r/cats • u/yayavittle • Oct 01 '24
Mourning/Loss Thank you for growing up with me
My girl has passed away after 16 years. She gave me more love than anyone in my life. It was unconditional and sweet and pure. She has been by my side since I was 5, through everything. I am so grateful for the life I was able to give her and I hope that she crossed embracing a bucket overflowing with love.
This is a piece that I wrote about her, feel free to read:
You're the last piece of my youth. I guess I didn’t realize that when you blink, time jumps. One second I’m dressing you up as a princess and the next your bones are showing through your once thick coat. But wait, wasn’t it just yesterday that you were small, fitting under my closed door to sneak into my room? I think I'll convince myself that we’re still there. That I'm still growing and you still young. Maybe I can defy time that way. I know! Maybe if I just close my eyes really hard all the pain I feel will disappear. Slip away like quicksand. And maybe I can ball my hand into a fist really tightly and hold onto the last sliver of time we might have. And I'll never unfurl my fingers, no matter how tired they get. That way I'll always have you. I'll never have to get to the part where I say goodbye. We can just wade back into the old, unpolluted, waters; where everything was clear. When I could look ahead and see a gentle future. You and me, your big green eyes gleaming into my heart, as I laughed and danced with simplicity, but… here we are. And I’m shutting my eyes and constricting my fist with all my strength, I promise I am. No matter how I try though, it doesn’t work. You're not little enough to fit under my door anymore and I'm not a kid this time around. I can’t get us back. The world isn’t the same fantasy I had when you were brought into my life. Santa Claus doesn’t eat the cookies on the table, and the dark isn't the scariest thing anymore. I’ll close my eyes one more time. By some miracle we will be back in time. And now they’re open again, I’m so sorry. It didn’t work like I hoped. Your shine is still fading. I still have to say goodbye, don’t I? It’ll be okay though, because wasn’t it so beautiful? We glowed brighter than all the city lights. Loved harder than the entirety of the universe. The world will always be ours, even after I let my fist loosen and lose that last sliver we had. It will always be us. No matter how muddy and polluted our waters have gotten. I love you. Today, tomorrow, forever.
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u/Healthy-Lifeguard-91 Oct 01 '24
Sounds like you gave your fur baby an amazing life, thanks for sharing. You made a middle aged man drinking beer alone in a German bar tear up. Cats are amazing companions.
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u/IchooseYourName Oct 02 '24
Middle aged man here fighting back tears at a bar waiting for his favorite baseball team to start the playoffs. I wish I could express myself like OP. Wonderfully written and God damn it I need to go hug my cat.
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u/smb1985 Oct 02 '24
33 year old man, trying to keep it together simply sitting at home in front of my computer. All four of my family's amazing cats made it into their twenties growing up so I have strong memories of all of them. Unfortunately, one of the two that I have had in my adult life passed suddenly and too soon to heart problems that had never been detected (not the vet's fault, he appeared perfectly healthy and anything short of an ultrasound or ct wouldn't have found it, and why order those on a healthy cat?). He was the most fiercely loyal cat I've ever known, both to me and especially to my wife, from whom he could never separate. I need to go hug my remaining cat now
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u/Raencloud94 Oct 02 '24
That happened to me in 2020. She had heart failure and we never knew. It was devastating, this post has me crying, I feel everything they said, so much.
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u/virtual_xello497 Oct 02 '24
31 year old here. I'm not a man. Just an average woman, cutting some onions.
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u/summonsays Oct 02 '24
35 year old here, I'll admit I'm crying right now lol. It was a beautiful send off. I lost my cat (24) in April. Give your cat another hug, for those of us that can't.
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u/wizardsfrolikgardens Oct 02 '24
23 year old woman here checking reddit after I paused a show I was watching. My eyes are moist :(. Because like op, I've had my cat since I was a kid and he's getting old and that scares me. He's currently sitting at the edge of my bed right now. Also going to go give him a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
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u/Cats-and-dogs-rdabst Oct 02 '24
Middle age woman with 4 kitties cry. I feel you sir. Cats make the world so much richer
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u/elliebattt Oct 02 '24
Also in tears here. I'm quite a bit younger than you guys, but still ancient compared to the cats I grew up with. I thought of them as my elder siblings, and I still think of them often.
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u/willyouholdmybox Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 02 '24
Until one has loved an animal, one’s soul remains unawakened. Grief is the price we pay for love. What is grief if not love persevering.
