Nemo, 2004 - 2021 · 9:27pm Jan 27th, 2021
I am heartbroken to say that my beloved friend, Nemo has passed away this morning, peacefully after a three month struggle with cancer.
We didn't know it was cancer until today when they got an ultrasound and x-ray on him. We thought he had an infection, but then he crossed a tipping point after slowly declining over the course of months. I saw it but I was in denial. I counted little things as victories while he continued a slow decline. Today, he couldn't stand up.
The vet didn't see anything three months ago, just antibiotics the first time for elevated white blood cell count. He also had other health issues I was giving him meds for that was always the reason for his decline. Diabetes, some cat autoimmune disease that was eating at the roots of his teeth. If it had been only those, he might have made it, but cancer was hiding under all the other symptoms.
He has been my constant companion for 16 and a quarter years. He was in his early 80s in cat years. He loved having his chin scratched, and would capture my hand for more and spend minutes giving me as much love as he could as often as he could.
His favorite toy in the world was a simple pipe cleaner, and he's second was a little brown mouse filled with catnip. He would rest on the file cabinet by my desk at home while I worked for the last year, and he would climb into my lap to take naps with me in the afternoon.
His favorite place to sleep was on the filing cabinet by my desk where I could reach him easily while I worked. I gave him as much love as I could.
He woke me up by sitting on me, either on my head or on my shoulder, letting me know he could see the bottom of his food bowl. He loved salmon and chicken pate. He loved blue buffalo treats and got them as often as was healthy for him.
And he reminded me to take breaks by pulling on my pants or sleeve. He would do this also when he could see the bottom of his bowl or when he wanted more loving. He made me take a lot of breaks for love and attention.
He lived a long, happy life with me, through all the moving and changing homes.
For the last ten years, he had one home, and didn't have to move.
This morning, my mom and I said our goodbyes, and he fell asleep with his chin in my palm. That will be my last memory of him. But not my only one. I have years of memories with him, and I have been so incredibly lucky to have him in my life for so long, and that he was such a sweet heart with such a bright soul.
I will miss him, but he will always be in my heart and my memories. And now his soul has gone on to a new life full of love and happiness.
My sincerest condolences.
I am so sorry to hear this.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry, noble. :( Nemo was a good cat.
I am so truly sorry to hear this. There are few things worse then losing a beloved pet. May they rest in peace.
My condolences for your loss, Noble.
I’m sorry that you lost Nemo. 🖤
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Thank you, everyone. I'm back home now, and I'm going to put his memories and his toys into his bed, and in a few days, after his cremation, his ashes, a memory of life, will rest with the things that made him the happiest in his life.
In a way, I understand how and why some cultures built tombs for their cats. For their pets. He was a huge part of my life. I lived alone, except for him, and this past year has been especially hard. I am lucky that I can work remotely, but that has meant I've been even more isolated. Can't go out to lunch with friends, can only visit my mother across town because we're both so isolated. If it hadn't been for my constant companion, my friends online and IRL, and family, I would not be in the good mental shape I am today.
And I am doing okay. It hurts so much. But I'm not going to forget the love he brought to my life, and I'm not going to wallow in grief. He wouldn't want me to, and I'm not going to.
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It’s good to know that you were able to keep those kinds of memorials. Some animal care places that do that aren’t open here and it means folks won’t get to keep beloved friends and furry family close like that.
:(
I'm so sorry to hear your buddy had to go to sleep.
I know the feeling. Our Pumpkin cat was 20 (96 in human years!) when my parents had to put her to sleep. I was super heartbroken and I miss her a lot, even almost a decade on. But they live in your heart forever.
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They do live in our hearts forever. Pumpkin had a good, long, loving life, and I'm sure she was happy to be there for 20 years with you all. Nemo will live in my heart forever.
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It was a big sad, and the big sad comes back. Less and less often. Doing normal things helps.
I feel your pain. I lost my cat Buddy three years ago, and it still hurts.
Buddy was only three years old. He chose us by walking into my apartment one afternoon when he was a kitten. I'd never considered having a cat before, and my plan was to take him to the no-kill animal shelter. But they had a policy of not accepting kittens for some reason, so I said to myself I'd take care of him until he was older, then take him back to the shelter. Of course, that's not the way things worked out.
Three years later, I was admitted to the hospital for a week, and at the end of that time my son called me in tears to tell me Buddy had died. He'd been languishing for days, and my son then noticed he hadn't been eating or drinking. He tried to feed him but all he would take was as much water as he could. My son then took him to a 24-hour animal hospital that night. The vet examined him and determined he had a heart condition that had been previously undetected.
He didn't last an hour after that.
To this day I blame myself, for I'd never been away from him that long, and I'm convinced he died of a broken heart.
Though they'll never replace Buddy, I now have two cats, Dash and Dart, who both aren't quite as affectionate as Buddy was, but still, I love them.
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*hugs* I'm so sorry for your lost. I don't know if I could take that. Not... out of the blue like that. But they do choose us, don't they? I wasn't planning on getting a cat either, but he walked into the lives of some friends, and they couldn't keep a cat in their apartment. So they asked us if we could take him. And we did.
He's been with me through thick and thin ever since.
And no kitty will ever replace Nemo, no kitty would expect to. All they want is love, a home, and to give their love back.
But they'll have a place in my heart. Somewhere out there, there's a kitten that needs a forever home. Maybe they're not even born yet, but they'll need a forever home, and I'll be there for that kitten. But I need to be ready. I need to move past this a little, and let the hurt be not quite so immediate. I need to give that kitten as much love as Nemo would expect me to.
I'm sorry for your loss.
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By all means, give yourself some time. Then go down to the animal shelter and rescue a cat, or even a dog. I love dogs as well, and they need love too.
But once a cat parent, always a cat parent.
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Thank you.
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I've been thinking about puppies, but I'm very much a cat person first. And I can only really rescue one at a time. Maybe two. I live in an apartment complex right now with lots of other dogs that bark a lot when they sense another dog. Once I get a home with my own yard and own place for a doggo to claim as their own and not worry about the other dogs nearby, I am definitely going to.