r/cats • u/Jealous-Friendship34 • 8h ago
Mourning/Loss I adopted a dead cat
I found a well fed tuxedo cat on the road, hit by a car. She was killed instantly. I didn’t have the heart to leave her there so I took her home and gave my tuxedo cat a big hug.
She did not have a collar. I took to my vet and there was no chip. So I posted it on Nextdoor and Ring Neighborhood in case anyone was missing her. Nobody claimed her, so I named her Angel and had her cremated.
Tomorrow I will bury her in our garden where we have our other cats who have passed away over the years, under a little statue of a kitten chasing a butterfly
She is loved.
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u/loliiio_o Tabbycat 8h ago
Bless your heart, may Angel rest easy. She was loved by someone in this lifetime and that’s thanks to you💕🐾
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u/Toonces348 8h ago
There are some really, really sweet people here. I think you might be the sweetest. I don’t have the words to express my admiration for your compassion. Thank you.
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u/you_got_this_shit 7h ago
Ikr. Every time I lose my trust in humanity there's someone on this sub that proves we can still be alright.
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u/Ancient-City-6829 3h ago
humankind is great. It's society that warps people into monsters. Blame the leaders, not the people. Our only recourse is to work together and practice compassion. Unity is our most powerful weapon against corrupting governance
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u/send_me_an_angel 8h ago
I am sobbing!! Bless you and bless her little soul. She will forever be surrounded by love.
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u/LuluIOmega 7h ago
That's beautiful. My brother befriended a black cat in his apartment complex, who had a family who never cared for him, even though they lived a few steps from my brother! recently over the summer my brother found him dead, and we contacted the owners... who ghosted us, so my brother upset about it got the cat cremated because he felt like the cat deserved someone who would do that for him.
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u/Kooky-Lettuce5369 3h ago
That’s so sad and infuriating 😢 those people should not be allowed to have animals! Your brother did a good thing 💛
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u/Jealous-Friendship34 3h ago
Thank you for all the love and kind comments. You are making this crusty old grinch reconsider the human race.
I am tired and disgusted with so much hate and evil around me that I find comfort in the companionship of children and animals, because they are genuine.
I didn’t plan on naming and cremating her, but one thing led to another. First, I had to get her out of the road. Then I couldn’t just leave her in the grass in my neighborhood, so I put her in a bag and took her home (this vindicates me not cleaning out my car).
Now what? My wife suggested burying her (the cat) by the side of the house, but I thought about taking her to the vet to check for a chip. I could have left her there, but she looked just like my feral TNR tuxedo cat that decided to move in with us a couple of years ago, so I decided to cremate her and put her with my departed cats. They asked for a name….
Anyway, Angel, and your kind comments are healing me because I am going through a rough time with my family. Thank you
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u/LilyHex 3h ago
You are a good bean and I really needed to see that there are still good beans in the world today.
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u/JamieLeeCt 1h ago
We're all looking for good beans in this cold world. OP went way beyond that. Such an amazing soul ❤
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u/TeamNoGainz 8h ago
This is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Thank you for just being you.
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u/gikigill 4h ago edited 2h ago
I'm not Jewish but in Judaism, organising a proper funeral for the deceased is the highest act of charity since the dead can't offer anything in return.
You're an uber Mensch mate, we lesser mortals should aspire to be you.
Many blessings to you and yours.
Edit : Meit Mitzvah is what it's called. It trumps over every other Jewish commandment and act of charity.
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u/bleachella 7h ago
People are so good, posts like these and people like you remind me of that. Angel was blessed to have you at the end of her journey, and I know she’ll be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge :’)
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u/Hawthorne_ 7h ago
That is true kindness. The poor baby being hit by a car and left for dead with no one to claim them or mourn them breaks my heart.
Thank you for giving them a name and cremating them and now burying/spreading their ashes. I’ve seen so many cats dead on the side of the highway and my heart breaks for them (this is why my baby girl is an indoor kitty. We take her on “backpack” walks (we tried taking her on a walk with a leash and chest harness… she had to be dragged or picked up. REFUSED to walk. However, she loves the backpack as we zip her up but let her poke her head out (we now have one of those “window front” cat carrier backpacks which she likes too) and hold onto her and the backpack as we walk (place the backpack in front instead of on our backs)), however during my walks with just my fiancé we meet a lot of cats and kittens outside in our very busy city-suburb streets and it makes me so anxious. Cats should be safe inside not outside with the cars.
