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.
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Joanne Weber
We had to let our boy go yesterday morning. I found him in the coat cupboard curled up and in a lot of pain having suffered a saddle thrombus. Our vet was wonderful and Sky knew he was safe and loved right up until he quietly slipped away with us stroking him and telling him how much we loved him and that we would see him and his brother again. I was on the phone with the breeder the moment he was born and I was there when he left us - I feel very privileged to have had 11 years with him. He was such a wonderful boy and our home will never be the same without him but we know he is not in pain any more and is playing with his brother Minam. We love you and miss you so much darling.
Marie Griffin
Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our lovely buddy Rory. We found Rory 15 years ago with his little friend Silvie at the side of the mountain in Co. Kerry. Thrown away by someone who didn't know or appreciate what they had, these two cats immediately became an important part of our family. Silvie had a lot of health problems and passed away two years after we found her. Rory continued to thrive. During lockdown Rory was diagnosed with various health problems. He coped with these well and continued to give us entertainment, and affection. However our vet and ourselves missed something more sinister happening to his health over the past few months. 2 nights ago he became very ill suddenly. He was diagnosed with a mass in his throat. Given all his health problems he wouldn't have coped with the treatment. For his sake we had to make the hardest decision, to put him to sleep and end his pain. I didn't want to go and say goodbye, leaving my husband to go by himself. I'm so glad I came to my senses. We went together and spent Rory's last hour together, comforting him. Even though he was obviously stressed, he seemed to calm. Before the vet came he lay down and rested, with us by his side. The procedure itself was quick and seemed totally painless. I'm so glad I went. Rory gave us so much joy it was the least I should have done for my little buddy.
Olivia Ling
Today our Dobby would have turned 7. Dobby passed away peacefully and painlessly in our arms about 2 months ago. His health deteriorated suddenly due to an unexpected kidney illness. Saying goodbye was the most difficult and distressing experience I have ever had - when the solution was being injected into his helpless little body, part of me was dying too. I took huge comfort from the kind words and compassion from our friends, families, as well as from strangers on websites like this - and I hope you will too. Whenever I think of Dobby now, there is no longer pain, there is only love.
Laura Buckley
I recently had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, having to put my Percy to sleep. I feel so guilty about it and whether it was the right time, if he had some fight left and if he wanted to come home. It all happened really suddenly and after being away for a night we came home and notice he wasn't walking on his back leg, we took him straight to the vets and they determined he had a blood clot in his main artery which after investigation was because of heart disease. He stayed in the vets overnight to see how he improved on pain meds and blood thinners. In the morning he was much the same. The vets said we could bring him home to come to terms with it, but we made the choice to give him the kindest fate with no prolonging the inevitable. Did we jump the gun and act too quickly? He wasn't in any pain or discomfort at the time but there was high chance he would get another blood clot that would be much worse for him. He didn't have full use of his leg, he wasn't eating or going to the toilet. But was that because he was scared and wanted to come home? Would it have been selfish of me to bring him home for a little longer? What would he have wanted knowing his fate? I feel such a loss and making it hard for myself to accept or know I made the right decision. He was such a gentle and kind boy, his story was cut short being almost 3. He will leave a huge hole in our lives and I can’t believe that he is gone.
Kimberley Jones
I lost Leo in January 2024. It was very hard saying goodbye to him as he was my last pet I had left. My little ginger boy. He’ll forever be in my heart and I’ll never forget my boy xx
Tracey Orefice
We said goodbye to our beautiful Brunie yesterday after 19 and a half years. He had kidney failure and his last few days were spent sitting quietly on his seat. We loved him so much and miss him like crazy. The house is just not the same without him. He is now pain-free and running around in kitty heaven with my other cat Jeremy who we also loved dearly and lost when he was 16 years old. Time is so precious and we cherish every moment that we had together. Love you. Rest in peace darling Brunie. Xx
Helen M Dunn
She was from my first foster litter from Cats Protection. I had to bottle feed her, she was so tiny. And from that moment on, she was my shadow. She loved nothing better than supervising my attempts at gardening. She slept on my bed, on the arm of my chair as I watched TV, she made a funny little chirping noise if I moved. After thirteen years, she decided to explore the road and that is where her story ends. Fortunately, someone found her and took her to the vets and her ashes are back in my front room beside those of my springer spaniel who she loved dearly. I miss her every day and as odd as this may seem, I catch sight of her out of the corner of my eye now and again so she's still here, keeping a watch over me.
Nicole McIntosh
I had to say goodbye to Buffy very suddenly, and it broke my heart. I adopted her as a senior cat, but in the few years we shared together we grew very close and I loved her dearly. Having to put your cat to sleep is extremely hard, especially when it happens so suddenly. I had a quiet day afterwards, cried my tears, and took it easy. I then found it comforting talking to my mum who also was close with Buffy. We looked at some photos and I am planning on making up a photo book with all my favourite pictures of her. I also bought a memory box that I have put her favourite toys and blanket in. It's not the same without her, and there will be times when I will still cry, but I remind myself she is no longer suffering and is at peace. I like to think she is looking down at me from above, and some day we will meet again over the rainbow bridge.
