One month ago tomorrow, my 16 year old cat Jupiter died in my arms after an 11 month illness that progressed very rapidly in the last 2 weeks of his life. He told me not to be so focused on his physical body, that it was "just a covering with a zipper"
i agree philosophically, and i'm still having a lot of trouble living with the fact of his physical departure. Tonight it hurts so much i can barely breathe.
i'm so grateful for this forum, and have read all the posts and received a lot of support and comfort, thank you so much for all the words of love... it's remarkably helpful to share this journey. just typing these words is healing somehow.
thank you

Oh I know about hurting so much you cant breathe, I have that happen to me too. I had a baby girl "Summer" I had to have her put to sleep when she was 16, it is so hard to let go I know.... I just want to tell you to hang in there cause it will get better for you. I just kept coming here and posting and crying and posting and crying until I came to a place of acceptance,,,it has been a hard road for sure.
I am so sorry you had to lose your furbaby it helps to know you are not alone. Pamela

I'm so sorry for your loss of Jupiter.

I think it's amazing how our animals can communicate with us. Jupiter's telling you not to focus on his physical body reminded me so much of my last 4 weeks with Shiloh. It was like she said to me "Mom, don't worry about my cancer. Let's just focus on our remaining happy moments together." That really was the best advice.

This is a wonderful website. Please share more about Jupiter with us. Sharing your thoughts and feelings really will help you through your grieving.

You're in my thoughts.
Kathleen

dear pamela,
Bless you and Summer. i want to send you my sorrow for your deep loss. Thank you for knowing about the hurting and for encouraging and supporting me with your words. it helps so much right now. It does help to be reminded that i am not alone, because i'm definitely feeling alone. I have a lot of support, and still it's so difficult. All i can think of is that Jupiter's not here.

dear kathleen,
thank you for sharing about what Shiloh told you. My sweetest sympathy for your loss. thank you also for encouraging me to share more. i can tell that it's theraputic in ways that i don't even understand.

I am so sorry for the struggle and loss of your precious Jupiter. I too know the feeling of not being able to breathe and the terrible heartache and longing we have after their death. I know they are in a much better place, now free of pain and running and playing. Still our hearts are broken that we had to let them go until we can be with them again. Keep coming and talking to us and tell us all about your little Jupiter. Hugs
Ann

I'm so sorry about your loss...

I know how hard it is!!! I know the desperate need to have your baby back in your arms.

One year ago from the date you posted this message (Mar. 24), my sweet-sixteen-year-old (almost 17) Little Girl passed on from her *earthly* body. The heartache was unbelievable. I say was only because, as the others on this board have promised, it does get easier. We do go on... somehow.

We know we will be fully reunited with Jupiter and Little Girl and all the other kidz who have passed on...
We know they are in perfect bliss
But the need to have them here, physical body and all, is so huge.

Something that helped me was to think of it this way: If the roles were reversed and it was you who had passed on before Jupiter, you would want Jupiter to be able to go on in this physical world, to live his life as happily as possible, until it was his time. ...Since he has passed first, this is what he wants for you.

You are in my prayers! I hope to hear from you again soon.

Much love,

Kathy

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear kitty friend and family member Jupiter. I wanted to share with you that I believe that I may have read your story in a recent newsletter I receive from a beautiful spirit who cared enough to share her grief to help others heal. After our Max passed on Monday evening in an accident, I found comfort in that newsletter. I reread it and shared the story of Jupiter with my 9 year old (who spends a lot of time "asking Jupiter" about Max now).
My heart goes out to you in this time of grief. I am thankful that the Universe leads us to each other to share compassion and aid in each other's healing process.
I am heartbroken about Max....he was an older dog (over 15 years old we are guessing, he came from the pound so we never really knew) and he was such a part of our family. His physical presence is greatly missed but we do feel the presence of our doggie angel and in time I know that will be great comfort. I wish the same to you.
Much peace and love from my heart to yours!
a

dear ann,
bless you and these endearing words. thank you

dear artchick,
thank you for your kind words. i cried when i read your story of Max... what a beautifull spirit. thank you for sharing him with us.
sending you deep peace

dear kathy,
thank you so much for your wonder-full words and great reminders. I honor the life and passage of your Little Girl with great love, and of course you too!

I'm so sorry to hear about Jupiter. Thank you for posting in my thread. I guess everyone's right when they say we share the same bonds and emotions when our loved ones pass. Reading everyone's posts helps to know that some day there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
It sounds like you had a very special bond with your kittie. I envy you that he was somehow able to tell you it was going to be okay....that his spirit would live on. I dont' feel that yet. Perhaps it's too raw...who knows. I look forward to reading more about Jupiter when you're ready to talk about it. I know it's hard when it's so fresh.

