In Praise of Old Cats

[kathy]

I just lost my best boy at 16 and now I'm left with four sweet old boys ranging from 14-15, two sets of tabby brothers. I have to say they are so loving and so sweet I wouldn't trade them at this point for kittens. This is a wonderful stage in their life and I'm so glad I can appreciate it and certainly hope others do to.

[furrykidsmother]

Enjoy every moment that you have with them! Life is to short!! Glad that you enjoyed many years with your 16 year old and hope that you have many more healthy, happy years with the rest!!

[slick]

There's nothing like the love from an older kitty. My Speckles turned 18 this year and she gets sweeter all the time. Embrace every moment and treasure every purr.

[Logan]

I am so sorry for you loss, Kathy.

I have a 16 year old girl, Mimi, who shows no sign of slowing down at all, thank goodness. Actually, she will turn 16 on the 18th of this month. She has been with me since she was 6 weeks old. She is precious and still very active, thank goodness!!!

I hope your remaining 4 have long lives ahead of them.

Logan

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

In Praise of Old Cats

Hear, hear!

Sorry to hear about your 16 year old, but glad you've got the quartet to still keep you company.

As most people know here, I recently lost my best boy, Tubby. He was 18 1/2. He left behind his "sister" Peanut who is 16 1/2 now. She is as sweet as ever and has tolerated her new "brother", CJ (who is 7 years old), better than expected and has even seemed to become more playful and energetic since his arrival. They don't exactly play, but he does lope after her in a mock game of chase now and then. Everyone knows he could bowl her over in a heart beat and whoop the tar out of her, but he is a gentle little brother and he abides her mock snootiness.

Long live the oldsters!

Oh, and hopefully Tubby's sweetheart, Samantha, will chime in here. I believe she is to turn 17 any day now.

[catmandu]

MOST,OF THE FOUND CATS,ARE GETTING A LITTLE LONG,IN THE TOOTH,AND I LOVE THEM MORE,ANDMORE,EVERY YEAR,AS THAT IS ANOTHER YEAR,OF LOVE,THAT WE HAVE SHARED.

WE ARE SORRY,TO HEAR,ABOUT YOUR CAT.WHAT WAS YOUR CATS NAME,AND IS THERE A PHOTO,THAT YOU CAN SHARE,IT HELPS,TO TALK,ABOUT YOUR BABY,BECAYUSE WE AT PET TALK,HAVE ALL DONE,THROUGH,THE LOSS,OF A BELOVED COMPANION.

[momcat]

Oh Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your furry companion. While Groucho is only 4, I do look forward to many more happy years with him. Elder cats can be so loveable, sweet, and very devoted companions.

[cruisetime]

Older and lovable - hummmmmmm. Why did I get them at a year old???? LOL

I feel sorry for one 12 year old cat - a kill shelter has her in Baytown - she was owner released because an elderly lady couldn't care for her anymore - doesn't she know they will kill her in less than a week? What to do what to do???? I can't save them all but I'd sure like too!

Debbie

[orangemm]

Five years ago we had 4 senior citizens and all of them made it to the ripe old ages of 17...all of them. One by one, they passed over to the RB; when Buzzy, our last old guy started failing, we adopted 2 kittens from Animal Rescue and they perked him up for a while.

There is much to be said for older cats. I miss each and every one of them.

[kathy]

Thank you all so much for your sweet thoughts. Chuck will always be with me for several reasons. First, he was very connected to me mentally and second, because I was with him when he took his last breath on my bed.

He had a great life and I just feel very blessed to have been 'owned' by such a smart little orange tabby who never had a sick day in his life until the very end. In all honesty, I haven't shed a tear for him since I really do feel that by being with him when he died, he's somehow still with me. And my boys wouldn't let me grieve, they were so attentiveand wouldn't let me be alone for one second.

And now my other old tabbies will get their fair share of unending affection.

[moosmom]

Kathy,

I'm so sorry for your loss! I absolutely LOVE my senior, Mollie Rose, who turned 11 on Mother's Day. Nothing bothers her. No matter how many fosters I take in. She the most laid back, mellow cat I've ever had.

[catmandu]

THAT IS THE ONE THING,THAT KEEPS ME GOING,IS HAVING NICE LUNCHES,WITH MY CAT ANGELS,AND THIER FRIENDS,AND KNOWING,THAT MY FOUND CATS,ARE WAITING,FOR ME,AS ARE MY FRIENDS,ON PET TALK.

[aki]

Oh my gosh Kathy! My kitty is also named Chuck and he just turned 11. I am soooooooooo sorry for your loss. I do know when my Chuckie goes to Jesus, I will be a basket case for a long time.

[kathy]

I was very fortunate to find out that he had liver cancer with a diagnosis of 2-3 months so he got all the fresh chicken he wanted and we had lots of one on one talks. And since he never stopped eating, which I was told would be the sign that it was time to take him to the vet, he was with me when the end came.

I knew it was his last few hours so I put him on the bed, wrapped in a towel and we just stared at each other. I had his total attention which was not something he gave to me normally.

It's why I haven't really greived. I just feel soo blessed to have had an animal who subtly taught me so much. It may not happen again and that's o.k.

Simple pet love is enough.....but when they're teachers, it's really amazing.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

My bottle baby, Leonardo turns 15 in August. And Luke is now 13. Grandma, is around 10, I think. Chester is my baby and he is now 5.

I don't let a day go by without telling them I love them. I really can't stand to think of the time when they will leave me.

They are the only reason I bother to get out of bed any more.