A note for those who have lost a cat, or are worrying about when that moment comes.
A friend sent this to me after the passing of my beloved Ferris. It was written about a cat, but you can easily replace the word cat with dog, and it wouldn't lose much meaning. I hope that this can make your pain a little less if you have lost a pet or are about to lose one. It was written by a person named Gareth, and that is all that I know.
Quote:
When we decide to share our lives with a cat, we are deciding to break our hearts. That's not melodrama. At some point, that bundle of fur will get under your skin. It doesn't matter how big and tough you are. I've seen British Army Special Forces soldiers cradling their beloved cats with tears in their eyes, hoping against hope that something will put off that fateful moment when they must part. I've seen busy mothers of five children who rule their household with an iron fist, reduced to bawling children because they miss their cat. At some point, that cat will work its magic. Its eyes will connect with yours. Its head will rub against yours. Its heart will connect with yours. At that point, you secretly swear your devotion to the animal. It comes under your protection, and you will sacrifice anything to keep it safe. In return, the cat will share that look with you. The one that says, "I love you, too". That's a special gift, and unless a cat has loved you, it's a meaningless one. But if you HAVE been loved by a cat, then you know the value of that gift. It means that the cat will give you a lifetime of love. They will spend their entire life in your company. You will feed them, protect them, and keep them warm and safe. And they will give you their entire life.
Their entire life. That's their commitment. And what is yours? Easy, you commit to the knowledge that at some point in the future, you will be given a terrible decision to make. That decision will be the last you make for your cat. That decision will result in a transfer of pain and suffering. You will take away all the pain and suffering of your cat, and you will begin a process of pain and suffering yourself. That's the price for the look. When they look in your eyes with love, that terrible decision is the price. It's a moment that all cat owners dread, but a moment that comes to us all.
Should we feel bad when our cat passes away? Of course, we should. We are losing someone we loved, and someone who loved us in return. The grief will be terrible, but it will be transient. It WILL pass. You will then be left with memories. Some of these memories will bring tears to your eyes. Some of these memories will make you laugh. However, the pain and suffering will eventually fade.
So, when the moment comes, you must find a strength within yourself. You're about to do something incredible. You're about to give a display of love and devotion rarely equalled. You will be given a decision about whether to allow your pet to suffer and thus save your pain, or whether to remove all pain and suffering from the cat, and take it on yourself. If the time is right, you will know. And you will make the right decision. And then you should be so proud of yourself. Amid your grief and suffering, you should take such strength from the knowledge that when the moment came, you decided to choose your cat's welfare in favour of your own. What greater love can any pet owner display?
So, for those who think they have to make that decision soon, take strength. Know that your moment has come. The moment where you wrap up all the love and devotion you have for your cat into one incredible moment and do what's right, for those on the other side of that decision, then well done. I'm proud of you, and your cat would be proud of you, too. Your cat is forever pain-free. You are in pain, but I promise it will pass. Don't worry, some of us know how bad that pain is. You are not alone, and we know how much it hurts. It's terrible, but it will pass. Then you will have memories that you should treasure.
I like to think that one day I will be reunited with my pets. There will be no crashing together as we run towards each other, as in the rainbow bridge poem. There will be no kisses. We will give each other that look. The look that says, "I love you, and now I know how much you love me."
A friend sent this to me after the passing of my beloved Ferris. It was written about a cat, but you can easily replace the word cat with dog, and it wouldn't lose much meaning. I hope that this can make your pain a little less if you have lost a pet or are about to lose one. It was written by a person named Gareth, and that is all that I know.
Quote:
When we decide to share our lives with a cat, we are deciding to break our hearts. That's not melodrama. At some point, that bundle of fur will get under your skin. It doesn't matter how big and tough you are. I've seen British Army Special Forces soldiers cradling their beloved cats with tears in their eyes, hoping against hope that something will put off that fateful moment when they must part. I've seen busy mothers of five children who rule their household with an iron fist, reduced to bawling children because they miss their cat. At some point, that cat will work its magic. Its eyes will connect with yours. Its head will rub against yours. Its heart will connect with yours. At that point, you secretly swear your devotion to the animal. It comes under your protection, and you will sacrifice anything to keep it safe. In return, the cat will share that look with you. The one that says, "I love you, too". That's a special gift, and unless a cat has loved you, it's a meaningless one. But if you HAVE been loved by a cat, then you know the value of that gift. It means that the cat will give you a lifetime of love. They will spend their entire life in your company. You will feed them, protect them, and keep them warm and safe. And they will give you their entire life.
Their entire life. That's their commitment. And what is yours? Easy, you commit to the knowledge that at some point in the future, you will be given a terrible decision to make. That decision will be the last you make for your cat. That decision will result in a transfer of pain and suffering. You will take away all the pain and suffering of your cat, and you will begin a process of pain and suffering yourself. That's the price for the look. When they look in your eyes with love, that terrible decision is the price. It's a moment that all cat owners dread, but a moment that comes to us all.
Should we feel bad when our cat passes away? Of course, we should. We are losing someone we loved, and someone who loved us in return. The grief will be terrible, but it will be transient. It WILL pass. You will then be left with memories. Some of these memories will bring tears to your eyes. Some of these memories will make you laugh. However, the pain and suffering will eventually fade.
So, when the moment comes, you must find a strength within yourself. You're about to do something incredible. You're about to give a display of love and devotion rarely equalled. You will be given a decision about whether to allow your pet to suffer and thus save your pain, or whether to remove all pain and suffering from the cat, and take it on yourself. If the time is right, you will know. And you will make the right decision. And then you should be so proud of yourself. Amid your grief and suffering, you should take such strength from the knowledge that when the moment came, you decided to choose your cat's welfare in favour of your own. What greater love can any pet owner display?
So, for those who think they have to make that decision soon, take strength. Know that your moment has come. The moment where you wrap up all the love and devotion you have for your cat into one incredible moment and do what's right, for those on the other side of that decision, then well done. I'm proud of you, and your cat would be proud of you, too. Your cat is forever pain-free. You are in pain, but I promise it will pass. Don't worry, some of us know how bad that pain is. You are not alone, and we know how much it hurts. It's terrible, but it will pass. Then you will have memories that you should treasure.
I like to think that one day I will be reunited with my pets. There will be no crashing together as we run towards each other, as in the rainbow bridge poem. There will be no kisses. We will give each other that look. The look that says, "I love you, and now I know how much you love me."
