It's been three weeks since I lost Nikita and these last few days have been really bad. It may be because we got her ashes back but it feels like I have lost her all over again. I'm going through a phase of heavy guilt; I have convinced myself that she didn't need to die but that I must have made some bad choices or bad decsions during her illness that led to her death. I keep playing the last four months through my mind and saying what if I had done this or what if I had tried this? Today I came home for lunch alone for the first time since she's been gone and it was really hard. I allowed myself to go through the motions of things I did while she was alive for the first time. I went to where food dish was to check it, I told her that her dad had to go back to work and I would see her later. I wouldn't let myself do this before but today I just let myself go. Sometimes I think I must be crazy; I'm a grown man, I have grown children, I've lost family members, I've lost friends, I've lost other pets, I've been through a divorce but I don't think anything has affected me like losing Nik has. I am not particularly a cat person; I've always liked cats and we always had cats when I was growing up but I always was more of a dog lover. But I developed a bond with Nik that I never had before and now I just can't believe that she's gone. It seems so unreal to not have her here; when I come home she's not here, when I go to bed she's not there, it is just not right without her. I miss her so much I hope that this grief will pass.
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Full Version: Very Bad Week
Dear John,
Around week three, I too felt like I had a major setback. It seemed as though the process had started all over again. I am at week six now and really do feel better. I'm still sad and miss my little man more than words can say, but I'm making it. I'm still going through the guilt too but deep down, I know it wasn't my fault. And I have to have faith that Cooper knows that too. And I am positive your Nikita knew how much you loved her and you did everything you could for her.
Around week three, I too felt like I had a major setback. It seemed as though the process had started all over again. I am at week six now and really do feel better. I'm still sad and miss my little man more than words can say, but I'm making it. I'm still going through the guilt too but deep down, I know it wasn't my fault. And I have to have faith that Cooper knows that too. And I am positive your Nikita knew how much you loved her and you did everything you could for her.
John, I'm in the third week of losing our third pet in a very short time period. I am doing the exact same things you mentioned. I don't know what it is about 3 weeks. The last 2 days have been unbearably hard. I have no reason for it. Tonight I sat in our garage and cried for our Buck. I don't feel like I will ever get past this sadness. It's like the first few days all over again. Even breathing isn't natural feeling. I know what you mean about thinking you're crazy being that you're a grown man and all the loss you've experienced before. I'm 41 and still think, "what in the world is going on?" But I guess age and experience have nothing to do with the loss of unconditional love and companionship. Our babies have given us what people cannot.
I wish I had words to comfort you. Your precious Nik was beautiful. Love the photos with the sun coming in. Cats love to sunbathe!
I hope it helps to know that other people are experiencing the same weirdness that you are. I'm right there in the same boat. My face feels a mile long.
I hope next week will be better for you.
-Donna
I wish I had words to comfort you. Your precious Nik was beautiful. Love the photos with the sun coming in. Cats love to sunbathe!
I hope it helps to know that other people are experiencing the same weirdness that you are. I'm right there in the same boat. My face feels a mile long.
I hope next week will be better for you.
-Donna
JOhn,
I'm sorry you are having such a hard day. I too went through that around the third week. It will be six weeks on Saturday when I had to make the decision to put my beloved Misha down. What you are feeling is very normal. I still miss her so much. I miss having her next to me as I watch tv. I miss her purr purrs.
Your Nik was a beautiful kitty. I loved the picture of her in the sun. I think you are experiencing the special bond that we can have with certain animals. She was someone special to you. They teach us so much about unconditional love. When they are gone it's so hard not to have that love anymore.
hugs,
Karen -mishasmom
I'm sorry you are having such a hard day. I too went through that around the third week. It will be six weeks on Saturday when I had to make the decision to put my beloved Misha down. What you are feeling is very normal. I still miss her so much. I miss having her next to me as I watch tv. I miss her purr purrs.
