I'm heartbroken. We found out he was FIV positive shortly after we got him, but that doesn't make the loss any easier. He was only 1.5 years old. Hold your cats close for me tonight.
Edit: I fell asleep, so I'm sorry that I didn't respond to everyone. I'm very thankful to everyone for the kind words and support.
Next year it will be 20 years since I lost my best boyo, but he is still in my daily thoughts, in the weight-memory on my lap & chest, and he visits me in my dreams from time to time.
His face is the only face I can actually ever recall at will.
The inevitably failing memory over time is ... there, eventually it will win.
I tell everyone that it’s both, “I had her for TWENTY years!” with excitement and joy for how long I had her in my life, and how lucky I was to have her such a long time. AND, “I had her for twenty years,” so I don’t even remember who I was before her; she was so much of my life and it is so much harder to live without her now.
I’m sorry you’re also dealing with this kind of pain. It sucks. <3
Oh man, big ol cat hug squeezy incoming for my lil guy
I hope you're able to transition through the grieving process well, friend. It's never a bad moment to stop and take a real deep breath and feel the pain, it's going to come regardless and it's always better to accept it in these situations.
I’m so sorry! My first cat had FCOV/FIV just as Covid happened in early 2020. His death really affected me but taught me a lot. I hugged him until the end. I know your pain.
Thanks for the reminder of impermanence and cherishing our family and pet family! I struggle with imagining my current pets’ future deaths.
I’ll add he is super cute! I can tell he was a very good boy :)
Since I saw someone else shared a cute photo I will too:
As I believe with my cat, both we and they are lucky to have chosen us to go through this disease. He got a loving home. He must have felt very safe to sit with you such. And you got to take care of a special animal in need of love and care.
Sorry to hear about your boy, however short is our time with them, we do our best to make their life enjoyable and while it is painful, they do love us back. So remeber and cherish of all the good times you two had.
My about 8 year old girl (had her for 4), got diagnosed with an aggressive cancer last week. Nothing we can do but let her enjoy all the luxuries of her short remaining life. I am sure she knows she is cherished and had her best life with us.