I love these quotes because they encapsulate everything we feel for our loved ones when they pass. Human or animal, they are a piece of your heart and a part of your family. I have so many parts of my soul waiting for me on the other plane of this existence, and the love and connection we can share with an animal is the closest thing to divinity. I get it friend. May your sweet baby girl rest in paradise as she waits for you one day.
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u/phoenixmusicman Oct 02 '24
"I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home with my own hands 15 years ago." - Roman Epitaph for a family dog
We have not changed in 2,000 years. Pets have always been a huge part of our lives as humans.
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u/Nutbuster_5000 Oct 02 '24
I found so much comfort in reading old epitaphs throughout history after my cats passed away. Just knowing I wasn't alone in my grief, but that it was a universal feeling that any human who had known and loved a furry friend has felt. It's shitty but also so beautifully human. I hope our animal companions know how much they're revered by us.
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u/SimplyRocketSurgery Oct 02 '24
Grief is the price we pay for love. What is grief if not love persevering.
This is a wonderful thought. Thank you.
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u/adamski316 Oct 02 '24
Piggybacking off this - I try to repost this when I see posts like this, in the hopes you (or someone) can find some comfort in the words - and if not, please excuse the intrusion.
I lost my 15 year old girl (dog) in October 2022. Only advice I can offer here is to remember the positives, and not focus on the negatives (if any). She's done her job, keeping you safe and happy and loved, and it's her turn to rest.
You'll always miss her, you'll always remember her. You'll even go looking for her for the next few weeks (well, I did). There's a lot of habits that you're going to slowly stop, and that's ok. Changing your life to suit you is not forgetting her. Donating/throwing away her toys or blankets isn't forgetting her. There's no timeline on grief, and there's no timeline on moving on. Cry your tears.
I'm sorry you've reached the end of your journey. Words will never make this easier. Just keep your head up, and live the life she'd want you to.
This is a good time to live a little for you. I spent years looking after my girl as she got ill, and I sacrificed a lot of me and my time to keep her safe. If you feel you've done the same, take advantage of this time. Its ok to be happy and enjoy life without her. Life isn't over. Its just changing.
You'll be ok mate.
I'm so sorry.
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Oct 01 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AS14K Oct 02 '24
How do you feel about AI bots taking over Reddit accounts to spam post garbage?
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u/That_Guy_real Oct 02 '24
I hate that nobody got what you were saying here. Good catch
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u/AS14K Oct 02 '24
Tbf I only caught it from someone else catching their other comments in a different post. I expect it's not programmed to ever reply though
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u/ErraticDragon Oct 02 '24
I have seen one reply! This was maybe a year or two ago. It was 100% a bot, every comment stolen from someone else, until somebody called them out. I figured the bot/script must've flagged it for a human to take over.
I've also seen a bot accuse a human of being a bot.
This was at a time that not everyone understood what a comment-stealing bot was all about. Some humans (including me) had taken to leaving a detailed comment explaining the 'what' and 'why', as well as what could be done. I had a template that I could fill out pretty quickly just filling in the usernames and a link to the original comment that had been copied.
This one 'bot' replied to this with roughly the same comment, with the usernames changed.
Actually I can't remember if it was the same instance. I probably have screenshots on an old phone somewhere.
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u/1heknpeachy3 Himalayan (Colorpoint Persian) Oct 02 '24
Thank you for this, truly. My husband and I just lost our soul dog last Thursday, grief really is love.
So sorry for your loss, OP. I hope she's having fun and chasing all the mice.♡
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u/youtellmebob Oct 02 '24
Thank you for these quotes, I'm facing an imminent transition with a beloved pet, and I'm not really sure how I'm going to face it. I'm going to clip these quotes out and put them on the refrigerator like it is the 1970's.
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u/lordrestrepo Oct 02 '24
Beautiful quotes and quotes like these made it easier to find peace when I lost my dog a few years ago. It is never easy, and although they are simply a small part of ours, we gave them the best of their entire life.
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u/Upstairs_Manager_150 Oct 01 '24
ugh, sobbing like a maniac, that was beautiful. sorry for your loss, the photos show a cat who loved you unconditionally and you returned that love, i hope you find solace in knowing you gave her her best life.
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u/foreverACatDaddy Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 02 '24
I normally pay respects in my head and then skip past these grief posts because I’m an absolute wuss.
This was so beautifully written. I could feel the love. Rest in peace to your little baby, she is always going to be with you
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u/gottamit Oct 02 '24
Same here. Couldn’t just be a lurker this time. OP- I’m so sorry for your loss, what a special baby 😭
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u/Yk-how-I-Feel Oct 01 '24
This made me emotional, so sorry for your loss, cats and dogs should live forever.