Your Nik was a beautiful kitty. I loved the picture of her in the sun. I think you are experiencing the special bond that we can have with certain animals. She was someone special to you. They teach us so much about unconditional love. When they are gone it's so hard not to have that love anymore.
hugs,
Karen -mishasmom
Hi John,
What you're going through seems to be mirrored by so many people here on the forum, myself included. It's been slightly over two weeks now since I lost my Gabby and though I have better days (I'm at least able to focus on working a little bit now) I still have a deeply empty feeling most of the time. The day I received her ashes it was like I'd lost her all over again. I laid in bed for nearly two days crying.
I still catch myself looking down to where she slept. I sometimes think I hear her. I still can't bring myself to throw away her old bed. I can't even dispose of the sub-q fluids, tubes, and needles used to treat her CRF. This journey is by no means easy. They are so easily loved. So loving and gentle and always there for us even when we're low. They don't judge us. They don't ask anything of us except affection and care. And then there are those special ones we form a connection with that can't necessarily be defined. A bond that goes beyond the relationships we form with other pets or even other people.
The guilt you're going through I think is normal. I've been going through that as well. Did I make the right decision to have her put to sleep? Could I have done more? We can make ourselves physically ill beating ourselves up this way. But I think for some of us it's part of the process we must go through in order to one day reach a place of healing.
Three weeks is still early in the healing process. You may think you're getting better, have a good day or two, and then have a sudden setback as if no time at all has passed. More importantly, you will endure as we all must, even if at times it seems like it's nearly impossible. This forum has been so important to me. I've found such strength here. I hope you do as well.
John
What you're going through seems to be mirrored by so many people here on the forum, myself included. It's been slightly over two weeks now since I lost my Gabby and though I have better days (I'm at least able to focus on working a little bit now) I still have a deeply empty feeling most of the time. The day I received her ashes it was like I'd lost her all over again. I laid in bed for nearly two days crying.
I still catch myself looking down to where she slept. I sometimes think I hear her. I still can't bring myself to throw away her old bed. I can't even dispose of the sub-q fluids, tubes, and needles used to treat her CRF. This journey is by no means easy. They are so easily loved. So loving and gentle and always there for us even when we're low. They don't judge us. They don't ask anything of us except affection and care. And then there are those special ones we form a connection with that can't necessarily be defined. A bond that goes beyond the relationships we form with other pets or even other people.
The guilt you're going through I think is normal. I've been going through that as well. Did I make the right decision to have her put to sleep? Could I have done more? We can make ourselves physically ill beating ourselves up this way. But I think for some of us it's part of the process we must go through in order to one day reach a place of healing.
Three weeks is still early in the healing process. You may think you're getting better, have a good day or two, and then have a sudden setback as if no time at all has passed. More importantly, you will endure as we all must, even if at times it seems like it's nearly impossible. This forum has been so important to me. I've found such strength here. I hope you do as well.
