My cat died

[skcin]

Sorry so long, but I really need to get this out.


It was really sudden, he was only about 4 years old. We don't really know what happened. About a week ago he started throwing up after he ate (not out of the ordinary, since he always ate too fast; plus we changed his food to a hairball formula.) Then, he didn't eat on Sunday. By Monday, his breathing was becoming labored.

We took him in yesterday morning & his breathing was really bad. The vet gave him some steroid shots (this has helped him in the past - he had a chronic cough that we assumed was related to hairballs) but it was too late & he got worse.

He stopped breathing (slowly - it was the worst thing I've ever seen) but his heart didn't stop. So the vet did some chest compressions & tried to insert an airway, but it didn't work. It did, however, bring him back long enough for him to breathe a bit better & be more alert with some O2. But he was still suffereing, so we decided to put him down. We'll probably never really know what happened, I'm thinking pneumonia or something similar, maybe asthma.

We said goodbye & cried all day yesterday. My husband has NEVER cried, literally. Well, not since he was a kid. He's freaking out. That was HIS BOY. :distress: Now the guilt, the "what if's," the realizing he won't be there anymore, is setting in. He's never lost a pet before, while I've lost several. I'm in so much pain because HE is in so much pain. :distress:

We got him when he was a kitten, my brother had found a cardboard box in his yard one night. 4 kittens were inside. He took care of them, feeding them with eye droppers & everything. 1 died, my brother still has 2 of them & we got Cosmo. Named him after Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. Coolest cat ever. He was B&W, and had a half mustache. And HIS TAIL! Was 14 inches long! :shocked: Really, we measured it - our other cat, Mrs. Bouvier, measures in at only 9". Cosmo was very long & lanky, and silky smooth.

I'll miss the way he chewed through plastic wrappers to eat bread if I left it on the counter. I'll miss the way he woke us up at 5am to eat by poking us in the face with his paw. I'll miss the way he would do somersaults to get attention (no ****, he really used to actually flip himself over.) I'll miss that every single time I opened the window in the upstairs hallway, he'd come running from wherever he was in the house to jump up onto the sill & stare outside. I'll miss that he'd go into any open box the second it became empty. I'll miss that he'd sneak into the closet looking for more food. I'll miss that he was a total lap cat, sitting on you the minute you sat down, so cuddly & warm. I'll miss seeing him sitting with my husband in their usual position - Mark's legs crossed & extended, propped up on the coffee table or the recliner, Cosmo stretched out the entire length of Mark's legs, sleeping for hours. I'll miss having to monitor the other cat eating, since if she left her food bowl unattended, he'd eat her food before she even realized it. I'll miss him going under the covers & sleeping with us. I'll miss his running into the kitchen as soon as he heard us open a cheese wrapper. I'll miss seeing him at the door, along with the dog, waiting for us to come home. :(

I will miss this f*cking cat so much, it hurts. And I will really miss seeing Mark with this cat, they had a great bond. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'll post some better pics later, this one does not do him justice.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/100_0683.jpg

[chiliD]

My sympathies & condolences for your loss. :sorry:

I know what it is to lose a closely bonded family member in a shockingly quick manner such as this. I know exactly how you're feeling with the "what ifs", etc. Went through that, too.

May you find strength & comfort to get through this painful time.

[BTFLCHLD]

omg paula your guys heart...this makes me cry :(

i am scanning something for you i want you to see today..pls wait.

i also want to suggest you and mark visit www.petloss.com

this wonderful place and the people really have helped me so many times

they will want to read what youve written, and more.
they are very supportive and comforting...pls do this for cosmo.

niki

[SuzeQuze]

Jesus Paula, I am sooo sorry. How awful to lose him so young. I'm sorry for you and Mark's loss.