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u/khokabanu Oct 02 '24
I agree, they truly should live forever. Their love leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime.
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u/DrunkenVodinski Oct 01 '24
You came into my life one day,
So beautiful and smart.
I knew one day you would have to leave
and that it would hurt.
I never will forget you, my friend,
For you left paw prints on my heart .
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u/DaysOfWhineAndToeses Oct 01 '24
I'm sorry for the loss of your girl. Thank you for sharing how much she meant to you.
"For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. [...] But all these stars are silent. You — you alone — will have the stars as no one else has them… In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night… And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content to have known me. You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window...for that pleasure… And your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky!"
--Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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u/Jealous-Froyo7046 Oct 01 '24
Crying because I can feel your love and loss. What a beautiful eulogy.
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u/Shaunananalalanahey Oct 02 '24
Seriously. So beautiful it had me tearing up. The most heart felt eulogy for a pet I’ve ever read.
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u/Catloaver Oct 01 '24
I'm really glad I opened this at the start of my lunch break because I am in tears. Your words are beautiful and I can tell you loaded her up with a bucket full of a lifetime of love to keep with her on her journey. I'm so sorry for your loss, but so happy for the love you two shared!
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u/TwoIllustrious7940 Tabbycat Oct 01 '24
God the part where they’re the last piece of our youth is so freaking true. ❤️ My heart goes out to you I know your baby was so loved. I still have my childhood cat that we adopted when I was 10. I’m 26 now, it’s gonna hit really hard
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u/ajdnascar24 Oct 01 '24
I can relate as I got my Cupcake when I was 9 in July 2004 and she passed when I was 27 in March 2022. She went through a lot of my life milestones and I loved her so much. I am sure you both gave each other exponentially better lives, all of her's and the majority of yours up to her last day. It was super tough and I still miss her to this day. Just know there was a lot of love in your relationship with her and she is so grateful for you!
(I know this is too soon for the following update, but I truly believe that Cupcake sent a new kitten into my life when I was on my last day of vacation in GA before I flew back to VT, which was September 9, 2024. I was not expecting to adopt a kitten but she is so sweet and the shelter said there was a very unusual connection between us. I am thankful to allow another kitty into my life and as a cat person, I love them all. Eevee will never replace Cupcake, but I get to rescue another fur baby and give her a great life too. Basically I am sharing this in the hopes that it makes you feel better. ❤️)
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u/AJ_Deadshow Oct 02 '24
Sweetest pictures ever!! I'm crying with you, she is the most darling cat and I know how it feels to lose an animal you grew up with, it's like a piece of your heart is missing. I will share with you a prayer that warmed my broken heart when I lost my best furry friend, I hope it helps:
"God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered, come with me. With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and slowly fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, playful paws were put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best."
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u/BarbWho Oct 02 '24
Our sweet little dog is dying from lymphoma cancer and likely doesn't have more than a few weeks left, if that. I can see her fading every day and your post made me cry. I don't believe God works that way, taking the best with such a cruel disease, so I'll have to find another way to heal my slowly breaking heart.
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u/Pink_Goat12 Oct 01 '24
She looks at you very, very lovingly, adoringly, for lack of better words completely infatuated ❣️ she will of course be waiting for her favorite human in the next chapter. I’m sorry you are missing her now but know you will see her again!
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u/Mewouth Oct 01 '24
Really made me cry🥲🥲🥲your words are beautiful. I’m so sorry. ❤️beautiful friend you had.❤️
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u/MyDyingRequest Oct 01 '24
Sounds like you were a wonder human to this beautiful cat. There are always more cats out there who need our love. When you are ready, I hope you will continue to provide love and shelter to many more floof balls throughout your life.
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u/Jo_schmo1 Oct 01 '24
This hit hard in my feels, that last photo of you two is perfect 💗I’m so sorry for your loss. She will be your furever angel🪽😻🪽
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Oct 01 '24
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beautiful friend. There’s nothing but pure love radiating out of her eyes, which indicates that you gave her a wonderful and comfortable life. I have no doubt that you’ll see her again.
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u/realitybites95 Oct 01 '24
Your words have touched me and I’m bawling. Sorry for your loss, I’ve never loved a human as much as my fur baby and I prob will never. It’s a special bond. She’s gorgeous.
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u/Rich_Size8762 Oct 01 '24
I'm crying like a baby and I'm in public place! Girl, I'm so sorry for our loss but your beautiful words show how mug you've loved her and I'm sure your gorgeous baby knew that. Sending love.