John
Hi John,
I know exactly how you feel. I lost my Shelby two months ago and I miss her so much. As you have said, I too have lost other pets and family members, but Shelby and I had a special bond that no pet will ever touch. She followed me everywhere in the house and would sit on my lap for hours. I look around the house and it feels so empty without her. I still have two cats and a dog that I love very much, but I still feel empty without Shelby. I go through the "what if's" too. We had Shelby on subq fluids for a bowel issue but she hated it so much. We put her on another medication to help, so we stopped the subq's. I wonder if we would have kept her on the fluids, would she have developed CRF? It is hard to tell with our "fur kids" they can not tell you how they feel. We lost our precious Casey to cancer in 2008. We had no idea he had it. He seemed fine. We took him because he was getting sick at least once a week or every other week - two weeks later we had to say "goodbye". I still feel guilty about it and feel that I let him down too. I feel we should have taken him to the vet sooner, but we just thought he was getting sick because of "furr balls", he was eating and acting normal. I guess when I think back on it I had very hard time with Casey too. I can tell you what you feeling is what we all have felt (are feeling). You are not alone - you are perfectly normal.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Karen
I know exactly how you feel. I lost my Shelby two months ago and I miss her so much. As you have said, I too have lost other pets and family members, but Shelby and I had a special bond that no pet will ever touch. She followed me everywhere in the house and would sit on my lap for hours. I look around the house and it feels so empty without her. I still have two cats and a dog that I love very much, but I still feel empty without Shelby. I go through the "what if's" too. We had Shelby on subq fluids for a bowel issue but she hated it so much. We put her on another medication to help, so we stopped the subq's. I wonder if we would have kept her on the fluids, would she have developed CRF? It is hard to tell with our "fur kids" they can not tell you how they feel. We lost our precious Casey to cancer in 2008. We had no idea he had it. He seemed fine. We took him because he was getting sick at least once a week or every other week - two weeks later we had to say "goodbye". I still feel guilty about it and feel that I let him down too. I feel we should have taken him to the vet sooner, but we just thought he was getting sick because of "furr balls", he was eating and acting normal. I guess when I think back on it I had very hard time with Casey too. I can tell you what you feeling is what we all have felt (are feeling). You are not alone - you are perfectly normal.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Karen
Ladywolf and I had that special kind of bond that only a wolf and a human can have. I've never experienced anything like it, and doubt that I ever will again. It's my third week, going into the fourth, and I am feeling especially lonely too. There's really something about this third week business, isn't there? I miss her more than I did in the first or second week...
She died a very quiet and peaceful death, the kind that we would wish for all of our beloveds. One minute she was breathing and the next minute she wasn't, and it was all natural and rather elegant. But even I, who don't believe that guilt should have to be a necessary part of the grieving process, and try to encourage the rest of you not to beat yourselves up with it, hold a little bit of guilt. Lady was dying in the kitchen, and I was out on the front porch playing a game of scrabble with a friend to keep my mind occupied, and she died while I was around the corner, making a new word. I had been popping in and out and going to her for lovies and hugs all afternoon, but I missed the precise moment when she stopped breathing, and I feel badly about that.
So even I, the queen of "don't feel guilty and wrong," hold a little regret and guilt. I would like to have been with her, holding her, when she passed, and I wasn't. It's not a big deal, but it gnaws at me some.
John, I am sorry that you are experiencing such an excruciating grieving process. You're definitely right that we bond more deeply with some fur-kids than others. And there are times in our lives when losses are harder to take than at other times. Clearly, this is one of those times for you. I wish you and everyone else peace in your healing process--maybe when the one-month mark passes, we shall be more at peace with it all. Your kitty was lovely, and I'm sorry you had to lose her.
Big Hugs from Margi and Spiritwolf, my soul-mate
She died a very quiet and peaceful death, the kind that we would wish for all of our beloveds. One minute she was breathing and the next minute she wasn't, and it was all natural and rather elegant. But even I, who don't believe that guilt should have to be a necessary part of the grieving process, and try to encourage the rest of you not to beat yourselves up with it, hold a little bit of guilt. Lady was dying in the kitchen, and I was out on the front porch playing a game of scrabble with a friend to keep my mind occupied, and she died while I was around the corner, making a new word. I had been popping in and out and going to her for lovies and hugs all afternoon, but I missed the precise moment when she stopped breathing, and I feel badly about that.
So even I, the queen of "don't feel guilty and wrong," hold a little regret and guilt. I would like to have been with her, holding her, when she passed, and I wasn't. It's not a big deal, but it gnaws at me some.
John, I am sorry that you are experiencing such an excruciating grieving process. You're definitely right that we bond more deeply with some fur-kids than others. And there are times in our lives when losses are harder to take than at other times. Clearly, this is one of those times for you. I wish you and everyone else peace in your healing process--maybe when the one-month mark passes, we shall be more at peace with it all. Your kitty was lovely, and I'm sorry you had to lose her.
