goodbye to my bumpy cat

grumbeast · September 27, 2015, 10:56:52 AM

I only share this here as I know many of you have furry friends.

yesterday I said goodbye to my Cat of 15 years. Bumpy was our constant companion, we even moved her from Nova Scotia to Gloucestershire. She was the sweetest thing, when my daughter way born, she used to cuddle up to her feet to keep her warm, and when Miranda got older, bumpy would make sure she got to sleep by curling up next to her till she fell asleep.

While not a railroad terror cat, she did enjoy trying to chew the edges of my railroad magazines as I tried to read, and seemed quite interested in my 3hr long DVD of snow clearing operations on the Southern Pacific.

The house seem so much colder this morning and the colours of this fall day seem duller than they should be...

Graham

d-a-n · September 27, 2015, 11:19:35 AM

I'm sorry to hear this news; these smaller members of the family really work their way into our hearts. I hope you'll continue to remember the good times, of which it sounds like there are many.

PhilD · September 27, 2015, 11:20:35 AM

Sorry to hear that! I know how it hurts - we lost our 3 year old Weimaraner nearly a year ago and it still hurts. But we were on to the breeder 2 days after it happened and our 9 month puppy has taken over the house!
Chin up
Phil

Roy L S · September 27, 2015, 11:26:08 AM

Quote from: grumbeast on September 27, 2015, 10:56:52 AM

I only share this here as I know many of you have furry friends.

yesterday I said goodbye to my Cat of 15 years. Bumpy was our constant companion, we even moved her from Nova Scotia to Gloucestershire. She was the sweetest thing, when my daughter way born, she used to cuddle up to her feet to keep her warm, and when Miranda got older, bumpy would make sure she got to sleep by curling up next to her till she fell asleep.

While not a railroad terror cat, she did enjoy trying to chew the edges of my railroad magazines as I tried to read, and seemed quite interested in my 3hr long DVD of snow clearing operations on the Southern Pacific.

The house seem so much colder this morning and the colours of this fall day seem duller than they should be...

Graham

As a fellow cat lover (we currently have five ages ranging from 3 I/2 to about 14) I am really sorry to heart of your loss. They are incredible characters and all so very different. There are those who don't have cats who will never understand what loving gentle creatures they can be.

Our 3 1/2 year old tabby (Called George) has decided our seven week old grandson is his new best friend and the gentleness he shows is heart warming. When our grandson is not in his car seat George guards it and woe betide any of the other cats who might fancy trying to have a sleep in it!

Kind Regards

Roy

Mustermark · September 27, 2015, 12:32:00 PM

Sorry to hear that, grum. Last year we lost a cat to an illness. We had 12, and losing Scooter meant we still had 11, but the house seemed empty. But it's only sad because we love them, and the sadness is the price we pay to have shared our lives with them.

Papyrus · September 27, 2015, 12:33:52 PM

Sympathies from here too - we know what it's like.

The best remedy is to go down to your local animal shelter and come back with something that needs lots of love and reassurance. We did that with our all-white ex-stray who wouldn't let us go near her at first, but now she's a very affectionate little mite who forms an orderly queue with the dog when there's the likelihood of treats going...

All the best,

Chris

MikeDunn · September 27, 2015, 02:19:32 PM

Sad to hear that

... Bumpy sounds lovely. 15 years is a long time, longer than many marriages these days ...

Some will say "get a kitten or adopt a cat now", others will advise to wait a while; only you & your family can answer that, as you can never replace what is lost ...

When we lost our Pixel at 17, it was a massive loss to us, as she'd been with us from about 6 months into our marriage; our other two cats (we adopted two kittens from the PDSA when we lost our dog (we took him in after SWMBO's parents passed on), as Pix missed him as much as us, despite them not being good friends - Pix had upstairs & also my ground-floor study; Whisky had the rest of downstairs; they shared the garden & when one wasn't well the other would come & visit to see how the other was

) were lost as well, as Pixel was their boss ... After a while, we got a ginger farm kitten; we wouldn't be without the Tigger terror, but we still miss our Pix ...

Newportnobby · September 27, 2015, 04:41:05 PM

So sorry to hear about Bumpy, Graham

As a life long cat lover I have been through what you are experiencing and, no doubt, will do again but as stated above, it is part of the price we pay for having pets in our lives.

David Asquith · September 27, 2015, 04:53:59 PM

So sorry to hear your very sad news.

Dave

Sprintex · September 27, 2015, 05:40:38 PM

Aw, my sympathies Graham

I'll refer you here, a good bawl usually helps:-

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=29143.msg324430#msg324430

Paul

grumbeast · September 27, 2015, 06:46:08 PM

Thanks for all your kind words...

We have a nice corner in the garden where we buried her, and have a nice hydrangea to plant there in the spring. We're cooking chicken today which was her favourite.. I used to burn my fingers getting the wing meat off for her.

We went to he RSPCA yesterday afternoon, as bumps was a shelter cat and were being inspected soon to see if we are suitable humans for another cat. ( I can't see there being a problem). We have reserved an abandoned black 7month old called Anjelica (Jelly to us I think) who needs a home and love.

We wondered whether we should wait, but the house is so empty and Jelly needs us now.

Graham

Roy L S · September 27, 2015, 07:17:27 PM

Graham

That is in my view a kind and thoughtful thing to do. I am sure you will give Jelly a loving home and she will reward you in kind.

Dawn and I spend a Sunday in five cleaning out and feeding (and fussing!) the strays at our local cat shelter. Some come in with some really sad stories so it is always really lifting and encouraging to learn about those we have seen that have subsequently been found a new "forever" home. It is also a reward for those members who commit so much of their time (more than we can) in all manner of different ways including raising money to ensure all the cats are safe, warm and looked after.

Kind Regards

Roy

scotsoft · September 27, 2015, 07:20:20 PM

The best thing I did when my last Siamese never came back from the vets was to visit a cat rescue place in the afternoon and came away with a little furry bundle who followed me everywhere, so she chose me and we spent many happy years together.

I have no doubt you will think of Bumpy every time you look at the hydrangea and you will smile at the happy memories you shared.

Cheers John.

dannyboy · September 27, 2015, 07:41:41 PM

Sorry about your loss Graham. As I fellow cat lover - we have seven and have lost two others due to illness over the last couple of years - I know what you are going through. Whilst Jelly can never make you forget Bumpy, you will surprised how soon Jelly will take over your lives again

Sprintex · September 27, 2015, 08:14:19 PM

Quote from: scotsoft on September 27, 2015, 07:20:20 PM
. . . visit a cat rescue place in the afternoon and came away with a little furry bundle who followed me everywhere, so she chose me and we spent many happy years together.

Exactly how I got my first cat

Walking round the animal shelter looking at different cats and every time I turned around this little black+white was behind me looking up with those BIG eyes only cats can do

She came home with me a week later after the evaluation visit.

Paul