Väinämöinen, my boy Vai, died this morning

I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t have any words to make it better for you except that your Vai left this world on his own terms and you did not have to make that decision for him. We’ve had only one of our many furry friends leave on her own and there was peace for us knowing that it was her time and her heart just gave out. No drama, no vet visits, just a fine animal passing when the time came.

Always be thankful that there was no suffering, but that doesn’t ease your heartache.

Oh, what a sweetie, you can see his personality in the pictures. I’m so sorry. I’ve lost two black cats in the last few years, one on his own and one I had to put to sleep. I wish every day I’d been with the first one when he passed away. I know it’s hard to see now, but you’re lucky you were there with him. Best wishes.

It is so hard to lose our dear friends. My heart aches for you.

I am sooo sorry about your loss!
When our bunny died after 11 1/2 years, someone sent me the below story/poem, and it helped me a lot. I hope it will help you too! {{{HUGGGZZZ}}}
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THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.
There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly looks up! The nose twitches. The ears are up. The eyes are staring. And this one suddenly runs from the group.
You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusted pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

So sorry. Vai looks like a twin of our Poddy who is a shaman in his own right. They are precious.

I am so sorry for your loss…. and I look at your precious pictures and realize I have his twin sister sitting here on my lap… right down to the chin and half white front paws… wow…. they are identical….

So sorry for your loss. Vai was a beautiful cat. His formal Tuxedo fur made him look so regal in the photos. It is hard on us because we only have our animal children for a short time. Their loss helps us to remember that life is short.

Great cats I’ve known:
Vai: Hero extrodinary, bearer of a noble name and proud heritage.
Smokey: He was old when I met him, but he was a healer cat, He’d sit on my chest when I was in pain and take the pain away. Smokey was a natural born Daddy to little kittens. He loved them.
Harry: A Maine Coon, born with kidney and liver issues that required a special diet. You wouldn’t known it; he was greased lightening when he wanted to be. A locked door was no barrier to Harry. He could unlock and open anything!
Louisville Beaureguard: The essence of a Southern gentleman. He loved the ladies and gents both, if you know what I mean!
Kit Kat: Just a bundle of love and purring during a pet….
Blue: A Russian Blue that I grew up with as a child. She do anything for a carrot!
I loved them all. Rest in peace…loves.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrophic_cardiomyopathy which may provide some answers. Our friend Sam died in April (not quite over it yet) in almost the same circumstances. This malady was discovered only a couple of years ago and is apparently more common than previously realised. My heartfelt sympathy.

I only discovered your blog last night, but I wound up spending HOURS reading some of your informative and extremely well-written posts, like Todd’s Deposition, the Spread Sheet saga, and a few others.

It finally got so late I saved the link, intending to come back tonight.

But now, on returning, to read such sad news …

Let’s just say that whoever writes a book called “What To Say When Nothing You Say Can Ease Someone’s Grief” will deserve the millions it will make.

One morning, after three months of slow kidney failure, my Siamese* did something he’d never done in the 18 years we’d been together. He walked slowly into the bathroom while I was drying my hair, painfully hopped onto the closed toilet lid and just sat there looking at me.

I realized instantly he was saying goodbye, so I sat down on the floor next to him and, looking into his magnificent blue eyes while mine quickly reddened, we spent the next 5 minutes in silent, motionless farewell.

Finally, we pressed our heads together for a long moment, then straightened up as if on cue. One final glance, and as I stood up he eased his way to the floor and went to lie down for the last time.

If I tried to describe how hard I cried, I’d only pick up where I left off.

I tell you all this because of something my wise Jewish ex-mother-in-law once said to me during one of her weekly phone calls.

After complaining that I was in the middle of cleaning up the inch-deep mess caused by the washing machine overlowing into the cat box, she responded that it was raining AND snowing at the same time where she was (Long Island).

With more edge in my voice than an attempt to commiserate deserves, I asked her why (the hell) hearing about her troubles would make me feel any better.

She responded with a question: “What makes a hunchback happy ?”

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “What makes a hunchback happy ?”

“Meeting another hunchback,” she replied.

Meaning: only those who’ve lived your pain can understand its depths.

Despite only knowing you from what I read here less than 24 hours ago, I’m very, very sorry to hear of your loss.

I wish you well, and thanks again for your wonderful and enlightening blog.

Best,
Quasimodo

*His name was Kai, and he was so incredibly smart that if you asked him “Who was the founding father of the People’s Republic of China ?” he’d immediately answer “Mao !”