We just got back from the vet. We had to put our black cat, Nacho, down. Cancer. The prognosis was very poor. At most she may have had another month, maybe a couple of weeks, and she would have gotten worse and suffered.
She had been struggling with breathing. I'd hoped it was asthma but I had a feeling it was something terrible. We had two choices: 1) take her home and bring her back when she was much worse and end her suffering then or 2) spare her any further suffering and let her transition now. We decided it was best to let her pass peacefully before it got really bad.
I was devastated with the news and traumatized by the sudden loss of her. I think it was even harder because she was only 8. She should've had more time.
My heart is in a million pieces. I'll be by to visit you all when I get my emotions under control. I need time to process this.
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Rest in peace, precious soul
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Im so sorry, Martha. Sending you hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Birdie. I'm finally calming down. xo
DeleteMartha, this is heartbreaking, I'm so sorry. I understand completely how this feels. Our pets are like family too. Such a pretty kitty and yes, 8 is young... hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the most difficult things. Putting down a sweet soul like this at such a young age was heartbreaking. Thank you for your support. xo
DeleteOh, Martha - I'm so sorry. She had a very good life, thanks to you, and eventually that thought may bring some comfort. Hugs, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jenny. Both my husband and I are very shaken. We are indeed taking comfort in knowing that even though her life was short, she was well loved.
DeleteI'm sorry for your loss of Nacho - what a beautiful cat she "is". it's so very hard to put down a loyal fur baby - she will no doubt be hanging around you.
ReplyDeleteRemembering the day we put our cockapoo Cricket to sleep. That night in the family room we heard a bark in the kitchen next to where we were and our trash can was knocked over. No doubt in our minds who did this.
I do believe she will be hanging around me, Sandy. She's joining my group of guardian angels. That is such a lovely story of that angel visitor when you were dealing with the difficult task of putting a beloved pet to sleep. Thank you for sharing it!
DeleteOddly enough on the same day you lost Nacho, my sister's family lost "Strider" who was 17 years old. They had to let him pass after a very bad dog bite injury. We heard about this last night at dinner, exactly around the time Mike and I were discussing my sister's granddaughter hannah's new kitty called jelly bean. We were remarking that now that Hannah has the comfort of a new pet in her life, maybe STrider will feel he can go on (he was getting old and skinny but still a bully outside with the other cats, lol)....I get a call about 20 minutes later after this discussion with mike and Erin, her daughter, was on the way to the vet after work because she got the call Strider had been injured.
DeleteLife is just full of these amazing and mysterious happenings. I am especially intrigued by stories with animals. There seems to be an extra layer of mystery to them. I wonder sometimes if they know a lot more about life and death than we do.
Deleteit does make you wonder!
DeleteSorry to hear this. It's like losing a member of the family.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is, John. Thank you for your support.
DeleteOh Martha.....cannot tell you how sorry I am. How I have enjoyed the antics of Nacho and Mocha, especially during the move. Hugs to you all♥
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. We miss her terribly.
DeleteMartha, my heart goes out to you. It is like losing a member of the family. It is hard to make that decision, but under the circumstances, it was the kindest thing to do. I'll be thinking about you. Hang in there... hugs. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenn. It was a traumatic day. But we had to choose kindness for Nacho. We couldn't stand the thought of her suffering.
DeleteOh no. I'm SO sorry Martha. It is the most difficult and frightening thing in the world to make that decision. Gosh, I feel for you. I'm sending you love and love and love. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rain. And thank you for your lovely email. It's been a terrible day for us. And we miss Nacho horribly. It'll get better with time.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this, Martha. Poor little Nacho . . . but you absolutely did the right thing not to let her suffer. But I can well understand how the suddenness of this news and decision is traumatic for you. Sending you hugs and wishing you heart's ease in time.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debra. It was all so quick making it that much more traumatizing. But we had to choose kindness and compassion for her.
DeleteDear Martha, I am so sorry to learn this. What a sweet, sweet kitty. When we lost our black cat, Minnie, I remember thinking of the Chas & Dave song, "I Miss You Girl". It is a sad song but it was exactly how I felt. You did the best thing by her and your love for her will be forever!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay. These decisions are always difficult and extremely painful. But we had to choose kindness and compassion for this sweet kitty. We miss her terribly but she is not suffering. That give me peace.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. Pets are family members and it's so hard to lose them suddenly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. It is indeed very hard to lose them.
DeleteI'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy. I saw a video about a week or two ago highlighting a dog's last day where her owner went to make sure she was going to have the best day before they put her down. While it's a sweet video, it unlocked a lot of sadness and anger still left in me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adam. These situations are always painful. I know exactly which video you are talking about. It was hard to watch. That was very sad about your dog, Zelda. I do hope you have found peace with that.
DeleteI'm very sorry, Martha, and I love you.
ReplyDeleteJanie
Thank you, Janie. We are shocked and heartbroken. It'll get better with time.