Big Hugs from Margi and Spiritwolf, my soul-mate
Hi John,
I had the same exact feelings that you are having when my dog Callaway died 9 months ago. I was overcome with extreme guilt thinking I should of tried this, what if I would have done that, did I put him to sleep too soon, etc. I think it is normal to feel guilt when you are grieving but it hurts so bad!
I too have lost a sister when she was 33 and my dad died 3 years ago and I didn't even come close to grieving in the same way I did when I lost Callaway. I have always kept my feelings bottled up but when I lost Callaway there was no way I could keep them in, I couldn't just bury them like I had in the past. So, not only was I grieving for Callaway but I think I was also grieving for my sister and my dad. The way I dealt with it was to talk to family and friends, thank God I have them, I also came to this website everyday and could say whatever was on my mind because everyone knows what the pain is like, I also went to a grief counselor for 8 months and went to a pet loss support group. So, I think the key is to let all of your feelings out, feel everything, don't bury it. I promise the pain will get better but you have to feel your grief to be able to heal. I have come to realize that I will always miss Callaway, I still have that ache in my heart once in awhile because I miss him so much, but I think we figure out a way to carry on without our beloved pets and can learn to enjoy life again. I do find myself wishing for my old self, do you know what I mean? I will never be the same again because I don't have Callaway and I want that person back. But I have become a stronger person from losing him and have learned how to express my feelings, which I didn't do before.
I just want you to know that I have been where you are and I completely understand the guilt and grief that you are feeling. I seriously didn't think that I would ever get over it, I thought I would be the only one that never got passed it, but I did and you will too. You are going to have setbacks, I'm actually having one right now but they get less and less as time goes on.
Please talk about your feelings and come on here often, we are all here to help you make it thru your grief.
Rhapsedy
I had the same exact feelings that you are having when my dog Callaway died 9 months ago. I was overcome with extreme guilt thinking I should of tried this, what if I would have done that, did I put him to sleep too soon, etc. I think it is normal to feel guilt when you are grieving but it hurts so bad!
I too have lost a sister when she was 33 and my dad died 3 years ago and I didn't even come close to grieving in the same way I did when I lost Callaway. I have always kept my feelings bottled up but when I lost Callaway there was no way I could keep them in, I couldn't just bury them like I had in the past. So, not only was I grieving for Callaway but I think I was also grieving for my sister and my dad. The way I dealt with it was to talk to family and friends, thank God I have them, I also came to this website everyday and could say whatever was on my mind because everyone knows what the pain is like, I also went to a grief counselor for 8 months and went to a pet loss support group. So, I think the key is to let all of your feelings out, feel everything, don't bury it. I promise the pain will get better but you have to feel your grief to be able to heal. I have come to realize that I will always miss Callaway, I still have that ache in my heart once in awhile because I miss him so much, but I think we figure out a way to carry on without our beloved pets and can learn to enjoy life again. I do find myself wishing for my old self, do you know what I mean? I will never be the same again because I don't have Callaway and I want that person back. But I have become a stronger person from losing him and have learned how to express my feelings, which I didn't do before.
I just want you to know that I have been where you are and I completely understand the guilt and grief that you are feeling. I seriously didn't think that I would ever get over it, I thought I would be the only one that never got passed it, but I did and you will too. You are going to have setbacks, I'm actually having one right now but they get less and less as time goes on.
Please talk about your feelings and come on here often, we are all here to help you make it thru your grief.
Rhapsedy
It does help to know that i'm not alone in feeling this way. This third week has been the hardest so far; it must have something to do with the amount of time since we have last been with our lost loved ones and we are missing them so much. I keep going through wave after wave of grief. I didn't sleep well last, had a hard time going to sleep then I would wake up missing Nik. Even at work if I think about it I start to tear up and have to go off and gain my composure.
I think you are right Rhapsedy; we go through life and go through hurts then these innocent creatures come into our lives and give us their unconditional love and we form a deep bond with them and love them with a pure unguarded love and when we lose them we lose the peace, happiness and companionship they give us our hearts are laid bare and all the grief and pain come pouring out.
