Julie Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 My precious 9 year old tuxedo cat, Lucky, passed away unexpectedly yesterday. He was visiting his "grandparents" (my folks) for a couple of weeks. He died very peacefully in his sleep--but it was a terrible shock for my parents (82 & 85 years old) who were looking forward to spending some time with him. Lucky has been a therapy cat for the past 8 years. Six years, where I used to work, and 2 where I currently am. Lots of sad faces here today. Lucky has really done a wonderful job of making people happy in his life. When he was first working, he used to visit a lady who no longer had the will to walk or socialize. Within a short time, she could be seen pushing Lucky up and down the halls of the nursing home in her wheelchair--she walking--him riding! She was eventually able to move into an assisted living apartment! That's just one example of countless.Lucky knew a lot of people and was almost too smart for his own good! I taught him to "lick" on command which was very helpful when he tried to bite the vet! She told him to lick her 6 times and then said, "I've never seen anything like this!"Anyway, I know so many of us have pets and it is so heartbreaking to lose them. I have no children of my own, so to me it was very hard to lose him. Thanks for "listening".Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggiesjc Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Sounds like a special cat - so sorry for your loss, Julie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianed Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Julie,I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Pets offer us so much love, devotion and companionship that its hard to imagine life without them. I know there will never be another cat like Lucky, but you'll kmow in your heart when you're ready to open up your heart again for another pet. I found this poem that I might offer you some comfort. ***The Rainbow Bridge*** There is a bridge connecting Heaven & Earth.It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. he old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole. They play together all day.There is only one thing missing: They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth. Each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting friend. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Julie:Sorry to hear about your loss. I have a cat that is nineteen years old (older than two of my kids) and we can tell it is very close to being "his time". In fact, my kids and I have had some serious discussions about us putting him to sleep, (they always end in tears from two of the girls) as he appears to be in a lot of pain and doesn't eat much anymore and it's just not fair to keep him for our own selfish reasons, but it's so hard, you know? We've never had to do that before.Seeing how hard it is on my youngest daughter, my ex wife bought her a kitten for when she comes to visit her (twice a week) to maybe soften the blow of eventually losing our cat.Do you believe they had the kitten for two weeks and it died the other day? The place they got it at made an error and the cat had feline leukemia!You can only imagine how this has made it twice as hard on my daughter! I felt terrible. The first time I saw the kitten, it crawled up on me and went to sleep on my shoulder.We feel your pain. Pets can be like a family member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Mississippi Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 It's hard to lose a pet; doubly so when you don't have children it seems. I've been blessed to have both but have had many friends who were childless aside from their furry-adoptees.Like children, it's good advice to remember the good times as you grieve. And though it may be hard to replace such a special critter, I suspect you'll be blessed with another unique "child" soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie, I'm so very sorry to hear of the loss of your Lucky (although it sounds like you were the "lucky" one!) My daughter, Annie, had a cat named Elijah (a blue-eyed, caramel-tipped, white Siamese) who acted very much like a therapy cat to her so I know the miracles they can provide. What a wonderful opportunity that you were blessed to be the "person" for this remarkable little soul!Blackhawkpat, we lost a 2 yo cat last December to Feline AIDS so I've seen how tragic and heart-rending it is to lose young cats to some of these diseases. My sympathies to your family as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlene Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'm so sorry, Julie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie, I'm sorry about your cat. He sounds like he was a wonderful friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kiwi Connection Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. Our cat died about 3 years ago. At the time I said never again, cos it hurts too much, when something happens to them. But now I feel that I would like to have another one. So perhaps when we come back from America we'll get another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Sorry, Julie Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie...We also lost 2 of our family cats within a year...this link made me cry like a baby...it is so touching...advice: have a tissue nearby before playing!! http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesberry Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie,I'm so sorry to hear about Lucky. Pets bring so much joy into our lives. I hope you consider adopting again from your local humane society when the time is right.Cats are children in fur coats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie, I am so sorry for your loss. One of our cats, Bonnie, died a few years ago while we were on vacation and my poor neighbor was taking care of her!As a small aside: can i caution against using the term "putting the pet to sleep" with children? They don't understand the euphemism and get upset and confused, i.e. " will he wake up?" or "we can just wake him up when he's better"I would just say that the animal died, without the technical explanations until the child is old enough to understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie,I am so very sorry for your loss. As a childless cat person myself, I completely understand that special bond you shared with Lucky. My darling girl Nikki is 17, and I'm grateful for every day I have with her... I wish you peace, comfort, and happy memories in the days ahead. - Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Julie, I too am very sorry for your loss. Pets are a very important of my life, I know that feeling you have...thoughts and prayers for you at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Thank you all so very much. It's been a pretty rough couple of days. Thankfully, 2 little kittens found us last fall and "adopted" our family and they are really easing the pain and making us laugh with their crazy antics--Bindy was sliding across the linoleum and caught her foot in her dish sending kitty food flying all over the kitchen and then she was pouncing on it as if it were prey last night...... Gotta love it!Oh I so love "the Rainbow Bridge". What a tear jerker that is! I haven't had a chance to look at that other link yet--will have to tonight when I can have a good cry.Bless you all and all of our pets....Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leff'tHome Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I am so sorry for the loss of your dear, sweet kitty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Julie, I'm so sorry about Lucky. Losing one's pet is heartbreaking because they truly are a member of the family. We got my dog Jingles when I was 2 and lost him when I was 15 and I was so heartbroken that I was never able to get another. I have great difficulty saying "goodbye." I smile when I think of how marvelous he was and the memories you shared with Lucky are a treasure no one can ever take away from you. You were so lucky to have him and he truly WAS "Lucky" to have you. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Julie, I'm so very sorry you lost your cat. It's heartbreaking to lose one's pet because they truly are a member of the family. We got my dog Jingles when I was 2 and lost him when I was 15. I was so devastated that I was never able to get another. I have great difficulty saying "goodbye." I smile when I think of what a marvelous dog he was. Your memories of Lucky are something nobody can ever take away from you. You truly were lucky to have such a wonderful cat and he truly WAS "Lucky" to have you. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Sorry to have repeated this. I thought the first one didn't go through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 "Lucky" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericphan Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I'm also sorry to hear about Lucky, he was a beautiful cat!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 What a sweet little face! No wonder people got excited and perked up when he arrived --- I would! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted June 22, 2007 Author Share Posted June 22, 2007 Thanks so much for taking the time to post Lucky's pic, Bernie! I really appreciate it!You can tell just by looking at him, that he's not an ordinary kitty--not that I'm prejudiced...On another note, I was pretty upset at work today--I had written up an obituary and posted a photo of him at the nursing home in the break room and somebody pulled it down! Geez! He worked there! Why do some people have to be so mean?Blessings,Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Julie... there are some people who will NEVER get it when it comes to pets. They are best ignored.Take care and HUGS from us bothKiwi and Muzza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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