Current Events > found an old cat toy today in my apartment and started crying

(+) Yeah! (+)

my cat died in May and I thought I was ok now. But seeing that toy just broke something in me. He was the only personal pet I've ever had since I moved out on my own. Also was the longest living cat I had compared to childhood cats. He was 15 or 16 when he died.

I don't know when I took this. I think he was pretty young probably https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f45ccbaa.jpg

Aw, he was a handsome guy. Finding that toy must have brought all the memories flooding back.

Of course I would imagine all of your belongings were his toys. Cause generally if you don't want them to play with something, they like to play with it.

I left my crate for one of my two dogs in my room for like 6 years after she passed. When my boy passed I left his up for like a solid year and then finally removed both crates.

I vacuum every week in my house and there was this corner where my girl laid that had a little chunk of her hair near the baseboard and I left it there purposefully for years before finally removing it and cleaning it.

To this day I still have their rope toy and a couple balls on my living room floor near my entertainment center and my boy has been gone since July 2019 leaving me with no dogs. I have no intention of ever removing them honestly.

I did put away the water dispenser and their food dishes and the containers that housed the food a few months after my boy was gone. They were my whole world. Literally spent every day with them for 13 years. Would spend hours together playing, going to the dog park, goofing off in the yard, walking them in nature. I dedicated like 4 to 6 hours a day for strict play and attention devoted to them and doing activities specifically for them. It was strange when that was over.

archizzy posted...

I left my crate for one of my two dogs in my room for like 6 years after she passed. When my boy passed I left his up for like a solid year and then finally removed both crates.

I vacuum every week in my house and there was this corner where my girl laid that had a little chunk of her hair near the baseboard and I left it there purposefully for years before finally removing it and cleaning it.

To this day I still have their rope toy and a couple balls on my living room floor near my entertainment center and my boy has been gone since July 2019 leaving me with no dogs. I have no intention of ever removing them honestly.

I did put away the water dispenser and their food dishes and the containers that housed the food a few months after my boy was gone. They were my whole world. Literally spent every day with them for 13 years. Would spend hours together playing, going to the dog park, goofing off in the yard, walking them in nature. I dedicated like 4 to 6 hours a day for strict play and attention devoted to them and doing activities specifically for them. It was strange when that was over.

It does create a big hole in your life. I never was away from him for even a full 24 hours, the entire time I had him, longest I was separated from him was 1 time in like 2018 or 2019 maybe where I went on a fishing trip and was gone for about 17 hours I think. He was so upset when I came back and wouldn't let me leave his sight for hours. I had been in a river, so I took a shower when I got back and he was even standing in the bathroom and making sure I didn't disappear. He usually was scared of the shower.

That was the only time he ever did that. I don't really travel anymore so I never went on a long trip so I basically was with him everyday. And then suddenly my apartment is just empty without him.

Its okay to still be sad. Im still sad over every baby Ive ever lost since I was 12 (im 32 now for reference)
im so sorry for your recent loss. I lost two this year myself

Zikten posted...

It does create a big hole in your life. I never was away from him for even a full 24 hours, the entire time I had him, longest I was separated from him was 1 time in like 2018 or 2019 maybe where I went on a fishing trip and was gone for about 17 hours I think. He was so upset when I came back and wouldn't let me leave his sight for hours. I had been in a river, so I took a shower when I got back and he was even standing in the bathroom and making sure I didn't disappear. He usually was scared of the shower.

That was the only time he ever did that. I don't really travel anymore so I never went on a long trip so I basically was with him everyday. And then suddenly my apartment is just empty without him.

Same, never apart for a full day the entire time I had them. Would turn down overtime at work or at worst only do a half shift extra and not a full double shift because I didn't want them to go that long without me coming home. I would every travel on days off unless it was something I could just do a day trip on and be back in like 8 hours. I wouldn't go on vacation or anywhere I couldn't take them and I REFUSED to board them at a kennel or leave them with someone else.

So yeah I totally get you. I legitimately made my entire schedule around them and would turn down going out with friends if I had already been away from them all day. I absolutely know where you are coming from.

Aww. Hugs

He was magnificent.

That's completely understandable, especially considering it hasn't even been particularly long, four months isn't a great deal of time to mourn a sixteen year relationship.

I had one cat die around 14 months ago, I still struggle with it on occasion.

Just remember that the kitty had a great life, and it was because of you.

He was a beautiful boy, Im so sorry for your loss.

*hug*

I absolutely get that. I still tear up when I come across the blanket I used to cover my bird Doby's cage with at night.

Thanks everyone

Grief is so hard and can sneak up on you so fast. I remember having a panic attack after my dad passed away because I was driving his vehicle and I saw his candy that he ate on the way to chemotherapy in the cup holder, and I was sad that he wouldnt get to eat it anymore so I went to the car wash and threw it all away and freaked out. Crying in broad daylight light not giving a care

My pets are also just like family, I am sorry you lost your kitty. He was adorable.

RIP to him.

my last pet, a cat, I had about 1998/99 - 2016.

I still dream about her sometimes.

boxoto posted...

RIP to him.

my last pet, a cat, I had about 1998/99 - 2016.

I still dream about her sometimes.

I love when I get to see my two dogs, Beefy and Guinness, that passed away some years ago. It makes me happy to get to see them again if only for a few fleeting moments.

last pet that lived with the dog was a grey tabby cat. she lived to 10 before the abdominal tumor got bad (i waited too long to help).

the dog is the one i miss the most, taken too soon due to a series of events (uncle went crazy and then my dogs health suffered after that because of losing him).

JohnEtrav posted...

I love when I get to see my two dogs, Beefy and Guinness, that passed away some years ago. It makes me happy to get to see them again if only for a few fleeting moments.

same.

When my cat was dying, he hid in this box in the basement out of instinct. I put a little hand towel in there to make it more comfortable for him. Nearly three years later, that box and towel are still there.

MegamanXfan21xx posted...

When my cat was dying, he hid in this box in the basement out of instinct. I put a little hand towel in there to make it more comfortable for him. Nearly three years later, that box and towel are still there.

Oh man. I'm sorry. That sounds so sad but I hope he was at least comforted to go at home. I always have felt bad about pets being scared of the vet but then often having their final moments there

My cat also died at home. I probably should have taken him in but I waited too long and then he suddenly declined very rapidly over a holiday weekend. The normal vet was closed. I almost took him to an emergency vet but then my mom convinced me he wouldn't last much longer anyway

And by that time, it was obvious how weak he was and I just wanted him to not be scared. So I just tried to help him be comfortable.

Zikten posted...

That sounds so sad but I hope he was at least comforted to go at home.

Me and my brother got him to a vet, and we were able to comfort him as best we could, petting him and keeping our hands on him until he finally crossed over. As hard as it was to go through, I'm glad our little buddy was in the embrace of his best friends at the end.

Zikten posted...

I always have felt bad about pets being scared of the vet but then often having their final moments there

i had alot of guilt over that, 9 months for that to pass for the dog.

I think your cat was saying hi.

On the topic of toys, one of our dogs, Lily, had a "litter" of toy puppies from Wal-Mart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vibrant-Life-Cozy-Buddy- Floppy-Dog-Toy-Chew-Level-1/111080389?classType=VARIANT&from=/search) that she kept around her when she was laying on her favorite dog bed, one brown one was her favorite, we put that one in her cremation box with her after we had to have her put down due to health reasons.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/dfb302c1.jpg

My tattoos are cat memorials based on their primary toys.

Jenny had frog.
Ember had a chicken.
SnuSnu had an owl.

Eventually I'll have to add a raccoon for Goon.