My beloved friend through 11 years is gone. I will never see him again except in my memories and dreams and all the pictures I have of him. I will never forget that sweet crazy cat.
This weekend he and his best friend Sophie was playing like they were kittens again, running around like whirlwinds having fun. Wednesday I noticed he was felling sick. Never the less he was still in a good mood and enjoyed being stroked on his tummy - purring looking very content - as so many times before. Thursday morning he was worse and obviously feeling dizzy and couldn't walk.I took him to the vet at 09.00 in morning.
His kidneys had failed and there was nothing that could be done - except prolonging has pain and suffering.
2 hours later he was put to sleep - I couldn't bare the thought of him hurting like that without any hope of improvement.
All this happened over a very short period of time but I don't know if it's good or bad. I didn't have time to realize I was loosing him but then again I didn't have to spend time scared of the inevitable.
My other cat Sophie seems to cope better. Wednesday and thursday morning she stayed close to Oliver and kept him company and she has been remarkebly calm and relaxed these last 2 days without him. Did she see it coming?? Has she accepted that it was time for Oliver to go?? She is now doing the best she can to cheer me up and it does help.
BUT - I NEVER knew loosing him could hurt so much. I have been crying my heart out for 2 days now and nothing can make me feel better. Then I found all of you and read your stories. I'm not alone and I know you understand how I feel. It helps to know.
Just had to get it out

You all have my deepest sympathies - there is no greater sorrow than loosing a friend you love more than life itself

Frank

Frank - I am so sorry for your sudden loss of Oliver. I know you must be in shock , it was so sudden. It is painful so painful to lose a pet who had been in your life, loving you and comforting you. For Oliver, it was a blessing of sorts that he did not suffer long. For you, it was to fast, and had no time to comprehend what was going to happen. You did what you only could do from your heart, and let Oliver be a peace. I'm sure that isn't much comfort to you. We all here know what you are going through. This site, and I will say this over and over, has been a God send for me. It showed me that I was not alone, and no matter what time of day or night. I always felt someone was here to listen. Somtimes you just need to put your feelings into words, and sometimes even that is hard to do.
Animals are very intuitive, and I'm sure that Sophie felt somthing was wrong with Oliver, staying by his side. You did everything you could, getting him to the vet right away. I'm glad you have Sophie to be by your side to comfort you.
We lost our cat Scooter, not quite 7 years old on 7/15/06, to kidney failure. Our 3 other cats, grieved and did their best to help us feel better too.
I've been through all the stages of grief except acceptance. I've been back and forth between them a few time already. I'm trying to accept what happened, but am having a hard time with that.
You will go through a journey of grief, and everyone here will do their best to help you and offer advice. My only advise to you is to know that you did what was right for Oliver, and to take your time to grieve in YOUR time, not how everyone thinks you should get through it.
And, take care of yourself. Grief is draining. Rest if you can, and talk to those who you know will understand. And you know, here is where you will find that too.
Again. I am tryly sorry for your loss of Oliver.

Scooter's Mom

I cannot begin to express how gratefull I am for your quick reply.Thank you so much - it helps.
Strangest thing - Oliver looks (looked) almost like Scooter except for the eyes.
What scares me the most is that I might loose the memory of how he looked and acted silly or laying in my lap purring getting a tummy rub. Are your memories of Scooter still as vivid as they were 4 weeks ago??

I've read all your posts - I know how you feel and i'm so so sorry for your loss.

I think your'e right. Animals do know when something is wrong. Sophie is never more than 3 feet away from me. I hope she will get through this allright. I will give her all the TLC she wants.

Frank

Oh, I am sorry to hear about Oliver....it is sad to see how quickly they can degrade from kidney failure...but, sometimes this is a gift. He and Sophie knew it was time. You did your best. Grieve and let Sophie comfort you. Keep your memories of Oliver close. You won't forget.

Whils my baby, Oscar was at his worst his little sis seemed to know. I was so wrapped up in my own grief at my upcoming loss, I hadn't notice the change in her. She became quiet, and stayed close to Oscar. The morning we took him to the vet, and came home without him she looked for him and acted confused. The following day she went back to her old ways, a lot of barking, running around, and playing with toys. She acts like she knows he's okay. They same dogs and cats are very perceptive of the spirits.
I am on day three of my loss, and it still seems so surreal almost dream like. I will be good to go and something small will set me off. I miss my little guy, but am trying so hard to focus on my wonderful memories, and the joy he brought to my life.
I want to celebrate his life, not drown in total black depression.
I am so sorry for your loss, and will keep you in my thoughts Nina

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT OLIVER. I FEEL YOUR GRIEF. OUR SITUATION LIKE YOURS WAS SHOCKING AND UNEXPECTED. I TOOK CHARLIE IN ON 8/10/06 FOR XRAYS AND BLOOD WORK DUE TO HIM NOT BREATHING RIGHT, I MONTH AGO THE VET SAID IT WAS ASTHSMA. HE MADE IT THROUGH THE SEDATION AND WHEN STARTING TO COME OUT OF IT HE STOPPED BREATHING AND HIS HEART STOPPED, THEY TRIED TO REVIVE HIM BUT IT DID NOT WORK. I REQUESTED A BIOPSY, THE VET CALLED ME ON 8/14/06 AND SAID CHARLIE HAD ADVANCED LUNG CANCER AND ONLY WOULD OF SURVIVED ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. ALWAYS REMEMBER ALL THE LOVE YOU HAD FOR ONE ANOTHER.

Hi guys.
Thanks for all your replies. They are heart felt and they help a lot. I am deeply thankfull that you are able to help others even though you are are all felling the effects of loss yourselves.
The best though is that Sophie is so strong and cheerfull that i cannot help feeling a little better. and that is a good thing. In fact it think it will bring Sophie and I even closer than we already are.
Hopefully I will feel so much better in the coming days that I can start helping some of you feel better about your loss. With all the help I have recieved already, I want to try and give a little back.

Thank you all - you have been so kind and understanding

Frank

Here he is - my Oliver

Oliver is very beautiful and shows a lot of personality in your photo. Thank you for sharing him with us.

The first weeks are the worst as far as coping is concerned. After that you just learn to seal off some of the feelings and give the raw emotional wounds time to heal. I think it's how we give ourselves a little 'breathing space' so we can deal with the loss in a way that makes sense to us.

What a beautiful boy, Oliver the wondrous cat was!

thank you for sharing his picture! Even after his passing, he is still out there sharing his love with us here and with you!

God's Peace be with you, Frank, during this time.

Frank,
My heart goes out to you and to Oliver (such a handsome boy!). It hurts more when it's so sudden. That happened a lot to me when I was growing up. Our pastor (I was Protestant then) always said, "Death is part of life" and I always wondered, "Why?". The living are left to carry on and keep the departed ones in their hearts and minds. And we bear the pain of grief, which diminshes but never really goes away.
We're all going through such rough times right now. Just remember that Oliver loved you and still loves you! He will be looking after you -- Precious is already sending me signals (like an unexplainable warm spot on the bed when there's no cat, and dragonflies soaring near me when there previously were none all summer). I know my mum is taking care of him. I had a dream exactly seven days before he died. My mother came to me (looked real like she was still alive but healthy) and said, "Let him go, I will take care of him". It took me a week to do it but I did. I take comfort in the fact that that is so!!