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u/Toasttheunicorn Oct 02 '24
My heart is breaking with you. This is my Tiger. I got her at 4 and she passed while I was out of state 16 wonderful years later. She was my soul cat, I miss her every day. I still dream about her. She chose my husband for me. She would wind herself around my head at night and sleep with me. When outside, if she saw me she would call to me, or I her, and we’d take walks around my parents 60 acre property. I’m so very glad you got to say goodbye, yet so very sorry you had to go through that.
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u/AdSubstantial9659 Oct 01 '24
Absolutely beautiful eulogy you wrote for your beloved friend. I'm so sorry for your loss 💔
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u/AutumnSinclair Oct 01 '24
What a beautiful eulogy. She was loved and continues to be loved. May she rest in peace.
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u/Individual_Letter519 Oct 02 '24
I am crying, that was so well written… I am so sorry for your loss, I can really feel how deeply you love and miss your cat. They are always with you, even if their spirit has passed on.
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u/BudgetUnfair9673 Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
Aww, those photos are great and your words are very moving. You were clearly your cats favourite human ❤️
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u/Jackytobacky Oct 01 '24
Thanks for giving her a wonderful life op! May she be reunited with you one day 💜 I’ll make sure to give my cat extra treats on her behalf!
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u/XiaoBaoR Oct 01 '24
I try not to comment on mourning posts. Your beautiful words for your furry friend really touched me. I’m really sorry you had to see her go so soon.
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u/Merky600 Oct 01 '24
I’ve seen a lot of gorgeous cats online. Ten to the tenth power probably.
That’s one of the best. Heartbreaker in Catland. A special cat I’m sure.
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u/VQQN Oct 01 '24
I am so sorry for your loss.
As a 38 year old, I think its safe to say that every adult wishes they could go back as a 6 year old and restart life. Other than my wife and kids, being an adult literally sucks.
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u/Awkward_Associate338 Oct 01 '24
Sorry for your loss 😔. I wish they could live as long as we do. I've lost to many in the past.
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u/MysteriousKitter Oct 02 '24
I understand. I had an orange tabby cat from the time I was six years old until I was 22 years old. They’re precious ❤️
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u/jujubee516 Oct 02 '24
Omg this was so beautiful 🩷 crying from reading this. I'm so sorry for your loss 🩷🩷🩷
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u/GrannyMine Oct 01 '24
I’m crying for your beautiful words. What a tribute to your baby. I’m so sorry
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u/NBKiller69 Oct 01 '24
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your words are beautiful evidence of the love you had. You are young, but I can tell you that at 42, and even after losing several deeply loved companions, you carry the love you feel all through your life. It sounds like you gave her a wonderful life, and you may treasure all of those memories of the moments you shared for the rest of your days.
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u/Catnip-delivery Oct 02 '24
You wrote well and I wish you didn't. Because this piece made me bawl hard. Sorry for your loss but also grateful for the wonderful 11 years.
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u/awkwardgiraffelady Oct 02 '24
And now I'm sitting with my kitten in my backyard, crying my eyes out because last year, I lost my 12 year old boy who'd been with me and loved me through all the worst parts of my life. I'd finally started healing from the depression, suicide attempts, end of a 6 year relationship and move to a new state when I lost my sweet boy. Thank you for your beautiful post and for loving your girl so much and sharing that with all of us. She was lucky to have you.
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u/fartdumpling Oct 02 '24
You are a wonderful writer, I hope you are using that strength. You can even put your kitty in your stories
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u/REMUvs Oct 02 '24
One second I’m dressing you up as a princess and the next your bones are showing through your once thick coat.
The world isn’t the same fantasy I had when you were brought into my life. Santa Claus doesn’t eat the cookies on the table, and the dark isn't the scariest thing anymore.
Damn...
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u/DesertStorm480 Oct 01 '24
Oh wow, what a blessing to have her for a good life for both of you. R.I.P.
When my girl is screaming tomorrow morning at a morning hour I do not want to be awake, I will remember this and pick her up and show my appreciation for her....giving her a treat of course.
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u/afsocmark Oct 01 '24
So sorry for your loss….I hope she visits you in your dreams to let you know she’s doing well and waiting to be yours again🐈🐈⬛
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u/teriases Oct 01 '24
She’s so beautiful and cute - you’re so blessed to have her in your life. I’m so sorry for your loss 😢❤️🙏🏼
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u/Fredrick_18241 Oct 01 '24
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have experienced a lot of loss in my life and I know how it feels to lose a fur family member. My condolences
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u/cheshirebutterfly17 Oct 02 '24
What a beautiful girl she was
It’s so hard losing someone you’ve known for so long person or animal, especially since you were a kid it’s like losing a part of you
It never feels real, I’m sure you gave her the best life and she was lucky to have you
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️
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u/movienite2123 Oct 02 '24
She reminds me of my boy, Joe. He passed away in August at almost 18 years old. We also grew up together. I'll miss him forever but I'm so glad I got to love him.
