Light of My Life

[marie5890]

Originally Posted by cooncatbob

Why do we love our pets so much and why does it hurt so bad when they die?
Their lifes are much shorter then our own, but their small spirits burn so brightly.
The people you meet in life, even those that love you have their own motives and agendas that might not agree with yours.
But your pet especially one that's bonded to you is your's alone.
Your special friend, they never talk about you behind your back or betray your trust.
They'll love you even if you're unworthy of that love, they ask so little from us and give so much back in return.

Bob, I firmly believe because our relationship with our furry family members is so far less complicated. It's more pure, more unconditional, no strings attached. It's just about the pure love and pure uncomplicated trust.

Human relationships, on the other hand, can be very complex, very hindered, very hard, very complicated. Loyalty and trust are hard to come by. People can be manipulative (in a bad way, I do think animals know how to manipulate but it's never with bad intent).

For me when I come home from a day of work (I would in agricultural retail) I have spent a day with customers. Most of them are very nice and pleasant. But on occasion I get one that just gets on my nerves.
Or sometimes it's the bosses, or other members of the crew. I love them all, they are family.

But when I come home to my three cats, it's all very simple. Very pure. No having to compromise or talk things thru. No having to bite my tongue when I know what is being suggested to me is a bad choice. etc etc.

When I come home, they greet me at the door with "WE MISSED YOU!! SOOOO GLAD YOU ARE HOME MOM!!!"

2 of my three love to cuddle close. All they LOVE to be brushed. They all purr contently so much of the time. I know they trust me completely. There is no abuse, no anger, no frustrations.

It's all about the love, the trust, the loyalty etc. And I love every minuet of it.
That is why is hurts so very profoundly when we have to let them go to the other side. That is why the hole in our hearts bleeds so very long. That is why we sense the gap their lack of physical presence so keenly. They add to our lives something that is very hard to find in human relationships.

At least that is my experience

[catloverami]

Excellent post, Marie, couldn't have said it any better, yes it is definitely all about love, the trust, the loyalty---unconditonal love.

[RannsMama]

Originally Posted by cooncatbob

Why do we love our pets so much and why does it hurt so bad when they die?
Their lifes are much shorter then our own, but their small spirits burn so brightly.
The people you meet in life, even those that love you have their own motives and agendas that might not agree with yours.
But your pet especially one that's bonded to you is your's alone.
Your special friend, they never talk about you behind your back or betray your trust.
They'll love you even if you're unworthy of that love, they ask so little from us and give so much back in return.
YouTube - ‪James Taylor You've Got A Friend‬‏

Honestly Bob, I think it's because people like us don't really think of them as pets. They become more like family. They don't treat you badly ( well, with my Ellie that is questionable depending on her mood lol) but they always love you, they don't judge, you don't have to work so hard with them, it's just easy. I obviously love my children more than my pets, but my pets are definitely family too. I'm really sorry about Samantha again, I know it's so very hard

[RannsMama]

Originally Posted by marie5890

Bob, I firmly believe because our relationship with our furry family members is so far less complicated. It's more pure, more unconditional, no strings attached. It's just about the pure love and pure uncomplicated trust.

Human relationships, on the other hand, can be very complex, very hindered, very hard, very complicated. Loyalty and trust are hard to come by. People can be manipulative (in a bad way, I do think animals know how to manipulate but it's never with bad intent).

For me when I come home from a day of work (I would in agricultural retail) I have spent a day with customers. Most of them are very nice and pleasant. But on occasion I get one that just gets on my nerves.
Or sometimes it's the bosses, or other members of the crew. I love them all, they are family.

But when I come home to my three cats, it's all very simple. Very pure. No having to compromise or talk things thru. No having to bite my tongue when I know what is being suggested to me is a bad choice. etc etc.

When I come home, they greet me at the door with "WE MISSED YOU!! SOOOO GLAD YOU ARE HOME MOM!!!"

2 of my three love to cuddle close. All they LOVE to be brushed. They all purr contently so much of the time. I know they trust me completely. There is no abuse, no anger, no frustrations.

It's all about the love, the trust, the loyalty etc. And I love every minuet of it.
That is why is hurts so very profoundly when we have to let them go to the other side. That is why the hole in our hearts bleeds so very long. That is why we sense the gap their lack of physical presence so keenly. They add to our lives something that is very hard to find in human relationships.

At least that is my experience

Thank you Marie! That's what I was just trying to say but you said it much better

[cooncatbob]

Thanks for all the kind words.
But it's Friday again and she's been gone for 4 weeks and the silence is deafening.
Every day except when she was under the weather which was rare she was waiting for me in the mourning to feed her.
Everyday when I'd pull into the drive way from a long day at work I'd see her looking out the kitchen window, watching for Papa to come home, then I'd hear her friendly greeting as I unlocked the door.
Everyday was a new day for her, all she wanted was her Papa's love and attention.
I got a copy of Patty Luckenbach's Pet Loss Journal "The Kingdom of Heart"
and it's helped as have this forum, there's a place where you write a letter to you pet, there's also a place where you write a letter to yourself as your pet.
I think I need to write another letter to Samantha and a letter to myself.
The night before she died was like most nights, we spent bed time together.
But when I had to make that terrible decision to let her go she was over night old and feeble and she wasn't all there if you know what I mean, I hugged her as she took her last breath and felt the spirit leave her small body, it was a nightmare I could not wake up from.
I'm profoundly glad I could be there for her, that she didn't have to die alone.
My previous cat Meme died alone at night when I was on a trip, my best human friend Lance discovered her when he came to feed her in the mourning.
I've always felt guilty that I wasn't there for her.
I feel it the least we can do is hold them when the go into the night.

[rothenb1]

I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. Your story brought me to tears. Samantha was absolutely gorgeous, and you were clearly a good papa-- 15 and a half years is a long, lovely life. She will be waiting for you at The Bridge

[cooncatbob]

It's been 7 weeks now and while Chiquita is thriving I still have a broken heart.
It's very strange how we choose our soul mates.
Like I previously posted Samantha was indifferent to me when I chose her, I should have picked her half sister as she jumped in my lap and climbed into my carrier.
But there was something about Samantha that attracted me besides the fact that she was drop dead gorgeous.
I think in a house with 2 litters of kittens she didn't get all the attention she deserved or needed, not Susan the breeders fault, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
Samantha was never needy and she warned up to me quickly.
I think our personalities meshed rather well.
She wasn't a clingy in your face kind of cat, she was very sweet and liked to sit next to you, but not too close and receive pets and grooming.
She was an independent cat who could entertain herself if I was doing something else or if not we'd spend hours playing together.
If I was online doing work she'd lay on the chair near me and watch me without demanding attention.
When ever I pulled into my drive way no matter how late I could look to the kitchen window and see her waiting for me, as I'd get out of my car she'd jump down and I'd hear her greeting me as I opened the door.
I've been beating myself up about her sudden illness and having to let her go but I took an inventory of our life together and she lived a very good life.
I'm assuming her first 6 months were happy, I got her when she was 6 months old and she passed away 5 days after her 16th birthday.
In that time she was never really sick, under the weather for a day or two a couple times.
She was never injured, I did step on her accidentally a couple of times but no damage done, she was never abused or went hungry ever, she was always loved and cared for.
I always praised her and told her how pretty she was and how much Papa loved her, she absolutely glowed when Praised so I praised her every chance I got.
She lived a great life, 1 bad day doesn't cancel out 5849 good days.
It doesn't fill the void or repair the hole in my heart, but at least I know I was a Good Papa and I provided her with a very good life.