[estranged4life]

for your loss Paula...I can relate since I just lost "my boy" Rufus earlier this month (And yes, I cried my eyes out when he passed on towards the great litter box in the sky)

[jannieC]

:distress: Paula, I am so, so sorry. I've had my cat about that long and would be devastated if she were to die. xoxoxoxo

[cliffdweller]

I'm so sorry Paula! That photo you posted is adorable. It looks like he had a great personality. It is so hard to lose a pet, I hope you and your hubby are doing okay.

:xoxo:

[Patti]

Paula, I'm so sorry for your loss. I adopted a litter of kittens with feline leukemia several years ago (actually they were born 4/11/01--five years ago yesterday) and lost them all very young. The oldest was not quite 4 when she died on January 18, 2005. It broke my heart each and every time, knowing their lives were far too short. I totally understand the pain you are feeling of Cosmo dying so young.

Big hugs to you.

[HomerMcvie]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how close we can get to our pets.

[JazmenFlowers]

I'm so sorry to hear this. some of the things you mentioned my cat does all the time. the getting in a box the second it's empty is something Chloe does all the time and I'm sure my list of "misses" would be just as long as yours. it's always hard to lose a pet, especially when you don't really know why. so sorry sweets. I'm sure Cosmo was well loved and lived a great life.

much love to you and Mark :xoxo:

[Lee]

I'm so :sorry: for your loss. I know what it's like to loose a pet. Know that he's not suffering anymore. :angel:

Lee:(

[BTFLCHLD]

i am scanning something for you i want you to see today..pls wait (((((paula)))))

edit: ive sent what i posted privately paula...
maybe it is too painful for today but read when your ready...k.

[madformac]

I'm sorry for your loss Paula. I'll just say what I said to Livia last week. The only thing I can say is to try and take some sympathy from all the people on here that feel for your loss. It's so positive to have so much support in a situation like this. Take care. :xoxo: :sorry:

[strandinthewind]

I am sorry to hear this {{{HUGS}}}

[Rickypt]

I'm so sorry to read this, Paula. This is heartbreaking.

[bretonbanquet]

So sad :distress: it's the price we pay for love.

I hope your husband is OK - at least you have each other :)

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

So sorry to hear about your loss Paula

[wondergirl9847]

I'm so sorry to hear this. :( I know what you are feeling in terms of "what if". Next month, it will be a year since we had to put my dog, Candy down. The guilt is overwhelming.

My condolences to you and your husband.

[The Tower]

Oh, Paula- losing pets is soooooo hard. Especially when it is sudden like this. Geoffrey and I had three cats and we've lost two of them within the last couple of years. One of them was great one day and then -wham!- kidney failure and a couple of days later we had to put her down.

It is really, really sad and I'm so sorry to hear about this.

Go over and hug Bubba and pour your heart out to him- sloppy kisses help in times like this. :xoxo:

[Nixxxed]

Oh my God! What is going on with the Ledgepets? :shrug:

I'm really sorry Paula. I know how hard that was - Rocky's death was very similar. And the "what if's" afterwards are the worst. Good thought for your hubby as well.

I'm off to pet Zorro for a minute and give him a few treats. :xoxo:

[DavidMn]

Paula what can I say except that I feel terrible for what happened to tour cat.:distress:

[bikerchic]

Damn cats. Why do we have to get so attached to them? I'm so sorry girl. I feel so bad for you and Mark. I had the pleasure of sleeping with Cosmo :)
That cat had quite the personality. He walked around your house like he owned it. He was like the dog Mark never had (before you got Bubba). At least Mrs. Bouvier and Bubba still have each other. That will help her get through it. Everytime I lose a cat, I think, OMG, I will never love another cat like him again and every time I get a new kitty, I do love them just as much and I find (for me) getting another kitten right away really helps with the grieving process. It helps get your mind off Cosmo. You're not forgetting him, you're just getting alittle help getting through this and I know he would understand. It's so hard when their young and it happens so fast but it sounds like he didn't suffer and that he went very peaceful and you and Mark were there, so I hope that helps you feel alittle better.

(((((Hugs))))) Tell Mark I'm so sorry and that I'm thinking about you guys. :xoxo: :angel:

[skcin]

So sad :distress: it's the price we pay for love.

