Our pets give us so much entertainment and bring much needed smiles to this broken house. They have really helped get us through the last couple of years. Yes they can be terrors but humans can be oh so much worse….
But I think one pet needs a special mention. They big boy cat. He is such a softy. Even when the cats could venture outside he was not really an apex predator. Never worked out how to hunt. The girl cat would frequently bring him some live offerings. But the boy cat would carefully paw them, then roll over – I suspect he was hoping the vole would tickle his tummy. Strangely the vole would scurry off into the hedge counting it’s blessings. The boy cat would frequently get stuck in the tree requiring rescue. He was petrified of the cat flap so we had to cover it up. He had a favourite type of toy. He would only play with our son’s Dr Who Dalek plastic figures – nothing else. You would see him searching the toy box in a desperate attempt to find the elusive evil masterminds. He has worked out how to open door handles so he gets free run of the house.
But he was also inseparable from my partner. He would follow her about and he always seemed to be on her lap. When my partner went out the cat would sit at the front window and wait for hours until she came back. Sadly you can’t explain bereavement to a cat. I’ve got no idea what the boy cat is thinking. I can’t confirm that he is grieving like we are. But I know one thing for a fact. Every night he sleeps where our partner used to sleep and you frequently see him at the front window. I suspect he’s waiting for her to return.
my dog does the same, she waits for my boy to come take her for a walk as was his routine, when the hour has passed she moves away from that spot. I thought I was imagining it until my neighbour made a remark.
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Thank you for confirming my thoughts
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Aww, isn’t he such a sweetheart. 🙂 From what I have heard, pets take on their owner’s pain. They can sense our pain and suffering and unknowingly they take it on, so that our burden is reduced. When I heard about this the first time, I realised that I lost two pets in the first two years of my road to recovery (which was not only painful but made me lose hope a number of times). So when the third kitty came home, in my mind I just told her that whatever it is that I am going through, I am strong enough to face it and she’s going to be there for me as a support. And it’s been almost three years now since I said that 🙂
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Animals don’t have the baggage many humans (including myself) carry with them. They don’t judge. I cant imagine what losing two pets would do to me if I was in your position. I’m so pleased the third kitty is with you. Thank you for sharing. 😊
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I agree with you. We have a lot of things going on in our mind every minute. But animals live in the present. I think we humans have a lot to learn from them. Unconditional love and living life to the fullest. 🙂
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You say it so beautifully. Thank you. 🤗
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🙂🙂
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😎
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Please don’t facepalm after reading this. It’s 9pm here so I don’t think I should 😎. 😂😂😂
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Pets grieve; they just show It differently 😊
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They do. Thank you. 🙂
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He sounds like a very special cat. I agree with the comments above. I think they can sense pain and routine. My dog knows the hour she goes for a walk everyday – and if the hour comes and I still haven’t taken her, she just sits and grunt/moans. I think the cat is waiting for her to come back too. Special cat – love is not lost by mere separation.
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Thank you.
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I don’t like putting links on other people’s sites, but here’s a link to a poem that the late American poet & blogger Cynthia Jobin wrote about the death of her partner and the cat.
https://littleoldladydotnet.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/without-you-the-cat-2/
Your posting reminded me so much of this poem.
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It’s a great poem, I like it a lot. And so apt thank you
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There is a beautiful true story called “Hatchi” which was made into a movie starring Richard Gere. The original story happened in Japan and was about a dog that used to wait every day at the train station for his master to come home from work. He didn’t understand when the master died and carried on meeting every train for 10 years or more. Such a beautiful story.
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You hear so many similar tales often with the pets not wanting to move from the owners grave. Really heartbreaking.
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Yes it’s heartbreaking 😢
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It is.
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I saw a clip on FB a few years ago of a Husky lying on the grave of its owner. It was just balling and inconsolable.
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Seeing an animal suffer is terrible
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I agree. I cry, too.
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It’s funny you can watch lots of people die in movies and no reaction, yet one animal gets hurt and it’s a world of pain.
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I agree, again…❤
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Thank you
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Aww, it’s so sweet of him.
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He’s currently sat at the window, not really looking at the birds just looking up the road.
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Really sweet. I do feel sorry for him.
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I think you are right
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Thank you.
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What a sweetheart he is!
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He is 🙏 thankyou
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Bless your cat ❤ His story reminds me a bit of Hachi, the dog who would visit the train station each day to retrieve his master, even after his master passed away. Animals feel more than we often give them credit for.
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They do thank you. 🙏
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Oh. You made me cry.
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Sorry.
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Our cat, Harry Potter, is miffed with us because right now he’s having to spend his days locked in the master bedroom when no one is home because otherwise he’d be trying to knock ornaments off our tree. He knows better than to do it when someone’s home. We have to lock the bedroom door because when we don’t, he stands on the cabinet next to it and bats at the doorknob until the door opens!
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They work things out. The boy cat is a big fellow, even the Vet said so. He stands on his two back legs and pulls down on the handle. Now we can’t lock him away as he can open all in doors inside.
