Aligar has past away

Aligar was my 13 1/2 year old diabetic cat. I adpoted him from the clinic that I worked at when he was 9 years old. His orignal owner wanted to put him down when he was 6 years old because he was diabetic but my clinic refused to because he could still have a good life and so they took him in and cared for him until I adpoted him. So many people have met him and loved him. He became sick over the weekend and was diagnosed with liver failure and jaudice and a couple of other things. I made the hardest decision ever and had him put down on Monday afternoon. I had his remains cremated and picked out a beautiful white cat urn! Sometimes it hurts so bad and I miss him so much. I just know that he is in heaven now and free from stiffness in his rear legs and no more insulin injections and can eat whenever and wherever he wants. I just hope and pray that he can forgive me for making the decision to end his life.

My condolances on the loss of your dear Aligar. You did one of the hardest and most loving things one can do for their dear animal. He is at peace and probably romping around up there with all kinds of new friends. He is probably playing with my dear fur children that I have had to put down. Precious, Shadow, and Mitzi bless their kind souls. I know how hard it is to make that final decision. I have no doubts that he has forgiven you and is grateful that you cared enough to choose to end his suffering. My prayers are with you. You did a brave and loving thing for Aligar. God Bless! Michelle Mack Owner of diabetic cat that will turn 13 in March.

Michelle Thank you so much for your kind words. I really helps. Each day it gets a little easier but there is still an empty space in my heart. I dreamt about a new kitten but I don't think my husband would approve. I do not want to try to replace Aliar but the house seems empty and one of my other cats seems soo lonely with out him. We used to call her Aligar's girlfriend. They were very close. Now she won't leave me or my husband alone. I can't even brush my teeth because she jumps inthe sink to be with me!

When one cat passes away and there is/are another cat/cats in the household it is very hard on the remaining one/ones. When I had to put Mitzi down 5 years ago, Choobie knew (they had been companions for 7 years) and he stood on her carrier and howled. He would also sleep directly on the spot where she was laying on the floor before I brought her in. Since he had spent all of his life with companions, I knew that eventually I would have to get another kitten. Especially because of his age. He needed a kitten so he could "train" it. I waited a while and ended up with a kitten that was found under a pallet at a friend's work site. She was only 4 weeks old, but very healthy. At first he growled and hissed at her and was nasty, but within 2 weeks they became friends and now if one is missing from the house (he spent the night at the vet's) the other keeps me up all night screaming and hollering. Having said that, your other cat may need to have another companion and that may be a point to bring up to your husband. Cats are smarter than people think and they feel many times as we do, I've seen it with both of mine. When I brought Alyssa home, it wasn't to replace Mitzi, it was to provide Choobie with a companion and friend. It has been so important for him and they sleep, play and groom each other. Her being younger, I believe keeps Choobie more active and young at heart himself. It also doesn't hurt the owner either. I love Alyssa, she will be 5 in April and she is very loving. Although he is the king in this castle and she steps back if he is with me, she does provide me with a lot of enjoyment too. That and it makes it much easier for me to go out knowing that he has a friend. Within the last 6 months I have had to be away from home many times for extended periods. I had a neighbor come in and take care of them, however I think Alyssa is responsible for keeping him busy and not lonely. Just a thought. Take Care, Michelle

Thank you for all the thoughts and concerns. I have a total of 3 cats still here, a hamster, a turtle and 3 fish. My youngest cat Buffy, is taking Aligar's death very hard. I am trying to spend more time with her and she sleeps with me and sits next to me when I eat. i love her to death. I thought about another kitten but my usband just won't go for it. I am watching Buffy and if she stops eating or drinking or doesn't come out to play I will take her to the vet as fast as I can. I couldn't take losing another cat so soon.

Jeannie, I read your story and feel so bad for you hun......~hugs~ Hubby and I lost our 2 cats and 1 dog in a house fire Jan 5th and we are devistated. We thought we would someday have to make the decision to have them put down when the time came we never thought that we would EVER have the 3 taken from us...... We also lost most of your "thing" but as we tell everyone, they are just things but the loss of your burbabies are the worse.......... Just wanted to send my support, take care Debra P

Debra, what a terrible way to lose your beloved friends. I'm so sorry ((HUGS)). No one should ever have to lose their furbabies in such a terrible way. That's one of my worst fears. I have 7 cats now, whom I all love dearly, and if anything happened to any one of them, I'd be a wreck. If you read my post to Jeannie, you'll see that I DID lose my dear furbaby, Precious, in Nov. '01 and it still hurts. Like Jeannie, I had her cremated and she sits in a lovely oak urn with her photo on the front in my daughter's room (thought it appropriate - And believe me, I've taught my daughter, Jade, just who that special little kitty was and how important she was in her mommy's life). Hopefully you can erect a special memorial of some sort for your babies. If you'd like links to purchase pet memorials, I have a few I can give you. Just email me. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. Feel free to email me anytime if you need an understanding "ear". Love, hugs, and prayers, Amy

