<p>We had to put our beloved kitty to sleep. He had cancer and was older, but not ancient. He was a great cat. This comes on top of losing our ancient (16 yr old) lab last summer. We really loved those pets. I feel so silly crying about it… I can hear my mom in my head (I was about 9) telling me not to be so sentimental about pets.</p>
<p>Truly sorry for your loss anothermom. We’ve been there and it is so difficult. Our pets are certainly part of our family and we will grieve when one is lost.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry, anothermom2. Please don’t feel silly crying for the loss of your beloved kitty. Gosh, of course you would feel really sad to lose a pet who was so much a part of your life.</p>
<p>Lost our lab last winter, still miss him. Even though we have a new (very bad, today ;)) puppy and an older dog…Still tell stories about our cat who died five years ago. He was a great cat, big and lovable and actually played fetch. I’m really, really sorry for your loss. 
It’s not sentimental, it’s love.</p>
<p>So sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. We have grieved the loss of each of our pets because they were dearly loved and greatly missed.</p>
<p>How can you not get sentimental over an animal that trusts you enough to lie next to your head at night? That runs to greet you? That demands affection? That lets you grab its tail and shake its belly? You should be glad you’re sad because this is a loss. I miss all the animals I’ve ever lived with.</p>
<p>ohhhhhh I am so sorry. I have a 13 year old kitty and 10 year old cocker.<br>
this makes me really sad. {{hugs}} to you.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry. It’s okay to be sentimental–and very sad. Pets become a part of our families. Our sweet dog died in November, and I still miss his little presence.</p>
<p>Rabbi Marc Gellman writes a column called “The God Squad.” Someone wrote to him saying that non one supports her grief in the loss of her pet. He did. And he told her to be thankful for her grief, because it means that she loved wholeheartedly. If the alternative to grief were never to have shared that love, would you take the alternative? Not many would.</p>
<p>Feel what you need to feel. Grieve as you need to grieve. Love as you need to love and don’t let anyone tell you you’re wrong.</p>
<p>My condolences on your loss.</p>
<p>My condelences. We lost our beloved cat and ancient dog within a few months of each other. We now have another cat and another dog that we love but we never forget or loved more those original two…they were our first “childrlen.” I have “saved” Chevda’s post above with the wise words. I watched Marley and Me last weekend and I sobbed through the entire last half hour and I’m not one to cry at movies but it just brought back memories.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved kitty. My dad just lost his best dog ever after a year of fighting her lymphoma. He is devastated and cannot see her picture without crying. This is a “tough guy” who has never been open with his feelings. The biggest problem I have experienced with pet loss is people who consider companion animals to be purchases that come from a store. A loss of a pet is treated as a “broken toy”. Too often, these people consider humans the same way, although they will deny it!</p>
<p>I think that we are more attuned to animals and to their friendship and guidance now, which is a good thing.
Oftentimes when people don’t know what to say, they may tell you " it doesn’t matter" or to stop the way you are feeling. It must be pretty scary to them, to not allow themselves to feel compassion for someone who has lost a pet or somebody else close.</p>
<p>I have heard of people telling others who have lost a * child/spouse/friend* that they should be over it already.
</p>
<p>Animals have much greater intelligence and compassion than some of us realize, and I know we gain much from their friendship.
I haven’t read this book, but I have another by this author, and it might help you.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Animals in Spirit: Our faithful companions’ transition to the afterlife eBook: Penelope Smith: Kindle Store](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Spirit-companions-transition-ebook/dp/B0012D1DNC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269017105&sr=1-10]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Spirit-companions-transition-ebook/dp/B0012D1DNC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269017105&sr=1-10)</p>
<p>Hugs to you, anothermom! It is OK to cry. Maybe your Mr. Kitty will run into my cats on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge…</p>
<p>I’m so sorry, anothermom. Please don’t feel silly for crying about it. I think it’s strange when people <em>don’t</em> cry over the loss of a beloved pet. Why wouldn’t you?</p>
<p>Please feel free to cry…I’ll even cry with you. We all adore our pets and the thought of losing one makes me cry. </p>
<p>I may be facing the same thing shortly. My precious Mittens (who I wrote about a few weeks ago) had a stroke early last week. Mittens came home from the animal hospital last Friday (was there a week), and is not eating or drinking well. (or walking well). I am getting Pedialite into him by syringe, but I don’t know how long that can go on. He’ll eat <em>some</em> wet food, but not enough as far as I know.</p>
<p>I hope you have some beloved pics of your kitty for you to lovingly remember him by.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you. <3 {{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}</p>
<p>Donna is right…why wouldn’t you cry over the loss of a beloved pet. My H and I cry whenever we think we might lose Mittens (or Princess, or Sammy, or Missy).</p>
<p>Thanks so much to all. I have some good photos. I was just thinking about one that we included in my D’s Bat Mitzvah photo montage, and it was a funny one of the cat and me, and everyone was laughing. Maybe I’ll get that one framed.</p>
<p>Yes! A funny pic of you and your kitty will certainly help ease some of the pain and sadness as you grieve.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you lost your friend. Definitely get the picture framed. I lost my cat just a few weeks ago. Each day, I expect her to run to greet me, jump into my lap and make biscuits.</p>
<p>Anothermom, so sorry for your loss. In our home, our pets are family members, not just animals, so of course we grieve for them when they pass. I am currently giving sub cutaneous injections to my 14 year old cat who is suffering from kidney disease. As she still has a great quality of life(she eats sleeps, swats at the dog, etc.), I can not justify putting her down yet. Please don’t think it is strange to feel a loss of a pet. I’m sure your kitty had a great life and knew how much he was loved.</p>
<p>I lost a couple of pets before I got married. I swore I didn’t want to have any more because it was such a big loss when they passed.</p>
<p>Through a series of events, I became the caretaker of my son’s kitten. It was supposed to be for a summer, but we all fell in love with her and couldn’t imagine life without her. He realized that all the back and forth between his apartment and breaks would be tough for her, so he turned her over to us permanently.</p>
<p>Every day, when I come home from work, she plops down on the floor for me to rub her belly, at which time she starts purring like an engine. </p>
<p>What’s not to love? </p>
<p>You get that photo framed of your beloved kitty. So sorry for your loss. :(</p>