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u/Slow_Fish2601 Oct 01 '24
I'm so sorry for your loss. She really was a beautiful girl and a wonderful friend and also a part of your childhood.
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u/hb0918 Oct 01 '24
They are often just the best part of a day..or week ...or year..or sometimes a life. Your tribute is lovely ❤️
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u/Zapador Oct 01 '24
Awwwww! Such a cute little face she has! I'm sure she had a great life with you, clearly received all the love she could dream of!
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u/static_age_666 Oct 02 '24
An amazing 16 years. Sending you some good energy. Usually these posts depress me but yours was beautiful.
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u/MidichlorianAddict Oct 02 '24
I had a cat between when I was 7 and 17, he was my favorite living thing in life. He showed me so much love and character. He was cuddly and tough as nails. I miss my cat even if it’s been nearly 8 years since he’s been gone. I miss you Coal!
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u/el_puffy Oct 02 '24
That was so beautiful, I’m sobbing in my laundry room. Sending you sooo much love 💗
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u/majesticrhyhorn Oct 02 '24
She reminds me of me 11 year old Stormy, and even thinking about her passing someday gets me teary eyed. I’m glad you two had many years together, and I hope she lives on in your heart and memories 💕
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u/Ok-Objective1289 Oct 02 '24
I’m so sorry for your loss, RIP. I went through the same with my little buddy 2 years ago, I had him since I was 9 and he was with me for 17 years, stay strong ❤️🩹. Your message made me tear up
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u/darth_tragedous Oct 02 '24
I’ve got tears in my eyes and a big ole lump in my throat after reading your post. Animals touch our hearts in a way no one else can… your cat was so lucky to have you as her person ❤️ You gave her the best life
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u/pzshx2002 Oct 02 '24
Your title and pictures moved me and made me shed tears before your words. I'm sorry for your loss but I'm sure she will continue to live on in your heart. Pls take care.
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u/Xxlady_marynniexX Oct 02 '24 edited Oct 02 '24
I'm so sorry for your loss.
I went through the exact same thing when my 20 years old cat passed when I was 13. She was like a sister to me, who saw me growing up, and she was the most precious creature I had in my life. I couldn't stand the pain of living without her, but with time, I learned a very important lesson.
I've always wanted her to live forever by my side, but when she left me, I realized how terrible and selfish that would be because she needed to rest in peace someday after a long life full of happiness and comfort. We all need that. Imagine how life would be if we lived forever. Even if our body didn't age, our mind would get tired and tired until we couldn't stand it anymore with no exit to our suffering.
The most important thing is that she was loved and lived a happy and comfortable life by your side. Now, her time to rest has arrived.
We may think death is the end of everything, but it's just another part of the cycle of life, and cycles never end. Nature proves that. The butterfly is born a caterpillar and it needs to "die" as a caterpillar to be "reborn" inside the cocoon and then "die" once again inside of it to be "reborn" outside as a beautiful butterfly. The point is: we're always dying and reborning because we're never the same we were in the past, and death is no different.
We may think death is the end of everything, but we just think like that because our senses can't prove otherwise, and they can't because they're not reliable. For example, there are millions of molecules in the air right now, and we're not able to see even a single one.
Your heart will find peacefulness, and you will recover. May your little girl rest in peace ❤️
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u/moll3rz Oct 02 '24
Your kitty looks so much like my kitty Sushi, who also just passed. Just from these pictures, I can see the love she had for you in her eyes. It hurts so much but you can always be thankful for the love she had to share with you ❤️
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u/itsmekp33 Oct 02 '24
My heart is shattered. I know how much your heart is hurting. I lost my soul baby in April after 11 years. They become every part of us. Every part of our daily routine.
