I wish I could say something to make it easier.

You gave her a great life.

It's a difficult time, I think I'd also not tell someone if I thought it might make their life more difficult.

to say that last goodbye to our furfriends. You gave her a long, comfortable life filled with love. It sounds as though her trip across the Rainbow Bridge was as peaceful as possible. RIP Sophie.

does well and comes home.

i am so sorry for chucks' and your loss.

and it sounds to me like she a peaceful passing, knowing she was loved to the end.

I'm sorry your your loss.

She passed lying in a lovng place. I'll bet she finds a way to vsit your husband and comfort him.

It means more than you know. Thank you again.



Diane

I hope Chuck gets better - sending you both warm, healing wishes.

Apropos Chuck's T1, have you ever heard of Richard Bernstein MD? He was diagnosed T1 at age 12, and was dying in his 30s when, with his MD spouse's help, his own engineering training, and a newly-invented blood-glucose meter intended for hospitals, he determined that the problem was carbohydrates. That's something the ADA still doesn't truly acknowledge.

By scrupulously avoiding carbs, testing his glucose often, exercising to keep up his muscle mass, and judiciously using insulin, he's kept his glucose spot-on normal (83) ever since then and is now in his mid-70s, having outlived all the predictions for someone with his diagnosis.

Following Bernstein's protocol could be a lifesaver for Chuck, if that's still possible which I hope it is.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And for your husband's illness.

I've lost several cats over my lifetime and every loss has left a hole in my heart, so I can empathize, and I hope Leo, Taz, and Nigel snuggle close to comfort you.

losing a friend and loved one is devastating

Even though I didn't know Sophie personally, I know how painful it is to lose a pet. When my own cats have passed, it's been very difficult for me. I wish you well in this sad time, and I thank you and Chuck for giving Sophie a long life filled with love and caring.

That is so sad. Watching pets die is like watching family die.

for the loss of your beloved kitty Sophie, but what a loving and beautiful passing she had, in your arms in her home. I wish all pets could go that way. (((HUGS)))

Nineteen years is a good stretch of time to share with another being. I'm sure Sophie was grateful for your touch at the end. You were a good kitty-mom.

I'm not sure what we're doing, but all of our cats seem to live a long time. We have 3 remaining and the youngest is 16. The other 2 are 18 & 19. We lost our senior member on New Years Day--he was 23. It never seems long enough, though. Nigel, the youngest, seems to having the hardest time. He'll get extra cuddles tonight. More tear-soaked fur, I'm afraid. I'm trying not to sob at my desk, but I have very understanding co-workers.

Thanks again.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage Even Though They Are Lower Life Forms--HISS!”

for them to live so long and so well. Ours get very upset whenever we are upset and try to make it 'better' for us. Nothing is going to make Sophie's loss easier, but if she heard you crying you know she'd be there to comfort you. Extra cuddles for you!

Losing a pet is losing a family member.

Nineteen years is a good long time for a kitty. I'm glad she waited for you to say goodbye.

I wish I knew how you could tell your husband that.

It is never easy to lose a furry friend, even when they are on in age. I have dogs now, but I had a beautiful big calico cat named Cocoa when I was growing up. He left after my sister was born (I guess he didn't like babies!). Probably ended up at one of the neighboring farms but I sure missed him. Hugs for you.

I'm so sorry.

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers!

you and your husband have my sympathies ...

Someone once said ...

"dogs have owners,
cats have staff"

We lost Pyewacket two days after Christmas last, she was 20. She lays under the big leaf maple that she was most fond of climbing when we first got her.

It was hard, the house seemed empty, the bed barren. We put away the toys and electrically heated cozy.

We took our time and slowly started to watch our local shelters.

It has now been two months with Max, a beautiful Norwegian forest cat (male) and Magic, an equally beautiful all black short hair female. Their personalities and disposition are entirely opposite but they have bonded to each other and now the 'staff' is back full-time serving the new Mistress and Master of the household.

Max spent the weekend carefully delivering a collection of field mice, shrews and snakes (mostly alive) to us while he lay under the rhododendrons. Magic spent her long weekend seeking out the vulnerabilities of the staff, starting with licking the cheese sauce off my eggs benny or learning to type on my laptop.

Cats, and all pets, make a home alive ...

padruig

Nice - a Norwegian forrest cat - or "norsk skogkatt" as the Norwegian name for it is, is a nice cat - independent and stubborn, and can survive in the wild for some time if necessary - dam good hunter! But also very loyal if you treat them with respect and love, and can also be a friendly indoor/outdoor cat if necessary.. Can be a fighter, but also a very kind animal, it all depends of its experience in life I guess the cat is similar to the nature in Norway - stubborn, hard, you have to fight to survive in it - but it is also a warm, nice place to live and to be in, when the sun is out, and the summer is in full swing..

And it is good your two cats have bounded, and is good friends, even though they are the opposites of each other. They might like it that way, to be the opposites of each others.. Some cats trives on opposites.. And yes, they Do are the true masters of the household, no doubt about it...

But yes, it is always sad to loose a cat, even though they do live for a long time, they do die - and it is always like a wall is breaking down, and it takes long time to get the wall up again...

I still greatly miss my cats - even though they doesn't die - I had to give them away because of allergy, and I find it difficult to look at the pictures - even after many years.. I miss them, they was good friends, and lovely cats....

indeed, the house is far more alive when you have animals..

Diclotican

We had a gray tiger named Sophie, too. My wife found her as a 6 weeks old stray. She lived to be 18. It was a hard day when we lost her too.

Take care.
GAC

Hugs to family including and especially the other fur babies.