I guess I'm just rambling on and I do appreciate all of your encouragement and the having this place where we can share our grief. I just know that this has been a very very hard week and I miss Nik.
John
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I too have lost a sister when she was 33 and my dad died 3 years ago and I didn't even come close to grieving in the same way I did when I lost Callaway. I have always kept my feelings bottled up but when I lost Callaway there was no way I could keep them in, I couldn't just bury them like I had in the past. So, not only was I grieving for Callaway but I think I was also grieving for my sister and my dad.
I think you are right Rhapsedy; we go through life and go through hurts then these innocent creatures come into our lives and give us their unconditional love and we form a deep bond with them and love them with a pure unguarded love and when we lose them we lose the peace, happiness and companionship they give us our hearts are laid bare and all the grief and pain come pouring out.
I guess I'm just rambling on and I do appreciate all of your encouragement and the having this place where we can share our grief. I just know that this has been a very very hard week and I miss Nik.
John
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Hi John,
Just read what you wrote in my thread about a lot of people having a tough week this week, and it's SO true. I've visited this forum almost everyday, but sometimes the pain and sadness I read is just so heartbreaking that I find it difficult to reply. Sometimes I'm half way through writing a reply, and I have to delete it, because I can't see through the tears. I just hate that all of us here - all of us lovely people, who love completely with all our hearts, have to suffer this way. It's so unfair. But I guess that's life - everything has to die. Someone said to me that our babies are "angels on loan", the love and journey we share with them for too brief a time, is worth all the pain. We have to believe that our babies are still with us. We have to still talk to them, and feel their presence in our hearts. It's the only way we're going to get through this.
I'm sorry for your painful loss. I hope you find some peace soon.
Cheryl xx
P.S. What a beautiful, pretty kitty!
Just read what you wrote in my thread about a lot of people having a tough week this week, and it's SO true. I've visited this forum almost everyday, but sometimes the pain and sadness I read is just so heartbreaking that I find it difficult to reply. Sometimes I'm half way through writing a reply, and I have to delete it, because I can't see through the tears. I just hate that all of us here - all of us lovely people, who love completely with all our hearts, have to suffer this way. It's so unfair. But I guess that's life - everything has to die. Someone said to me that our babies are "angels on loan", the love and journey we share with them for too brief a time, is worth all the pain. We have to believe that our babies are still with us. We have to still talk to them, and feel their presence in our hearts. It's the only way we're going to get through this.
I'm sorry for your painful loss. I hope you find some peace soon.
Cheryl xx
P.S. What a beautiful, pretty kitty!
John S.
Beautiful pic of Nikita in the rays of the sun! Like others have said, I've lost relatives, and two dogs back in the 80's and early 90's, they were a mother and son. I grieved long and hard for them. But like you said, and it doesn't matter whether they are dog, cat or whatever...you had that special bond with her. My Kota, whom I lost close 2 months ago, was like my heart and lungs. I feel broken now and sometimes can't even breathe. I know you don't feel it now, but you are fortunate that Nikita picked you to liver her life with, to have that once in a lifetime bond that only you could sense. It hurts, how it hurts. Wishing you some peace
Dennis
Beautiful pic of Nikita in the rays of the sun! Like others have said, I've lost relatives, and two dogs back in the 80's and early 90's, they were a mother and son. I grieved long and hard for them. But like you said, and it doesn't matter whether they are dog, cat or whatever...you had that special bond with her. My Kota, whom I lost close 2 months ago, was like my heart and lungs. I feel broken now and sometimes can't even breathe. I know you don't feel it now, but you are fortunate that Nikita picked you to liver her life with, to have that once in a lifetime bond that only you could sense. It hurts, how it hurts. Wishing you some peace
Dennis
John,
Sorry you are having a bad week. It is also 3 weeks for me since I lost my Lexa...has been a very hard week. Nikita is beautiful. You are in my thoughts.
