Goodbye to Henry

[Patrick]

[jojo]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

Oh Patrick how I feel for you. The loss of a much loved pet that is very much a family member is devastating. Henry reached a grand age and it was his time; you were brave and kind enough to let him go so he wouldn't suffer. My thoughts are with you.

jo

[Gina]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

Awww I'm sorry to hear such sad news Patrick. Henry had a good long life and you will be missing him, our pets are part of our family and much loved. My thoughts are with you at this time. xx

[Barr1e]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

.....

Regards. Barr1e

[Bob Ross]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

I know how you feel Patrick. We lost our nine yearols tabby, Sheeba, during 2008. It certainly had an impact on this household.
Bob

[ekkl]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

Very sorry to hear that Patrick. I have lost three in the last two years, two I had from kittens and they were almost 15. The other for about 7yrs. Miss them madly.

[Patrick]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

I know how you feel Patrick. We lost our nine yearols tabby, Sheeba, during 2008. It certainly had an impact on this household.
Bob

Thank you all for your kind and supporting words.

We felt it today, we went out for a few hours and returned to an empty house. No bright little face of welcome, no purrs, the house just doesn't feel the same. All this will pass I have no doubt, when we re-adjust.

We have lived in this house for 40 years now and always had a cat, so there has always been a feline welcome. I also always had a cat when I was a child and into my teenage years before marrying.
I'm now 65 and feel having another cat may be unfair on the animal, as the years pass and we get older health problems could arise and make it difficult to care for another as we feel it should be cared for. Particularly if it is as long lived as the last two, Minnie the cat before Henry lived for 22 years.

Patrick

[Pol]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

Thank you all for your kind and supporting words.

We felt it today, we went out for a few hours and returned to an empty house. No bright little face of welcome, no purrs, the house just doesn't feel the same. All this will pass I have no doubt, when we re-adjust.

We have lived in this house for 40 years now and always had a cat, so there has always been a feline welcome. I also always had a cat when I was a child and into my teenage years before marrying.
I'm now 65 and feel having another cat may be unfair on the animal, as the years pass and we get older health problems could arise and make it difficult to care for another as we feel it should be cared for. Particularly if it is as long lived as the last two, Minnie the cat before Henry lived for 22 years.

Patrick

So sorry to hear that, Patrick. We can truly identify with not feeling able to have another pet (dog or cat) because you don't feel you'd be able to care for it as well as you feel it would deserve.

We're in the same situation so we kinda 'share the care' of a couple of visiting cats with a near neighbour. She's kept rescued cats for many years and her cats have always regarded our garden and shed roof as their territory. They sit on the lid of the wheelie bin and look into the kitchen window most mornings, snooze on the shed roof or in the greenhouse and garden every day, come into the house and sleep by the fire etc and generally spend at least half their time with us.

We don't feed them but they are allowed an occasional treat (with the consent and knowledge of their owner). They're just happy to feel they own our place as well as their own. We talk regularly with their owner so we can report back if there's a problem - eg is one of them seems ill or if she needs to get one of them to the vet and they've scarpered over to our place.

None of her cats bother the garden birds! one of them did when she first brought it home as a timid rescued youngster. I dunno how she does it but she trains them very well and it just lies peacefully in the garden and watches them now - no bother whatsoever.

Hopefully you'll soon be lucky enough to get some nice moggies visiting you too.

Pol

[Julia]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

Very sorry to hear your news, Patrick. Cats (and dogs) have been a huge part of my life since I was a child.

I do understand you feel now you are not able to replace Henry but looking after a cat/ cats can keep you "young" and they are very independent creatures.

Perhaps one or two that are slightly older and hence fully house-trained?

Just an idea

[Ian]

Re: Goodbye to Henry

I'd just like to echo Julia's words. We have two moggies that will be 15 years old in just 2 or 3 months (from the same litter but ever so different in appearance and character).

They are both still quite active, but both beginning to show signs of their age (one has a slight arthritic limp and the other has some benign lumps).

At least we will have hundreds of photos to remember them by!

Ian