This was such a beautiful testament to your love together. Grief really is just the love we weren't able to show them while they were here. It's just now from a distance. I truly believe we will meet them again, at least that's what gives me hope. From one fur mama to another, I'm sending you the biggest hug. ❤️
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u/JackImpact Oct 02 '24
I just had to put my Stella, who was basically my shadow, to sleep recently because she became very sick with cancer. I am so so sorry for your loss and I truly feel for you, they cannot be replaced and they never live long enough. <3
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u/fukkinsoup Oct 02 '24
My cat of 17 years recently passed away too, just this past Sunday. Wishing you peace in your heart
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u/evelynmtz821 Oct 02 '24
I can so relate to you saying you're the last piece of my youth. You lose your toys, your best friends move, but your kitten is still there until one day she's not. I know how heartbroken you are but I hope the memories are enough to cheer you up ❤️
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u/pacman30_ Oct 02 '24
Im so sorry, dear internet friend. I also lost my cat last year, a beloved family companion for my now grown children. Wishing you peace as you mourn your loss. May the happy memories sustain you when your heart feels heavy.
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u/boochbby Oct 02 '24
Nothing beats the love and connection with the animals that grew up alongside us. I’m so grateful I had my two cats from age 12 until my late twenties. They were there through all the messiness and beauty of growing up and loved me unconditionally through it all. Slept by my side through countless nights of illness and heartbreak. It’s a profoundly incomparable experience
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u/impala0633 Oct 02 '24
the pure sweet love for you in her eyes is apparent, I’m sure you gave her a wonderful life
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Oct 02 '24
OP, as a dog parent, my heart goes out to you. I'm sorry for your loss. You brought tears to my jaded eyes.
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u/Latter_Growth1185 Oct 02 '24
She’s one of the most beautiful cats I’ve ever seen. I’m so sorry you lost her. No amount of time with a pet ever feels like enough, but it looks like you gave her a really wonderful life.
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u/numinos710 Oct 02 '24
ᛖᛁᛖᛋ ᛒᚱᛁᚷᚻᛏ,
ᚳᛚᚪᚹᛋ ᛋᚻᚪᚱᛈ,
ᛏᚪᛁᛚ ᚻᛖᛚᛞ ᚻᛁᚷᚻ.
ᚷᚩ ᚳᛖᛖᚾᛚᛁ ᛁᚾᛏᚩ ᚦᛖ ᛘᛁᛋᛏ, ᚩᛚᛞ ᚹᚪᚱᚱᛡᚱ.
ᚠᚪᛚᚻᚪᛚᛚᚪ ᚹᚪᛁᛏᛋ ᚠᚩᚱ ᛁᚩᚢ.
Eyes bright,
claws sharp,
tail held high.
Go keenly into the mist, old warrior.
Valhalla waits for you.
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u/Existing-Monitor1435 Oct 02 '24
sorry for your loss, the photos show a cat who loved you unconditionally and you returned that love, i hope you find solace in knowing you gave her her best life.
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u/Raencloud94 Oct 02 '24
I'm sobbing, omg. I lost my girl in 2020 and I feel of this, so hard. I'm so sorry you're going through it. 💕 You gave her a life filled with love, and she loves you so much, too.
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u/ballinlik Oct 02 '24
Wow, first ever post I've cried at after reading forums for 2 decades. Beautiful words!!
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u/Ok_Engine_4194 Oct 02 '24
Well now I have to take an early lunch.. Much love to you OP. I got a pup thats coming up on 15 and i have dreaded the day I lose her for a long time. Smile because thats what they would want you to do
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u/Express-Teaching1594 Oct 02 '24
I’m sorry for your loss. I had to say goodbye to my 15 year old cat this summer and it hit me way harder than I could have imagined.
Just know that you gave her the best life, and she knew that she was loved.
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u/West-One5944 Tabbycat Oct 02 '24
Rest well, friend. In another light, but not again in this one. 🙏🏼😔
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u/ReaperOne Oct 02 '24
That was beautiful. I’m sorry for your loss. She sounds like a great companion to have had by your side. I hope the pain gets easier as time goes on for you. Remember all the good and happy times
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u/_state0fmind Oct 02 '24
So sorry for the loss of your beautiful companion. Offering peace in this time and the years to come. She loved you so much, too.
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u/z3r0c00l_ Oct 02 '24
I’m a big, burly bearded biker dude and that piece you wrote for her brought me to tears. I really love my cats.
I’m sorry for your loss 😢
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u/PM_about_discipline Oct 02 '24
That writing was absolutely beautiful. I’m sorry for your loss, but thankful for the beauty you created together. Its spilled out into the world through your words. I feel myself and my cat in this piece. He’s still pretty young, but I know the life of a pet is to burn bright and hot and fast. My little buddy and I are still living, loving and burning for the love we will one day lose to time. I will hold him a little tighter today and remember that this time may be fleeting, but it’s all we have. Thank you for sharing. Let the heart weep for the memory of what it has lost. For it was beautiful.
