Comet was born on Valentine's Day, 1995. It was love at first sight! He was my best friend...he celebrated the good times and consoled me through the bad ones. Just before he turned 4, I noticed that he had lost a lot of weight and wasn't acting like himself. I hurried him to the vet where I was told that he had been born with kidnies that were too small. They worked as long as they could but now they were shutting down. He was given 1 year to live. The vet recommended some perscription cat food that is easier processed by the kidnies. We switched him immediately and waited.

But then he started to gain the weight back. And he was playing and enjoying life again. Slowly his kiney function began to improve. Within 2 years him lab values were on the low end of normal range!

He was my miracle kitty. His 1 year to live was actually 7! The disease finally claimed him a few weeks before we would have turned 11.

It was awful. I knew he was deteriating and I had an appointment set for that Wednesday but that Monday morning I noticed him hiding. That wasn't his thing. He was very "in your face". We rushed him to the vet and received the bad news. The disease was now end-stage. We had to decide whether to bring him home to die or to put him down. I asked the vet if he was in pain and was told "yes".I brought the kids to say good-bye after school and then I stayed with him to the end. I pet him and told him I loved him and when he was gone I just wept.

I'll always miss him. It's not as sharp as in 2006 but it's still there. I don't tend to remember dates of passing but I always remember Birthdays. We celebrated them every year with a new toy and treat and, of course, singing "Happy Birthday". S, today, I'm sad. I miss Comet.

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

Happy Birthday, Comet!

He was a gorgeous guy. Thanks for sharing his story.

I've always made a fuss over my babies on birthdays and holidays, especially Christmas. I even wrapped their gifts and together we opened them. Okay, I opened them; Mia completely ignored me and Toby, after paying attention for all of 15 seconds, went back to pulling ornaments off the tree. Thinking about that silliness makes me heart ache but it makes me laugh, too.

I'm sorry you feel sad. I'm right there feeling sad with you.

Lots of hugs.

-Marissa

Hi Marissa!

Thanks for the kind words. I do the same thing with presents. Although, if catnip was involved, he would open the whole thing. One year, he found my hidden stash of presents and one happened to be an entire box of canip (to refill toys). By the time I find him, he had opened and dumped the entire box and was rolling around in it. He was in Heaven!

Thanks for helping me smile!
-Kelly

Happy Birthday, little Comet! I bet ya he was the best, little handsome valentine! What a beautiful boy! I'll bet he is rolling in catnip right now.

Comet is a cutie. I lost my Tuff to end stage chronic renal failure too
I have never had a pet with a chronic illness before, and I hope I never do again.
The end, they are just in such misery, I've spoke with people with kidney failure and they say they feel MISERABLE right before they get dialysis. Kind of foggy headed, nauseated, severe lethargy, achy feeling.
I'm not sure those are the same symptoms our pets have because they can't tell us, but the end of the end stage is just horrible.
I'm glad you had some time with your comet after diagnosis. You would think with chronic conditions we would be OK when it was time for them to go, but I know now that just isn't so.
Take care, and I hope Comet liked dogs. Tuff never really got the chance to play with a kitty here on earth, but I'm sure they've had a chance to mingle by now

Thank you all! Yesterday was tough. It's hard because it's Valentine's Day and my son's Birthday, but also a reminder of a friend I no longer have. Your responses and kids word helped a lot.! Thanks!

I know exactly how you feel. Our kitty went through renal failure as well, and was given 6 months. He lived 4 and half very happy years before getting cancer three weeks before Christmas in 2006. There's many months I think I've completed the grief process, and then it hits, like you said, remembering a certain day. I am so sorry about Comet, how lucky he was to have a family like you.......

Happy thoughts, Misty's Mama

Happy belated birthday to Comet. I am sorry I wasn't here to share on the 14th of February as I have been away for a few weeks.

I understand how much you miss your Comet, especially on his birthday, as we always had birthday celebrations for Goliath too.

As you missed Comet on his very special birthdate, I hope you basked in the beautiful memories you and he made together.

Love and hugs

I see you lost Hailey in 2006 and Comet in 2007. I lost my Little Girl in 2006 and her brother Little Guy in Sept 2007. It is rough. Little Guy was the last of 3 siblings we had since 1991 and left us with an empty home.

Hailey looks so good in your avatar and the picture you posted of Comet is precious.
Pictures always make me feel like I can reach inside the picture and pull them out into my arms again...a thought for only a second.

I hope you have lots of pictures of your babies. That's what has helped me. I see them everywhere through the pictures of happy, healthy memories.

They will always be a part of us. They just moved from the physical plane into our hearts but there they can stay forever because they can't be taken away from there.

In December of 2007 I adopted a shelter cat...I couldn't stand the empty home after 16 years of having babies I raised from birth. I named the cat Lucky and he certainly takes over and is quite a distraction which helps so I don't cry as often.

Your miracle cat sounds terrific and I am so glad you had all that extra time with him. It really isn't enough time ever but that is not something we can control. To have him born on Valentine's Day is something you'll never forget but in time you may be able to smile at his picture on that day and especially feel he is with you in that moment in time that belongs to him. After all, it IS his birthday! And he belonged to you from that moment on.