Just said "bye" to my best friend of 20 years...

[Jester]

This was probably the saddest thing I've ever had to do. My big, beautiful cat Vinnie hadn't eaten anything in 5 days, had lost half his weight (from 14 to 7lbs), and his back legs weren't working properly.

The vet wanted to do a battery of tests on Vincent, leave him overnight on an IV, blood work, x-ray, cat scan etc... Basically traumatize the poor cat and still have little chance of pulling through. I figured it would be best for a 19 year old cat to just go to sleep peacefully.

I held Vin on my shoulder while the vet put the needle in and the drugs took effect. I pet and comforted him the entire time. He looked at my face and I said "See you later, buddy", then he buried his face under my chin while I continued to pet him. I kissed the "V" on his forehead (Hence the name) and openly wept when his body went limp.

Vincent was picked by me as a birthday present when I was 10. Got him from the SPCA and out of about 100 kittens, I chose Vin. He was the runt of his litter, huddled at the back of a cage, and when I picked him up, he bit my finger. It was love at first bite. We grew up together and when I got home, he was always at the top of the stairs to greet me and wrestle.

Rest in Peace, big buddy. You were awesome.

 

[restoman]

Many condolences Jester. Pets are really like one of the family.


We had to the same to our beloved Soot three years ago, at 18 years of age.
We still miss the Black Bastard.

 

[Moparlady]

Aw, Jester, I'm so sorry. It is the toughest thing in the world for us humans to have to make these decisions..........but it's usually the kindest thing. I have lost two cats myself this year, and the last one is 16 yrs and slowly failing.

It sounds like you and Vinnie had a great many, many years together, and who knows what might have happened to him had you not come along. You have many friends here to share your sorrow with........I myself have tears.

Godspeed Vincent........[smilie=a:

 

[71dusterman]

Sorry to here Jester. Words don't mean a whole lot, but the memories you have will keep him alive for a long time. RIP Vin.

 

[thrashingcows]

Sorry to hear about Vinnie passing on....I grew up on a farm so animal death was just something you delt with...but it still hurt to have a friend pass on.

Are you planning on another resuce from the SPCA when your ready to love another cat again?

 

[BootHead]

Sorry Guy. that's tough. Glad V had such a good friend.

 

[74DartSport]

So sorry to hear that.
My old cat Bud coulda been his twin.
Bud was poly dactyl, played fetch, climbed onto my head in the morning and licked my face until I got up. When kids came into our life he tolerated whatever they did to him. My daughter would pick him up, carry him where she was playing, put him down and he would curl up and stay by her. If she didn't move him he followed.
We have another cat now but nothing like Bud.

 

[project74]

I kid you not Jester, that literally brought a tear to my eye, your description of his final moments. My condolences on the loss of your friend.

 

[beeper*71]

I feel your pain jester, I held both of our cats as they left us. It's hard, damn hard. He had a good friend in you, lucky cat that lived a full life.

 

[Matt43]

I had to do the same with my Ollie. I wasn't gonna let the last face he saw be a stranger's. Tough stuff.

 

[Stretch]

Sorry to hear that Jester. You brought a tear to my eye. I’m not looking forward to that day with my 13-year-old cat. It’s never easy.

 

[dustergal]

So sorry to hear this. Vinnie had a long and happy life, can't ask for much more than that.

 

[Jester]

Thanks guys. I knew the day was coming, and thought I was prepared to deal with it... But it feels horrible knowing he's gone. It seems so silly to grieve over a cat.

Had a dream about Vin last night, he was big and strong and I gave him a good rub while he walked through the kitchen. I said "Oh, there's Vinnie!" Then I woke up and felt a lot better

 

[dustergal]

It's not at all silly to grieve over a cat, heck I cry over guinea pigs and I don't cry easily. Besides, cats and dogs are better than most people anyway.

Funny, I always have nice dreams about family members and pets right after they die, it's like they are telling me they are okay. I think Vinnie just did that to you.

 

[Moparlady]

Thanks guys. I knew the day was coming, and thought I was prepared to deal with it... But it feels horrible knowing he's gone. It seems so silly to grieve over a cat.

Had a dream about Vin last night, he was big and strong and I gave him a good rub while he walked through the kitchen. I said "Oh, there's Vinnie!" Then I woke up and felt a lot better

Okay, at the risk of you all thinkin' I'm frikkin' 'round the bend, I think you had that dream for a reason. It was Vinnie's way of letting you know he's okay now.........I truly believe that our beloved pets come to us, in one way or another, after they're gone to put our minds at ease. It may not be anything really tangible........like finding a penny, or seeing a rainbow - or having a dream. As you've said, you felt better when you woke up. The same has happened to me, and I've know people who have had other "experiences". Jester, he leaves a huge hole in your heart, but that hole will gradually become smaller, until it's just that little corner where he will live forever.

 

[Jester]

Thanks DG and ML. I feel a lot better a few days after the fact, but geeze, the lump in my throat won't go away. At least Vin got his first and last ride in the old Swinger on his way to the vet. I guess that's called going out in style?