Red Mosquito

My wife and I are putting her down this afternoon. I've never cried so much over anything in my life.

15 years ago, I walked into a room at an animal sanctuary where all the cats were roaming free, sat down, and she immediately walked over to me and jumped into my lap. I adopted her instantly.

When my wife and I got her, we were living in our very first apartment in Illinois. She was with us through two more rental units and then all the way to our first home in Colorado. She's been with us for nearly our entire marriage. It's incredibly difficult to imagine life without her. She's always been there. There are so many reminders of her all over our house.

I knew she was old and this time would come eventually but I really hoped I would have more time than this with my sweet, gorgeous girl.

You gave her a good life and thanks to both of you she knew love. My condolences

ah shit, i don't think i've ever cared that much about a pet... my heart goes out to you, sweet man. i hope you find another pet or create a child you love almost as much as this one

Sorry to hear. 15 years is a good run.

That fucking sucks, LV. My heart goes out to you and your wife. I'm so sorry. But there was a lot of love in those years to hang on to and celebrate.

sorry LV..She had a good life..go out to eat and honor her at casa bonita ...

So sorry for you, LV. Saying goodbye to pets is the hardest thing I’ve done. But you guys gave her a loving home she may not have had otherwise and both you and her were rewarded for it.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate all your thoughts and words.

Shit - I was hoping there would be good news. I don't even know this cat and this hits hard. I am so sorry for what you're going through. As other's have said - you gave her the best life.

That's a beautiful kitty and an amazing photo. Sorry to hear, broseph.

Because I love LV so much I was really hoping the kitty would be fine....

LV, you rule. I appreciate a lot how vulnerable and real you are.

I'm sorry you are going through this. It even affects me some because of how it's affecting you. Meh.

Thanks again for everyone's kind words. They really do mean a lot.

The last few days have been very hard, but it's finally to the point where I can go several hours without weeping. Haven't been able to get through a whole day yet, but it's getting easier. Now instead of always crying when I think of her, I can look back at pictures and videos of her while smiling and laughing at my silly little lady.

This is her final resting place where she can always be with us. Just waiting to get her ashes now.



Side note: I realized I actually got the dates wrong - my wife and I got her on our second anniversary, which was 16 years ago. She was 17-18 years old.

That looks like a fine spot.

LV, you are a true friend to the felines. your cat was lucky to have your stewardship.

i changed my cat's feeding location and now he's being a grade-A dimejinky99 (sassy and endearing)

One of my favorite things about cats is when they punch stuff. Every time my cat meets a foreign object and slowly approaches it with suspicion, only to start pummeling it with her paw, I crack up

I'll never have a pet but cats are cool ass f*cks

how bout a pet rock?

My wife and I went to several shelters today to begin an effort to find a new cat. It was a confusing and demoralizing experience and only reinforced my suspicion that we will never a find another one. Shitty day.

Which part was confusing? Not trying to be a dick.

It was confusing emotionally. Trying to connect with a new cat, trying to figure out in such a short interaction if this an animal I can see myself sharing a decade or two with. And also trying to figure that out while still grieving my last cat, who was such a perfect angel who made that connection immediately clear upon meeting her.

Also, some of the shelter volunteers were really obnoxious and kind of ruined the experience. We actually kinda thought we were connecting with one cat, and even went back a second time thinking we might put an application in, but a fucking volunteer horned in our second visit, completely threw off our dynamic with the cat, and weirdly kinda talked us out of adopting it by insisting it was aggressive and unpredictable even though he was nothing but sweet and affectionate with us? I dunno. It was a very weird experience.