2 weeks ago, it was a difficult moment, and decision.
Max, our beloved ginger cat, was so old and frail. He was struggling with so much. We knew he had cat's Crohn's disease, but up till now he had responded well to his special diet. That was not working anymore. Everything was pointing to the fact that he was slowly falling apart, and was beginning to suffer.
16 years of love and joy were spent with this special cat. I could tell all sorts of stories and adventures that our "mad Max" had. I really do think that he did use all of his so called 9 lives. He comforted each of us, we comforted him, when he asked for it, or needed extra TLC. What I loved most about him, is that he literally "talked" with us. Seriously, you could carry on a conversation with him, and he would respond, and vocally ask questions. I never knew that a purr, or meow could carry so much emotion, and empathy.
Our family came together on the last evening, and Max was loved, and fussed over; each of us, saying our goodbyes....in each our own ways.
How he loved his last meals, of foods that he hadn't eaten in years. He kept looking at me, and back at the food dish, as if heaven had fallen into it...and he was allowed to enjoy it. His purring of delight at those last moments are still a precious comfort to me.
The next morning, it was time to bring him to the vet. As I tucked him gently into his cat carrier, he could barely hold up his head, and his worn body was a handful of thinness and tiredness. Normally he would have fought not to go in the carrier, now it was so peaceful, and as if he too said...enough.
The vet and I together, looked at Max, and checked him out, and the vet confirmed that everything was starting to fail...kidneys, and intestines.
I felt so broken, and had such a double feeling of wanting to be selfish to keep him with me...for MY sake...and yet the stronger of the two feelings; of responsibility of not letting my dear pet suffer. He had trusted me with all his 9 lives...and we saw them through together. His 10th life would not be forever...on the other side of the "Rainbow bridge".
That special poem is such a support to me, and when I have those moments, and minutes and hours that I miss Max, I re-read that and it gives me a quiet hope and at least a picture in my soul, that Max is with my other dear pets, being welcomed and cared for by my mom, in heaven. I don't want to believe in a heaven, that doesn't have pets, or animals in it. I fully and blindly believe that all creation is renewed, and joined together in perfection....in heaven.
As Max drifted away, to his new forever home in heaven...my prayer was that he would be welcomed, and that my mom would finally have the cat of her dreams..... Max. She loved him too, and I trust that they will be there...waiting....on the other side of the of the bridge.
Tears stream down my face, as I type this... amazing how a pet can mean so much to a person. N
ever underestimate the sorrow that goes into saying goodbye to a friend...whether a pet, or person....a friend, is a friend...with or without fur.
Farewell dear Max.....
Max, our beloved ginger cat, was so old and frail. He was struggling with so much. We knew he had cat's Crohn's disease, but up till now he had responded well to his special diet. That was not working anymore. Everything was pointing to the fact that he was slowly falling apart, and was beginning to suffer.
16 years of love and joy were spent with this special cat. I could tell all sorts of stories and adventures that our "mad Max" had. I really do think that he did use all of his so called 9 lives. He comforted each of us, we comforted him, when he asked for it, or needed extra TLC. What I loved most about him, is that he literally "talked" with us. Seriously, you could carry on a conversation with him, and he would respond, and vocally ask questions. I never knew that a purr, or meow could carry so much emotion, and empathy.
Our family came together on the last evening, and Max was loved, and fussed over; each of us, saying our goodbyes....in each our own ways.
How he loved his last meals, of foods that he hadn't eaten in years. He kept looking at me, and back at the food dish, as if heaven had fallen into it...and he was allowed to enjoy it. His purring of delight at those last moments are still a precious comfort to me.
The next morning, it was time to bring him to the vet. As I tucked him gently into his cat carrier, he could barely hold up his head, and his worn body was a handful of thinness and tiredness. Normally he would have fought not to go in the carrier, now it was so peaceful, and as if he too said...enough.
The vet and I together, looked at Max, and checked him out, and the vet confirmed that everything was starting to fail...kidneys, and intestines.
I felt so broken, and had such a double feeling of wanting to be selfish to keep him with me...for MY sake...and yet the stronger of the two feelings; of responsibility of not letting my dear pet suffer. He had trusted me with all his 9 lives...and we saw them through together. His 10th life would not be forever...on the other side of the "Rainbow bridge".
That special poem is such a support to me, and when I have those moments, and minutes and hours that I miss Max, I re-read that and it gives me a quiet hope and at least a picture in my soul, that Max is with my other dear pets, being welcomed and cared for by my mom, in heaven. I don't want to believe in a heaven, that doesn't have pets, or animals in it. I fully and blindly believe that all creation is renewed, and joined together in perfection....in heaven.
As Max drifted away, to his new forever home in heaven...my prayer was that he would be welcomed, and that my mom would finally have the cat of her dreams..... Max. She loved him too, and I trust that they will be there...waiting....on the other side of the of the bridge.
Tears stream down my face, as I type this... amazing how a pet can mean so much to a person. N
Farewell dear Max.....
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