Black cat crossed the rainbow bridge this morning

[icnmgrjill]

What is it about our pets that makes them such a close, comforting part of our homes. Their unconditional love.. their presence... their stories.... their funnies.... their kisses... their happy faces. So, when we lose one, it is sooo soo hard to accept.

This morning, I had to put my old black tabby (named black cat by my dad) to be put down. About a month ago, we discovered that he had a tumor growing on his thyroid and had recently developed severe diabetes. I was able to get the diabetes under control but the tumor was growing very very quickly. This morning when I fed him, his body shook like he had swallowed glass. It was the first time that we actually saw him in pain.

So, before everyone else was up, I called the vet and took him in. The vet confirmed that his tumor was growing rapidly and he would have suffocated or strangled to dealth in just a few weeks. His last moments were spent in my lap and with my hands rubbing his back just the way that he loved.

But, gods.... gods... I love my babies. He was abandoned in our neighborhood as a kitten back in the early 90s... was starving before we figured out what was going on. But, we finally got him to accept us and to come in at night, sit in our laps, etc. He was so undemanding. He just wanted love.... and the highlight of his day was just sitting next to any one of us.

I brought him home and buried him underneath the honeysuckle in our backyard next to Lysander and Oscar, much beloved cats that we lost five years ago. He's where he was the most happy, with birds singing and butterflies flying by every day.

I know that it was the right thing to do, but darn it, I'm really going to miss him..

A very sad sad Jill :(

[Iris]

Oh Jill, I am so sorry to read about the loss of your furry family member. I know exactly how you feel, I am a cat lover ,and know how special they are to us. I am so glad that you were able to be right there and hold him, that is precious time to you and to your furry friend. I had to let my precious siamese go to cross the Rainbow Bridge, a couple of years ago, and I still miss my Tyrone, he was one of my special cats. My condolences and thoughts are with you, love and hugs Iris.:flower:

[Dixiefireball]

Oh Jill i'm so so sorry I know how you feel I love my cats but i had one dog that i loved like a child her name was lady bug she died May 10 1998 just ten days after alex was born my youngest son that year mothers day landed on that day i was brestfeeding alex and she was out side with the children and my husband as they cooked on the grill one of my kids got to close to the road and she thought they was going in the road so she ran out there to help get them back in the yard right well a drunk driver came down the road as lady bug was standing at the end of our drive way to make sure the children was not going back down that way and he hit her. it broke my heart. it was a neighbor of ours after trying to rush her to the er vet she died on the way.:( we just turned around and my husband buried her in our back yard. my husband had a thing or two to say about the drunk neighbor. it still breaks my heart.
hugs and prayers sent to you
Rhonda.

[Kathi]

Oh Jill, I know how you feel. We had a one-eyed stray adopt us & we lost him about 6 months. He was always just so grateful to be inside out of the weather & have food. He gave us his unconditional love & I stil miss him so. Know that he knew you loved him so much that you couldn't see him suffer. Hugs, Kathi:kiss:

[Audrey Rose]

BIG HUGS AND A :kissing:

Dearest Jill,
I am so very sorry that you lost your precious cat today. I know you are very very sad.... And that makes me sad too. I send you lots of love and prayers. We are all here for you!!
:pray:
God loves His animals too!! I am sure He was waiting at the end of the bridge this morning and he scooped Black Cat up in His arms and took him to one of His best angels. And now Black Cat is in the lap of an angel....and he is very happy!! I can hear him purring in the heavens...that sound of peace heard in between the chirping of the spring birds. :)
:cat:
It is okay to cry for your loss, but smile also, for the love that remains in your heart. Your memories will keep Black Cat close to you always...until the day you reach Heaven's gate, and the angel hands him back to you.

Hugs and Kisses!!!

[lalarainbow]

(((((((Jill,)))))))
I am so sorry about your cat. We have two and one was a starving stray kitten that I coaxed in and he is the most loving cat.. Strays seem to appreciate what you have done for them..
I am sad for you!
Take care~
~~Pam~~:(

[dyno]

I am very sorry. That is the worse part of pet ownership. I have had to put more than one down and it is so hard.:kissing: It was the right thing to do but it sure does hurt.

