It is Wednesday morning and I am sat at the computer. The girls are next door making all sorts of cards and my son is upstairs. I am sad today. Sat on my lap is my gorgeous moggy George. He is 18 and dying of cancer. Since his diagnosis he has been living on my lap. No matter where I am or what I am doing he is sitting on me, purring and nuzzling to get closer and closer. He knows. And he knows I know. Yesterday I arranged for him to be put to sleep on Friday. We have taken the difficult decision to euthanise his sister also. The two of them have been at each other’s sides for 18 years (equivalent to 89 human years). They sleep together, feed together and lick each other clean. The idea of one without the other is unbearable. Lucy (George’s twin) is already slightly confused, frequently not knowing where she is or how to get to somewhere familiar. She already meows her confusion until we collect her and bring her into the living room to join us. She would be lost without her brother.
But the real reason I am sad is that last night George looked at me, pleading with me to help him. I could see in his eyes that his cancer was now sore, that he was suffering. He has been collecting fluid around his belly area for the last two weeks and is now so large he looks like he would go pop if we pricked him with a pin. The vet told us we would know when it was time, and she was right. After a broken night of tears, I made the decision to change the appointment from Friday to tonight. Today we are a family with two of the friendliest and most loving kittikats, tonight we will be a family with none. I can’t bear to think of it, and yet I can’t bear to see George in pain.
As I gently stroke George, he looks up at me purring. Notes float down the stairs from T’s room. He is currently teaching himself the guitar. He is a natural, just like his father. And he is playing and singing ‘Light of the World, You look down into Darkness’. Hearing his dulcet tones comforts me. I have not told the children yet. They know it is coming though, just maybe not this soon. George and Lucy have been around for all of their lives. They do not know a world which does not include these cats. They will be broken-hearted.
I wrote this yesterday with George snuggled up on my lap. They are both at rest now, pain and confusion free. I am so glad they were together. They arrived into this world together, spent most of their lives cuddled up with one another and yesterday they died together and are buried, together, in our back garden with a grave sprinkled with child-picked wild flowers.
I am brokenhearted, bereft and very, very sad.
Hi Mummy,
You had me in tears from the picture but I can’t thank you enough for witing that post.:( The pain will get easier( hopefully) What we have got to do is instead of concentrating on their death we should concentrate on all the goood times we had…….. Like when George climbed the christmas tree and promptly knocked it over. Soooo cute.
It will get easier I promise.
L12
Thinking of you, We had our 19 yo cat put to sleep this week, very difficult decision but sure it was best for her. House seems so quiet without her.
Tears in my eyes reading your words, Claire. Thinking of you all and sending lots of love and warm hugs. xxx
I’m so sorry 🙁
Crying for you. I am so sorry for your loss.
Blessings, Dawn
Tears….such a hard decision to make. We had to do that too with our 2 kitties …both in the same year. They were brothers and such good cats too. Heartbroken for you all,
Brenda
So sorry to hear this and what a lovely picture of the cats.
I am grieving with you.
Crying tears for you, Claire. We had six cats and now we have none. We had some go peacefully in their sleep and some we had to take because of cancer or other illness. They are such a part of the family and losing them is so very difficult. I am praying for your family during this very sad time :'(
You have my tears, too! I’m sure you made the right choice at the right time – but how hard.
I’m so sorry, Claire. We lost our lovely dog Brigitte to cancer, and euthanization was an awful decision to have to make. You made the right call on his sister, too – she’d have been suffering in a different way but suffering nonetheless. Sending you a big virtual hug……and good for you for not leaving him to linger in pain.
So sorry for your loss, Claire. Having lived with pets my entire life, I know exactly what you are going through. Our pets are a gift from God and when they’re gone there is a hole in our lives. Tell L12 that one of your readers thinks she is a brave, positive, and comforting young lady. How blessed are you?!
So very sorry for your loss. ((HUGS)) for everyone. “It is better to have love and lost, than never to have loved at all”.–Shakespeare
I pray that the wonderful memories of their love,and the love you gave them, will carry you through my dear friends.
Oh Claire, I am sorry you are so sad. God often reveals himself most beautifully when we are hurting, I pray you feel his comfort now.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Claire. Hugs and condolences to you.
I know how you feel. Tears came to my eyes as I read this. I have had to put cats asleep and I have had them die naturally, and they both are hard and sad. [hugs}
I’ve got tears in my eyes as I read this, if I were there I would give you a great big hug and not let go until you said you were choking.
Many hugs my friend.
I´m so sorry for you and your family, Claire. Although it was a hard decision, I believe you made the best choice, not for you, but for your cats. Remember their happy times and they will live forever- in your hearts.
I’m so so sorry… praying for you and your whole family. Pets have a way of worming themselves into our hearts and they become members of our families.
I knew as soon as I saw your post title what you were going to say. Is it silly to be in tears for someone else’s fur babies, literally an ocean away? If so, I guess I’m just silly. I’m so very sorry to your family’s loss. Crying with you, friend.
I’m sitting here crying for your lovely kitties. I am so sorry for the loss you all have dealt with. They were wonderful and perfect companions for your family. We have sibling kitties who would also be bereft without one another. I can’t image the difficult decisions you had to make. Hugs!