Jeannie, I was so sorry to read of your dear Aligar's passing. I, too, had that special kind of kitty (ALL my cats are special, but you know what I mean). I had a beautiful red persian named "Precious" for 9 1/2 wonderful years. She was born with a rare heart murmur that, at the age of 5, first became obvious when she began having seizures. The local Animal ER gave us the option of putting her down, but I was not about to give up on my girl! We took her to a speciality clinic in Columbia, SC, where she remained hospitalized and tested for 1 week. It was during that time that the murmur was discovered. For the rest of her life, she was on Lasix, blood pressure medication, and potassium. She had always been a sort of sickly little sweetheart - underweight, tiny...Once had to buy her a ferret sweater after her hair was shaved at the groomers! At age 7, though, she suddenly "blossomed" - her weight went from 4.5 lbs to 7.5 lbs and she became the frisky "Kitten" she had never been able to be! She remained lively until a few days in early November '01. She began slowing down again, not eating much, drooling, lethargic. Then on the 11/12/01, she had a major seizure while I was at work. My mother, who was home at the time, Thank God, rushed her to our vet. They put her on a valium drip immediately and told mom to pick her up when they closed and take her to the Animal ER where she could be monitored overnight. When I came home from work that evening, mom told me to sit down. She recapped the day's events and said that around 4:30pm, the vet's office called to inform her that they had "lost Precious" - she went into cardiac arrest, and Dr. Walker (I still bless him to this day) tried for 30+ minutes to get her back, to no avail. I felt as though I'd lost my child. And I felt guilty (and still do) that she died without any of her family around. I just hope and pray every day of my life that she died knowing just how much her "mommy" loved her. Many people, unfortunately, just do not understand how we animal lovers can view "just a pet" as a member of the family. It's somewhat ironic, but a week after Precious passed away, I found out I was pregnant - I'd tried to become pregnant with my ex-husband for over 14 months and couldn't because of one non-functioning ovary combined with screwed up hormones from being morbidly obese. Then I met my present (and hopefully forever!) hubby in Oct. '01 and BAM! *l* People think I'm crazy, but I like to think that Precious, being the intuitive little wonder that she was, knew she was heading to the "Rainbow Bridge" - and that I would somehow need to fill the void of her passing...So she "sent" me a miracle in the form of my dear daughter, Jade (who is now 2 1/2 years old), whom I love with all my heart and soul. Jade is my firstborn daughter - but Precious will always be my "firstborn" - period. Anyone who can't understand that has just never known the unconditional love of a pet. Such a shame. If you'd ever like to talk about Aligar and/or share photos, feel free to email me! In the meantime, I hope this poem brings you some comfort... THE RAINBOW BRIDGE... Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown... Love, hugs, and prayers, Amy

The out pouring from my post has been wonderful. I can not express how much it has helped me to receive respones from every one. Amy, just reading your response made me cry but it wasn't tears of grief or pain. They were tears of well, I don't know what you would call it, but reading what you went through with Precious and the Rainbow Bridge poem too. The vet hospital that I used to work out always sent that poem out along with a sympathy card to clients who had lost a pet. The poem always makes me cry because I know it's true and because I can't wait to see Aligar again and I love him so much. He was diabeteic and I swear his appetite was on a strict every 12 hour feeding. Every morning at 5:30 AM he would stand next to our bed or jump on it and start yelling at us to feed him and I still have woke up a few times thinking that I heard him yelling at me to feed him. Our lives had become very hectic and I think Aligar knew it was hard to be there all the time but that we were doing everything we could to make sure that he was happy healthy and of course, very loved. I am so sorry that you could not be there with Precious but I know that she was well aware of how much you loved her. I was with Aligar when he passed away and I feel so bad becasue the last thing he saw was me crying so hard before he left this life. I just wanted him to know how much I loved him and I still do. I talk about him often. I call all my cats angel kitties and now Aligar really is my angel kitty. I wish I could see Aligar just once more to make sure that he knows how much I love him and that he will always be in my heart. Thank you so much for writing to me. It brought tears to my eyes, but not for a bad reason. I can see Aligar in heaven laying in the sun cat napping or running in the grass and having the wind blow through his whiskers, he liked that. Jeannie

I lost my 20 year old precious boy in 2003 - he had FIV. He was so sick at the end but he still gave my hand a headbutt and I still miss him so much but I know that you and I did the right thing by our beloved boys. charlotte