Missing my Peeper

[glassd18]

Hi everyone. I went to Petland tonight, and there was a cat there that looked just like my Peeper whom I lost 7 weeks ago, and of course I picked her up and started to ball my eyes out. Man it was hard not to look like a weirdo, but I couldn't help it. I sure would love to buy her, but she's pretty expensive and I don't know if I want to add anymore animals to my entourage right now. I have a 20 year old cat that would probably be put in his grave by a new kitten, and a 4 year old cat, and a dog. The other thing is that they were charging so much and the shelters have so many unloved animals that it kind of made me mad, but that's not the kitty's fault of course. She was so cute.

[elsie3205]

I'm sorry about the loss of your sweet kitty. I have two cats and a dog and have lost pets in the past and know how sad you must feel. Take care and I hope you have a good day.

[dancemomof2]

(((HUGS))). I do that everytime I see an ad for a big boned block headed golden retriever.

[glassd18]

Thanks!!! It's hard to be rational sometimes when your grieving a pet loss. I'm better today. I still want the kitty though, but I'm sure I'll forget about it sooner or later.

[ICLori]

I'm sorry for your loss. :( Pets are so precious. I have two kitties that have been my best friends through this whole IC thing, and the death of my Mom...they've been through all of this with me. I am going to be so sad when they die....

Blessings,
Lori

[glassd18]

Ya it's amazing how comforting our animals are. They don't judge us, and are always there to give us a cuddle when we need one. Reminds me of a joke I heard. " What the difference between my husband and my dog?" The dogs always excited to see me when I get home.lol Oh boy, I'm lame!! The worse thing I've been having trouble with is the guilt about putting Peeper down. I mean the Vet wouldn't have suggested it if there was something she could do, but I keep going around and around in my head. Lori I hope your kitties are around for a good long time and that you don't have to worry about losing them for a good long time. I have to admit my kitty was 18 1/2 yrs old, and that's pretty good. I should be greatful that I had her so long. It's the guilt thing!!

[traceann]

Oh glassd18, I am so sorry for your loss, I know how it feels to lose one of your fur babies! I still miss my calico (appropriately named Cali ;) ), and she passed away a year and half ago now. *sigh* I still have her sister though, and as much as I love furballs and would love to adopt another, I don't want to stress my Missy out too much - she too is 20 or older. Probably not good to have a kitten racing around her and bugging her.

But, oh gosh, I know how you feel. I have cried for days when I have lost one of my "kids". They are such a huge part of our lives! I don't ever want the decision you had to make, as that's a super tough call to make. I feel the same way, my Cali was 18+, and I know that's a long time for them (I had one that was 23 when he passed), but as far as I am concerned I want them with me forever, a little selfish? Nope - a LOT selfish!!! ;) But, their well-being always comes first for me, as they can't speak for themselves, and even if it's something I don't want, if it's got to be done when there is no choice, it's got to be done - for them.

So, don't beat yourself up over the tough choice I am sure you agonized over, you do the best you can with what you have to work with. I am sure Peeper is still with you (love the name by the way), and loves you more than ever for your love and unselfish decision you had to make for your kitty's benefit and dignity!

Sending you big hugs,
Tracey

[glassd18]

Thanks Traceann, sniff!! It is an extremely hard decision to make, and you keep thinking what if this, and what if that, but she was only 6.3 pounds and when she was in her prime she was 13 lbs so she was half her proper weight. She was having trouble walking, she stopped eating, and was walking on her elbows. The worst thing is is that she ate a little right before I was to take her in, and that threw me off so badly, but the vet told me that I could take her home and try a few things but that really the end result would be the same because her kidneys were failing and she was missing the box etc...I know I'll see her again someday. Cheers to our kitties and doggies!! Oh ya I named her Peeper because she had the hugest eyes!! She was eyes with fur!lol.

[ICNDonna]

One of the worst things I can think of is having to put a loved pet down. But I also know it takes a lot of love to make the decision to stop a loved one from suffering. My heart goes out to you.

