There’s an enormity that comes with grief, all encompassing, enveloping. It’s the hardest of all human emotions to deal with,
stronger than hate and love combined. And no matter how many times we’ve been through it before, it’s different every time, with
every loss. The minute we lose someone we love we can feel ourselves bracing for it, the train that’s about to hit us head on. The
continuous up and down from second to second, the bouncing around of emotions from guilt to blame, resentment, depression,
acceptance and back to guilt again.
There is something so wrong about losing a pet, the one soul in this world that is so pure and uncorrupted. They teach us the
highest order of love there is, accept us completely and without reservations. There are no judgments or misgivings, no reason
whatsoever to think that this precious creature has anything but adoration for you.
The ancient Egyptians believed that cats were the most psychic beings that exist in this world and that
they’re able to transcend time and space even while on this earthly plane. They were held sacred to a high, honored position and
were more important than any human life. Cats were demigods, so highly regarded in Egyptian society that it was considered a
high crime to kill a cat, punishable by death. Families owning cats took care that they received great attention and respect. Cats
guarded the royal granaries, farms and homes keeping them relatively free from vermin and disease that threatened food
supplies. They resided in temples and were treated to gifts even in the afterlife. Hardly is there a creature more deserving of
these accolades.
It’s said that a cat can look into your eyes and see deep down into the crevasses of your soul. I personally know this to be true as
Alex did that every time she gazed her gorgeous green eyes on me. She was not my cat, she was my daughter and I may as well
have given birth to her. The night she died, my heart screamed in agony so loud I thought for sure I’d shattered the moon and the
sun. To this day I walk around this earth incomplete, knowing that hole will never again be filled. Sometimes when I think of her I
can feel the edges of that hole, searing me like it’s on fire and I think I can’t possibly stand to even remember her. But I never
want to forget either, and I couldn’t even if I tried.
These creatures are here to teach us valuable lessons in life. How to live in the moment, how to forgive and let go of pain and
resentment, how to fully love someone like we’ve never allowed ourselves before. Alex did that for me, she taught me to love
completely and to let myself be loved. I had said so many times in my life that I wanted to experience “true, radiant” love. I just
never thought it would be from a cat. But I’m glad it was, because it was purely unconditional and more beautiful than I ever
expected it could be. I could write a whole book about the tenderness there was between us. When that was gone, I thought I
would truly die with her.
Now I have two new little ones who make me laugh constantly. The lessons from them are something I’d forgotten how to do for
so long: have fun, enjoy life, relish the little things, etc. I know that Alex sent them to me, telling me it’s okay to let go and open my
heart. That she’s okay now and it’s time to allow myself to be happy again. So life does in fact go on, even if it’s without her.
Taking care of her with these awful diseases was so rough it wore me down long before she passed away. How to get up each
day and not have the same routine with her, giving her medications, treatments, feedings, etc. Even though these things were
incredibly draining on me, it was all I knew to do for her and then it was over. A relief in a way, and I felt guilty for that. But mostly I
felt angry for the way she died and how she suffered, I still do. If there was ever a soul that didn’t deserve that it was her. I even
had dreams that I was talking with her vet, still begging for suggestions on what we could do to help her. And in my dreams my
vet would tell me to stop torturing myself, she’s gone.
Grieving is the easy part. Staying in bed, staring at the ceiling, not eating or showering, just giving up. Getting on with our lives is
the worst of it. The truth is we don’t mourn for them, we mourn for us. Because we know that in their infinite wisdom these
creatures are experiencing the spiritual life that they have never forgotten exists. We as humans tend to forget so much about our
life outside of this world and what it all entails. Because we’re made up of the five senses: smell, taste, sight, hearing and most
importantly touch. It’s so hard for us to believe that someone we love is still around us if we can’t touch them. Cats already have
their sixth sense skills honed and perfected, yet another lesson for us.
There are no sure-fire methods of getting through grief. But there are some simple things to remember:
DON’T let others tell you to “just get over it” or it was “just a cat”. If that person doesn’t have, or has never had pets of their own
then getting them to understand the magnitude of your loss is probably hopeless. They won’t understand, find someone who will.
DON’T get rid of their things like bedding, toys, brushes, etc. Those are your memories to keep. Make a keepsake box and
scrapbook with some mementos. Months from now when you’re able to look at their pictures or hold a tuft of their hair without
falling to pieces, you’ll be glad you did.
DON’T stop taking care of yourself. Your little baby wouldn’t want that for you and you’ve already been through a tremendous
amount of stress while taking care of your sick kitty. Small steps if you have to, just make sure you take them.
