My beloved 16 year old cat Mouser is near death

[EdwardBernays]

Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2016, 06:22 PM - Edit history (2)

I know none of you know me, but I just have to emote a bit and this place is kinda the right mix of comfortable and anonymous....

My cat, mouser, is 16. She probably won't make it through the night.



I got her for my 26th Birthday, when living in Boston.. from my then girlfriend... it was a big move.. we'd only moved in together a few months earlier.. but she - Mouser - took it all in stride... in fact she climbed out of the box and onto my chest the second she arrived...



We then moved to a different house in Boston for a few years, and my girlfriend and I got married.. we then moved to London and brought mouser along... we moved twice in London, then to Ireland... where we had two kids - both of whom Mouser loved and never acted out towards. We then moved twice in Ireland and finally settled. We have lived in the same house for 7 years, making this, by far, the longest we - and Mouser have stayed put.




Never once was she scared of a new house, or did she hide under a bed for a few days... she was always open to the adventure...








She's also never been sick a day in her life... until a few weeks back... we took her to the vet, but.. cancer... it's an awful thing...

But like everything else she's just rolled with it... she's been going outside, smiling at new sounds and smells, perking up when I play the guitar - her favourite sound I think - or when I call her name.. or when the kids or my wife come into the room... she's fighting as hard as she can... and losing...

Because I know how much she loves music and the sound of birds I had classical piano music on all day, mixed with one of those 8 hour sounds of nature videos... that seemed to help her rest a bit I think... but... she can barely walk.. she's collapsed a few times trying to walk even 20 steps and is basically fading away.. I've been an utter wreck.. to say the least, but I'm also trying to help her be at peace as much as possible... I know I'll probably wake up tomorrow and she'll be gone, and that breaks my heart, but I also know we've given her a real, true, home, and an adventure.. and more love than most animals could dream of... it doesn't make it hurt any less, but... ...

anyway... goodbye Mouser cat... we love you.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Awww, Mouser..

Sounds like she's had a great life, but I know you'll miss her. You never forget a great cat.

[Hoyt]

2. She's beautiful. So sorry for both of you right now, but I enjoyed reading about you and Mouser.

[Mosby]

3. she is beautiful.

So sorry.

I hope she is not in pain.

[EdwardBernays]

4. She's not

She's resting and purring. Her head is on my hand.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. I am looking at my elderly cat, and dog as I type, knowing we face this" end of journey" time soon.

It is never easy, i know.
She sounds like a very chilled out cat, and I can hear she has given you lots of love and companionship.

so sorry you have to say goodby.....

[EdwardBernays]

8. Thank you

It's been very emotional for me.

I just took her out of her bed as she was scratching to get out. I think she wanted a better view. :/ that's her...

[irisblue]

6. what a loving time you and Mouser have shared.

you know she will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for you.

[EdwardBernays]

11. I just sang her a little song

About a field full of mice and lakes full of milk.

[Paper Roses]

7. This breaks my heart. Hard for you and your family.

What a wonderful life you shared with this beautiful kitty. Love given and returned. You will have great memories to fill that empty space in your heart.

[EdwardBernays]

10. I know

My daughter was so distraught today. But... I'm glad this was her first pet. The best cat ever.

It's so very sad. But 16 is nothing to be ashamed of for a cat.

Ah it's just too much really... Sorry just a bit sad.

[CurtEastPoint]

9. Having been there many times before, it is very painful but...

I always take comfort in knowing that I loved my kitty and he loved me back and I kept him safe, sound, warm, fed and loved. Bless you and Mouser.

[LiberalElite]

12. Ooh dear - I've been there

A couple of my cats were diagnosed with cancer. It's such a wrenching experience at the end, no matter what the diagnosis.

Mouser has such uniquely beautiful eyes. She's had a very good life with you and your family.

I'm sorry.

[EdwardBernays]

13. Thank you

Yes her eyes were amazing.. And she was so smart... When you looked into her eyes she really looked right back.. I always thought one day she might just start talking.

And we've tried our utmost to give her the best life we could. She is so special.

[retrowire]

14. We love mouser too!

Thanks for all your love Mouser, you gave Edward more than you know.

[TygrBright]

15. Holding you and Mouser in my heart, gentle passing... n/t

[Skittles]

16. it is so very hard to let them go

my grandma called it "the price of love"


Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you...
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you.

by Isla Paschal Richardson

[intheflow]

17. What a lovely and loving tribute.

I'm so sorry for your loss, EB. But I'm so grateful Mouser had such a devoted human to walk with her on her adventures all these years.

[Blue Owl]

18. My sympathies to you

Be strong...

[roguevalley]

19. so much love, so much poetry in

your post. your baby will be around you forever. My dogs are. I still hear dog toenails walking on my wood floors even years later. I wish all of you so much consolation. Know you are loved.