Sending gentle hugs,
Donna

[traceann]

Your welcome glassd18 - that sounds like my 23 year old I had to have put to sleep. He was not eating right, not hitting the box, not cleaning himself and started to act funny. All this in the span of like a day. I got him into the vet that day, and he wouldn't even let him come home. My ex (well, my husband at the time) took him in for me to get looked at - and the vet said nope, he needs to be put down now. He was in kidney failure and said he'd only make it another 2 weeks TOPS, and it would be awful for him. So, I got the call from the vet that he had been put to sleep. I am glad I didn't have to make the decision - my wonderful vet saw the need and acted. And honestly, when I said good bye to him before he went, I knew I was saying a real Goodbye. Didn't surprise me when the vet called. I knew my kitty so well, and things weren't right and he deserved better. Oh gosh, I still get all teary-eyed thinking about him... He was my first kitty ever.

I know that "what if" game, but don't beat yourself up - I am sure if your vet thought this was something that could be over come and to the benefit of your baby - the vet would have said so. Sounds like Peeper was going through quite a bit, and you know how "proud" kitties are, ;) Sounds to me, from what you said and what I experienced with my Bandit, that at their ages, there's really nothing that can "make them better" only stave off the inevitable, and possibly the chance they will feel worse - you did the right thing no question!!!!

Sending you big hugs, and getting some kleenex for myself now...

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!

[Claredale]

I had to put my almost 16 year old lab to sleep a few weeks ago. My husband and I waited as long as we could, but his arthritis was just getting too bad. We thought we would have to put him down last fall, so I got another puppy just so I could handle it, but the puppy ended up making him last longer. I really feel that the "old man" kind of trained Mollie for us. We also have a old cat (over 13 that we know of) that is almost blind. We call him Bumper since he uses his whiskers like curb feelers. He was always there when I was in a flare, treatment, etc.... I would have my heating pad on and he would come sit on me (he weighs about 18 pounds) and give me just the right amount of pressure. He still eats well and purrs when we sit with him, so I hope we still have some time together. But as soon as I feel that he is in pain because of his glaucoma, I will take him to the vet. He spends most of him time out in the backyard now since he feels more comfortable outside. I can definitely appreciate the love everyone has for their pets!

[traceann]

I am so sorry you had to put your Lab to sleep, it's so sad to have to let them go, ugh. I hate it! And I love "Bumper" that is soooo cute! Gosh, what great furball names everyone comes up with!!!!

I keep teasing my hubby that I will have no more furry pets - only fish. As I don't get so attached to a fish and have no problem flushing one, lol. His reply was, that they don't come greet you when you get home or sit in your lap and purr - I told him I'd stock up on plastic baggies, scoop on out of the tank and into the bag to greet him at the door or sit in his lap!!! He didn't buy it...

I too can totally appreciate the love we all have for our pets!!!!

[glassd18]

Funny Traceann.lol I was saying the exact same thing the other night at Petland. I was getting fish!! Then my husband reminded me that the tank would need to be cleaned. Hmmmm!! I guess not!! IC and fish tanks don't mix, for me anyway!!

I'm sorry Tracey about your lab. I have a dog too, and I can't even imagine going through that. I try now to think of the love and life we give them, and they give us while they are here, and then I know it was worth every minute. So many animals are homeless etc...so we are really doing them a great favor by taking them in and giving them life and they I'm sure are greatful for that. Sniff!! I'm getting my kleenex now too!! Cried already this evening because once again I visited the kitties while picking up pet food. Gotta stop that habit!! I'll end up with another one yet!

[Claredale]

I will forever have a dog. Matter of fact when I got my Lab was on Christmas Eve 1990. I had a dog that went into labor (she was 10 years old and I didn't know she was pregnant). I took her to the vet early Christmas eve morning and the vet said that she was in shock and that there was nothing he could do. He put her to sleep. I had 2 boys ages 4 & 7. I said I did this for them, but everyone knows how I am about my pets. I took my boys and we went and bought a lab puppy that same day. The boys named him Prancer (you know Santa's favorite reindeer?) When my husband got home he was teasing me about getting a dog right after my sweet Dixie died. He asked me what I would do if something happened to him....I said that I would get another dog!!!

I bet you will end up with another one as well. I keep telling myself that when my cat passes away, I won't get a cat only because this cat adopted my family 13 years ago and just fit in perfectly. He would go outside to go to the bathroom. Didn't scratch up my furniture and loved my boys. My husband is not much of a cat person, but accepted him since he was very laid back and didn't "do the normal cat things" per my husband. But....we will see. That purring is just so soothing to me when I am balled up with my heating pad and he is sleeping right by me.