DON’T shut yourself off to the rest of the world. There are a lot more support groups for the loss of a “family member” than you
realize. It wasn’t the case before the Internet but things have thankfully changed and we now have access to many pet loss
support groups. I actually found these types of groups more understanding than when I lost a “human” family member. We pet
lovers are a special group of people who usually have the capacity for great understanding and empathy. Grief can separate us
from others, but it can unite us as well.
DON’T try to get another pet too soon after losing one. As much love as you have to give and as much as you think you’re not
trying to replace them, it usually ends up that you haven’t given yourself enough time to accept the loss. It could be a few weeks, a
few months. Everyone’s amount of time is different. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. It’s not fair to bring
another cat into your home while you have expectations that it can’t fulfill. And you may not be physically ready to care for a new
little one either as they take up a lot of energy. Give yourself time to rest, your spirit needs it.
DO talk to others about your grief. See a counselor; they have pets too, you’ll be surprised at their reaction to your loss. They can
get just as emotional about it. Join a support group online; the outpouring of support you can get from an online community about
this particular issue will surprise you. Connecting with people from all over the world with one common and tremendous love for
their pets may turn out to be a lifesaver for you.
DO give yourself a break when it comes to the length of time it’s taking for your healing. Trying to rush through it or understand
why it’s “taking so long” will only aggravate you more. Expect those feelings of anger, resentment, “why”, etc. Even expect to get
angry at your kitty for leaving you. I did. I yelled at her and then cried and begged her forgiveness. It’s all to be expected, just like
any other death in the family.
DO donate their leftover medications, medical supplies, food, etc. to your local shelter or rescue league. They need these things
desperately and it’s a wonderful way to honor your little one. Instead of throwing it out,
you’ll be helping another sick animal that needs your help.
DO make a donation to an organization, university or research facility that studies gastrointestinal diseases in cats. There is
absolutely NO government funding available to these facilities for this research so private funds and donations are the only
means of working to find treatments and maybe even a possible cure someday for these horrible afflictions. My veterinary office
all got together and made a donation in Alex’s name for me to Cornell University and it touched me deeply! They all knew and
loved Alex very, very much and understood how devoted I was to her. By making a donation in your baby’s name, not only will it
help you to heal and honor your child, but it will help fund some MUCH needed research for what seems to now be an epidemic
in cats.
DO plant some flowers or a tree in honor of your baby. Something that you can nurture and will grow and flourish to remind you
that this is the cycle of life. There’s beauty still here in this world and you need to remind yourself of that quite often after a loss
like this. Create a place of beauty to sit and remember the good times, a memorial site.
DO leave yourself open for visits from your little one after they’re gone. Whether you’re religious, spiritual or don’t believe at all in
a life after this one, it can be incredibly comforting to know there’s some part of them still around you. It could be in your dreams,
it could be paw prints on your bed like I had. Only you'll know what the special messages are because of that bond you had with
them.
Albert Einstein once said, "Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like
us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
The truth is none of us have any idea what’s out there until we ourselves leave this world. It’s one big, giant mystery that’s not
meant to be solved. So leave yourself open to any new experiences, you’ll be so glad you did.
DO write a love letter to your little one. Tell them everything you’re feeling and let them know how important they still are in your
life and always will be. Tell them you hope they aren’t in pain anymore and that they’re happy and playing with other kitties
somewhere beautiful, until you see each other again. Putting things down on paper is very therapeutic and helps you release your
feelings, especially if you’re having trouble talking to anyone. A friend of mine who recently lost his feline son said, “He was my
best friend, my boy – and I was HIS human.”
DO open your heart again. No matter how hard that may seem and how much you deny you could ever put yourself through it
again, it is healing and there are so many other animals that need your selfless love and devotion. Just make sure it’s the right
time for you and you’re able to physically, emotionally and mentally take that challenge on.
We’re listing some online support groups to help you with your grieving process. If you feel you need to talk to a professional,
please seek the help of a counselor or therapist immediately. We’re also including links to some research facilities if you’d like to
make any donations to honor your kitty. And don’t forget to be good to yourself above all else. Your kitty saw something wonderful
in you, therefore it exists!
www.in-memory-of-pets.com
www.petloss.com
www.lightning-strike.com
www.petdiscussion.com
www.perfectmemorials.com/guides/the-emotions-of-pet-loss/
www.petloss.com/dealing.htm
rainbowsbridge.com/hello.htm
www.critters.com - Creating memorials in loving memory of our pets.
http://petvets.com/pet-loss-articles.html
www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/memorials
www.cvm.tamu.edu/gilab/development/gift
Pet Connection: Helping your child cope with pet's death
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3940001/helping-your-child-cope-with-pets.html
For advice on how to care for your grieving pet
www.messybeast.com/cat-grief.htm
ASPCA's guide to End-of-life care
www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-loss/end-of-life-care-faq.html
stronger than hate and love combined. And no matter how many times we’ve been through it before, it’s different every time, with
every loss. The minute we lose someone we love we can feel ourselves bracing for it, the train that’s about to hit us head on. The
continuous up and down from second to second, the bouncing around of emotions from guilt to blame, resentment, depression,
acceptance and back to guilt again.
