[leejosepho]

I grew up with dogs as pets and never cared much for cats, but for most of these past fifteen years my wife and I have cared for an orphaned cat. Her feral mother had apparently delivered a litter under a machine in a lumber mill and then been scared away (leaving two kittens behind) when workers began arriving for work. My son-in-law found the two kittens in the sawdust under that machine at the end of that shift...and then about a year later my wife and I accepted the responsibility of caring for her. She never made a sound during the first few years of her life, and we have always suspected she might have suffered some kind of trauma or maybe even some kind of brain damage after having spent that first day underneath an extremely-loud machine.

Yesterday she drank a little water and eventually ate just a little after going a few days without eating or drinking anything at all, and we have a veterinarian coming to our home this evening to euthanize her. She does not appear to be in any great pain, but she does seem to be in a state of discomfort and my wife and I have no reason to believe there is any hope for her recovery from what appears to be kidney failure.

Originally Posted by Quarter life

Pets get us out of our own heads....are made of Love & Warm...and teach us what is important in life.
Importance of a pet

When we first got this cat we have variously called "Cat", "Kitty" or "Little Kitty", she almost immediately attached to me and would sleep on my chest as she had first done with one of my daughters before my wife and I had assumed responsibility for her. As a child I had always felt like an orphan, so it seemed to me that this cat and I had some things in common...and over the years I have learned to care for her with that in mind.

Originally Posted by ruthful

The bond we have with our pets releases a hormone called oxytocin in our brains. Oxytocin is often called 'the love hormone,' which elevates our mood.
Importance of a pet

That has often been the case for me even though this cat has always seemed to be far more of a needer than a giver. There have been many times when it felt consoling for me to console her, and then it has also been great to watch as my cheery wife looked for ways to try to entertain her and play with her.

Today's duties and their emotional challenges for the sake of our old cat are going to be a bit (or maybe even quite) difficult for me. I have to go out and prepare a burial site, my wife would like to take a few pictures and then I will likely be the one holding our "Little Kitty" this evening as the veterinarian does his part.

My grieving has began, and I thank you for listening.

[pegasus]

My heart goes out to you.

[Travelinglady]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[leejosepho]

I had wrongly assumed veterinarian Tracy was a man, and we were definitely pleased with her accommodating demeanor. Following the initial sedation, I was able to lie back in my chair with a damp cloth for my face and mostly block everything out as she and my wife completed the process. I am grateful our old cat was still alert and at least somewhat mobile to the end, and I hope the same will ultimately be true for me.

[*Laurie*]

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. I wish you and your wife peace at this time of loss. RIP Little Kitty.

Ugh, I know how hard this is. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

RIP Little Kitty.

[*Laurie*]

What a lovely idea, to mark Kitty's grave with a stone.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

What a lovely idea, to mark Kitty's grave with a stone.

I am not one to view animals as family members and all of that -- my Amish friends say animals never belong in the house -- but "Little Kitty" was what I usually called her and I had to do something more after you had mentioned her by name...and I thank you for that.

[Hippie]

so sorry

[cakeladie]

I am so sorry.