Now talking about your fish. My sons had 3 goldfish that they won at a fair. They lived for 3 years!!! One day, my younger son heard me say that I needed to clean out their tank. He decided to help me out and put soap in thie tank. Well, this of course turned them belly up and I actually cried since I had been taking care of them so long. They would come up to the corner of the tank when I walked into the room. See...fish are special too!

[traceann]

Sorry so long to get back to this one girls, been a bit under the weather as of late...ugh. Oh no, Tracey - there goes my fish plan, cause like you I too probably would end up getting attached anyway. ;) I just love critters though, really - what's not to love?? :)

[Claredale]

One of the woman that works in my building is part of the wild life rescue society in our county. She is always having to go rescue orphaned squirrels deer, raccoons, etc. She actually has a raccoon that she has had for 2 years. She brings him to work sometimes and he comes upstairs so that I will give him a treat. She is just like a big old fat cat. She brought a baby squirrel in the other day that a cat had got ahold of. Last update he was doing fine and she was about to release it.

I have already told my husband that I was going to check on doing that for my social work. He knows that I would get way too attached and we would end up running a zoo!

Hope you feel better!!!

[traceann]

Thanks Tracey, I do to, I am tired of this cold already! Um, yeah - I'd have a zoo as well, so don't feel bad!!!! Every cat I have had (at one point 6), I have found or it has found me....yeesh.

I too had a friend who had a baby racoon she took care of - so sweet!!!!! ;)

[glassd18]

Ah Tracey83 that is such a great story!! Sorry you were under the weather Traceann!! I do hope you are feeling better. I too have had some iffy days of late.

[traceann]

Thanks glass - I don't do colds very well, and this one is wearing on me. Seems everywhere I turn there is someone with some kind of ick just waiting to share with me, lol!!!! I finally broke down and made an appt at the doc's office to have my chest checked out - seems to be where it wants to live, it's been a week now - no improvement at all, ugh.

Ewww, I do hope you fare better than I do, and keep the iffies far far away!!!!!!!!! ;)

[VickiB]

I know I'm a bit late on this but I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your kitty! It's so hard to lose a pet!

I did the 'what if's' indecision thing recently too, and it isn't something I'd wish on anyone!

Hugs,
Vicki

[glassd18]

Aw thanks Vicki. I really appreciate that. It's been a couple of months now, but I still cry off and on when I think of her. The decision was the worse thing I ever had to do, and I still feel guilty about it.

[VickiB]

I know what you mean about feeling guilty. I think we feel responsible, yet are so unsure of our choices. It's a very tough position to be in!

I had to have our lab put to sleep in 2003, and put that decision off way too long. In hindsight, I believe I added needlessly to his suffering. This time, I feel guilty that maybe I should have waited,....just for a little bit? I mean no matter which way you go I'm thinking that guilt is inevitable!

And that just shows how much we loved them!

Vicki

[glassd18]

If I look at it that way I think I am better off. Thank you for giving me that perspective!!! You are all so wonderful!!!

[Claredale]

As most of you know from my post, I had to put my Lab to sleep in August. He would have been 16 on November 6th. His hearing had been bad for awhile, he couldn't see well, arthritis bad. He had several tumors and I had most of them removed last year. I have a 1 year old wonderful puppy that I got last year since I didn't think that Prancer would last much longer back then, but she actually made my old man dog a little more active. Prancer and I got along perfectly since he had to go potty during the night, so when I would get up, I would let him outside then I then I would go let him back in and we would go throught that cycle several times during the night.

There are times, especially when I am on the "throne" I expect to see him come walking into the bathroom to keep me company. It is definitely going to be hard at Christmas since we got him on Christmas Eve and my boys ages 3 and 6 at the time named him Prancer.

Just think of all those wonderful memories that our pets give us and how much they love us.

My neighbor had to put their 9 month old lab to sleep last week. He had eaten something and couldn't pass it. I wish they would get another dog, I know it would help. They really enjoyed that dog, but everyone has their own way of dealing with the loss of their pet.