There is something so wrong about losing a pet, the one soul in this world that is so pure and uncorrupted. They teach us the
highest order of love there is, accept us completely and without reservations. There are no judgments or misgivings, no reason
whatsoever to think that this precious creature has anything but adoration for you.
The ancient Egyptians believed that cats were the most psychic beings that exist in this world and that
they’re able to transcend time and space even while on this earthly plane. They were held sacred to a high, honored position and
were more important than any human life. Cats were demigods, so highly regarded in Egyptian society that it was considered a
high crime to kill a cat, punishable by death. Families owning cats took care that they received great attention and respect. Cats
guarded the royal granaries, farms and homes keeping them relatively free from vermin and disease that threatened food
supplies. They resided in temples and were treated to gifts even in the afterlife. Hardly is there a creature more deserving of
these accolades.
It’s said that a cat can look into your eyes and see deep down into the crevasses of your soul. I personally know this to be true as
Alex did that every time she gazed her gorgeous green eyes on me. She was not my cat, she was my daughter and I may as well
have given birth to her. The night she died, my heart screamed in agony so loud I thought for sure I’d shattered the moon and the
sun. To this day I walk around this earth incomplete, knowing that hole will never again be filled. Sometimes when I think of her I
can feel the edges of that hole, searing me like it’s on fire and I think I can’t possibly stand to even remember her. But I never
want to forget either, and I couldn’t even if I tried.
These creatures are here to teach us valuable lessons in life. How to live in the moment, how to forgive and let go of pain and
resentment, how to fully love someone like we’ve never allowed ourselves before. Alex did that for me, she taught me to love
completely and to let myself be loved. I had said so many times in my life that I wanted to experience “true, radiant” love. I just
never thought it would be from a cat. But I’m glad it was, because it was purely unconditional and more beautiful than I ever
expected it could be. I could write a whole book about the tenderness there was between us. When that was gone, I thought I
would truly die with her.
Now I have two new little ones who make me laugh constantly. The lessons from them are something I’d forgotten how to do for
so long: have fun, enjoy life, relish the little things, etc. I know that Alex sent them to me, telling me it’s okay to let go and open my
heart. That she’s okay now and it’s time to allow myself to be happy again. So life does in fact go on, even if it’s without her.
Taking care of her with these awful diseases was so rough it wore me down long before she passed away. How to get up each
day and not have the same routine with her, giving her medications, treatments, feedings, etc. Even though these things were
incredibly draining on me, it was all I knew to do for her and then it was over. A relief in a way, and I felt guilty for that. But mostly I
felt angry for the way she died and how she suffered, I still do. If there was ever a soul that didn’t deserve that it was her. I even
had dreams that I was talking with her vet, still begging for suggestions on what we could do to help her. And in my dreams my
vet would tell me to stop torturing myself, she’s gone.
Grieving is the easy part. Staying in bed, staring at the ceiling, not eating or showering, just giving up. Getting on with our lives is
the worst of it. The truth is we don’t mourn for them, we mourn for us. Because we know that in their infinite wisdom these
creatures are experiencing the spiritual life that they have never forgotten exists. We as humans tend to forget so much about our
life outside of this world and what it all entails. Because we’re made up of the five senses: smell, taste, sight, hearing and most
importantly touch. It’s so hard for us to believe that someone we love is still around us if we can’t touch them. Cats already have
their sixth sense skills honed and perfected, yet another lesson for us.
There are no sure-fire methods of getting through grief. But there are some simple things to remember:
DON’T let others tell you to “just get over it” or it was “just a cat”. If that person doesn’t have, or has never had pets of their own
then getting them to understand the magnitude of your loss is probably hopeless. They won’t understand, find someone who will.
DON’T get rid of their things like bedding, toys, brushes, etc. Those are your memories to keep. Make a keepsake box and
scrapbook with some mementos. Months from now when you’re able to look at their pictures or hold a tuft of their hair without
falling to pieces, you’ll be glad you did.
DON’T stop taking care of yourself. Your little baby wouldn’t want that for you and you’ve already been through a tremendous
amount of stress while taking care of your sick kitty. Small steps if you have to, just make sure you take them.
DON’T shut yourself off to the rest of the world. There are a lot more support groups for the loss of a “family member” than you
realize. It wasn’t the case before the Internet but things have thankfully changed and we now have access to many pet loss
support groups. I actually found these types of groups more understanding than when I lost a “human” family member. We pet
lovers are a special group of people who usually have the capacity for great understanding and empathy. Grief can separate us
from others, but it can unite us as well.