I hope your husband is OK - at least you have each other :)


I know. I looked at him today & said "now imagine if we each lived alone & only had one cat & it died." We just shook our heads.

Bubba does not seem to notice that Cosmo is gone yet. Boo is iffy - she looked at the spot where his food dish was for a while, but is acting normally. She's definitely revelling in all the extra attention she's getting. :p

Thanks for understanding, everyone. :angel: And thanks for the kind words.

[DavidMn]

Our family had this Calico from when she was a kitten to when she died at 19. That was tough.

[skcin]

Here are a few nicer ones:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmoface.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmostairs.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmomark.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmoblanket.jpg

[bikerchic]

Bubba does not seem to notice that Cosmo is gone yet.
This made me laugh :o (I hope it was meant too). I'm so used to you always being funny. :)

Keep your chin up girl!

[DavidMn]

Here are a few nicer ones:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmoface.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmostairs.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmomark.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/cosmoblanket.jpgThose are adorable!

[bikerchic]

^^^ That last one has the look of holy terror :laugh:

[DavidMn]

^^^ That last one has the look of holy terror :laugh:It's like something right our of The Omen.:laugh:

[skcin]

This made me laugh :o (I hope it was meant too). I'm so used to you always being funny. :)

Keep your chin up girl!


Yeah, it was. :lol: He's too busy eating, sleeping & farting to notice what the hell's going on around here.

I'm talking about my dog, btw, not my hubby. :p

[JazmenFlowers]

sloppy kisses help in times like this. :xoxo:
I call them special kisses and my animals love them. it's something only they get. lol.

[DavidMn]

I call them special kisses and my animals love them. it's something only they get. lol.What do you have again Jason?

[paleshadow]

I'm very sorry to hear the news about your cat Paula.

[GypsySorcerer]

I'm so sorry to hear about Cosmo, Paula. My sympathies to you and Mark. The pictures you posted of him are adorable. ((((hugs))))

[amber]

I'm sorry, Paula. :(
That cat was awesome. His markings are crazy like him, too. His half mustache and that ring around his tail :laugh: ...he reminds me of the cat version of Inspector Clouseau for some reason. Probably the mustache.
I'm glad you two have each other to help ease the heartbreak of losing such a great cat.
:xoxo:

[skcin]

Have to add this classic. Mark decided to do shots with the cats one night. :D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/catsbar.jpg

[hs421139]

Paula, I am so sorry to hear about Cosmo :(
Hugs,
Tina

[JazmenFlowers]

What do you have again Jason?
black cat, black lab and a beagle

[Beachwood Mac]

So sorry to hear about Cosmo, Paula. Reading about your loss as well as Livia's and Brian's really tugs at my heartstrings since my Rockyboo (aka the lap whore) just turned 17.

Terry

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Terry74/DCP_1627.jpg

[Nixxxed]

Have to add this classic. Mark decided to do shots with the cats one night. :D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/catsbar.jpg
That's frickin hilarious! I bet Labatt's would be interested in seeing it - that bear spokesman of theirs is getting a little tired...

[bikerchic]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/catsbar.jpg

Two cats walk into a bar........


That is hilarious! and adorable. :laugh:

[golddustwoman77]

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. Pets are truely one of the family, and it is very difficult to lose a family member. :( I'm so sorry for your loss. :angel:

[tuigirl]

Really sorry to hear about your cat Paula.Take care.

[Livia]

Paula, I couldn't even read through your entire post...my heart is still broken (have you noticed my new signature?) and I'm still coping with my own baby's departure from this world. I haven't cried for the last 2 days, but I know it will all come back "in a flood of tears" when I go to pick up his ashes.