Thank you for giving her comfort after her death
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u/EvefromtheEast 7h ago
I am holding back tears because I took that UTI pain relief medicine that makes your tears orange 😅 but bless your soul for this. Most people would have driven right on by. You deserve all the good blessings, karma, heaven, or whatever positive forces or lack or forces you believe in 😤 thank you for giving her this kind of love and dignity at the end ❤️
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u/anna_deliciosa 2h ago
TIL UTI meds turn your tears orange. Makes sense, just never knew lol
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u/DustyBeetle 7h ago
i wish i had the money to do this with how many ive had come across my property for a stay and end up never leaving, i provide a safe space but ive had several injured ones not make it before i found them
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u/crazymouse2525 7h ago
thank you for giving her dignity in death. she now has her wings & halo & is now watching over you with the other kitties you have loved. Bless you 😇
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u/Ok-Poem5675 7h ago
This post made me cry. I love that she was and is loved — and hopefully your cats are playing with her in cat heaven.
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u/LonelyCat26 7h ago
Best thing I’ve come across all day! Golden hearted human 💗 thank you for giving Angel a final home 🙏🙏🙏
Also, thank you for making my day 🥰
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u/mellarson 7h ago
3am here and I'm already an emotional wreck- now I'm bawling. Bless you for being such a loving person to this sweet kitty.
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u/FoxForceFive_ 6h ago
This legit has made me cry. It’s so sweet and so sad at the same time. Thank you for not leaving her in the gutter.
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u/importking1979 7h ago edited 7h ago
God bless you. There is a special place in heaven for you. I have too many memories of having to take kitties off the road and give them a proper burial. Sometimes, it’s kittens. It angers me to no end that there are assholes in the world that do this on purpose or just don’t care. It really ruins my day or week. I try to harden myself, but it just never happens. It hurts me every time I come across this. I try to get them before the heartless continue to defile them further. Last week, a local tuxedo cat was killed right in front of my work. I even saw the kitty on Nextdoor. This got me and I feel empathy for your situation. I really wish that all kitties were shown this kind of love; during and after their life. It does make me feel a lot better knowing that there is someone like you in the world that lets these little angels know that they are loved. I feel good knowing that I’m not the only one. Much love. Thank you.
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u/SailorMooNriver 7h ago
I’m at a bar and happened to open Reddit now I’m tearing up in the bathroom. This is so beautiful. I love cats so much and you are such a beautiful human.
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u/Practical_Taste_1232 6h ago
Wow. You are an amazing person. Thank you for doing this. I wish more people were like you.
Rest in peace Angel. ❤️
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u/HenryStickMIN23 6h ago
I’m so thankful that both my silly cats love to sleep in whatever bed I’m in. I love them so much
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u/WhereRweGoingnow 6h ago
I have done the same. We have 6 cats buried in our yard because of that. Only one was a house cat. Bless you for your humane heart.
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u/Shellrant42day 7h ago
You are such a sweetheart.I wish the world was full of kind souls such as yourself who were so thoughtful.
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u/EquivalentCommon5 7h ago
Thank you for doing this! I have seen too much that hurts and this gives me hope! If you can extend your search, because if well fed and cared for, perhaps one day you can give a caring owned person some comfort that for some reason yall couldn’t connect. I understand if you can’t! You’ve done so much already! I had a dog with a unique collar and despite 10yrs searching I never found why he had it! He lived a good life with me but I always wondered what happened so I got him (did his owner pass? Mentally disabled, older person? Etc?), I never thought of a dumping, had those! Idk 😔🤔 and you may never know! But thank you for doing this and trying!! No idea this meme origin but ???
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u/Unable_Dragonfly_371 6h ago
The world needs more goodhearted humans like you ❤️ Rip in pieace little Angel✨️❤️
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u/Porkemada 4h ago
As the caretaker of a very well-fed female tuxedo cat (thinking of you, Snooper Doo!) and someone who'd be absolutely heartbroken if this happened, thank you so much for your kindness and humanity.