[3catwoman3]

20. I read something once about...

...how we take our animals into our hearts, knowing that we will likely outlive them, and miss them terribly, but we do it anyway. it sounds as if Mouser has been well worth it.

[Number9Dream]

21. My sympathy n/t

[Phentex]

22. Just beautiful...

thank you for sharing these pictures and for telling us about Mouser. How lucky you both were! It hurts so much to lose family and we know how it feels. My heart goes out to you and your family.

[NaturalHigh]

23. I'm so sorry for your loss.

She's a beautiful cat, and it sounds like she's had a great life.

[hamsterjill]

24. Oh, the love is so very apparent in your post.

I'm so sorry that Mouser has reached the end of her time on earth. It is very hard to say goodbye, and I wish you and your family peace and comfort. I wish Mouser a peaceful and pain free exit from this life.

I do cat rescue and I see many that are mistreated, kicked out, harmed - you name it. It is always so very inspiring - so very wonderful - to see when one has been loved and has been made a part of a family. Mouser knows this and she will be waiting for you when it is your time to leave.

Thank you for taking care of her and loving her.

[EdwardBernays]

25. Thank you

I grew up in a family that was pretty irresponsible when it came to pets. So I wouldn't have one unless I knew I could commit to making its ENTIRE life as good as possible.

When she finally died at 2am I was there petting her and talking to her. She really wanted to be able to see the room and so I took her out of her box.. Then she calmed down. She was so weak and helpless but I did my very best to let her know she wasn't alone.

[Hoyt]

26. RIP little buddy. As sad as this is right now, I feel lucky to have found this thread. I have a

little buddy who was with me when my wife passed away 7 years ago. He's getting up there, and I hope to be with him the same way when the time comes. Of course, he might outlive me.

Take care of yourself.

[EdwardBernays]

27. Thanks

That's all we can hope to do. Best of luck. Very sorry to hear about your loss. That I can't begin to imagine. :/

[phylny]

41. So sorry to hear of your loss

and touched at your kindness in helping Mouser until the very end.

[EdwardBernays]

42. thank you

I refuse to believe that I could be callous to her because she is just a cat, or whatever other excuse I coulda used to avoid the pain of the situation... she was as much a friend to me as anyone else has ever been. Maybe it's not the same kind of thing as a human friendship, but she was always there for me and I was determined to be there for her.

I love her very much and have no problem saying that or acting on it.

And my life is worse without her in it.

[grntuscarora]

28. Such a beautiful cat.

It sounds like she had a happy, happy life with you and your family. I'm so sorry you're losing her...
I still miss my Martha, and she's been gone for many years now.

[EdwardBernays]

29. She was extremely beautiful

But the most beautiful thing about her was her personalality... She was amazing in every way.

[iscooterliberally]

30. Mouser is a gorgeous cat. You have my empathy.

It's hard to say goodbye when you have them for so long.

[EdwardBernays]

31. Thank you very much

I appreciate thtat

[virgdem]

32. I'm so sorry for your loss...

Mouser was a really beautiful cat and I know you loved her very much. You write so lovingly of her and the years you spent together. She was loved and I'm sure she knew this. Much peace to you in the coming days. You will always have wonderful memories of her.

[shenmue]

33. Ceiling Cat bless

[eridani]

34. Safe passage, Mouser. Go in love n/t

[catbyte]

35. I'm so very sorry. Your lovely, loving post brought me to tears.

[EdwardBernays]

36. That's kinda me

For the last few days.



That was her on out first day together.

[catbyte]

37. They're family, sometimes more precious than family. I have grieved more for a cat than some members

of my own family. Mouser is breathtaking. Again, my heart is breaking right along with yours because I know how difficult this is.

[ginnyinWI]

38. So sorry to hear...

but the fact that she's lived to be 16 shows that she's had great care and a great life.

Tabbies are the best, in my opinion! Great temperaments. Usually calm, stable, and sociable. I speak from having had two brown tabbies, and one orange one.

The other color with a very nice temperament is a short-haired black. I have worked with cats at a shelter for 4 1/2 years and have met hundreds of cats, so I know.

Remember the good times. She loves you.

[EdwardBernays]

40. thank you

I know it seems weird to think a cat could love a person, but I always felt great love from her... I appreciate your comments...

[Judi Lynn]

39. Beautiful kitty. Deepest sadness for your grief. You will always be glad you knew her. n/t

[restorefreedom]

43. so, so sorry

beautiful cat who was very much loved. deepest sympathies

[Fla Dem]

44. What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl. She knows she is loved and always

Will be in your hearts. I hope for a peaceful passage for the old girl and peace to you.

[EdwardBernays]

45. Thank you

I planted flowers on her grave today. It was very emotional but it's important to my happiness to be able to look at the spot she buried without being miserable.

It's the only spot of our garden that gets the sun year round. And she always loved the sun.

It's still painful, all of this, but I'm trying to just not be miserable.