Hi Rick,

I am so sorry for you both, and I feel your sadness. Loosing someone you
love is the hardest thing in the world, and these sweet creatures just know
how to wiggle their way into our hearts. I am sure Tasha was an amazing girl
and that you loved her and cherished her. Unfortunately life can be very
cruel and in her case, the illness has taken her away very quickly. Cancer
unfortunately waits for nobody and is not interested in medication. Last
year my neighbour lost Poppy to intestinal cancer, she also faded very
quickly and had to be put to sleep within 2 weeks from when loss of weight
first noticed. She is still dearly missed.

Rick, taking her pictures was probably the best thing you have ever done,
and you will realise that soon enough. Now you have something to remind you
of her, because memories can unfortunately fade.

As for the grief, I can write a book on it unfortunately. I lost my QT to
the road 4.5 years ago, and never really got over him. I went through years
of crying and pleading with God to let me have him back. Unfortunately it
doesn;t work that way, and I just had to eventually say to myself that I
WILL see him again, sooner or later. So the same way, parting with Tasha is
NOT the end. It;'s only a parting and you WILL see her again. For now she is
playing on the fields across the Rainbow Bridge where all our pets go. She
is happy and free of pains. You have done the only thing you can do for her:
let her go to a better place. yes you will miss her greatly, I will not lie
to you, but you'll learn to deal with pain. Write about her, dedicate a web
site to her, anything really. And don;t let anyone say what I';ve been told
; "S/he is only a cat". Many people cannot ever understand our love for our
pets, and that they are just like our children and just as important. Don;t
listen to them. You can write here, or to alt.support.grief.pet-loss. Search
google for Rainbow Bridge, and read about it. Start from here:
http://www.findinfo.com/petloss.htm . It's going to be tuff, but that is all
part of grief and your love. Please accept my deepest condolances.

Regards
Gee, Tiara, Shadow, Tigger and Charlie
with QT in our hearts

I am very sorry for your loss!  I know how hard it is to moarn something
that close to you.  Kitty's are the best at getting into your heart and
hanging on.  The pictures are a good thing.

I had a baby "knight in shining armour" *Knight* for short, and I was never
able to get a picture of him and it kills me to this day, 4 years later.  I
still mourn for him.

Good luck!  Again, I am very sorry for your loss!

DD and Tigger

<message snipped>

Rick:

   You have my condolences.  I know it hurts.  Feel encouraged that everything
you did was for your cat's well being, and in the end, you did the right thing.
Be thankful for the photos and the time you had together.  Do not be in a rush
yo replace your kitty.  You'll know if and when the time is right.  Best
wishes.

Steven

Thanks for listening. Its been a day and I feel like I've been hit in the
chest with a bat. I've still got her stuff in the car. I don't want to bring
it back in. I never had this happen to this to me before. I always knew this
would happen, but I always put it off in my mind. Some day, but not today.
Even when I knew tasha was sick, I kept fighting in my head that we would
always put it off for at least one more day.

When I took her in, she was literally starving to death and homeless.
I never realized a cat could eat so much or talk so much. Her life was food!
When her bowl was low (not empty, low) she would come chase me around the
house and lead me to it and yell until i filled it. When she wanted treats,
she would lead me to them (she knew where I kept them) and yell at me until
I gave her a few.

I miss her, I hope I'm not annoying anyone with going on like this.

Rick

Hello Rick,
I feel for you bud. I just went through the same thing with Biggles. I'm
still missing him badly. I had a number of pictures of him from through
the years and made a little tribute to him the day after he died.
www.1cooperfamily.com

He faded away to skeleton in short order, very distressing. I loved him
very much and know what you are going through.

Good luck,

Bill

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how painful it can be. One vet told me my
kitty just had a tummy ache. Then my kitty collapsed and moaned a low gutteral
moan. I took him to ER and he had stoumach cancer. It was confirmed the next
morning and I helped him go to sleep in my arms. He was looking pretty bad at
this point. It can be so shocking and sad at the same time. I took some video
and pics of Boots before the end though I had tons already. I had his remains
cremated and he's in a little urn on the fireplace. Your kitty was lucky to
have you. My prayers are with you both.

Rick...

Sorry to hear of your loss. Our four-legged family members so are
special to us and it makes goodbye's sad and moarnful.

May her memories bring smiles to your face and warm your heart while
your eyes shed their tears.

(((((Rick))))))

Hi,  Rick. I'm very sorry for your loss.

When I suddenly lost my 19 year old cat, I was totally unprepared for the
shock, grief and just plain ole pain I went through. I'm a grown man (35) and
didn't go through that much when my grandparents died.

Biggest problem I had was finding people who understood. My non-pet owning
friends were sympathetic, but did'nt get it.  Amazing how higher power works in
my life. I went to the vet to get her body (I had built a little wood coffin
that I thought I would bury) and I was a mess in the office. But there in the
office on a table was a flyer about a pet loss support group. It met once a
month. And -- a miracle - it was meeting THAT NIGHT.

I went and about 10 folks were there and I was able to pour my heart out about
my little girl cat. She had been with me from just after college, basically my
whole adult life. The group leader and other folks really understood and it
felt good to hear others talk about handling their pet loss.

I could not bear to bury my girl and someone told me I could have her cremated
and keep her ashes close to me. That solved my problem. I had it done for $100
and have her ashes on a shelf in the living room.

It's been 2 years now and while the pain is much, much less, I think about her
a lot. I've lost other pets but this one really got me. I'm still cat-less, but
am feeling more and more everyday that the time is right for another pet.

So, this is the perfect place to write about your beloved. No, your cat was not
a human but she was a powerful being that was in your life. My friend calls
cats four-legged, furry angels for all the care and love they bring.

Now, after hearing of cats dying so young, I am very grateful that I had almost
20 years with my pet. I actually was very lucky to have that much time. So I
focus on that.

But I still miss her.

Keep writing and talking about it. Holding in the grief is not a good idea.

-Bikedude

PS - how old was your cat?

Sorry for the loss.

I agree with Biker dude, cremation is more comforting solution.

You can ask Tasha her opinions about things and have the comfort of knowing
although she is not listening she can hear you.

I think a replacement is vital for healing.  You are a cat person but
without a cat.

Go to your local cat rescue and let one of the residents decide you are a
good person.

Although the replacement wont be Tasha, it will help you move on.

XL

I'm so sorry to hear the sad news about Tasha...my heart goes out to you.  It
hurts when we lose such a dear friend - whether it's sudden or expected.
www.petloss.com is a wonderful place to find support from dear people who have
lost their friends.

I am very sorry for your loss, Rick.

Flippy in Melbourne, Australia.
My Cats: http://www.flippyscatpage.com