Tomorrow, my husband and I are bringing home new kittens.

Before we do, I wanted to take a moment to honor the cats who made us cat people in the first place. When I say "we," some of these cats were originally mine, some were originally my husband's, eventually they all became ours.

Over the years we've said goodbye to Leo, Baby, Raphael, Smokey, Pixie, and most recently Michaelangelo this July. Leo left us much earlier than the others. Forgive me for including a non-senior, it just didn't feel right leaving him out.

Pixie (October 2008 - July 11, 2025)

Pixie came into my life as a tiny stray kitten. My aunt found her literally standing in the middle of the road, completely unafraid of the traffic around her. She was obviously the runt of her litter and never got much bigger than she was as a kitten.

Pixie was my Queen B. She was bossy, opinionated, and made sure everyone in the house knew she was in charge. She wasn't much of a fan of men either, until my husband somehow managed to win her over.

For years she slept curled into the curve of my side every night. Until I became pregnant and accidentally rolled her off one too many times. 😅 She adapted by moving behind my bent legs instead, always with a paw draped over them as if she needed to keep contact with me.

In July 2025, we made the heartbreaking decision to help her cross the Rainbow Bridge after a tumor in her nasal and eye area made it difficult for her to breathe. She may have been the smallest cat in the house, but she ruled it with an iron paw.

Raphael (June 2010 - September 29, 2020)

Raphael started life as the cutest little kitten with a head that seemed way too big for the rest of him. I named him and his brother Michael after the Ninja Turtles because as kittens they were constantly doing backflips off furniture and bouncing off the walls.

That oversized head eventually turned into a very large brown tabby. He became my cuddle buddy, my sweet boy, and one of the most affectionate cats I've ever known. One of my favorite things was burying my face in his soft belly fur.

Losing him during COVID was especially difficult. Because of the restrictions at the time, we couldn't even go into the emergency clinic with him. He was given a feeding tube (that they never taught me how to use), and I spent so much time worrying that I wasn't caring for him correctly. Even now I sometimes wonder if I could have done more.

But when I think of Raphael, I try to remember the giant sweetheart who loved cuddles, loved his family, and always wanted to be close.

Michaelangelo (June 2010 - July 6, 2026)

Michaelangelo was Raphael's brother and my shy little boy. While Raphael loved everyone, Michael was much more selective. He took time to warm up to people, but once he trusted you, he loved deeply. Raphael and Michael both loved sleeping on my pillow and sometimes directly on my head at night.

Michael had a special talent for completely melting into your arms when you picked him up. He was gentle, affectionate, and one of the sweetest cats I've ever known. Earlier this year, we helped him cross the Rainbow Bridge after oral cancer took away his quality of life. He was sixteen years old and loved every day of those sixteen years. Saying goodbye to him this July was incredibly hard. He was such a gentle soul. We shared one last melting hug while he crossed over. It was definitely a different experience than with Pixie.

Leonardo "Leo" (Found in 2011 - September 3, 2013)

Leo came into my life as a young stray, and although I only had him for a short time, he left a huge impression. Whenever I was upset, he somehow always knew. He'd come over with his cute little meow and gently paw at me as if he was checking on me and reminding me that I wasn't alone. He was my comfort cat.

I've carried guilt about losing him for many years. I was young, living on my own, and had never dealt with the loss of a pet before. Over time, I've tried to remember what matters most: he wasn't a stray anymore. He found out what it was like to have a loving home and brothers & a sister before passing.

Baby (Before 2008 - May 14, 2016)

Baby was my husband's first cat, long before Smokey came along. She was a beautiful long-haired brown tabby with white markings and one of the sweetest cats you could ever hope to meet. She chose him. When he stopped by her cage, she woke up, stretched, walked over to him, and when he leaned in closer, she licked him on the nose. Then she calmly returned to her bed, curled up, and went back to sleep as if the decision had already been made.

