Losing a Pet

Golden retriever and tabby cat sleeping curled up together on couch covered with blue and brown plaid blanket

We lost our beloved cat two months ago. She was sixteen years old and had a slew of medical issues. The kind vet who put her down reassured us that it was definitely her time. She had lost so much weight and was skin and bone.

Now the house feels empty and there are strange remembrances happening. I swear I still hear her paws kerthunk down on the hard upstairs floor from her scratching post. I have heard her mewing and even felt her jump up on the bed. Is my mind playing tricks on me or is her spirit still present here?

We know we gave her the best possible life. She was the most spoiled creature. My husband would make special trips to the deli counter to get her favorite human foods. We always made sure there was extra table scraps for her at every meal. We never left her for more than a week with our cat sitter because she was so clingy to me. We try to take comfort in knowing that we did our best for this living creature.

These pets define our lives in chunks of time and devotion. It is very much like raising a child in terms of time commitment and energy. It’s very strange now to accept that we will probably never have another cat, since we are now devoting ourselves to traveling to see a grandchild instead. We have both had cats our whole lives. Maybe we will foster, but hubby thinks we would grow too attached.

How do you cope with losing a beloved pet? Please subscribe / leave a comment below.


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11 responses to “Losing a Pet”

  1. Losing a beloved pet is like losing a family member. The backyard of the house we grew up in has at least 5 cats in shoe-boxes. I think you’re not allowed to do that anymore? Not really sure. I remember watching kids, aged 8-12 have a funeral for a dog one person lost. Each kid drew a picture or had a picture of a pet they’d lost. No parents helped in this endeavour. That stayed with me to watch that. They were mourning cats, dogs, fish and hamsters. It was very touching. As soon as you ‘name’ a pet, you are doomed in love for the creature.

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    1. I love these memories. A child’s pet funeral is an important right of passage to learning about life and death. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. lissajohnston Avatar
    lissajohnston

    Oh man Naomi I am so sad to hear this. We feel the same about every pet we’ve ever owned. After our last dog passed in 2016, we also took a long break, thinking we did not want to go through the pain of losing one again. However. During Covid, just sitting around all day with nothing better to do, I saw online a kitten rescue opportunity locally, and we were ready.

    He is a gray tabby and he is our spoiled-rotten pride and joy.

    Take all the time you need. It’s hard.

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    1. Thanks Lissa. Never say never right? We just need to avoid looking at those local adoption agency posts for a while. Those photos get you every time!

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  3. Naomi, we’ve gone through this several times. It’s hard. We’ve now become, it seems, the foster parents for all the neighborhood cats. They show up at the door, come in, make themselves at home, love on us, get a treat now and then, and head home. It has taken the sting off.

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  4. Naomi, we’ve gone through this several times. It’s hard. We’ve now become, it seems, the foster parents for all the neighborhood cats. They show up at the door, come in, make themselves at home, love on us, get a treat now and then, and head home. It has taken the sting off.

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    1. I’m amazed they head home afterwards. My mother-in-law had the same open door policy and she ended up with 14 cats!

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  5. it’s very hard to imagine you and Chris without a cat! They are the best little buddies. It will be hard for a while I’m sure. Maybe not fostering but volunteering at a shelter to get your dose of animal snuggles?

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    1. Good idea. I did enjoy volunteering at the cat shelter at our last home.

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  6. my beloved pet dogs and cats are in little urns above my desk, along with a little picture or toy. I allso have stone memorial “plates” with a thoughtful saying for my 2 dogs, and I have a photo collection picture frame for one dog and also my 2 cats, but the last dog I haven’t had the heart to go through photos to put in the frame yet, and I also have a stuffy likeness for both my 2 dogs. So I’m pretty sentimental for sure!

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    1. What a lovely memorial! I’m sure it brings you fond memories and comfort.

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