I still haven't been able to get over the passing of my sweet Tikki Marie a few months ago
..I just plain miss her.


Tikki

Regardless, I'm sure your pain still hurts as much as if you had lost her at 3, maybe even more. I'm sorry.

We lost our beloved Charlotte after having her beautiful 12 years. It was the saddest day for our family but she had mouth cancer and it was time to end her pain. My understanding for you deep loss. They are babies that never grow up and give unconditional love.

Hugs to both of you.

I'm so glad you were with her for one last purr... what a sweetheart.

This really will be tough on your husband. I wonder whether a chaplain or grief counselor at the hospital or nursing home he's in could give you some advice. I hope he's able to come home soon.

So she could die. She was on my bed and when I lay down beside her she moved her head to look at me and then with a gentle sigh she breathed her last breath. I was the last thing she saw. I get a knot in my throat when I think of her.

Diane....a friend of mine is dying in NY and she is still looking for a home for her tabby brother and sister kitties so they will not end up in a kill shelter when she passes. May be able to arrange transport to your home if interested. They used to live with her dog who has found a home so they are dog friendly. They were originally strays born in a barn also.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know it doesn't help much for someone to say that, but there really are no words anyone can say to take the pain away.

when my father was so ill I was so afraid my dog that he loved so much would die. The dog was old and in poor health and I knew that if something happened to that dog it would break my father's heart and shorten his life. Luckily the dog outlived him but I know just how you feel. I think you are better off keeping this from him as long as possible.

Nineteen is a long life for a cat - unless she's your friend, and then it's not nearly long enough.

What a peaceful way for her to go but I'm so sorry about the other circumstances that make this even more difficult.

A loss of a pet is very hard. I have been there, too.

and your husband, I'm sure. And how wonderful that you were able to be there for her at the end.

It gives me comfort to think of my former cocker spaniel, Buddy, being on the Rainbow Bridge, waiting for me. It sounds silly, but I hold onto the thought. It is so comforting. And why the heck not? He could be waiting for me. Who's to say that isn't so? I hope so.

She had a good, long life with you. RIP, Sophie.

Catbyte- It sounds like Sophie was happy to the end...purring in your lap with her final breath. All best comfort to you and Chuck.
Mike in NC

I definitely know what you are going through now! And my kitty's illness came on suddenly too. I'd just had her checked out at the vet a couple of months earlier and she seemed to be slower but seemed relatively healthy then.

But on a weekend before I had to travel across the country on a business trip, I found that she hadn't been eating for a day or two and I knew that I couldn't just leaver her in the house unattended (I'm single). I took her to the animal hospital and they said her kidney was shutting down, but they were hopeful that it was an infection that she could recover from. When I got off the plane on Monday, I called back and found out she also had cancer and didn't have too much longer to live. She wasn't suffering per se, but wasn't in a sustainable condition to last longer without a lot of assistance. She hung on until the following weekend when I got back and I decided then that it was her time then when I got a chance to say goodbye to her and she got a chance to say goodbye to my mom who's been going through health condition issues too through Skype as well that day. She managed to purr and show she was full of love right up until the last hour. And as this picture taken of her two days earlier shows, she was beautiful right up until the end too.



The house feels so empty over the last month for the first time for over 20 years for me now. I'm waiting until I get back from vacation in a month or so before I get another friend or two then.

Give Chuck a good hug. The most important thing to help you both is that you know you both have each other when your other friend is missing. It's hard when you don't have someone to give a hug to when you get lonely at times. And I also thank you to help remind me that I at least now value my health and that I have a job, which I didn't not too long ago for a long while.

I know the heartbreak you are feeling as I lost my 20 year old kitty in February. It's so hard to lose them when they are that old, but you gave her a wonderful life and you have great memories. I wish you peace and comfort as you deal with this devastating loss.

I know too full well what you're going through, and the ache that we pet owners ultimately experience. Our beloved animals simply do not live long enough, right?

But the love and care you extended to Sophie over the years was gratefully acknowledged in her last moments, and I hope that will be a comfort to you and Chuck.

catbyte

My deepest condolences.. I know how it feels to loose a great friend - and a cat can be that, a great friend who love you, and is showing it too.. And they can be as loyal as a dog if you treat them with love, and care for them.

But what a nice gesture from the cat - to stay alive as long as she needed to get you home - and then die there, in your lap, knowing she was loved and cared for by the ones she know about...

Thank you, and I hope, you find a way to tell it to your husband - in a way that is not devastating for him.. That is the tricky part I guess...

Diclotican

I just stopped reading and hugged 'Lewis', who didn't know what 'all of that' was about, but, from the purring, didn't much care, either.

(hugs)

You've got a lot on your plate. I'm so sorry that Sophie is gone & for the delicate situation it's put upon you in regard to Chuck.

Strength & comfort to you, Diane.

I went through it, too, catbyte, a few years back with my beloved Zelda at age 18, and yes it was devastating. You know you can always come here when you need to talk and to share and we'll be here for you. I know Sophie had a wonderful life because she found you, and you gave her 19 whole years she would not have had otherwise. And for her to pass away, purring, in your arms--what a gentle way to travel to the Rainbow Bridge.

My prayers are with you and Chuck.

She is a feisty one. It's a great name for great cats.

please don't hide this from your Chuck. Let him know what happened and tell him that now Sophie can be with him wherever he is - all he has to do is call her and she will be by his side. Animals is spirit know when someone needs them and do come around.

Blessings.

I'm having a hard time reading every post through my tears, but I wanted you to know I am truly touched. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for sharing your stories. It really does help.



Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage Even Though They Are Lower Life Forms--HISS!”