Audrey

You and I share a common bond, we were both blessed by the love of our purr-paws for many earthly years. Miss Mew was 21+ years old when she passed last October 1st. I remember feeling guilty posting those first few days when I read the stories of so many beloved pets that died at a very young age. My pain was acute but tempered with the knowledge that after all she could not live forever. A simple abcessed tooth proved to be be overwhelming for her older and frail physical shell. That last and fateful morning when I called the vet to make the appointment for euthanasia, I told the vet that I thought that she might cross over to Rainbow Bridge here, at home, but I could not be certain that she was not in pain or serious discomfort as we know how well felines can mask their pain. I owed her a peaceful and painless passing, no matter how grief stricken I was at the time. I think that you did the right thing for Jupiter.
About a week ago today I experienced a very vivid dream. Miss Mew was back, I was holding her in my arms, my husband saw me and exclaimed " I recognize that cat! " to which I replied " Of course The Mew is back " It was not a sad dream at all. Since Miss Mew's passing, we have let a 4th cat into our hearts, a stray semi feral male named Oslo who has become increasingly more demonstrative with us. No way I can prove it, but I think part of Miss Mew's spirit resides in Oslo. When I awoke from this dream Oslo was on our bed, and when he turned those big green eyes towards me, I could swear that he was telling me, " See, Miss Mew is not really gone after all "
I wish for you that somehow, someway, Jupiter manages to communicate with you soon and reassure you that his spirit does indeed live on.

Perchance to dream...
Nicole

Dear Miss Mew,
thank you so much for your words and for sharing the story of your dream. i loved reading it and am so glad for you. i'm also glad to say that i've received incredible dreams and "signs" of jupiter almost everyday since he died.
my main pain is being without him physically right now.
the pain of that is astonishing.

You are so very lucky to have had many signs from Jupiter. I only had one sign from Bubba and that was the day he died. Something knocked a chinese meditation ball off the dresser where his picture sits. I wish he would come to me in a dream or show any sign. He and I were so bonded I am having a hard time wondering why he isn't showing me anymore signs. I have thought maybe he is mad at me because he got so sick and I thought I did the right thing by letting him out of his cancer ridden body.

I know how you feel KimberlyHeide....I haven't received any sign at all since Jasmine died a week ago. I awoke with a start last night and thought my other pillow was her laying next to me. When I grabbed it, I realized it was only the pillow. In some ways, I feel so abandoned.

dear jazzygirl, kimberlyheide,
thank you kindly for your messages. i also need to let you know that Jupiter and i worked extensively with Penelope Smith and her work ( the book; "interspecies telepathic communication") and others, since he was a kitten, so it's not unusual that there are lots of "signs" and communications from him since his death. i'm definitely grateful for the communications and can understand your wish to receive some ((jazzygirl)) ((jasmine)) or more ((Kimberlyheide))((Bubba)))
i think that time will bring you both more things that aren't visible right now. also, i'm sure you know that there are ways to ask and communicate.

Thank you angel. I try to talk to her but I just don't feel her around me. I even tried to joke with a friend last night that she defied me in life and she's doing it now! Jasmine has an iron will and I do NOT exaggerate when I say that! She was SO defiant when she wanted to. Example: trying to get her in the house from the yard - I would call her and she would look at me, then finally start to come in...and take her sweet time up the steps...one step at a time. And this is a dog who knew advanced obedience as we used to compete when she was younger!! She just had a spirit that couldn't be broken. So now I think she's doing it to me again!! Either that or she's running free in the woods and when she feels like it she'll come see me. Like I said, it just feels like such abandonment.

yes, that's the thing about asking for communications- there can be no attachment to the outcome and it's difficult! i honor your feelings of abandonment.
i know what you mean about defiance too. i love your story of jasmine coming up the steps:) jupiter was intensely stubborn- one time, he scratched at the bottom of the closed bedroom door for over 3 hours until all the paint was gone and he was digging ridges into the wood. of course now, i love seeing that spot.

I have talks with Bubba all the time but I just don't feel him here anymore. Bubba had quite the life.. He was spoiled by me and bast(female ocicat), and his mom(mort). They groomed him and pampered him his whole life. He was such a awsome guy.. I seriously thought that Bast and Mort would be morning him. But somehow they must know he is doing fine. I guess that would be a sign that they have communicated with him. I miss him so much that just one sign that he is doing ok in spirit will make me happy.