[ICchell]

Jill,
Im so sorry...that is so painful to go through when a pet dies...
that s good that you got to be with him his last fe moments...just think that he is not suffering any longer ...and he would have gotten much worse.
you did the right thing!!!!:pray: :grouphug:

[gypsyjoy]

Jill, I am sorry to hear about your beloved cat. I understand, my Mom just had to put down her old cat last week.
:cat:
Hugs to you and your family, JOY

[Laurenn]

Dear Jill----

Our furry babies are so precious to us................and its so so hard to let them go.

I know when I had to hold our sweet little bunny, Floppy, on my lap, for that final vets injection, it was probably the hardest thing I had ever had to do..............but it is a final, loving thing to do, as it was for your darling "Black Cat".

Sending HUGS and prayers,
Laurenn

[amethyst79]

:grouphug: Jill, I know how hard that must have been, but you definately did the right thing, he's no longer suffering. I'm sure you will have amazing memories of him and the time you shared with him. And I'm also sure Lysander and Oscar are taking good care of him.

:kiss:

Chelle

[ICNDonna]

I'm so sorry you had to go through losing your friend. I know you don't want to think about another kitty right now, but how about going to your local pound and just looking? There might be a baby there who needs you.

Gentle hugs,
Donna

[Walela]

Jill,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is indeed difficult to say so long to those who give us unconditional love. Just a few weeks ago I had to put down my beloved cat, Smokey. I know they do come back to visit us for awhile, before moving into their new form and it is comforting to know they are now pain free and peaceful. My heart goes out to you in this time of sadness.
Ronda
:pray:

[icnmgrjill]

You're all so kind. Thank you for your very comforting words. Yes, I do think that he's found the lap of an angel... and that he is playing with Lysander & Oscar (and all the other kitties) up there. He hadn't been able to play for some months... so it's comforting to know that he can do that now. Yes, I do believe that's true.

Jill :)

[Audrey Rose]

:flower:
Jill, It is good to hear you sounding more cheerful!!
I pray that you feel peace throughout the week!!
And may you feel our hugs when you come home and have the yucky moment of remembering that Black Cat is not there anymore. That was always the hardest part for me... It is hard to break that habit of coming home and going straight to those precious pets. When that happens, remember how loved you are!! :grouphug:

Big Hug and A :kissing:

[SharonA]

:kissing: Jill...

I am so sorry. I know how sad it is to have to do what you did. It still causes me to tear up and have a lump in my throat when I think about having to do that with our 2 precious Shelties and that was in '94 and '95. They were brother and sister and were whelped in my living room while we was caring for their mother. It was a very sad day when we had to take the little boy in and then a year later, the female.

It is a very loving thing you did...:kissing:

[felineperson3]

Jill,

I'm saddened by reading your post. I love kitties--We have 3 cats, one is 10 yrs. old, the other 2 are 4 yrs. old. We adopted each of them when they were babies and they would have probably been euthanized if we hadn't given them homes. We enjoy them so much and after having raised 4 children, they are like children to us now. :)
So when I read your post I couldn't keep the tears from sliding down my cheeks. Having to lose our little pets is the only thing that is hard about having them--one gets so attached!!
You did the right and loving thing for your Black Cat that was suffering and no hopes of getting any better-:cat:

Hugs and :pray:

[kelly McC]

I just wanted to send you a BIG :grouphug:
KELLY

[Sue]

Guardian Angel Cat

To Watch and Protect You From:

Caty remarks
Getting your whiskers out of jiont
Being less then purr-fect
Claws-trophobia
Cat getting your tongue
Copping with cat-astrophies
Letting the cat out of the bag
Looking like something the cat dragged in
Curiosity killing you
Clawing your way to the top

[Michelle in KC]

Oh, Jill! I am so sorry your black cat is gone now. What sadness you must feel. Your heart is in my prayers.

Michelle

[Sharon]

I'm such an animal lover that your story brought tears to my eyes. I also believe your cat has found the lap of an angel, and feels like a young playful kitty again. Take comfort in knowing that you did what was right for your cat because you loved him so, and he knew that.

Sharon