Michelle
Sorry you are having a bad week. It is also 3 weeks for me since I lost my Lexa...has been a very hard week. Nikita is beautiful. You are in my thoughts.
Michelle
Hi John
I'm sorry you're having a hard week. Next Wednesday it will be 7 months since we lost our dog Sammy. It's better most days now, but yesterday I had a really hard time again. Just a quiet depression and deep sadness that overcomes me. I guess the only thing that I can add to what everyone else is saying is that I'm glad that I'm the kind of person that all of us on this forum are -- that we all loved our pets so deeply that their passing has affected us so profoundly. That tells me something about the kind of people we all are.
In time I hope you can find some peace within yourself. We're getting another dog in August, another Westie -- somedays I can't believe that I'm going to put myself out there in this position again -- because unless I go first -- I'll be dealing with this pain all over again someday. But I think the joys of sharing your life with a little (or big) furry one are worth it. Take care
Sharon
I'm sorry you're having a hard week. Next Wednesday it will be 7 months since we lost our dog Sammy. It's better most days now, but yesterday I had a really hard time again. Just a quiet depression and deep sadness that overcomes me. I guess the only thing that I can add to what everyone else is saying is that I'm glad that I'm the kind of person that all of us on this forum are -- that we all loved our pets so deeply that their passing has affected us so profoundly. That tells me something about the kind of people we all are.
In time I hope you can find some peace within yourself. We're getting another dog in August, another Westie -- somedays I can't believe that I'm going to put myself out there in this position again -- because unless I go first -- I'll be dealing with this pain all over again someday. But I think the joys of sharing your life with a little (or big) furry one are worth it. Take care
Sharon
im so very sorry ,some days will be like that.Rembemering all the routines and all the things they did its very hard, its such a rollercoster of emotions ,but please don't feel guilty you did everything you could to help her, a lot of us go trough the what ifs this and that, i know that when you get the ashes back its painful .when i got them back from the vets i was just so numb and so sad ,3 weeks its so soon ,please give your self time ,hope talking here does help ,please take care and be well
Thank you all so much for your support and understanding. I was having a pretty good day today but tonight we went out to dinner and shopping and I started to think about Nik not waitiing for us to come home and all the grief came pouring back. I want so much to feel her rub against my legs to have her talk to me. I just can't believe she's gone. Sometimes I don't think this grief will ever end.
Then when we got home as we drove down the street we saw a cat and three kittens huddled by the mail box; apparantly someone had abandoned them. My heart can't take this, I tried to get them to come to me but they ran into the bushes. I put food out on the porch in case they come out. I don't know what this means or what might come of it but right now my heart is so tender I just can't stand thinking about them being out there lost and abandonded.
Then when we got home as we drove down the street we saw a cat and three kittens huddled by the mail box; apparantly someone had abandoned them. My heart can't take this, I tried to get them to come to me but they ran into the bushes. I put food out on the porch in case they come out. I don't know what this means or what might come of it but right now my heart is so tender I just can't stand thinking about them being out there lost and abandonded.
John I am so sorry you are having a bad week. Its like one day it is sunny and nice and the next day a storm just comes rolling in. Maybe those little baby kittens were sent your way from a special angel. They have away of sending things are way just ask Janika. I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Thinking of you here in PA. Keep us posted on the kittens.
Hugs
Anna and my special Angels
Hugs
Anna and my special Angels
John, I read what you've written here, and it's like I'm reading my own thoughts. My cat Flo would have been 17 years old today. We had to put her down a week ago Wednesday. As far as we can tell, her immune system crashed, and she became very sick very fast. Like you, I keep replaying my last weeks with her in my mind, thinking "What if I'd done this?" "What if I'd tried that?" "What if I'd intervened sooner?" The pain sometimes seems unbearable, and it feels like it's never going to end. I've never felt this kind of grief before. Not when I've lost human friends. Not when I lost my mom.