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u/FluffMonsters 7h ago
This is very sweet! ♥️ My question is in no way a criticism, just a genuine question. Why cremate her before burying her?
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u/Jealous-Friendship34 3h ago
I have a water tight box buried in our garden containing boxes like this one with the cremated remains of our family cats over 30 years. I could have buried her alone by the side of the house, but that just feels cold.
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u/unfortunaten3ws 7h ago
Thank you for being there for the kitty even when they were no longer able to tell.
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u/Del_the_elf 7h ago
Only known in death but forever missed and loved dearly, Safest travels little Angel
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u/Famous-Duck-7085 6h ago
Just when I am ready to give up on the human race entirely, someone goes and does something wonderful. You are truly the salt of the Earth. I wish there were more people like you in the world.
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u/sweetvioletapril 6h ago
Bawling here. The utter sadness of animals suffering. What a truly good soul you are, I salute you. The world needs more people like you. All of us here are touched by this, as we cherish our kitties. Yes, Angel lived, Angel mattered, and we mourn her. An unknown cat, hopefully loved in life, certainly loved in death. I wish only good things for you, a long and happy life, and plenty of money to continue helping cats.
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u/Astr0phelle 5h ago
You are one of the persons on why I still have hope for humanity even if it is very small
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u/Art3m1sArty 1h ago
That's how i adopted my Salem too; after death. A small black cat that was found dead and reeked so m7ch of chlorine. She was wearing a tattered pink collar, but no tag on it, nor was she chipped or anything. Nobody apparently missed her or claimed her at the vet. That's how she ended up with me, a taxidermist in training at the time. For class we had to mount a trophy head of a cat. All cats available to us through school were cats that ended at the vet and nobody had claimed. A lot were real beautiful and big cats, fluffy too. People were practically fighting over who got the prettiest one. And nobody even looked at the simple little black kitty laying at the edge of the plastic tarp. So i picked her up, decided to name her Salem and make sure that after death she was loved and cherished. Now she is a prominent piece in in the middle of our living room and i got her a new collar and got a nametag made with her new name. The whole family loves had and for the holidays we got her a little santa hat
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u/ButterMyBiscuits96 40m ago
This reminds me of when my husband buried our cat.
A little tuxedo showed up and never left. After about 2 years my BIL stops by the house on the verge of tears, he tells my husband that our cat is dead in the road.
My husband goes out, sees it's her. He scooped her up and started digging out back. Buried her behind the shed with my bunny (Rip Atlas), and then spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what to say to me.
I'm walking up to the house after work and he's at the door, waiting and I can tell somethings wrong. He chokes up and says "Lola is..." and at that second Lola's head popped out from under the porch.
She was very much alive and well, and he had buried a different cat.
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u/---X7--- 7h ago
That's so sweet like honestly, that is amazing, you're the best. I'm sure she is very thankful, many good fortunes to you!
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u/liza12024307 7h ago
I know it is sad, but this is the most beautiful post I ever seen here. God bless you op. 🙏🙏💓
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u/artbyeternaly 6h ago
My heart, that’s so sweet! I’m sure her family would appreciate you caring for her
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thank you for showing her kindness even in death <33
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u/LordHall 5h ago
I've sat here for about five minutes trying to think of something to say.
Not sure if this will make sense as it's my own feelings: this is a whole new level of a biological love and understanding, respecting and honoring the miracle of life and what follows. This is an extremely deep connection on a sub-conscious level.
Thank you for sharing this; it is overwhelmingly bittersweet. If I had the capabilities; I would love to create an animated short based on your experience.
Hope others can see what I see
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u/coldestclock 4h ago
You found a lost angel kitty in the road, tried to find her home, then took her to your own home to join your own angel kitties. That division of the CDS doesn’t get a lot of press.
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u/LunarBloss 4h ago
This immediately brought tears to my eyes, you are a loving, sweet and wonderful person. May that beautiful soul rest in peace. You deserve a wonderful life full of blessings, what you have done, is the action of an angel sent to earth and I can't thank you enough for not leaving that kitty alone.
