lost his kitten tooth. It was both a gift for us... a little physical reminder for Kid to hold onto... but also just a sad, sad, statement that he was losing his life just as he was losing his baby teeth.
Mr F had the unfortunate task of taking him to the vet to be put down. Mr F said "How many animals must I bury?!". This just feels so cruel after losing Canine last year.
Unfortunately, this is the dark side of pet ownership. And as I said to Kid, the natural world isn't a fair place.
Heartbreakingly, Tiger is roaming around the house crying out. I didn't think he'd notice yet, but he's definitely acting as if something is wrong. Or maybe he's just mad that I gave the last of our treats to his brother...
We still need to work on not anthropomorphizing Tiger, apparently.
13 comments:
oohhh. I'm so sorry for you guys! Poor little kitty. Poor kid.
(is it bad that I laughed out loud at your label though?)
This made me cry. Agree you did the right thing though. So sorry for your loss.
I cannot tell you how sad I am for Kid, I too lost a kitten when I was young, she was so sick my parents had to put her down as well.....I never forgot her though and insisted on a second kitten the exact same color (all white) and then proceeded to name her the exact same name (Katie). I'm so sorry for your family's loss, sending you lots of comforting thoughts and big hugs!!
This was so touching and sad. I am so glad your kitty got to have a good life for the short time he had. The photo of Kid...oh, my heart. The thought of the left behind kitty...oh so sad.
Feeling sad and then I read your label and felt better. Thank you. I cried, I laughed...your blog rocks.
I am so sorry. I am thinking of all of you today.
I'm so sorry!!
You gave Dasher a wonderful life, a life he otherwise might not have had. You were a great family to him and he knows that Tiger will be well taken care of and happy with you.
Hope this week improves.
I've said goodbye to a lot of animals (farm girl) and it was rough for me every time. As an adult, though, I am actually conscious of the strengthening effect those losses had on me. Here's to loving and losing, and loving again. I doff my wig to you, Dasher (and a big virtual hug to Kid and to you!).
This is so so sad and yes, he will miss his brother and may do some mournful meowing. I know our cat did when our dog died of old age. They had been together for 4 years at the time. A few months later we obtained a similar dog and she perked right up and wanted to play just like she played with our other dog. Nearly scared the new dog half to death but they adjusted in time. You may consider getting another kitty at this time...it will be good for both Kid and the lonely brother....and lord knows there are plenty of kitties in need of a good home. Sometimes its so hard to be a parent and act all grown up when you'd really just like to cry.
Thank you, everyone. It has definitely been a rough, long day. But it also feels good to have it taken care of. This night feels much better than the last few wherein we spend all of our time focus on a dying cat ("make sure you are loving him!!!").
katieo,
no, not bad. I try to never leave people totally down in the dumps ;)
Kiki,
Oh, Kid would want to do the same thing!
Val,
We have to wait at least a month before we can get another cat, because the virus that caused the IFP could still be in the house. (plus we still have the ringworm) Right now we're just going to see how we all feel in a month. We've just spent $700 at the vet in the last week and a half... so, we might need to wait a bit more before we take on another.
sorry speechless, too fresh for me
I'm very sorry for your loss. You did the right thing & gave him the very best you were able to give.
Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of the death of one of my cats. I'm still not over it...and I'm around death all of the time.
So sorry.
I've got to hand it to you, Mrs. F. It's tough to make me cry and laugh in a span of thirty seconds, but you did it. Between Baby keeping you all company with her fake crying and that keyword tag, I'm grateful that you didn't leave me weepy over the kitty.
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a perfect way to present his short life to the kids.
I spent a lot of years trying not to anthropomorphize my animals. I gave up after our female died about a year ago, and our male puppy (okay, he's five, whatever) howled after a lookalike on a walk about three months later. His desire to see her was obvious. I'm going to choose to think Disease Cat misses Cute Cat.
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