Please seek out the pet loss forums and read up on some pet loss articles. It has helped me immensely! On the rainbow bridge site, you can add your kitty's info for next Monday's candle ceremony. I'm gonna PM you, I'm swamped with work at the moment...just wanted you to know how sorry I am, I feel your pain! :distress:

And that kitty shots pic is f*cking priceless!! :angel:

[Violet]

Paula, I am so, so sorry. It's heartbreaking losing a pet. And to not know what cause them to pass is horrible. We lost a cat suddenly about 10 years ago. Let him out on the screened lanai to sun himself and 15 minutes later he was dead, still stretched out in his "sunbathing" position.

My condolences to both you and your husband.

Carol

[skcin]

Paula, I couldn't even read through your entire post...my heart is still broken (have you noticed my new signature?) and I'm still coping with my own baby's departure from this world. I haven't cried for the last 2 days, but I know it will all come back "in a flood of tears" when I go to pick up his ashes.




Thanks, Livia. Mark has already told me he will be unable to go & pick up the ashes. Hopefully they'll be there when I take Boo for her shots next week. Of course, I just realized that we will have to go back to the place that he died when we take her, there's only 1 exam room. :distress:

[goldie]

ohhh Paula I am so sorry to hear about Cosmo! Pets are amazing creatures. They bring so much joy to our lives.

My/my parents cat died suddenly, too. He was 4. Fine one day, the next morning my parents wake up and he is dead in the kitchen. They even went to far as to get an autopsy. (eek!) Turns out he had some heart issues that were undetected because he never had any problems ....

In any event, Cosmo is running around with all the other cats and dogs now in a better place!

[WelshWitchPMD]

Paula, I am so sorry to hear about little Cosmo. I am sure that he knows what a loving family he had with both you and Mark. They might be animals but they sure do have their own little personalities.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Big hug for you....


:(

[foxyluva]

What can I say :( so sad - my heart is breaking for you :(

Best wishes dear - hope everything works out okay :)

[gldstwmn]

I am so sorry for your loss Paula. :(

[golden braid]

Paula, I'm sorry to hear about Cosmo.

[MoonChilde]

I am so sorry for your loss also..Please be sure to check out www.petloss.com and share your love of Cosmo with the folks there...(((hugs)))

[GarboSpeaks!]

I'm sorry Paula. Surely he misses mommy as much as you mis him!!! They are such little living angels for us. Take good care of yourself!!!!!! :angel:

[JazmenFlowers]

hubby
you know what? I figured it out. I knew your hubby looked like someone...he resembles Simon Rex. resembles, not like a twin. I hope you take that as a compliment, cause I SHO mean it that way.

[dissention]

you know what? I figured it out. I knew your hubby looked like someone...he resembles Simon Rex. resembles, not like a twin. I hope you take that as a compliment, cause I SHO mean it that way.

His little porno videos grossed me out. Cute guy, but damn. The one I watched online had some old perv behind the camera telling him what to do. lol

So sorry about your cat, Paula. Losing a pet is devastating.

[Johnny Stew]

Paula... my heart goes out to you and Mark. It's such a painful thing to lose a pet, especially when it's so suddenly.

My thoughts are with you, sweetie.

[macfanken]

I'm really sorry Paula... your story is heartbreaking. I really know how you feel... my kitty was only 3 when she died last year. It was so sad seeing her go from a healthy, hyper cat to near death in just a few days. I know it's tough... hang in there.

[JazmenFlowers]

His little porno videos grossed me out. Cute guy, but damn. The one I watched online had some old perv behind the camera telling him what to do. lol
never seen one and don't think I want to. but thanks for the heads up. :)

so sorry again Paula. I loved my babies especially hard tonight. my heart goes out to you.

[Janet]

I went through this last year. I still can't hear a cat story without crying my eyes out.

It's so hard,and I am so sorry. It is really the saddest thing, losing a cat.

I am sorry, so sorry...



Sorry so long, but I really need to get this out.


It was really sudden, he was only about 4 years old. We don't really know what happened. About a week ago he started throwing up after he ate (not out of the ordinary, since he always ate too fast; plus we changed his food to a hairball formula.) Then, he didn't eat on Sunday. By Monday, his breathing was becoming labored.