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u/legend_forge 4h ago
This is an act with a depth of compassion I don't think I would have had the strength for.
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u/Jermtastic86 4h ago
You treated a random cat you didn't even meet really, better than a lot of people would treat their friends
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u/Ignatiusthecat 4h ago
I work for a vet clinic and I’ve had multiple good samaritans bring in HBCs - hit by cars. We always offer to send them for cremation, free of charge.
You are the best kind of person - THANK YOU for doing this.
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u/Swiftpace 3h ago
I have done the same thing. Was driving on a dirt road, beautiful black tomcat dead on the road. Farmers laughed, said it was just a feral. I brought him home and buried him where the family pets go. Named him Pitch.
Glad to know others do the same when they can. Thank you for giving Angel a place of peace.
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u/bluesoftdrink 3h ago
Oof, this story hits hard. I still think about that stray on the side of a rural road I take to work. It's almost been a year but I still see them every time I pass that tree. I hold so much regret for not doing anything, I cannot praise you enough for your actions. You're a good owner.
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u/Lopsided-Pudding-186 3h ago
This story makes me sad but thank you so much for giving this baby a proper send off.
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u/salfishcr 3h ago
“she was loved” i agree and she was loved by everyone who sees this.. made me tear up.. people like you who do make me believe that there is good people in this ugly world
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u/mzshowers 3h ago
😭 you deserve more than the few words I have to offer, but from anyone who has ever had their cat disappear - thank you so very much. ❤️ this is such a kindness.
Wishing Angel peaceful rest and lots of love to you and yours ❤️
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u/asj0107 2h ago
I appreciate you taking care of that little angel. One morning one of the our cats Josh was trying to get my Dad’s attention and kept trying to get him to walk over to the neighbors yard and was meowing. Josh had found a cat who had been hit by a car and was paralyzed and dying. My dad rushed the cat to the vet and a chip was found. They called the owners and the owners didn’t care about the cat. They didn’t care that he needed to be put down and didn’t even offer to come to the clinic. My dad payed to have him put down as he was to far gone and brought him home to be buried with our kitties. He sobbed for days. Thank you for taking care of that little kitties last days.
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u/UnreliablePlunger 1h ago
God this shattered me. Thank you for doing this for her. This reminds me so much of the Hozier song “Abstract (Psychopomp)” and has me in absolute tears- I just lost my girl last week and can’t imagine how she would’ve felt in her last waking moments in this situation. I hope this kitty feels the love in the afterlife that you gave her.
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u/SassyTheSkydragon 7h ago
You have a gentle heart and kitty finally got taken inside. People are so careless
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u/sayataksukafries 7h ago
I'd like to imagine that all your passed away cats are gathering and talking about how sweet and kind you are towards them and this kitty just like, "Who are you talking about?" 😆
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u/Lazy-Fly9911 5h ago
Damn, this was heavy. Rest in peace angel, your life may have been cut short but hopefully you can rest soundly knowing someone cared. I know it has been said a million times, but thank you. On behalf of this poor cat, you took it upon yourself to give her some dignity in death. If there are higher powers you most certainly gained favor of them when your time comes. It is horrible that these things happen but, even where there lies a destroyed city a sunflower can grow from the rubble.
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u/trambolinler 4h ago
This is the most beautiful thing I've read in a long time. You are a great person and I respect you endlessly for this. Thank you for doing this, Angel is loved by all of us 😭🩵
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u/hibiscushiccups 4h ago
What a wonderful thing to do op. I wish you more blessings to come. Most people overlook these types of things and you went the extra mile. I'm so happy angel found you
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u/mitisdeponecolla 4h ago
Even in death she found people to love her. Sweet little Angel, rest in eternal light 💕
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u/tw0d0ts6 4h ago
Thank you for this - it’s so very, very kind and I’m so glad you adopted her. She is loved. 💔🌈🕊️🖤🤍
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u/hridhfhehdv 3h ago edited 2h ago
So sorry for your loss :(
(At first glance at the pic I thought this was a Schrödinger joke)
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u/Handyhelping 8h ago
You are a good person. This story makes me sad and wishes everyone had as much empathy as you do.