u/R00kridge

I lost my 3.5 legged best friend this morning, after 15 years of life together.

I would like to start out by saying I knew this day was coming six months ago.

I noticed my cat was having a hard time breathing. He was really slow slowing down, which is to be expected after almost 20 years at that time of being alive.

What I didn’t expect was a molly whop of chronic heart failure, and feline diabetes. I caught both very early and was able to get him the best help I could unfortunately much like taxes death is unavoidable.

All that being said wow this morning when I took him to the vet, I knew this could be mine in his last ride together, but I shove it in the back of my mind is not to panic or upset him to keep him as comfortable as possible, some part of me in the back of my mind also naïvely thought that maybe he would be coming home with me today.

Unfortunately, he did not after talking with his vet. It was determined between the two of us that the right thing to do in the fair thing to do would be to euthanize him, and I’ll be honest I don’t regret my decision. I loved him so much that the thought of him being in pain was not something I wanted to live with so within the hour of the discussion, I stood with him for his last final minutes and while it was extremely hard for me, I wanted him to know that I was right there for him.

I know right now the wounds are still very fresh and may never fully heal. It’s hard sitting at my desk and looking back over at my bed where he used to sleep knowing he’s no longer there. I miss him so much already and it’s been less than a day.

My question to all of you who are cat owners or pet owners in general is I know that I want another cat or two in the future preferably too special needs cats just like him, but how long does it take for you guys to get over/move past the grief and how did you keep yourself from comparing your new pets to your old ones my fear is I will never love them as much as I loved him.