We took him in yesterday morning & his breathing was really bad. The vet gave him some steroid shots (this has helped him in the past - he had a chronic cough that we assumed was related to hairballs) but it was too late & he got worse.

He stopped breathing (slowly - it was the worst thing I've ever seen) but his heart didn't stop. So the vet did some chest compressions & tried to insert an airway, but it didn't work. It did, however, bring him back long enough for him to breathe a bit better & be more alert with some O2. But he was still suffereing, so we decided to put him down. We'll probably never really know what happened, I'm thinking pneumonia or something similar, maybe asthma.

We said goodbye & cried all day yesterday. My husband has NEVER cried, literally. Well, not since he was a kid. He's freaking out. That was HIS BOY. :distress: Now the guilt, the "what if's," the realizing he won't be there anymore, is setting in. He's never lost a pet before, while I've lost several. I'm in so much pain because HE is in so much pain. :distress:

We got him when he was a kitten, my brother had found a cardboard box in his yard one night. 4 kittens were inside. He took care of them, feeding them with eye droppers & everything. 1 died, my brother still has 2 of them & we got Cosmo. Named him after Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. Coolest cat ever. He was B&W, and had a half mustache. And HIS TAIL! Was 14 inches long! :shocked: Really, we measured it - our other cat, Mrs. Bouvier, measures in at only 9". Cosmo was very long & lanky, and silky smooth.

I'll miss the way he chewed through plastic wrappers to eat bread if I left it on the counter. I'll miss the way he woke us up at 5am to eat by poking us in the face with his paw. I'll miss the way he would do somersaults to get attention (no ****, he really used to actually flip himself over.) I'll miss that every single time I opened the window in the upstairs hallway, he'd come running from wherever he was in the house to jump up onto the sill & stare outside. I'll miss that he'd go into any open box the second it became empty. I'll miss that he'd sneak into the closet looking for more food. I'll miss that he was a total lap cat, sitting on you the minute you sat down, so cuddly & warm. I'll miss seeing him sitting with my husband in their usual position - Mark's legs crossed & extended, propped up on the coffee table or the recliner, Cosmo stretched out the entire length of Mark's legs, sleeping for hours. I'll miss having to monitor the other cat eating, since if she left her food bowl unattended, he'd eat her food before she even realized it. I'll miss him going under the covers & sleeping with us. I'll miss his running into the kitchen as soon as he heard us open a cheese wrapper. I'll miss seeing him at the door, along with the dog, waiting for us to come home. :(

I will miss this f*cking cat so much, it hurts. And I will really miss seeing Mark with this cat, they had a great bond. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'll post some better pics later, this one does not do him justice.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/100_0683.jpg

[ragandbone]

Poor, sweet kitty-I am so sorry, Paula!
Everytime I go through a pet death (at about 8 for my lifetime of pet cats) I am just devastated. I wish they could live as long as turtles, or parrots - I wish they could talk to tell me what hurts.
I sometimes feel that several of my cats are with me, in some spiritual sense, Sometimes at night I think feel a bounce, and then pressure on the bedspread (husband and current cat in their places and lying still) and I feel that one of my cats is "visiting" me. It isn't always the same one either. I guess people would say it is silly, but it brings me comfort.

BTW, that photo of the cats at the bar is amazing! And, I especially like the other one of your cat reaching out his paw.

[GODDESS6]

aawww paula i am really sorry to hear this~
:angel: bless your kitty:angel: ~

[suzyvermoesen]

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat Paula. I'm at the office right now and simply started crying when i was reading your post.
Wishing you all much strength !
Suzy

[stargazer99]

I'm so sorry about your cat, Paula. I know how devestating it is to lose a pet. For those of us that have pets, they truly are our babies.

[Serrart]

I'm really sorry to hear about you loss Paula, when I lost my cat I did the same thing you did, I wrote about it and it helped. :)

Romy

[Sugar]

So sorry Paula! One of my rabbits died a few months back and it still makes me sad. But it gets better!
Again, so sorry...