What keeps me going is I think that someday all that positive energy and love and kindness and peace that Flo brought into my life I can hold on to and share with some other little creature who needs me.
What keeps me going is I think that someday all that positive energy and love and kindness and peace that Flo brought into my life I can hold on to and share with some other little creature who needs me.
Kurt
I'm so sorry for the loss of your precious Flo. I know the pain can seem unbearable at times. For me it manifests itself in different ways at different times. Sometimes the emptiness, sometimes the guilt. At times I do feel wrong or guillty because as you said I never felt this way about even the loss of a human loved one. I believe it is a testimony to the pure, unconditional love, and the simple joy and pleasure we recieve from our cherished pets. At times I get busy at something or occupied with something else and forget but then something triggers a memory and the sorrow comes back. I just know that I miss Nikita so much. I find it hard to come home because she's not waiting here for me. Our home is so empty without her and nothing seems right now that she's gone. Again I am so sorry for your loss. You will find much sympathy, understanding and support here from others who share our grief and understand what we are feeling.
John
I'm so sorry for the loss of your precious Flo. I know the pain can seem unbearable at times. For me it manifests itself in different ways at different times. Sometimes the emptiness, sometimes the guilt. At times I do feel wrong or guillty because as you said I never felt this way about even the loss of a human loved one. I believe it is a testimony to the pure, unconditional love, and the simple joy and pleasure we recieve from our cherished pets. At times I get busy at something or occupied with something else and forget but then something triggers a memory and the sorrow comes back. I just know that I miss Nikita so much. I find it hard to come home because she's not waiting here for me. Our home is so empty without her and nothing seems right now that she's gone. Again I am so sorry for your loss. You will find much sympathy, understanding and support here from others who share our grief and understand what we are feeling.
John
QUOTE
Then when we got home as we drove down the street we saw a cat and three kittens huddled by the mail box; apparantly someone had abandoned them. My heart can't take this, I tried to get them to come to me but they ran into the bushes. I put food out on the porch in case they come out.
The kittens are now hanging out on my deck and there are not three but four. They are still wild and I can't get near them. I've been putting food and water out and tonight they were lounging and playing on the deck. I don't know what to do, I can't have four wild strays living at my house but it was nice to watch kittens playing on the deck. Even though I can't get near them it did my heart good having them there and just watching them.
Kittens in the mailbox? I don't know if that would make me feel better or turn me into a blubbering mound of goo. Is there a cat rescue organization near you? I have a friend who does cat rescue. Apparently when you rescue them as kittens it's easy to socialize them, but I'm not sure what the procedure is.
The hand of fate has a way of dealing us these kinds of things, doesn't it, John? (I say as I sit with Leopold the Terrible draped around my NECK as I type!) Kittens can often be tamed much more easily than full-grown cats, if you have a lot of patience. Use food as a bribe to come closer, one kitten at a time. We tamed a wild dog with food here--it took us many weeks (me and the neighbors), she finally became Sweet Pea, Dewey's loving companion, who was then also put to sleep on the same day as Ladywolf, due to rampant cancer. But we did it, and she lived a very happy year as a "pet" dog in a nice household--and she couldn't be approached at all in the beginning.
So don't give up on the situation--you could end up with four very nice cats!
I liked the style of your post. "The kittens are now hanging out on my deck..." Oh yes, THOSE kittens!!!
Good luck!
Hugs from Margi and Spiritwolf and Leopold the Bold
So don't give up on the situation--you could end up with four very nice cats!
I liked the style of your post. "The kittens are now hanging out on my deck..." Oh yes, THOSE kittens!!!
Good luck!
Hugs from Margi and Spiritwolf and Leopold the Bold
Hi, John, your kittens sound very much like two little waifs who eventually became my Noah and Abbygayle. They were feral kittens that a friend of mine rescued, took home, and then offered to me to adopt. As Margi said, just be patient with them. This is so special. Eventually, hopefully, they will come to you. John, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to updates on your kittens.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
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