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I've buried my last pet

Found a lump under my 14 yr old cat's chin last Sunday, took him to the vet Tuesday and her opinion was sarcoma, fast-growing and painful. It was already showing under his tongue, plus he was hyperthyroid, so we put him down right then. This was 2 weeks and one day after we had to put down our old queen...kinda tough. Today, a cat rescue guy came and got everything cat-related in the house, including the ceiling-high carpeted climber/cubie/hidey-hole thing The Hub built years ago when we had 4. He just wrote me to say his 8 cats already love it, so that feels good.

It's very freeing to not have a pet but it feels wierd. It's the very first time in 37 years together that we have not had 'something other' in the house, either kids or pets, only we 2. I told him no more, and I mean it. He's suffered enuff.

created by nana on Jul 09, 2009 at 06:32:33 pm     Comments: 13

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Comments ... #

Aw, my heart goes out to you nana. You can fill the pet void with many things, but don't be surprised if you end up with one. You know the old saying "Once you go black cat,you never go back!" :()

And good on you for giving the stuff away to someone in need.

posted by Ryan on Jul 09, 2009 at 06:59:34 pm     #



You may change your mind, nana, but I understand the sentiment behind "no more." The end of life for a pet is just as sad as it is for any other family member, at least for people who love their pets.

posted by historymike on Jul 09, 2009 at 07:50:13 pm     #



Ya know, we weren't that sad...we knew he was hurting, so it had to be, no brainer...until that night, when we quieted down for bed, then the flood came. Lots of shit got rolling when we got back from vacation. It's not just the cats, it's been a roller-coaster last 2 weeks. Life is like that. ;p

posted by nana on Jul 09, 2009 at 08:10:04 pm     #



My thoughts are with you during such a hard spell in your life. It is such a great joy in life to have pets. The responsibility of having the authority of making the hardest decision for those same pets seems so hard. I think you did exactly what was best for your "little guy".
Give yourself some time to digest all that has happened and consider different options.
I have also been there and with time have added again to my family.

posted by hockeyfan on Jul 09, 2009 at 08:54:05 pm     #



:(

posted by INeedCoffee on Jul 09, 2009 at 10:06:31 pm     #



My condolences. I remember my Mother when my Parents were still alive-Mom had ALWAYS had dogs. Always. Ever since I was born. She even bred pedigreed spaniels for a number of years. Her last dog was a extremely nervous mexican hairless named Scamp. He lived to the ripe old age of 18 before he had to be euthanized. I was out there visiting one day about three months later...she started to put some leftovers down for him, and then started to cry, realizing he was gone. She had left his dishes on the kitchen floor where they'd been for years. I talked her into putting them away, and told her maybe she should start thinking about another dog. Her answer: "NO!!" She said she was never going through it again. And to my eternal surprise, she didn't.

posted by Darkseid on Jul 09, 2009 at 11:15:40 pm     #



Loving a pet comes with a price. Losing a pet gets harder every time it happens. I can understand your sense of loss and pain. It's the feeling of why get another one only to become deeply attached and lose it again. I went 15 yrs between cats, though we still had and have dogs. I swore I would never have another cat. Then, in 5 months time 2 strays landed in our home. You never know. My condolences nana.

posted by holland on Jul 09, 2009 at 11:40:24 pm     #



So sorry nana.

posted by corky on Jul 10, 2009 at 12:10:26 am     #



Na na, so sorry about your loss. It is so very hard. I know more people who have stopped adopting a dog or cat because of the pain they felt losing their previous pet. Perhaps a stray will catch your fancy some day. Just when you least expect it...

posted by bikerdude on Jul 10, 2009 at 12:11:12 am     #



I'm sorry to read this Nana. You made the only decision you could, to relieve the cat of his pain. Still, it is a damned hard thing to do.

Like Holland, I went about 15 years between pets. (A cat, followed by our current dog.) It is a devastating loss when you have to put one down. You never, ever want to go through that heartbreak again. And some people never do.

I hope you feel some comfort in the good life you gave your cat for 14 years. A house full of four cats sounds like a fun, loving, secure and happy place for a kitty to grow up!

posted by jmleong on Jul 10, 2009 at 03:05:22 am     #



"They" say we'll all see everyone in heaven...including pets. At least I'm cool with the pets part.

posted by justareviewer on Jul 10, 2009 at 09:37:54 am     #



It warms my heart to see how many good people are on this forum. This goes to show the quality of people in Toledo.

posted by INeedCoffee on Jul 10, 2009 at 10:53:56 am     #



I was just coming to say that, Ineedacuppa. :)

Thanks, y'all, it's just another stage of life. I may break down and get another pet one day, not sure how it feels to go YEARS without something to take care of, but for now, I still have The Hub and he has me, and that's enuff. :):)

posted by nana on Jul 10, 2009 at 05:48:32 pm     #