We've all been there, FRiend. And we'll all be there again.
We are thankful of the time they are with us, ever mindful that he day will come when we have to give them back to Him who gave them to us.
Posted on 09/23/2008 11:34:23 AM PDT by franksolich
That is how I will remember Pumpkin, for the big handsome male orange cat that he was and all the good days I had with him. At least he did not die alone today. He is now at peace and in a better home, the land where the Rainbow Bridge meets.=^..^=
I am a firm believer that animals, like people, can will themselves to live for the people they love. Its only when we are truly prepared to say goodbye, that they can too.
I lost three beloved and adored pets within a year of each other. Just tonight, I cried from memories of my Daisy after seeing my new dog take an almost identical picture to one of hers. I still miss her so..
But, the pain of their loss was made easier remembering the joy and love they gave to me- unconditionally.
Take comfort in that. God bless you.
God bless,
GB
what a beautiful tribute to your beloved Kitty Frank. Your account of the last weeks in trying hard to save him is a journey many of us have traveled & do understand the pain of trying so hard & watching your precious furry friends just slip away.
You were a good companion to him as he was to you. You did all you could & God gave you a few extra days to enjoy & treasure him . How sad it would have been if he never came back that time when he was gone for 4 days & you called. One always wonders what happened to them... and even now I am sure you wondered what happened those days to affect him so profoundly & so rapidly
Your baby was still pretty young.. I am so sorry for you & appreciate your sharing your story & journey. He was a very pretty cat & obviously your good boy.
I do believe you will see him again & you will both be whole. You will HEAR him talk to you & he will be strong & vibrant.
Be blessed, and God bless. You did a great job.
I am so sorry,and have had to hold too many precious animals as they left this world. Floyd was a lucky cat to have been so loved.
Irving Townsend.
“People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that often we seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world.
They say when you die and go to Heaven all the dogs and cats you've ever had in your life come running to meet you.”
Kinky Friedman
A Few Years Ago, I Lost my Best Friend, named Fang-Face, my Sweet Black Kitty, and when he Passed Away in my Arms after being ill for Weeks it was One of the Most Sorrowful Times of my Entire Life. I Laid him to Rest Beneath One of the Pecan Trees Near my House, so he is Sleeping Peacefully, Near me, Always.
Thank you for Sharing this with us, Franksolich. Our Prayers are with you.
Thank you for the Ping, Dolly.
We've all been there, FRiend. And we'll all be there again.
We are thankful of the time they are with us, ever mindful that he day will come when we have to give them back to Him who gave them to us.
I weep for your loss of Floyd.. You have written a wonderful eulogy.
.I am looking at the two month old kitten..a rescue of my daughter’s that is asleep in my lap..She seemed to trust me at once when brought here as my daughter, SIL and their 9 kitties escaped the power loss from Ike..
-It took me several years to commit again after losing a beloved buddy(another daughter rescue)..I have had a sweet adult rescue of my daughter’s for two years now ,and have decided to take on two kitten rescues..I am sticking my heart out there again..The two month old had me the first day she came when she curled up beside me. I will have to earn the trust of the 4 month old.
My daughter will be loathe to part with the younger kitten..It was 6 ounces, starving and had a severe infection when discovered on her patio. She fed it every hour and enriched the local vet.
I hope I may give them the same care if needed that you gave Floyd and that my daughter gives .
He was fortunate to have your love and tender care..
Thank you for the ping Dolly.
Thank you for doing that - I know it's hard, but is the correct way to treat a friend.
Many people just don't want to deal with it - they drop them off at the vet and go have a good cry - I would never do that to a friend.
I put my super-high-strung calico buddy "Sarah" away the same way you did - I held her (about the only time she was ever compliant-enough to let me hold her like that) and looked into her eyes as she slipped away - as I would do for any friend.
Wow! Sorry to hear about this. I lost my “Puddy” after 15 years in January 2003. Things were never the same without her.
Dear Frank-
I am so sorry to read of your beloved Floyd.
I know how it feels to put a beloved pet to sleep.
I had to put my 19 year old cat, Bubba, to sleep two days after I buried my father. That was the hardest week of my life and I will grieve for both my father and Bubba for a long time.
I too was surprised at how quickly he was gone after the vet gave him the shot. As hard as it was, it was the right thing to do.
The week that my father died, I kept praying that Bubba would hold on until after the funeral. It would have been unbearable to bury my father and have Bubba put to sleep on the same day. Bless his heart, Bubba held on and I had one day after the funeral to be with Bubba. Sick as he was, I was glad to have that time.
You are not alone with your grief.
I have such a cat myself...
Born under a barn on my property, I was stting on my porch the day the Mother first brought them out in to the yard. They were TINY, the mother being a very small cat, as well.
I watched them play for a bit, then this little orange furball noticed me and came climbing up the stairs to see what I was. Within 5 minutes, he had climbed up in my lap, fell asleep, and has been there ever since.
That was nine years ago, and these days he isn’t doing too well. He was just a stray, much like me, but he found a home, and a friend for life, like I did.
Oh, boy. Our pets are part of our family and a loss is losing a loved one. Your loss and your grief hit home. We lost our buddy “Britt” (an 11 1/2 year old Brittany) back in 2004. Julie & I were with him when he went to sleep. We cried for days on end. Sometimes the pain still returns.
Frank, condolences to you. Floyd may be gone physically, but your memory of him and his life with you will never go away. Cherish it.
We now have another family member, Hans, a German Shorthair who was born shortly before Britt was put to sleep. He came home with us some months later. Hans could never “replace” Britt in our affections, but he’s become another essential member of the family. He has his own issues, allergies we can’t seem to define, and has to take Benadryl & Prednisone daily. But beyond that he’s healthy and my best buddy for sure (except for my wife, of course).
I know, as hard as it is now, Floyd’s memory will soon become a gift you can carry always. Look forward to that. It’s something to smile about...
Jim
Yesterday when I said goodbye to Pumpkin, I spent the 90 minutes of his life in this world with him, telling him I love him, remembering the different times of his life, and thanking with love for being a part of the family. Was there when the vet injected Pumpkin and offered me afterwards his condolences. Pumpkin was laying down on the table and I look right straight direct into Pumpkin’s face, and said I loved him and my goodbyes. =^..^=
Actually, I wanted to include some thoughts about this at the end, but figured the story had gone on too long, and so it was time to wrap it up.
I'm pretty much a stark, blunt realist. I don't believe someone or some thing "lives on" in the memories of others. I don't believe there's such a thing as a "cat heaven" any more than there is a heaven for humans with many mansions, and streets paved with gold.
What I do believe is that God and reality are Infinite, beyond the understanding of limited and finite man.
I am not disparaging the message of Christ here, no way. Christ had to explain something Infinite and Unlimited to humans with finite and limited minds, using finite and limited language and vocabulary.
God, being compassionate and magnanimous, has not created life to have it extinguished. I think all life is Eternal, all that have ever had life, are Eternal.
And so when Floyd went out of this time and place, he entered into something far beyond our understanding, and he, along with every other living thing that has touched my life, will be there when I get there.
I understand what you’re saying but saying one “lives on” in the memory of others is merely to say we gladly retain happy memories of those, pets and humans, who graced our lives.
I know for sure my memory of Britt will always be with me. And so will your memory of Floyd. Perhaps “lives on” is a poor choice of words.
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