I'm having trouble burying my kitty pal

[grasswire]

My dear old pal Chester died about 6:30 this morning after fading away with hyperthyroidism. He wasn't in pain, but he kept crying in a soft voice all night long just to make sure I was with him. (I was -- haven't slept much for three days now.)

Now I have to bury him; he's been wrapped in a soft flannel cloth that he liked to nuzzle. I'm putting him in a big whiskey barrel planter so he can go along whenever we move -- I've buried two cats thousands of miles away in the past and regret being so far away.

I'm having a lot of trouble taking this final step tonight. It's just ripping me up. Maybe I should have a big drink of the only booze in the house; a bottle of triple sec. Although I have a lot of work to do, and can't get sleepy.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. It cost about 80 dollars but I had my dogs cremated and have

their remains in teakwood boxes that I bought for them.
Sorry about your loss. IT's hard to get work done when you are grieving.

[SOteric]

8. This is a really great idea if you can consider it.

Otherwise, - do you have any really supportive, good, solid friends you can call to hold you up while you say farewell...?

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Make sure Chester gets a drink too.

I am sure he has earned it.

[NaMeaHou]

3. I don't want to overdo the sympathy, but

my god. Good luck with getting by. I know how it can feel to lose a pet. I even had a kitten that came to my place one time - a neighbors. I ignored him, and he wound up being discovered, by me, in the backyard. I took him out to one of my favorite places - where no one was likely to find him and buried him. It was unbelievably sad, and I didn't even really know him.

again - I don't know if the whiskey barrel is a good idea, but it's your choice.

best wishes.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. I am having my kitty cremated so I can keep the ashes with me.

You might want to consider this an idea.

My heart goes out to you in your time of grief.

[grasswire]

7. No, I don't want him cremated.

I've read disconcerting things about the process. I clipped a bit of his fur to keep in a small antique box. And I relish the idea that his remains will actually lend nourishment to lovely flowers and plants. The circle of life, you know.

[flamingyouth]

5. So sorry

I have a kitty named Chester too - he's got some pretty major health problems (as do all my fur children). I am so sorry for you. Have a drink, toast Chester, and remember the good times.

[Elidor]

6. It's nice that he had you

We should all be so lucky to have our best friend by our side at the end. It's a happy ending. Peace.

[bahrbearian]

9. Sorry for you loss,

Thats probably why I haven't moved in 25 year to many memories here .

[Myra]

10. grasswire, that's heartbreaking...

I'm so sorry.

Maybe you can just tell us more about
Chester, or whatever you want to talk about,
and not force yourself to do something before
you're ready...

How long were you together?

[Catfish]

11. It's tough

I've had two cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, it seems that it's becoming more prevalent in senior cats. One died of it after not being able to tolerate the medicine. The other went to radiocat (my vet didn't know about this treatment for the first cat):

http://www.radiocat.com/

but it took two treatments to cure and it was VERY expensive and he had a couple of good years before dying of an unrelated condition.

Anyway, I know this is tough for you. Take care.

[Catshrink]

12. Sorry about your loss of Chester.

My little baby angel puss Ryno also has hyperthyroidism. Thankfully, she is still with me and I give her meds twice a day.

I had my princess cremated and was able to move her ashes with me.

When a dear friend of mine dies of HIV complications, his partner mingled his ashes with those of two of their dogs that my friend had loved so much. I want to do that --- to be reunited with all my fur persons when I die.

[Gloria]

13. Yes, it's very tough. The longer you wait the harder it gets....

Last year around this time, my guinea pig Creampuff died in my arms. We had just gotten back fromt the vet. I snuggled her in a soft cloth, found a box and buried her next to the wall of our backyard and have planted summer and winter flower there since her death.
I have a lovely pansy there now that will bloom all winter and the portulaca will bloom all summer.

Her companion, Muffy, is still doing well, just now age 7 (Creampuff was 6 when she died). I will bury here next to Creampuff and then have two flowers blooming, all year.

Gee, this is making me cry....

[AnnabelLee]

14. I'm so sorry, grasswire

My deepest sympathies on the loss of your friend, Chester. I know how hard it is to let go.:hug:

[abelenkpe]

15. I am so sorry

to hear about your cat. I know how difficult it is to lose a pet you love. Sometimes I think I see my cat wandering around my place before realizing he's been gone for a couple of months now. You must be going through a very difficult time. Take care of yourself.

[Military Brat]

16. My heart goes out to you

I know how you feel, I lost three of my "babies" within four years. I buried Mr. Bear, my big Rottweiler, and have always regretted it. My other two Rotties, Cheyenne and Thor, I had them cremated. Expensive, but worth it. Their ashes are in special containers, and I keep them in my bedroom. I often touch their photos and wish them peace wherever they are. In my favorite dreams, they return, full of happiness, and we run through parks and forests. Best of all, I can hug them again.

Go ahead and grieve as much as you need to grieve, but have comfort, too. In time, Chester's memory will bring smiles and you'll begin to laugh at some of the silly things he did. Nothing will ever replace Chester, but think of what you would have missed without him ...

