[Life] Anniversary

[celestineangel]

A year ago today, I had to have my kitty, Rat, put to sleep. She was old, and sick, and had stopped eating and was slowly starving herself to death. The vet said she was in the late stages of liver failure at that point, was half-blind, and probably senile. It was the right thing to do, having her put to sleep, but it was also the most gut-

Comments

[rarity]

*hugs*

[celestineangel]

::clings to::

[museme87]

You have me tearing up too! Pets have an amazing way of finding their special place in our hearts and memories (as sappy as that sounds). I don't think we're ever ready to say goodbye to them. I know I'll never be ready to let go of my pup, probably years and years after he's gone. All the hugs for you, S. <3

[celestineangel]

Rat was with me for something like 17 years. I'm not for sure, because I never kept track of how old she was, so 17 was the vet's best guess at her age. She was a kitten when our neighbors down the street found her, a little kitten all alone in the woods mewling, no mama cat, no siblings. They called and called her, but she wouldn't come to them. But when they told me about her, and I went out to call her, she came right to me. And even though my parents had resisted having an indoor pet, when I took her home and took her inside, they didn't say anything (I think because the last few cats we'd had, all outdoor cats, all came to bad ends). It's like we were destined for each other.

So saying that pets find their way into our hearts and memories is definitely not sappy, it's so very true. I don't have kids, never plan to have any. She was my baby. I miss her more than I miss my aunt who died only a week before her.

::hugs back::

[sarcasmically]

It doesn't feel like it's been a year. I still sometimes look up, thinking I've seen movement, thinking she's going to walk in and come lay on my feet.

The same thing happens to me and I start bawling all over the place. I got my kitty's ashes (and I'm glad I did, it helps with the closure) but whenever I find fur on myself I still start tearing up.

Many <3's for you.

[celestineangel]

I didn't get Rat's ashes. I don't know if I should have or not. I knew I couldn't drive home with just her body, though my step-dad offered to bury her in the backyard along with one of our old dogs. I just couldn't do it, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't thinking straight at the time, so her ashes are somewhere in a public pet cemetery. I don't even know where. :(

And then a week later, I received a condolence card from the vet's office and started bawling all over again. >.<

Thank you.

[celestineangel]

Not only have I read it, I have it hanging on my wall framed with a picture of Rat. This was my mom's idea of a Christmas present last Christmas. One for me, with Rat, and one for my step-dad with their dog, George, who died like a month after Rat (2010 was a very bad year). She had all of us crying our eyes out.

It was like, "Thanks, Mom. Best Christmas ever, crying and leaking snot. Yeah."

It is horrible... even though I couldn't bring myself to bring her home (driving in the car with her body D: ), I stayed through the whole thing and a lot of the time, it's the only thing I can remember... so... I sort of wish I hadn't, but then... I left like it was the least I could do, you know? She'd stayed with me when I was sick through the years. I felt like if I hadn't stayed with her during this, I would have been an ungrateful little shit of a coward.

Guuuuh.

[floette]

I just... *hugs* Animals make for the best companions, but leave such a huge hole when they leave us.