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Pet death (Trigger Warning - this thread maybe triggering if you have a lost a pet)

Judi9877Senior Contributor01 Jan 2020, 8:02 pm AEDT

Pet death (Trigger Warning - this thread maybe triggering if you have a lost a pet)

Hi.

I’m not sure if this is the right area to post but here goes nothing. Today I went to see my sister and I noticed that her 14 year old cat wasn’t her usual cute and adorable self. The cat was making weird noises so I told my sister that she needed to be taken to the vet, so I tracked one down and took her and the cat there. I called my sisters boyfriend who agreed to meet her there. I had a weird feeling that the cat wasn’t going to make it and I voiced it to my sister on the way to the vet, feeling very guilty as I did this, as I didn’t want to upset her.

Long story short- Puss was in fact very sick and was in respiratory distress to the point where the best option was to put her to sleep. I found this out after getting a call from my sister- I had to leave her there to check on her house- and went back to the vet to see my sister and to say goodbye to Puss, as well as to take photos of Puss and my sister before she was put down. Photos were taken, arrangements made and all of us left the vet without Puss, very sad and upset.

I came home with my housemate and tried to sleep in a fit of tears, but couldn’t so I chose to get up and do some knitting. I was feeling so horrible and guilty about telling my sister that I thought Puss wasn’t going to make it before the inevitable occurred, yet I wasn’t 100% certain that Puss wasn’t going to make it as I’m no vet. I know that my sister is okay with me as I’ve spoken to her since the death happened but I still feel very guilty about this. I’ve been talking to my housemate and they’ve been great but it’s still raw and it hurts.

I remember Puss as a kitten and because of her, I became a cat person. Puss was special and unique and I know I couldn’t possibly love her as much as my sister but I’m struggling right now how to cope. I feel horrible for being the bearer of bad news to my sister.

Thanks for reading this.

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In response to: Pet death (Trigger Warning - this thread maybe triggering if you have a lost a pet)

OwlunarSenior Contributor06 Jan 2020, 11:44 am AEDT

Re: Pet death

Thanks @Former-Member

It's really good to read your imput this morning - it has been an unsettling weekend for everyone I am sure of that

When it comes to grief I have the anniversaries of both my parents in the next few days - my mother this week and my father next week - they did die in different years but still having their anniversaries so close together is difficult and no doubt one reason I feel flat and very tired today - along with the heavy smoke in the air as well

As triggering as it is for many we do need to discuss our grief - it is common to all - and when it comes to our animals - there is a different angle

I had my old cat for 15 years - the two of us shared each others lives - just the two of us - and our animals give of themselves totally - we are their world and whom else can be here for us 24/7 as our pets are. I rejoice I had such a wonderful pet for so long - and I still miss her

For everyone else with grief issues at this time I send my best - I have learned to deal with grief having had so much of it over decades - it is never easy - accepting the inevitable nature of it comes with time as we gather strength and resilience and it is always different and never easy. There is no plan to grief-work - it is what it is - and I wish all of you who have grief issues over Christmas and New Year to have the ability to manage it and learn the best way you can - and if you so chose - to share it

All the best

Dec

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