:cry:

[grasswire]

17. well, it's done

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Thanks, everyone, for listening.

Chester was 16 years old, and was the most darling tabby with the most charming ways. Highly interactive and intuitive. Loved me and comforted me day in and day out.

Hyperthyroidism is the pits. A year ago, Chester weighed 18 pounds. Yesterday, he probably weighed four. He was diagnosed in February, and we tried the fluid injections but he fought them. When it became clear that he was not going to rally to treatment, I decided to let him go in his own way at his own time, without making him bear intrusions he didn't want. Pepcid helped him eat for a couple of months.

He wasn't in pain, or suffering. He just faded in the last week. We had nine relatively good months after the diagnosis.

For all of you whose furbabies have hyperthyroidism, remember the Pepcid for feeding problems. I learned about it on the internet. And if you google, you'll find all kinds of tricks to get kitty to keep eating, and info on nutritional supplements. These are things the veterinarians don't usually talk about -- they usually suggest either putting the cat down or treatments that your cat may not tolerate.

[grasswire]

18. pic

well, I can't get the pic to post here, oddly enough.

Thanks again for all the good thoughts.

[Myra]

21. Chester...what a great name

How'd you decide on that name grasswire?

Wow, 16. That's a very good life.
Tho' I know it makes it even harder to lose
a special individual after so long.

Ow. Big ow.

[VOX]

29. This is very tough -- hang in there, grasswire...

That special bond we have with our pets runs very deep. It's always so very hard to say goodbye to that cross-species connection.

Thanks for giving Chester such a good, loving home all these years. He was a lucky guy!

All best to you --

[pansypoo53219]

19. i feel your pain

lost my 10 year old Cosmo in april. but the best therapy is in a chair behind me. 2 little furry additions that my other cat does not exactly adore yet.

[prole_for_peace]

20. I had my baby, Peggy cremated

and she is in a box that I can carry with me where ever I may go. Some of my friends think it is creepy but screw them.

[Myra]

22. Definitely screw them...

...if they don't understand how hard it is to lose
a special pet. You don't owe them an explanation kmlewis.

[Sting]

23. I feel your pain...

My cat Peepers died in January after we've had him for 18 years. He was less than a year when we got him. It was hard to bury him because he was with us for so long. My parents moved in August, and all the pets I knew growing up are buried at the old house. We have two cats buried at the old house, a dog, four rabbits, and two gineau(sp) pigs. It's sad that they aren't with us anymore.

All my cats survived until they were in their late teens, my dogs survived for 15-16 years (peekigneese-poodle mix and a mutt). I miss them. :( :cry:

[area51]

24. Chester

I'm so sorry for your loss of Chester, grasswire. I know how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet.

[corarose]

25. Sorry to hear about Chester My Ramona died a 1 1/2 weeks ago

We live in the city in a high rise and we had the pet cemetery come out and pick her up. They are going to hold her little kitty body in the freezer until I get the money to have a little funeral and have her cremated. The funeral is 30 bucks extra and they lay your pet out in their chapel and have a small service.

If you have the extra 100 dollars it's worth getting your little guy cremated because it will save you the hassle of digging him up at a later date.

If you go the cremation route take your little guy to the pet cemetery and make sure that they put him in a separate box or you will get your share of the ashes of all of the pets that they cremated that day.

[Lorien]

26. So sorry to hear about Chester

My kitty Peewee died of the same thing in August. The last week of his life was one of the hardest I've ever been through-he was so frail and weak, and those soft cries were heartbreaking. Wee died at the vets, as I was waiting to take him home. They tried to revive him, but couldn't. At least Chester passed away in the warmth of his home, knowing that you were at his side. I'm sure you were a great comfort to him.

I know how you feel right now- I wanted to just keep holding onto Wee, even though I knew he was gone. I had him cremated so that I could take him with me as well. Just try to remember that Chester has moved on, that his body is no longer where his spirit resides.

Do you have anyone nearby who can stay with you for the next few days? Losing a dear pet can be as difficult as losing a close family member. I hate to think of you being alone.:hug:

[Piperay]

27. So Sorry

Cats are little angels with fur O8) but they are members of the family too. :hug:

[catmom]

28. grasswire

You have my deepest sympathy for your loss.

[Darth_Kitten]

30. It is so hard....

I feel so sorry for you now. :hug: My heart goes out to you.

[geniph]

31. Oh, I am so sorry!

I know what that's like. I felt so guilty the last couple of times, burying my furbabies. I knew they weren't still in there, but I didn't want them to be outside in the cold and rain.

Somehow it's easier when you can bury them with a favorite towel or cloth, and make them a little box. I planted a rosebush over Tristan Jones when he died of cancer a couple years ago (at Christmas), and we now call that "Tristan's rose." Somehow, it helps to have something living and growing to memorialize your late lamented companions.

May he live forever in your memory, and may you meet again beyond the Bridge.

[Cleita]

32. Aw gee grasswire, I'm sorry.

I know how you feel. I have feline friends buried as far away as Texas and Idaho. I wish I could have done better, but I had no choice at the time. I'm sure when the time comes, you will make the decision that is best for you.