Emily James
A few nights ago we lost my darling Pixie. She was my bestfriend, my whole world. She helped me through the hardest of times and we did everything together. She took a piece of my heart to heaven with her. I got to be with her in her final moments and it broke me knowing I had to leave the vets without her and now I wait till she can come home again. I don’t know if the pain will ever go away but I find comfort in knowing I saved her a few years ago and gave her the best life full of amazing moments and memories and she was so loved. RIP my beautiful girl xxx
Peta Robinson
Mu, well she was my best friend. We seemed to do everything together. It's been 24 hours since she passed and she was the grand old age of 19. She died in our garden, that's where she wanted to go. In her home surroundings with the people who loved her unconditionally. The hole it has left I cannot describe. The day before she was eating happily doing her stuff then next she had a sudden heart attack. We couldn't get to the vet it was that quick. I hope there is a rainbow 🌈 bridge and she's up there looking down and one day we will be reunited again. Goodbye my love, my sweet, sweetheart Mu.
Rachel Perkins
A perfect gentleman in bear form, Fluffington lived on mischief; sprawling on keyboards, sneaking away with food, diving in through windows, pretending he had never been fed in his life. His plans were never subtle, but he was so deeply loved that he got away with it always. His charm had also influenced the local birds who, in return for being allowed to steal his food, would drop cooked chicken from the sky (once would be... a tad weird, but this happened three times in the space of a year). He got us through the pandemic, and was firmly a part of our family, our routine, and our lives. He was an excellent reading partner who would lightly place his paw on you when he wanted to be petted, but was very obvious when he wanted treats. Which was always. He was our Snackmaster General. Thank you Fluffington for everything. He never knew that he'll be loved and remembered many times longer than he lived.
Bella Murphy
We rescued Willow’s Mum without knowing she was pregnant with Willow I had her from the moment she was born for 16 and a half years. No amount of time could have been long enough. She passed away last November; we had to make the hard decision after rapid weight loss followed by a fit. I stayed up the whole night with her on her last night waiting for the dreaded phone call the next day knowing as soon as it rang the vet was coming and I would have to say my final goodbye. She was my best friend and the most beautiful, brilliant girl I could have ever asked for. She drifted off with me holding her and I felt like my entire being had shattered. Shortly after, a rainbow appeared and I take great comfort in this. The days after were hard, then the days without out her turned into weeks then to months. Most of the time I’m okay and then there are moments it hits me again; unbearable heart breaking grief and it’s like I re-live it over and over. 28/11/23 was the worst day of my life. I don’t want to not feel the sadness when it hits because when I feel it I know it is real. “They say grief never goes away. So you have to fill your life with new things, so the grief isn’t so bad.” 😭💔
Dawn Price
We got Claude after reading black cats are hard to home. Claude was our 4th cat & was the most characteristic of all the cats we’ve ever had. He was scared of nothing & he loved to jump out the bushes at passing dog walkers. He had the loudest purr & quietest meow. He lived life to the fullest & being outside was his favourite place or on my bed. He was only 8 when we got a call from a local vet to say he’d been hit & killed. We’re so grateful to the lady who called the vet but so angry with the driver who never stopped. Like others on here our heartache shows how loved Claude felt. We feel maybe he lived life to the full because he only had a short one. The pain of having loved him only to suddenly lose felt overwhelming. We will always hold him in our hearts & time will allow us to remember him with smiles & not just tears. Claude funniest & most fearless cat we love you. If I had one wish it would be that you had a little fear & had stayed away from the road. Sending hugs to everyone who ever loved & lost their cat.
Chris Doak
Our cat Sasha was put down yesterday after a short battle with cancer. I've been working from home since Covid and Sasha would either come amd sit with me, look out the window or sit outside my door. I'm going to miss her demanding her food at 5pm or reminded me about ten to 5 or was nearly tea time. She had became withdrawn in the last few days, struggling to eat and seemed to just sit on a seat out the way the past few days. The house is eerily silent without her and she will be sorely missed.
Francesca Di Piro
I adopted Gatsby when he was 4 years old, back in September 2016. He was the funniest, (sometimes) grumpiest, mischevious, silly boy ever. He was a beautiful, fluffy brown/tabby and white kitty. He used to love playing and harrassing his sister and biting people at any chance he got (playfully of course). He was diagnosed with CHF in January 2024 and after a scary night spent in the animal hospital, he was able to come home with medication. He was doing so, so well up until May where he started having 'attacks' where he struggled to breathe. Another trip back to the vets when this started uncovered that he was officially in heart failure. Over the next month, his decline was obvious and heartbreaking to watch such a funny, playful boy become inactive and unable to play and do the things he loved before. He passed just yesterday 20th June after one final 'attack'. He laid down in front of his food bowl by the back door and that was that. I stayed with him until the very end, petting his head ever so gently. I am completely heartbroken but I will cherish the memories forever ♡