DeleteVery sorry to hear this Martha. I imagine it was extra traumatic for you with no warning.
ReplyDeleteYes, very much so. We were not prepared for something like that. Thank you for stopping by, Natalie.
DeleteI am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl. That is so unfair that she was so young. XO
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen, for your support. That is how well feel; that is very unfair. She was so young. I find some comfort knowing that she's not suffering anymore. xo
DeleteSo sorry Martha, and the suddenness of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. The suddenness was very hard.
DeleteOh Martha, I'm so sorry. Such a beautiful cat and I know you loved her so much! Such a hard decision but the right decision. Take all the time to grieve. Honestly, 3 years later I still cry at times about our silly corgi.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you!
betty
Thank you, Betty, for your support. I don't think there's a deadline to grieving and I know how much you loved that little corgi. We always miss our furry family.
Deleteawww, I'm so very sorry for your loss!!! :(
ReplyDeleteThank you, SW. It's a little tough around here. Time will help.
DeleteShe was such a beautiful girl, what a shock! I am so sorry...
ReplyDeleteThank you, e. She was beautiful and unique and very loved. We are missing her something fierce.
DeleteOh Martha....so sorry to hear this. You are devastated I know. Give yourself time to process all this. Sweet Nacho is thanking you for the kindness that you showed her.
ReplyDeleteSending warm hugs.
Thank you so much, Jim. We are missing her terribly but the thought of leaving her to suffer just to give us a little more time was not an option. We had to release her from all her pain and suffering. She was a very special cat; gentle, trusting, sweet. She's in our hearts forever.
DeleteIt's wonderful how our pets become family members. The love and comfort we feel with them is profound, yet so is the pain when we lose them. I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Toni. It's the price we pay for that kind of love :(
DeleteI am so sorry to hear Martha. Thinking of you and hope you are doing better now. The loss is always there though, I know.
ReplyDeleteI am calmer today. Yesterday I was a blubbering mess. Thank you, Nancy, for visiting.
DeleteHi Martha,
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to read this. I understand how Nacho was and forever will be, a cherished family member who, no doubt, shared with all of you her non-judgemental, unconditional love.
Nacho, always loved and never forgotten. Our thoughts are with you at the emotional and reflective time.
In kindness,
Gary
Thank you so much, Gary. She was such a special little being and we will never forget her. These precious balls of fur take up a lot of space in our heart!
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about Nacho. We had to put our precious Border Collie down not long ago. I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Karen. And I'm terribly sorry about your Border Collie. That must have been a devastating experience.
DeleteOh Martha, I'm so sorry ...
ReplyDeleteThinking of you as you try to come to terms with what has happened.
My good wishes
All the best Jan
Thank you for your support, Jan. I really appreciate it.
Deletei am really sorry for this loss my dear Martha!
ReplyDeleteimagining you with this grief is crushing my heart my precious fellow ,
i knew so well your love for you darling pet and can feel the depth of pain you must be feeling right now but this is my humble and strong request to you that things upon which we don't have any control we should let go them.
everything including our own selves are thing belong to our Creator he can take back whatever he want to and whenever he want to so please stay strong and patient .
she left you with so many glorious memories and they must be treasure to hold your heart
thinking and praying for you ,HUGS!!!
Thank you, Baili. This has really upset us but it was her time to go. You are so right when you say we have no control over this. Perhaps that's one reason we are upset; that we couldn't do anything about it. We must release this burden and begin our journey of healing.
DeleteI am so very sorry to hear the news about your beloved Nacho. It is so hard to have to make the decision. We had to do the same for our cat, Callie-Jo just a few months ago. She too had cancer and was only 9 years old. They are so much a part of your family. I hope you are comforted by her sweet memories and someday can find it in your heart to welcome a new kitty in her memory into your lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ida. I'm so sorry to hear that about Callie-Jo. 9 is awfully young. I imagine you were just as upset about that as we were about losing Nacho too early. We are definitely going to welcome a new kitty into our home. There are much too many wonderful cats in shelters waiting for someone to love them. And we've got plenty of love to give!
DeleteMy heart would be in a million pieces too.
ReplyDeleteSo so so so so so so sorry.
Thank you for your support. It's been a tough few days but it's getting better.
Delete🐱
Delete:)
DeleteWhat a sweet picture of Nacho, Martha. Her life may have been short, but it was blessed because she spent it in a loving home.
ReplyDeleteI keep reminding myself of that, Louise. And I also remind myself about how lucky we were that she chose us.
DeleteNaw, that sucks, so sorry. Animals are always a part of the family and it sucks to lose them as cats and dogs are always so loyal and loving.
ReplyDeleteBack in 1994 when we moved to where we are now, we had to give the family cat to my sister, he died a few months later, probably from abuse or loneliness that he wasn't with us. He was as old as me and I was 17.
Aw, that is awful :( I'm so sorry about that. I can only imagine how hard that was or both of you.
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