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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 ♡
Janet Waterman
Darwin was a rehomed cat, he had been badly treated, so much he could not jump very high. We had 8 wonderful years, with a big cat with loads of personality. He became a big softie and a tease to my other cat Esther. He would playfully ambush her, no harm intended. He had an aggressive tumour on his head, and sadly had to take the decision to end his life, as he was clearly in a lot of pain. We and Esther, sadly miss you. Rest in peace Darwin
Anne Bond
We adopted Belle just 12 months ago and she immediately became part of the family. Inquisitive, loving and confident she was a huge support during the day as I worked remotely from my garden office. Her sudden loss has hit us so hard and we mourn her so much. We had her for such a short amount of time and never expected she would be taken so soon. I take comfort from the grief I feel meant she was so loved by the whole family. I am still finding it extremely hard but I hope time will heal.
MICHAEL MILLS
Our beautiful white Siberian Forest Cat, Snowflake, at only age 3 years suffered from rapidly deteriorating spinal growth which impinged her central nerve which prevented her from using her hind legs, passing stool, and caused increasingly severe pain which became untreatable with painkillers. To prevent any further suffering our family had to put her down. She was so full of love, and she was such an invaluable emotional support to my daughter— seeing her through her struggles with mental health. My daughter is better now; Snowflake’s job was done. Snowflake did an extraordinary job looking after my daughter and our family: 10 out of 10; a life lived to purrfection. Rest in peace, Snowflake. Thank you. We love you.
Jo Waller
My cat Queenie was 16 years old & on Tuesday 11/06/2024 I had to take her to the vet because she hadn't eaten her dinner or breakfast (& in our 12 years together she had never missed a meal. She loved her food). The vet found a large lump in her stomach and he was convinced it was cancer. He was amazed she hadn't stopped eating before Tuesday. The kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. It was very peaceful. She is out of pain. I decided to have her body cremated, the vet has organised it for me. I will collect her ashes in a couple of days. I'm struggling with doing stuff like emptying her litter tray for the last time. I cleaned it just before we went to the vet and then there was only one clump instead of the normal three or four. Queenie was my rock. She was my anchor. She was pure love. She was my best friend. She knew me. She made me smile & laugh and feel warm and cosy. She came to me through Cats Protection when she was four. She was an indoor cat. She was jet black with yellow eyes.
Kimberley Jones
I lost Felix in March 2020. It was very suddenly at home as he went to sleep and never woke up. It broke my heart completely as Felix was my first pet. He’ll forever be in my heart and I’ll never forget my boy xx
James Davies
I worked at Cats Protection until very recently. A week before leaving, my gorgeous little girl Doris went missing unusually for a couple of days. After searching high and low, posting leaflets and putting up posters I found her in a neighbour's disused swimming pool where she had drowned. I'll never shake the image of pulling her lifeless body out or the thoughts of her dying in such a traumatic way. I had picked her up myself from a Cats Protection Branch in Hull when she was only 16 weeks old and nursed her through Ringworm in our isolation unit. Such a nervous little kitten originally. I took her home on Boxing Day 2023 and she blossomed into a very confident, loving and perfect family member. This has truly broken me as I feel robbed of the life she had ahead and I can't help but feel guilty for not realising there was this danger so close. I was always aware of our neighbour's old pool but never thought it had water in or that she would go near it. We only moved into our new property in October 2023 and we have been renovating it as our dream home. However, we are now having to do the work and will put it on the market as I can never see myself ever getting over this traumatic event or enjoying a home that cost my little Doris' life. Losing a pet like this is truly soul destroying and the only positive I can take is that she was truly loved each and every day she was with us. Will never ever forget her.
Emmie Scott
The most beautiful cat in the world. Lost suddenly on 8/6/24 age only 6. We miss you and I am wondering what I could have done differently. That said, I know you are not suffering and you were loved so much and always will be. I'm not sure what to do with myself but I know that grief only exists in place of love, and we were lucky to have her.
Andrew Colwell
Keith came to us as a kitten aged a few weeks and became a massive part of our lives. I had denied myself a pet throughout my adult life due to being so upset at losing pets as a child. Keith attached himself to me, was always the first to welcome me, sit on my lap, play in the garden. He demanded my attention and love and got it, but gave it back in spades. We went out on Saturday for a rare trip to the theatre, Keith wasn't around during the morning, which was unusual. But we went out leaving him to find his own way in through the catflap. We got home early evening and he didn't come romping up to us as was his usual greeting, we discovered him asleep in his bed, but he didn't get up. We checked him and discovered that he had been involved in a road accident. Emergency trip to the vets and the distressing news that there was nothing they can do. We took the decision to put him to sleep and sat with him. Keith fell asleep in our arms in a room full of love, but it still feels terrible for such a young animal to be taken . We went home in shock and laid him to rest the next morning. Properly saying goodbye, really helped, we both feel really lost without him and I can see him everywhere I look. We have put all of his bowls, beds, toys into a box in the garage and have not ruled out having another cat, but time is needed to heal before we make such a decision. We are both allowing our feelings to come out and we are being kind to ourselves while we adjust.
helen futcher
I lost my Bella on the 7/6/2024 only a few days ago. She was my world for 14 years and it was heart breaking losing her but she was very ill with her heart. I miss her so much.
Michael Shaw
It’s only been a few days since I lost our Susan. We had her for 12 years, since she was a 6 week old little baby, with her sister Belle. She was the most gorgeous, curious, loving girl - always wanting to make new friends with any visitors to our home and always wanting to be involved in anything going on, unlike her sister who’s scared of her own shadow. Despite her inquisitiveness she was a very quiet and gentle soul, and despite her curiosity she was always there for me when I needed her - knowing when I needed a cuddle or that I’d love for her to sit with me. For such a quiet cat I’m struggling with the silence and emptiness the house feels without her spirit. But knowing that she had a hard couple of years towards the end with hyperthyroidism that we resolved only for kidney problems to then come up recently. We thought we’d have longer with you girl, we thought we’d be able to fight this like we did with everything else for you but unfortunately no. Being able to help control the end for her, and if anyone reading this gets the same opportunity for their beloved pet, yes it’s the hardest thing but it’s the best you can do in the situation. We got to put an end to any discomfort and pain before it got too much, we got to control the goodbye before it was too scary for you. It took all my love and strength to do that for you and I can only hope you knew that and felt that. Goodbye Susan, we’ll always love you
Tracey Brunyee
What I find helped me cope was to talk about the happy memories, and to talk to my friend who treated her cats same as me, with bucketfuls of love and affection, and they was loved just as much as if we both had children. Theirs no kind of technique to how you greive, I just found a way to cope, paying more attention to his brother Edward. I cant describe how hard it was to let Emmett go. His love for me was ten fold. What I wouldn't give to have one of your kitty facials..your little head butt's when I was on my kindle. Most of all I miss your presence, and you waiting for me at my door after my night shift, and even when I went out and opened the door and there you was. I loved how you would lay on my pillow with me but I would have to move so you would have half of my pillow, as you wouldnt stop meowing till i moved, and when you would snuggle up against my cheek and we would fall asleep, for me to wake up with ear ache from you laying next to me. I know you'll be with Alice, Tigger & Keiko, i love you so so much, till we meet again, love you always my precious, beautiful boy.