Had to put my cat to sleep today...

[shutterbug]

He wasn't just a pet...he was a part of my life and a member of my family. He was about 7 years old and I've never lost a pet who was closer. He chose me and I will always have the story of how he came into my life as one of my fondest memories.

My Piper:



I've always thought of this as a very funny animal picture. This was taken in 1998 or 1999 just after I bought my first camera (a Pentax K1000). He was yawning, but I always imagined that a writer for greeting cards could come up with tons of witty copy for this image.

His Story: He (Piper) was only about 6 or 8 weeks old here. I hadn't planned on getting a pet, but I had been thinking about it. One winter weekend on a visit to home (Shawnee) from college (in Stillwater) I saw the tinyest little orange ball of fur in the street where he could be hit and he was too small to climb the curb himself. So I stopped and put him up on the curb. I had seen his mother and siblings nearby so I went back to my car and waited to make sure the mom came back for him.

It was winter and cold and the kitten crawled under my car and starting crying for his mom. After about 20 minutes I spotted the mom run around a building and I no longer heard any cries. So I assumed he was back with his family and I drove the rest of the way to my parents (which was about 7 blocks away) and went in and right to bed since it was about 2 a.m. and everyone was already asleep.

The next morning, my sister woke me to tell me my kitten was in the shop with dad. I said, "What are you talking about?" She said "Your little orange kitten is in the shop in a box."

I was dumbfuzzled. None of them had known anything about me stopping to rescue the kitten from traffic and, furthermore, how on earth could he be at my house???

As it happens, the cold and frightened, little kitten had climbed up under my car and onto my tail pipe and then hung on for dear life for a very bumpy 7 blocks. The next morning as my step-mom was leaving for work she heard a faint and tiny little cry. She followed it to find the orange ball of fur still clinging to the tail pipe.

So...I appropriately named him Piper. He's been the best cat in the world and most definetly the best snuggler.

Last week: I suddenly noticed that he was skin and bones, having lost a TON of weight, which had been disquised by all that fur. A vet trip and a lung x-ray revealed that he was not well at all.

The diagnosis was that he either had feline leukemia and less than 6 months to live (if that) ...

Or he had a fungus (caught from birds somehow) that damaged his lungs so badly that I was told he would have problems for the rest of his life IF he does made it. Basically, he had the equivilent of advanced-stage emphazima...and couldn't breath well at all.

This little guy had been so special to me for so long.

Today (Saturday, June 25, 2006): My dear friend suffers no more. Forever in my heart he will remain. For many years he was an angel in my life, an angel who found me and now has gone back to heaven until we meet again. "Piper's my boy," - a phrase that came from my ex-fiance and my boy he always will be. Never forgotten and forever missed you will be.

(Today...while burying him it dawned on me that my first ever photography award was won with the above photo of him that I submitted in the first photo contest I ever entered, which was in the town's fair where I lived and attended college. He won a first place blue ribbon)

GOODBYE PIPER - I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

[cwohio]

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

ahhh - what a darling furbaby piper was. i bet he is up over the rainbow bridge romping with my 2 - max and lucky. i have their ashes in my bedroom where they can be with me while i sleep. i know the feeling of losing a "best friend". (((shutterbug)))

[Anna]

Oh Shutterbug,

I am so sorry. Piper was beautiful and you are right, you will always love him.

[Live]

I am sorry too.

[historyteach]

My thoughts and prayers for your healing are with you. I've had to put down 3 beloved animals. It's hard.
Be good to yourself as you deal with this very real loss.

Shalom!

[Lilya]

Shutterbug, I´m so sorry.

Losing a pet is very difficult. I have cats myself and I know how hard it is to lose them. Your cat was very special to you. I send both of you love and light, At least he is not suffering anymore.

Be good to yourself.

[KatieRose]

Jenna,

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. Years ago, i had to give my cat whiskers away because my former landlady wouldn't let me keep her. I have never been the same since.

I love the picture. I'll try to email you later.

KatieRose

[BSPGirl]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[meli2005]

Oh, what a sweetie pie. I know you will miss Piper. Sorry about your loss.

[jcade]

Piper was a member of your family and you loved each other! Nothing will ever take the place of this! But remember their are a lot of lost kitties as he was out their. U think he would be proud to know you had adopted another one to fill the void left in your life.

John

[Lalaleah]

I am sorry for your loss. Piper will forever hold a place in your heart. I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet.

[ranae1221]

I am sorry to hear you lost such an important part of your family! I know how special our pets become, and how hard it is to lose them.

for you and piper

[dollydo]

I know how you feel, I am so very sorry.

Dolly

[best]

I never thought of myself as a true cat person till we had muffin put to sleep.
She was with us for a long time. Her picture runs on my screen saver now.
Know that I understand your feelings and know that the happy memories of Piper will overshadow the sadness with time.

[Don W]

Shutterbug, I'm so sorry for your loss. We had to put our dog to sleep after 17 years. They do become part of the family. Even more so, they become a big part of our recovery. Our pets also help our recovery. I know it is had to think about but, you've got much love to share. After Felica, we found Mackenzie, she has also found a place in our family. The picture of her is beautiful. I'm sure she had a wonderful life with you also. We can never replace them but, we can continue our love with another pet. Don W

[miss communicat]

Oh, Shutterbug,

I am so sorry for you losing your Piper. I love my cats and it tears me apart to ever lose one. Its something one just never gets used to even though it is inevitable.

Piper was so special, the story of how he chose you almost made me cry. I have a faith in that rainbow bridge, too, and that he will live forever as a great love in your heart, which is his special gift to your life.

[aasharon90]

My thoughts and prayers are with u during this time. I too just experienced the passing of my bird....a Cockatiel....name SUNSHINE. A pretty yellow bird with 2 orange red circles on both checks that reminded me of the sun. So my Sunshine is near Rainbow Bridge, a place i just learned about and can feel at peace about my pets when they pass on. Love and Care.

[shutterbug]

Thank you all....too emotional to talk right now, but all your thoughts mean a great deal.

[Smyle]

Shutterbug....I am so very sorry you had to put your piper down.....My stimey cat passed 2 summers ago and i still miss him terrible....

It is so painful to lose a pet, our dog died 1 month ago and I was again devastated....I do community service at the Humane society and guess what ...i fell in love with this big black newfoundland...

I was still grieving but got him anyway...I know that my other dog had a great life and would not want the new dog to be put down....It really has helped....

I still have or other cat but he is 12 now and I know he will not be around forever...

The love of a pet is so rewarding and unconditional....Piper had a good life and was a lucky kitty to have such a loving owner !!!!

[Bozo]

I know exactly how you feel. The same thing happened to me several years ago and it is absolutely heartbreaking.

The day I had to make the decision to put my Caprice to sleep was a terrible day. I couldnt eat and I cried all day, I even cried in front of the guys at work.

They probably thought I was effed up for crying but the love you develop for a pet goes so deeply into your whole being.

Only time can close the wound and only perhaps heal.

I am very sorry for your loss, I understand only too well. Mike

[splendra]

(((Jenna)))

I am so soory for you loss. I know it hurts real bad. Take good care of yourself. For me when I have lost a pet just about the only thing that seems to make it better is to get another one. It is a wonder how much we fall in love with them.

I love the pix he was so cute. I can see why you won an award with it. I love yellow kitties.