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Poor kitty. He misses her.
When my paternal GM passed away in 2000, she had just buried one of her two little dogs six months prior. In a strange twist of fate, she adopted another, younger dog that, ultimately, led to her death. The dog got away from her and she broke her hip. She never recovered from the injury and passed within the week. After her death, her other older dog passed the following week (the younger dog was re-adopted).
All three passing in an eighth month span. They had all been together for 18 years.
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Obviously a strong bond and they became intertwined
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This is such a sweet and tender story. It warmed my heart. ❤
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Thank you.
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Pets – dogs and cats especially feel the passing of their human companions, equally as much as they feel the seperation of losing one of their siblings. I have known dogs pine away after losing their companions. In fact one of my recent concerns was my Father’s cat Jacqui who l rehomed after his passing two months ago.
Jacqui was such a loving affectionate cat, and suddenly her whole life was turned upside down when Dad died. my heart broke for her and more so when my Sister basically said she is just an animal she doesn’t have those feelings for humans.
Well they do, they are not shallow like human beings. They care more than we can imagine, they are happy when we are, sad when we are, feel our pain, they know how to recognise and identify.
Your cat is grieving too, it will take time but the scent memory will always be as strong as long as the scent remains in the house.
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Thank you. People who have bonded with animals understand that animals do have feelings. People often forget we are still classed as animals.
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Yes they do, people forget too much these days sadly.
Our animals that we are close to are an extension to who we are, so it is only understandable, that they feel. Our companions on a more personable levels are our truest friends and have more emotions that we credit them with.
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Very wise words my good man.
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Good evening my friend, l have tagged you for a bit of Q&A 🙂
https://aguycalledbloke.blog/2018/12/14/q-and-a-tag-come-chat-with-me/
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Thank you sir.
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Pleasure 🙂
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😥 A few months back, we lost our (male) cat, Orange, due to old age. His inseparable buddy amongst the other moggies was Oliver. Still, several months later, we see Ollie in their favourite chair at night, looking around as if waiting for Orange. Just little things he does … you can tell he is missing his buddy. They do feel, they do love, and miss both people and other pets.
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Poor Ollie. Not much you can do to help except give them fussing.
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He gets plenty of that! 🐱
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I bet he does. 😸
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Animals have the most honest emotions. He sounds like an absolute gem of a cat. Animals are the true meaning of unconditional love x
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You are so right. 😊 Thank you
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There is a lot us humans should learn from cats. 🙂
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So true.
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Aren’t pets blessed with a sixth sense. They somehow understand and can comprehend your emotions and feelings 🙂
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I think sixth sense is right.
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Thank you so much.
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Thank you so much
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This was my folks’ dog for a long time. He’d wait by the window or door for my dad. He’d wait for ages. If we came through the door, he’d just go back to waiting.
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It’s so sad because you can’t explain things to them. I did try and got blanked until I said the word ‘biscuit’….
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Ugh, I know. Now he’s such a cranky dog that he’s going after the kid’s stuff because everyone’s paying attention to other stuff. He never did that as a puppy.
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Ours goes after anything which isn’t bolted down. Yesterday had to have a repairman out to fix TV. The dog pinched his screwdriver.
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Oh no! See, that would be one of my boys, definitely, talking the man’s ear off and grabbing for any tool in reach.
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I remember when Son was a baby, during feeding time, if I took my eye of the spoon it would become a weapon. Developed a nervous twitch when trying feed him. At least he always smiled when he had his weapon….
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Aw. Thankfully the kids weren’t like that…until toddlerhood. Then yogurt became kitchen paint on a regular basis.
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Yep. Still got the stains on the kitchen ceiling. Or maybe that’s just me being a really messy eater.
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I’m pretty sure the kids take after my lack of dining manners, too. 🙂
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Couldn’t possibly imagine that from you. They always say pets take after their owners. If that’s the case then I am a deeply flawed character.
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Pshaw, it’s true. I’m such a slob, one of those who wolfs down dinner in five minutes because there’s other stuff to do. My mom believes that the boarding school I attending for high school ruined my manners. Pretty sure she’s right on that one.
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The way I eat it looks like I went to pet kennels. You are like me, grab the food when you get a chance amongst the chaos.
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Yes, exactly that.
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I know they remember and they also grieve. They’re unsure what’s going on, at first but, after so long they realize that the person or pet that’s missing, isn’t coming back. My husband and I agree that our cat Princess has never gotten over losing our other cat, Gonzo. His kidneys failed in October of 2015. She cried for him for days, afterwards. She even started banging on our closet doors, like Gonzo used to do when he was hungry or wanted attention. She finally stopped after awhile but, has become very clingy with me. They not only have feelings of their own but, they pick up on ours, as well.
Giving your cat lots of extra love and attention would probably be beneficial to you, both. 💜
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This is so true. Thank you. Yes he is getting extra attention. Especially when he lost his big sister as well.
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