DON’T try to get another pet too soon after losing one. As much love as you have to give and as much as you think you’re not
trying to replace them, it usually ends up that you haven’t given yourself enough time to accept the loss. It could be a few weeks, a
few months. Everyone’s amount of time is different. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. It’s not fair to bring
another cat into your home while you have expectations that it can’t fulfill. And you may not be physically ready to care for a new
little one either as they take up a lot of energy. Give yourself time to rest, your spirit needs it.
DO talk to others about your grief. See a counselor; they have pets too, you’ll be surprised at their reaction to your loss. They can
get just as emotional about it. Join a support group online; the outpouring of support you can get from an online community about
this particular issue will surprise you. Connecting with people from all over the world with one common and tremendous love for
their pets may turn out to be a lifesaver for you.
DO give yourself a break when it comes to the length of time it’s taking for your healing. Trying to rush through it or understand
why it’s “taking so long” will only aggravate you more. Expect those feelings of anger, resentment, “why”, etc. Even expect to get
angry at your kitty for leaving you. I did. I yelled at her and then cried and begged her forgiveness. It’s all to be expected, just like
any other death in the family.
DO donate their leftover medications, medical supplies, food, etc. to your local shelter or rescue league. They need these things
desperately and it’s a wonderful way to honor your little one. Instead of throwing it out,
you’ll be helping another sick animal that needs your help.
DO make a donation to an organization, university or research facility that studies gastrointestinal diseases in cats. There is
absolutely NO government funding available to these facilities for this research so private funds and donations are the only
means of working to find treatments and maybe even a possible cure someday for these horrible afflictions. My veterinary office
all got together and made a donation in Alex’s name for me to Cornell University and it touched me deeply! They all knew and
loved Alex very, very much and understood how devoted I was to her. By making a donation in your baby’s name, not only will it
help you to heal and honor your child, but it will help fund some MUCH needed research for what seems to now be an epidemic
in cats.
DO plant some flowers or a tree in honor of your baby. Something that you can nurture and will grow and flourish to remind you
that this is the cycle of life. There’s beauty still here in this world and you need to remind yourself of that quite often after a loss
like this. Create a place of beauty to sit and remember the good times, a memorial site.
DO leave yourself open for visits from your little one after they’re gone. Whether you’re religious, spiritual or don’t believe at all in
a life after this one, it can be incredibly comforting to know there’s some part of them still around you. It could be in your dreams,
it could be paw prints on your bed like I had. Only you'll know what the special messages are because of that bond you had with
them.
Albert Einstein once said, "Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like
us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
The truth is none of us have any idea what’s out there until we ourselves leave this world. It’s one big, giant mystery that’s not
meant to be solved. So leave yourself open to any new experiences, you’ll be so glad you did.
DO write a love letter to your little one. Tell them everything you’re feeling and let them know how important they still are in your
life and always will be. Tell them you hope they aren’t in pain anymore and that they’re happy and playing with other kitties
somewhere beautiful, until you see each other again. Putting things down on paper is very therapeutic and helps you release your
feelings, especially if you’re having trouble talking to anyone. A friend of mine who recently lost his feline son said, “He was my
best friend, my boy – and I was HIS human.”
DO open your heart again. No matter how hard that may seem and how much you deny you could ever put yourself through it
again, it is healing and there are so many other animals that need your selfless love and devotion. Just make sure it’s the right
time for you and you’re able to physically, emotionally and mentally take that challenge on.
We’re listing some online support groups to help you with your grieving process. If you feel you need to talk to a professional,
please seek the help of a counselor or therapist immediately. We’re also including links to some research facilities if you’d like to
make any donations to honor your kitty. And don’t forget to be good to yourself above all else. Your kitty saw something wonderful
in you, therefore it exists!
www.in-memory-of-pets.com
www.petloss.com
www.lightning-strike.com
www.petdiscussion.com
www.perfectmemorials.com/guides/the-emotions-of-pet-loss/
www.petloss.com/dealing.htm
rainbowsbridge.com/hello.htm
www.critters.com - Creating memorials in loving memory of our pets.
http://petvets.com/pet-loss-articles.html
www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/memorials
www.cvm.tamu.edu/gilab/development/gift
Pet Connection: Helping your child cope with pet's death
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3940001/helping-your-child-cope-with-pets.html
For advice on how to care for your grieving pet
www.messybeast.com/cat-grief.htm
ASPCA's guide to End-of-life care
www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-loss/end-of-life-care-faq.html
| You, small lion-cat, are a hero. You took what life had and you ran with it, bounding across chairs, sofas, and hearts. You simply leapt skyward this time...and kept going. ~ Debra Hoffmann-Knowles ~ |
Photo by Lisa Provost
| Copyright © IBD Kitties 2008-2012, all rights reserved |
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