I lost my beloved cat Chestnut today. He had been diagnosed with cancer in March and we fought the good fight, but the cancer won. I had to have hime euthanized today. I cannot describe adequately the intensity of the pain I am feeling right now. As I write the tears are streaming down my face and I feel a hole in my heart. This loss is significant for me. Chestnut came to me through a co-worker in March 1995. He was a feral kitten found under a bush in the park. He was the best cat. He was funny, silly, affectionate, and sooo beautiful. He went from a tiny red and white fluff ball and grew into a gorgeous 17 pound boy. His eyes were Chestnut in color. I feel like I can never love a cat again the way I loved him. I have had many cats, but Chestnut was like no other and there will never be another one like him.

I am so sorry that you have lost Chestnut.
Cancer is just horrible, I lost a beloved cat to the dreaded desease in January so I know how you are feeling.
You have just made one of the most difficult decisions we have all had to make, but we make it because we love our pets and dont want them to suffer any more and its the final gift and token of our love we can give them.
Its six months since I had to let my cat go to his rest but I miss him everyday and the tears still flow.
My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Cleo 1

Thank you Cleo 1. I really appreciate your response. Our pets give us so much love and it is hard to let go. I do think it was the right decision but it still hurts so much.

It's true you will never love another cat like you loved Chestnut, but that doesn't mean you won't love another cat as much as you loved him. We love all our babies in different ways. I loved my childhood cat Carl in different way than I love my little girl Saffron, but I wouldn't say I love either of them more or better. My deepest connection with an animal was with Meg who I lost a little over a week ago. I rescued another dog over the weekend, and I am struggling with the love in the same way/as much issue too. But you just need to remember that all our babies are different. Things that I found endearing in Meg might be annoying in Ike and vice versa.
We love them because they are all unique. Your connection with one might be stronger than your connection with another, but that has nothing to do with your capacity for loving them.
I am so sorry for your loss. You will start to feel a little better every day, but a little tiny piece of you will always be a little sad and miss him - it's part of what makes us who we are.

I stand corrected ! No, seriously, I stated in one of your previous posts that I don't love my other animals as much as I love my Sasha...I guess that isn't true, I just didn't express myself the right way...I couldn't really find the words until you just said this....it is much more 'on the mark' than what I said...bad, bad, mommy I am!
I would also like to add that I am so glad that you found LS. It speaks volumes about you as a person that you are able to offer such healing words to others so shortly after suffering such a devastating loss yourself.
(Please forgive me if this makes no sense...it's way past my bedtime!! )
Love,
Kim

I'm so sorry about your loss. Yes, there's always one that ends up being a standout compared to the others. But thank goodness we have the capacity to keep on loving the ones we bring home afterwards.
I know you're devastated right now but it will get easier. You have all of those lovely memories of him thereofore he will never be far away.

Take care,

Chris