Farewell to A Beloved Pet and a Message For Everyone.

I thought I was ready for this. I saw the signs, I went through this experience twice. I thought it would have been easier. But it wasn't. Dear God it still hurts just as much as the first time.

If you're wondering what I'm talking about, my first cat just died earlier today. Patches was his name, for his black and white fur. Been with me since I was 3 years old. He lived for an impressive 18 years. Tough old guy he was. I would love to show a picture of him, but I can't figure out how to upload a image from my computer onto this blog.

As I mentioned earlier, my family got Patches when I was 3, and he's practically been with me my whole life to this point. From Preschool to the tail end of College, he was there....usually finding another place to sleep. He was somewhat standoffish, liked keeping his distance from most other people, and was only close to me and my mother, but he felt the closest to me. He would follow me around the house, I would feed him, and he would sleep in the same bed with me. Though he also had a bad habit of sitting right on top of my schoolwork whenever I was doing it. He even got some spunk back in his later years when he came to blows with my newer dogs. He was declawed, so he couldn't hurt them, and it was always a funny sight seeing grown dogs that are at least 4 times bigger than Patches running away from a cat that is shorter than their legs.

We actually almost lost him once when he was 12 due to some liver problems, but me and the family managed to get him through it. Took a lot of IVs and force feeding medical steroids, but he pulled through and lived for another 6 years, but alas, time comes for us all, and this time it came for Patches. As I said earlier, I have already lost two pets before. The first, a Collie named Rocky, got hit by a car when I was in early Elementary School, and the second, a Sheltie named Chipper, died of old age when I was in High School. I'm no stranger to losing a pet, and I saw the signs coming. Patches began to eat less and less before completely stopping, he couldn't go to the bathroom anymore, he only sporadically drank water, and was content to isolate himself to a cat bed in the bathroom away from everyone else. I knew his days were numbered, and I was mentally preparing myself for when the time came. I thought I was ready. I wasn't. I don't think I could have ever been prepared.

It only happened today, but he started to moan in abject agony, and the sight just destroyed my heart. I knew he didn't have that long to live, and that I couldn't leave him to suffer like that, so I steeled myself to make the decision to have him put down. Me and my mother left to free him from his suffering, but it seemed like Patches wanted to leave on his own terms. We barely made it halfway to the animal hospital when he died. In his cat bed. Right on my lap. Felt him take his last breath before he left this world.

Not gonna lie, it's really hard to write this. Been at it for over 40 minutes. It hurts, losing a precious pet, and I expect it to keep hurting for some time. But I also know that I shouldn't focus on how my pet was when he was at Death's door. Instead, I should look back on the good times that I've had with him with a smile, being glad that I managed to have 18 wonderful years with my cat. And to all of you pet owners out there: Make the most out of your pet's life. They'll only be around for so long, and when their time comes, you'll want to be able to look back on all the times you've spent together with your pet with a proud smile.

Comments

[SolidArc5542]

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm late as per usual but this tale was heartbreaking. I wish I could more but.. I can't. I hope you will be feeling better in due time!

[XIII Hearts]

4563590
Thanks man.