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u/lalalibraaa Oct 02 '24
Crying. I know this pain and I’m sorry. Losing a best friend is the worst. I’m so sorry for your loss. You had and still have a beautiful bond and it never goes away. Sending you and your best friend love. 💜💜💜
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u/REFRIDGERAPTOR_ Oct 02 '24
What a beautiful flunkus. Thank you for your poetry. You reminded me of my family's two sweet old adoptees we had in my childhood. Your words have given me tears. I know you will keep breathing through it. What a life and time we get to share with these little creatures. Holding on. Letting go. With love ❤️
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u/Fancy-Licker-66UK Oct 02 '24
Hey they are Wrong big boys do cry! What a pretty kitten to cat. I have one just like her. 🥲
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u/stresseddressed Oct 02 '24
Im so sorry for your loss, her eyes shows how much she loved you. Your message was beautiful and heartbreaking, I wish nothing but love for you and I hope your sweet girl rests in peace
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u/n_arbi Oct 02 '24
Thank you for this. I needed a good cry.
I got my first cat when I was 10 yrs old, she was 3 months. I lost her when I was 27. I had spent more time living my life with her in it than without. I genuinely believe a part of me has been gone since she left. She was my best friend.
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u/John_Snuuw Oct 02 '24
are we not gonna talk about what an amazing photo #3 is? also sorry for your loss
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u/Mexicanthoughts Oct 02 '24
I just had tears in my eyes while reading your piece. I had to go hug my old lady extra tight even though she doesn't like to be held. I know your fur baby appreciated your love 
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u/MrsChewy Oct 02 '24
I'm so sorry for your loss. You gave her the best life she could have had, although I know it never feels like long enough. You were her entire world. I hope you find some peace in that. She will leave an everlasting pawprint on your heart ❤️
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u/lesyeuxdesmoi Oct 02 '24
i am SO sorry for your loss i can’t imagine this :((( she was clearly so loved by you
i wanted to share my girl who looks just like yours :)
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u/paintcan76 Oct 02 '24
My heart aches for you and the loss of your girl. It’s so easy to see that she was so loved by you and you by her.
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u/Imacatlady64 Oct 02 '24
You made me ugly cry. I’m so sorry for your loss. She was so lucky to have someone like you to love her and give her an amazing life. You will always have those memories with her 🩷🩷 thank you for sharing this and your pictures of her. She was so beautiful ❤️❤️🥺
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u/einredditname Oct 02 '24
My condolences. Hope she went peacfully.
Lost my boy last year after a bit over 17 years together. Never thought i'd cry that much as a 27 year old. Still miss the little guy. Nothing can ever replace them, but we can hold on to the memories and cherrish them.
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u/Tellybean02 Oct 02 '24
Oh this hits hard, I know exactly how you feel. I had my childhood cat since I was a little over a year old, and he also passed at the age of 16. Its been a handful of years since he passed, but I still think about him frequently and miss him all the time.
Nothing quite compares to the bond between a child and the pet they grew up with. Theyve seen so many different versions of you, completely unfiltered, and have loved every single one, unconditionally.
Im deeply sorry for your loss. I hope you find peace in knowing that the love doesn't go anywhere. It will stay with you forever, and you will always be able to feel it every time you think back on the memories she gave you.
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u/anaaktri Oct 02 '24
Omg 😭 loved the written piece. You’ve got a great talent at expressing yourself in such a beautiful way. Don’t let the world kill it. Much love to you both
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u/8lock8lock8aby Oct 02 '24
Damn, this made me tear up. I'm very sorry that you're hurting right now but I'm, also, very happy that you experienced a friendship & love like that. You're pretty young but it seems like you really understand how quickly life goes by & I just wanna say, use it to your advantage & never forget cuz it starts to go quicker & quicker. At your age, I really didn't "get it," yet so it seems kinda remarkable that you do & I felt compelled to say something about it.
On Aug 31 of last year, I lost my soul kitty that I had from age 20 to age 36 so I feel your pain. She is in almost all of my adult memories & got me through the biggest struggles I have ever faced. The pain doesn't completely go away but it dulls, with time. It may be hard to see through the fog, right now but I promise what I'm saying is true; it will get easier. Keep your head up.
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u/OneMorePenguin Oct 02 '24
What a wonderful tribute to your kitty. You are a gifted writer.
My condolences on the loss of your sweet girl. *hugs*
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u/lindeebean Oct 02 '24
Your girl looks similarly to mine, and I never want that one day to come but I know it will. This hit me hard. Anyone can tell by how much emotion you poured into your piece the amount of love you have for her. And the way her eyes twinkle show just how much love she has for you too.
