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We are very grateful to the caring people who have kindly chosen to share their experiences and advice. We hope you find strength and comfort in their words. If you would like to add your own words of comfort and advice, please click the button below.
The comments expressed are the thoughts and views of the authors only and are not the views of the Charity. The Charity reserves the right to remove anything posted on this page anything which it deems inappropriate or unacceptable. The Charity will not engage in any correspondence should it remove such comments.
Kelly Ottley
On 8th August 2020 I had to put P.J to sleep, because of covid 19 they could only sedate him while I was there so he was fast a sleep when they took him to put him to sleep/death my only concern was the last thing he saw was me. He was my companion for 27 years (18th June 1993 to 8th August 2020) I love him and grateful that he helped me survive my mum's death; he moved from Lincoln with me, from Eltham to Plumstead to Woolwich. I uber for very first time there but as soon as my friend heard how dire it was she rushed to be by my side so I wasn't alone.
Sue Duck
My beautiful boy, Elvis. I loved you from the first moment I set my eyes on you when you were 1 year old. You always knew when I was sad and was always so pleased to see me when I came home. I've had you all of these 17 years and it pained me so much to let you go. I hope you know how very much I love you and I how much I so desperately miss you. I'm so sorry that I couldn't make you better. You were so brave right until the end; so much braver than me. You can rest in peace now my beautiful boy. I love you and I will never forget you...
Jane Mitchell
Tom arrived with us 10 years ago. I had recently lost a job I loved and had a miscarriage . I wasn’t in a good place . They say animals choose you and that seemed to be the case with Tom. We have laughed at his funny ways and loved his loyalty. We had no idea he was ill until he appeared on Tuesday morning looking as he had swallowed a tennis ball.He was still eating , drinking and playing . Thursday the lump was bigger . He went to the vet for the first and last time . The vet had no idea where the fluid causing the swelling was coming from but underneath was a huge tumour . He didn’t come home. Due to COVID I couldn’t give him a cuddle goodbye. I have cried and cried and the house feels empty . Goodnight little man. Sleep tight
sarah flavell
Frankie has been with me since i was 2 and i’m now 13. He has been leaving marks on the carpet and making the whole house smell really bad. He has arthritis in his hips and his back is bad too. We have tried to do our best and keep him for as long as we could but we have to do what is best for him. He’s being put down either tomorrow or at the weekend. I don’t know what i’m going to do without my little frank, he is my only pet i’ve ever had and i couldn’t think of a better cat to own!! I’m going to miss him loads but he will be waiting up there for me. Love you Frankie cat🥺
Iris Bioletti
Dearest Pebbles Faithful friend Such grief and sadness at your end We loved you darling Did you know? I hope so. XXX (died July 26th 2020 aged 13) Rest in peace, my golden eyed boy.
Rachael Anderson
Eddie my 8 month old little kitten sadly started struggling to breathe on Monday night, he stayed in the hospital over night for tests and I received a phone call in the morning to say he hadn’t responded to the treatment. He had a heart defect and a build up of fluid in his lungs. We had to make a difficult decision but the best one for him. My heart hurts so much, I feel so lost. He slept with me every night and now I feel so lonely. I am just so sad because he has been ripped away from me so suddenly. My other cat is looking for him & it breaks my heart. Our house doesn’t feel the same. A short time spent together that felt like a lifetime & I will never forget your wee face. I’ll miss you and love you forever my wee Eddie x
Gina Childs
Where do i start , my fluffy ginger boy we have had him and his sister since kittens , his little character was so lovely , he was always there to welcome you home , alway nudged for a tickle , was always there when I needed him , he was a little chatter box , Tuesday the 4th August I knew something wasn’t right as he didn’t come in for breakfast , usually he was waiting for my outside the bedroom door , Tuesday afternoon we revived a call from a vets to tell us he was run over and died outside our house Monday evening , a lady found him in the road , and took him to the vets , I’m hurting so bad , I’ve been crying everyday , he was my little bestie , everything I do reminds me of him , rip my little monkey chesney x
Lena Pfeiffer
We saw Missy the last time on Wednesday 29th July. That morning when she didn't wake me up and cuddled next to me in bed, I had a bad feeling. We had the awful experience of teenager in the street showing us a photo of "a dead cat" that went round on snapchat. I screamed and broke down in tears when I saw it was our Missy. The people with the photo didn't help locating her, for reasons I will never know and never understand. My baby died in the streets alone and we will never know what happened. And the worst part, I wasn't there with her. Part of me just feels broken. I haven't stopped crying ever since, and the same time I feel I have to pull myself together to go back to work and function but I can't. Anyone who has met her fell in love with her and said how special she is. She was the most gorgeous cat. Whenever I wasn't feeling well she would sleep next to me, whenever I was scared alone in the house she would lie next to me until my partner comes home. She would greet everyone that passes our front garden and ask for some tummy tickles. It breaks my heart that we couldn't say goodbye and give you the burial you so deserved 'mein schatz'. I so hope you found peace, and I'm so grateful to have had you in our life you made it so special, Mummy will never forget you.
