Apr

7

Rainbow Bridge

April 7, 2004 |

I had to send one of my cats over to the Rainbow Bridge last night and I am just devastated. I can’t stop crying about it. I know to most it’s just a cat, but I’ve had Peanut since he was 3 weeks old and he was almost 13 years old when I had to put him down last night.

Peanut had a heart condition that he was diagnosed with 6 years ago and his prognosis then was poor at best. They said he might live a week maybe 6 months if we were lucky but we were given 6 more years. And then just like that, he’s gone.

He was one of those cats that loved to lie in the sun no matter how hot and sweltering it was outside. He was my little rat cat as I called him, a little gray tiger that we saved from starvation when he was so tiny. My favorite picture is this one I have of him curled up on one of my stepdaughter’s doll beds about 10 years ago. He was sleeping near the woodstove because he always needed to be as hot as any could stand.

Jeff found him outside last night at 9pm with his back half of his body completely paralyzed, this 13 year old cat that could still clear any baby gate I set up with a spring in his step. He wasn’t injured and the vet knew he must have thrown a blood clot and was in considerable pain. It was a very long ride to the emergency care clinic last night, one that I cried the entire way, one that I will never forget. It didn’t take long for the vet to examine him and then make the most humane recommendation he could. Even if we treated him and were successful this time he would just go through this again and again. I couldn’t put him through it. I’ve never had to decide to have one of my animals euthanized before and it tore my heart right out of my chest. I feel as though my heart has broken in two.

So Peanut I know that you are at the Rainbow Bridge now, running and jumping and playing happily. Lying in the sun, soaking up the heat. Know that I miss you so much and I will meet up with you and cross the bridge with you one day. I love you Peanut.


Comments

9 Comments so far

  1. Michele on April 7, 2004 12:27 pm

    Aw hun, I’m so sorry about your kitty. I know how they can be part of your family, not just a pet.
    Big hugs!!!

  2. Bev on April 7, 2004 5:54 pm

    *hugs* I’m going to be a total mess too when my cat goes. I feel for ya girlie!

  3. Kristine on April 8, 2004 9:16 pm

    Awww, Julie I’m so sorry. My mom and dad just went through this with a cat they had for 14 years. I’m thinking of you and sending you hugs.

  4. wendy on April 9, 2004 12:41 pm

    Aww..so sorry hun. We have two cats and two dogs and they are definitely part of the family so I feel for ya. (hugs)

  5. Candi on April 9, 2004 1:00 pm

    So sorry sweetie. I can’t imagine having to put a pet down. BIG HUGS!

    Happy Easter hun!

  6. Lori on April 9, 2004 4:06 pm

    Oh Julie!! I am so sorry about Peanut!! They truly are a part of the family!! You hang in there sweetie!! ((BIG HUGS))!!!

  7. Diane on April 10, 2004 11:47 pm

    ((hugs)) Just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear this news.

  8. Stacey on May 4, 2004 8:08 am

    Losing a pet is such an awful feeling. They are so much a part of the family. I am so sorry for your loss, but you did the best thing.

  9. Psychology of Motherhood » Alex & O on May 8, 2006 5:49 am

    [...] That expression on her face made it so worth it. You see we lost a cat a little over a year ago, Peanut, and he was O’s cat. O tends to be high strung and difficult for the other kids to get along with but that cat was her best friend. He developed a clotting problem that caused him a great deal of pain, the prognosis was poor and we had no choice but to have him euthanized. Even after 2 years she still misses him terribly and talks about him all the time. [...]

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