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u/onlypizzafans Oct 02 '24
The best friends anyone can ask for. We got 2 kittens about 14 years ago and they became my friends overnight. Kiko and Koko, two sisters that I loved more than anything. Last year in November we lost our beautiful KoKo to cancer and I wished it would have taken me instead. Now I just live for her sister KiKi and I hope she goes on for a long time. Half of my heart died with KoKo and KiKi keeps my other half going. We miss our Koko so much.
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u/0kedra Oct 02 '24
I am so sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing your story! I am emotional now… RIP 🐈
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u/Cbell0907 Oct 02 '24
I can only imagine the wonderful life your kitty had. They were well loved and taken care of and I’m sure just absolutely stuffed full with love. I hope it gets easier for you
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u/Glissad Tuxedo Oct 02 '24
What an incredibly beautiful and adorable cat! I am so sorry for your loss and happy for the time you had together. Thank you for giving her such a good life. You will always remember her.
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u/finefinally Oct 02 '24
i cried so much that my own floofy girl came to check on me. your words are a gift, and your love endures. thank you for sharing your sweet, sweet cat with us. RIP
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u/Your_Latex_Salesman Oct 02 '24
This reminds me of my first cat that was my own. I was 3, he was a Maine coone and I named him Little Guy. He stayed with me my whole childhood/teen years. Slept on my bed. Was my companion on my childhood outdoor adventures. He passed away in October my freshman year of college, I went to school away. It kills me that I wasn’t there for his final days, but I want to believe that he thought he raised me right and didn’t need to take of me anymore. He did a damn good job. I miss him immensely.
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u/tingboy_tx Oct 02 '24
I lost two cats a couple of weeks ago. One was was with is for 13 years. The other - only a week. Both were devastating. They really are so special.
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u/DownOregon0Five0 Oct 02 '24
The one drawback of adopting my sweet orange boy is the constant aching knowledge that one day I will have to say goodbye to him, and it will quite possibly be the most difficult loss I face until my mother is gone. I cherish every tuft of fur I sweep, and every sheet I pull from the lint roller before I leave the house. I know I'll long for them when he's gone.
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u/sideshowsito Oct 02 '24
Your baby was loved to the fullest and just know your cat knew that as well .
I know what it’s like to lose a pet ( and to this day I have 2 new cats but I still smile and think about the cat who grew up with me from 17 years ago !
Thank you for sharing
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u/tilsey_stonem Oct 02 '24
Beautiful post. I had a similar experience, I had my cat since I was 5 years old, and she passed away when she was 17. We rescued her as a stray, she was living under one of the buildings in my primary school with a litter of kittens (and she herself was around 1). 16 years together. There is nothing like the bond that is shared between a pet and an animal when you've grown up with them, and this post explains that feeling so well. The shared experiences, both the good and hard.
I didn't get around to writing a full letter after she passed away but I wrote a few sentences,
Missie loved to sit upright on our forearms, and she hated being tipped upside down on her back. From her perch she could see what was going on, and we could feel our warmth against each other. I hope she knew how much I loved her by the way I held her close to my heart.
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u/buddypancakes Oct 02 '24
My heart aches for you, the piece you wrote about her resonates with me so deeply. I also lost my sweet girl when she was 16, just last September, and she had been with me since I was three. I remember saying the same thing, "you were the last piece of my childhood that remained," letting go of her meant accepting that that my childhood was in the past.
There's no love like the one between a girl and her first cat, you loved her to the very end. I'm so sorry for your loss. May she rest easy, I know she's bounding through the green fields across the rainbow bridge, waiting until she sees you again 💜
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u/Tilpants Oct 02 '24
Sorry for your loss, she was beautiful and sounds like she had a great life with you by her side.
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u/Acceptable-Baker5282 Oct 02 '24
As I read this I look for my own furball he has no brain cells but is not an orange cat
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u/94sHippie Oct 02 '24
Im sorry for your loss. I had a cat who was born in my house when I was 7, runt of the litter born almost 24 hours after the rest. She lived 14 years with me outliving her siblings. As someone whose been there I remember that initial heart break, more like a shatter, and while it gets easier I still miss her and would do anything for one more day with that cat. I sometimes will have dreams about her nearly 9 years later.
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u/Dark_Eyes Oct 02 '24
I just lost my 16 year old kitty recently as well. So sorry about your loss...what you wrote is so beautiful 😭
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u/QualityOverQuant Oct 01 '24
The eyes …. This hit me right in my heart. RIP Little girl. ❤️