Julian Ivanoff
She was my childhood friend. She was the sweetest cat ever, and out of all my family members, she clung to me the most. She watched me grow up and was always there for me in my worst times. Even in her final weeks she kept up her energy, still finding ways to be around me. I didn’t know that she knew her time was coming to an end, otherwise I would have spent more time with her. I think about all the little moments we spent together, it hurts knowing we can’t do it again. Her weight loss was extreme, you never really notice it until someone points it out. It would have only been a matter of time as it was declining so fast. I knew her body was shutting down, especially when I found her trying to hide and just rest as cats do in the wild as they near the end. I couldn’t watch her like that, I took her to the vet in the morning and had her peacefully pass in my arms. Even in her final moments she laid her head on my arm. I know she lost her hearing so she couldn’t hear my comforting words but I know in her soul she could feel my love for her. We were inseparable until the end. She was my best friend, my childhood would not have been the same without her. She passed July 27, 2020. I still have a long road of grief ahead of me but I know deep in my heart she loved me very much and I will never forget her. Thank you for all the love you have given me, Hammy, I know you will always remain in my heart.
Helen Ellis
My heart feels like its going to burst, after having to have my best friend Frankie put to sleep on Thursday. I had Frankie from 7 weeks old, he was found in a flat with 70 others. He was weary, flea ridden and full of worms. From the first night, he snuggled so close to me and followed me like a puppy. Although I have 8 others, he was my special boy, my best friend. He came in Thursday breathing fast, after all þe tests at the vet, he had heart and kidney failure... my heart is aching so much for my best friend, he was only 9, but I had to do what was best for him, and let him go to rainbow bridge. I still dont know if I can live without him, or even if I want to. Sleep tight my Frankie, Mummy loves and misses you. Forever and always x x
Emma H
Today I had to say goodbye to one of my first ever friends. I had my cat from the age of 6 to 22. She made life a bit easier when things got tough and I never felt lonely as she was always by my side. I hope wherever she is now she is out of pain and reunited with her sister cat who passed away 8 years ago. Although I have the rest of my life to enjoy without her, I look forward to the day I can cuddle her again.
Luke Whitcomb
I have just lost my sixteen year-old cat Milly. She was beautiful and gentle to the very end, grooming herself to her satisfaction even to the last week of her life. I was told she had an abdominal growth one month ago after she stopped eating. The vet said she had 2-4 months at the most, but sadly she lasted only 3 weeks. After a particularly challenging night, I phoned the vet and made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to take and I held her as she slipped away. Milly completed my household; the house and garden feel so empty right now without her presence. But I know ultimately these very painful emotions will become lasting happy memories. Right now I see her everywhere and my heart is so sore. I hope she knew how much I loved her. I have to trust that she did. It was a privilege from start to finish to be her owner. I may well get another cat some day. I hope so. But Milly is irreplaceable and will be deeply in my heart as a significant part of my life experience always.
Tina Begum
I got Mitten when I was 23 and he was my first ever pet. I fell in love and he changed how I felt about all animals. I was always afraid of animals before and now, I cannot get enough. Animals have the purest souls. They don’t have any hidden agendas. On the first of April, despite lockdown beginning a week before, my beautiful boy was run over. 3 months on and it is still so raw. When other parts of my life were falling apart, he was there to cuddle and love. Now whenever I feel sad, there’s the feeling of loss where he was and nothing can change it. I don’t know if I will ever get over the fact that I have lost him but hopefully, time will heal these wounds. My Mitty the Kitty was so Pretty 💕
Maritza Duncan
I got my beautiful girl Casey from Cat Protection in 2011. She was around one year old and very timid. I was very patient with her and slowly but surely she gained trust and began to relax more. She was an indoor car with a great wee personality. She knew her own mind. Casey was part of the family through the good and bad times. Yesterday I had to get her put down. I am heartbroken. I am glad that I was able to give her 9 happy years. I am going to put a collage of photos up to remember the good times. I plan to adopt another cat from Cat Protection to offer it a loving home. Casey maybe gone but she will never be forgotten!
Shane Boyle
Today on the 15th of July my beloved cat Jasper was hit and killed by a car, it’s still so raw but this is a wonderful outlet for grief and and it’s lovely to know I’m not alone. He was a 6 year old black and white long haired cat, full of character, I’d wake up every morning with him purring on my chest, I still don’t know how I’m going to cope without him, I’ve been crying uncontrollably since I’ve found out , I miss him so much already and knowing I’ll never see his little face again is crushing my heart. Sleep well Jasper, I never thought I’d lose you so soon , I hope you know how loved you were and how important you were to us ❤️ Life won’t be the same without you ❤️ Shane & Maria xxxxx
