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The Pain of Losing a Beloved Animal

Posted by badthing • 11/29/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: animal, cat, death, loss, pain, support

right now I am an open wound because our beloved cat Furby had a heart attack during the wee hours of thanksgiving morning.

i feel as if a monster came to us and snatched our baby boy away.

the pain is intense and i need support.

User Comments

11/29/08

badthing

my e-mail address is badthing_1@yahoo.com

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11/29/08

weblogian

Glad it was not a terrorist that snatch your little catty boy.

I am suprised to see your email too.

Well so sorry about it

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11/29/08

ranist22

I had a beautiful cat who weakened and died of od age. When I adopted her she was already 8 years old, and lived 8 years more with us. I'll never forget the day she died, yet at the same time it was better that she went before really suffering. I still miss her and know how you feel. Bear up, death comes inevitably. Just remember the lovely moments passed together and keep her in your thoughts.

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1. 11/29/08
  
  blackzero85
  
  *sigh*
  
  I sighed because I read 'death comes inevitably'.
11/29/08

MadameX

I'm so sorry about your cat. My dog died nearly two years ago after we'd been together for 17 years, and it's still painful to think about. For some reason it seems that many pets leave us at the holiday season. One of my closest friends also lost her dog this week, and wrote beautifully about it here: sothethingisblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/requiem-for-old-dog.html

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11/29/08

Arcticulates

I had a kitty that would take walks with me in the woods. I always knew that an area was too dangerous with a wild animal nearby because the kitty would start growling and yowling, and jump off the ground and hit me in the chest over and over trying to get me to go back, he would get frantic if I didn't.

I had my little walking companion for 15 years before he died, and it broke my heart. It took me 3 years to finally decide to get another cat because the pain of losing my little protector was too great. But I did finally give in to the another one who is just as fantastic only in different ways.
I am sorry for your loss.

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11/29/08

AnnStorer

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It's never easy to lose a friend, be it human or animal.

Best thing to do is get out of the house for a while, go see a movie or talk to a friend. Let yourself digest this change without consciously thinking about it. When you get back, maybe write about what you feel, what you will miss, all the good times you had. Just let yourself grieve. These things happen to everyone eventually; try to focus on the great life you provided for Furby, and how lucky you were to have had each other. Not all cats get people in their lives who love them so well.

It will get better, I promise. Here's an e-hug: *hug*

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11/29/08

mobabs

It is a very sad thing, to lose a much loved pet. I have always found that it helps me if I replace the loss of one of my cats with another, a short time after. Although they don't replace the lost cat, it definitely helps the grieving process along. To have another cat to look after and love does help ease the pain.

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11/29/08

CrankyChick

Losing a Beloved Pet

To me, like to many others, pets are like children. They are little angels in fur coats that love you when you come home in a bad mood and when you wake up groggy first thing in the morning. They are always there loving you the way you are, no matter what. Pets are part of our families. They are our companions in life. Unfortunately, the life span of some pets is much too short. For a pet owner, the lifespan of a pet is never long enough. One day, inevitably, we must say good bye.

Grieving

Grieving the loss of a pet is similar to grieving that of a person. It is not uncommon for a grieving pet owner to experience the stages of grief -

Denial

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Acceptance

As a bereaved pet owner, you may start to feel isolated from those who do not understand your bond with your pet. You may feel sensitive, lonely and hurt inside.

Some Helpful Tips to help you deal with the death of a beloved pet

Take time to grieve. Do no rush to get another pet right away. Use this time to mourn the departure by creating a special ceremony, whether you cremate or burry your pet. Saying goodbye is important in order to have closure.

If you do not have a picture album, you may want to put your pet’s pictures in a scrap book or in a picture frame and look at them often. Keeping toys or other pet belongings is OK. A big mistake that people make, is trying to bottle up their feelings and memories of their pet, hoping that their grief will decrease.

Avoidance only makes it harder to deal with your pet’s departure. If you have children, it is important to let them share their feelings openly. You may want to read the book Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia to your children. Do not discourage children from believing that their pet has gone to heaven.

You and your departed pet will be together through life connected by the lesson you have both learned - To love unconditionally.

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11/29/08

gentledove

I know it seems hard to think about just now but do look for another pet to channel your affection to

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11/29/08

Sebastyne

I am so sorry for your loss, it is a difficult thing to handle, losing a pet. All their life you've been there to protect them, but the time comes when you can't no longer do that. That's what's wrong with dogs and cats, they die. I lost a dog 10 years ago, and I still feel the pain. I have forgotten the death of a bunch of relatives that died after my dog, but the dog still makes me cry. I have another one, of the same breed and very similar to the first one, but he hasn't replaced her, nor did I want him to, he is just as important to me than the first one - even more so as now I know the time is limited. Every day I look at him and try to press what he does and looks like deep into my head so that I will have a lot of memories of him when he goes. That is all I can do really, just try to remember.

Oh dear, now I'm crying again.

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11/29/08

creemos

I still tear up a bit when I think of my little Jack Russell, "Spanky"

"There is not a sparrow that does not fall to the ground that God is not aware of."

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11/30/08

lulubelleb

I'm sorry for your loss.

My sweet Daisy, a rescued Westie, died four years ago after eight joyous years together. It's only recently that I've been able to talk about her and enjoy seeing her in photos.

It will get easier for you, but each of us grieves differently and takes our own time. In time, you will find comfort in your memories of Furby.

With sympathy,
- Lulu

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12/02/08

huggingthecoast

When we lost our 18 year old cat, I found that it helped to volunteer at a shelter; you get to socialize other animals that need it plus you get a place to sublimate that love.

My wife also made an art piece to commemorate the cat for cathartic purposes. It doesn't matter if the art piece (could even be a collage) is good...it's the process of making the piece that helps.

Our dog (a cocker spaniel named Penny) is old and could die any day. We found her on Thanksgiving 15 years ago.

We wrote about her here: huggingthecoast.com/2008/11/27/a-plate-on-the-floor-for-thanksgiving/ . Perhaps blogging about your cat could provide an outlet.

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