General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI lost one of my sweet feral cats this morning...
I was walking back from the gym and saw something in the road and feared the worse...it was her. I went up and she was badly hurt, unconscious, but still breathing...since I was walking I tried calling Animal Control and some others who could come and put her down quickly...I couldn't believe she was still alive...got no one, so I picked her by the scruff and to the side of the road...fortunately she went quickly after that. I don't think she was truly feral, but was abandoned when she was young...a skittish kitteh no one wanted. I don't know why she was in the road...it was a ways from where I feed in the park and she lived. I'd been feeding her for 7 years and I had gotten her fixed a while back. Two hours earlier I was feeding her. I feel terrible.
montanacowboy
(6,093 posts)sweet kitty girl go to your rest
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)Heartbreaking.
But so great what you do for cats in the world. Thank you.
CurtEastPoint
(18,650 posts)She was so lucky to have you and vice-versa. She will remember your love.
roody
(10,849 posts)TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)I lost one of mine right before Christmas but he was older, 15 or more and had health issues. (((HUGS)))
Omaha Steve
(99,660 posts)K&R!
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)These are the most horrible of moments and we feel so angry and helpless. My sympathies.
Blue Owl
(50,427 posts)Fla Dem
(23,691 posts)66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)godspeed, sweet kittie.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Triana
(22,666 posts)Poor baby.
brer cat
(24,578 posts)She was blessed to have you care for her...so many abandoned furbabies live a horrible existence. Seven years is a long time to care for a feral; you will certainly have a big hole in your heart.
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)We all go eventually, and no one wants to do it alone.
kiva
(4,373 posts)padfun
(1,786 posts)I've lost three cats in the last year. One of them, a temperamental long hair, was 16 years old and my buddy for all of those 16 years. I had to put him to sleep last month. He had cancer, a tumor in his mouth.
I will miss all of my feline companions. They have all been an important part of my life.
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)raccoon
(31,111 posts)Lunabell
(6,089 posts)I have several feral cats that I feed. I can't afford to get them all spayed and neutered and have tried reaching out to groups in my area. I have 3 humane traps to catch them, but no funds to pay neuter them all. So sorry for your loss. And thank you for feeding her and trying to help.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)I'm so sorry. You did so much for her by getting her fixed so she wouldn't be attacked every time she was in heat and so she wouldn't have litter after litter, making more ferals. You fed her and she knew that you cared about her. And in the end, you were there for her. That's the most love anyone showed for her. And she knew it.
calimary
(81,322 posts)There are feral cats in our neighborhood - or there were. One by one we've noticed they're not around anymore. Neighbors give up on 'em because they want to stay outside and won't come back in, so they become "outdoor cats." And we live in a canyon area with lots of coyotes and ring-tailed hawks. It's really sad. Month after month, there are handmade signs posted on the light poles and telephone poles - "MISSING" - either cat or small dog. It breaks my heart.
I kept hoping I could catch that one kitty, Butterscotch, and bring her inside, so she might have a chance to avoid being dinner for the coyotes we hear sometimes at night, howling in the not-too-distant distance, but when I tried, she bit me hard. and I had to let go. That was awhile ago. Every now and then she'd pop up in the yard and eat the kibble I set out for her but she never came close. And now we don't see her anymore. In our neighborhood, it's a pretty safe bet what happened to her.
obxhead
(8,434 posts)Many days you just give them a good petting, some food, and enjoy some lap time (or whatever the relationship) and then poof, its gone
I could give advice, but it would all be useless. We all mourn our losses in different ways.
Find another life to change.
narnian60
(3,510 posts)for giving her a chance at a decent life. Without your kindness her life would have been miserable.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)I know that terrible loss. But just remember how much love and comfort you gave her. Both of you were blessed to have each other.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)2naSalit
(86,647 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)All you can do is be by their side as they pass and your were good person of hers
Take care
Feral neutering is a good program you helped the cat lead a healthier life but we can't control all activity in the world unfortunately
Sad
shenmue
(38,506 posts){{{Kitteh}}}
mahannah
(893 posts)I do "Trap-Neuter-Return" of "my" ferals. http://www.alleycat.org/ is an outstanding resource.
irisblue
(32,981 posts)7 years is a long time to care and love a cat.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)One of the males died on Thursday - he was ailing for a while. Since he died I haven't seen the oldest male anywhere - he hasn't come for food in three days.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Number9Dream
(1,562 posts)You're a good person for taking care of her for so long.