She passed away on May 14, 2016, after a respiratory illness. We still feel she deserved better than the care she received. I've often thought that she and Leo would have been best friends. They shared the same gentle, loving spirit.

Smokey (April 2008 - October 31, 2022)

Smokey was my husband's Siamese mix and very much a one-person cat.

He loved fetch, loved chasing balls around the house and down the stairs. He had opinions about absolutely everything, let you know all about it and would steal your fries if you weren't careful! 😆 It was obvious from the beginning that my husband was his person. Like many Siamese, he was selective about who he liked. Thankfully, over time, he decided I was acceptable too.

The morning, we lost him is one I'll never forget. I woke up early and found that he had passed during the night. It was as if his heart gave out mid walk. Wanting to spare my husband from finding him that way, I buried him before he woke up. It was one of the hardest mornings of my life.

---

Today, Pixie, Raphael, Michaelangelo, and Smokey rest together in our backyard. Baby rests in my husband's aunt's backyard because we were living in an apartment when we lost her. Leo's resting place is sadly unknown, but he has never been forgotten. In a way, they're all together again in our hearts.

These 6 cats carried us through so many chapters of our lives. They were there through moves, relationships, hardships, celebrations, and countless ordinary days that became special simply because they were in them.

Tomorrow we're opening our hearts and home to new kittens. They won't replace Pixie, Raphael, Michaelangelo, Leo, Baby, or Smokey. Nothing ever could. But the reason we're ready to love again is because these six wonderful cats taught us how.

Thank you for every purr, every headbutt, every cuddle, every toy chased across the floor, every paw placed on a cheek during difficult times, and every memory. 🐾

We still love you. ❤️ We always will.

Kidney disease thyroid disease. He’s on solensia b12 injections and methamizole for his thyroid. He’s always been a picky boy with food. Right now it’s only egg yolks chicken and burger he’ll eat. His teeth are bothering him he was drooling and not wanting to eat. We did a convenia injection but he’s still in pain. What can I do to help him eat again ? :(

Hello, I hope this is an okay place to share my grief.

A few days ago I lost my dear coal-kitty, my companion for over 15 years.

The first slide was her a few days before her final drive to the vet, the second slide the X-ray that would make the vet urge me to put her to sleep.

TW: The descriptions here are kind of graphic. Please only read it if you are absolutely able to.

She was a very timid cat, but a sweet one. Even as she was essentially suffocating with fluid across her entire body she'd still greet me with a small "brrt" and sought my attention, food, water, and exercise. She wanted to live and I took it away.

We used to not get along. When she was little she was understimulated and would often attack me. I was ill informed on why and resented her as a result, but I'd still take care of her, give her food, water, and change her litter. One wouldn't know when she would suddenly turn and absolutely maul my arm, though. My roommate at the time disliked her and another roommate would bully her with a flyswatter before he was hospitalised and passed away. She went from sleeping comfortably with me in my bed during her youth to barely wanting to be held by me at all in her aging years. Though we were finally truly getting along and she was playing, eating and she loved the garden chair in our backyard. She liked being pet and didn't mind being picked up.

I always wondered if she was content or not. Due to her athritis (I assume) she spent a lot of time sitting and purring (which she hardly ever did when she was little). She had interest in only a few toys, but due to her ailments she could only sort of wiggle her paws at them. I was scared that she was just in a neverending cycle of pain.

One day she was eating less and less, and that's when I took her to the vet, who'd take her to surgery to clean her teeth. It was clear though that she wouldn't be able to make it through another surgery. On more recent vet trips due to a UTI or signs of infection she began to throw up and pant in the car after less than half an hour of driving. It made me afraid to take her to the vet at all.

But she could finally eat and she loved dry treats and Churu. It was difficult though, because she'd still eat only a bit of every meal. I bought her some things to give her for Christmas, an advent calendar of cat-treats, and a wide variety of foods for her to try. She sadly never got to try them.

During the weekend I noticed that one of her front paws was swollen, and she'd occasionally sit down and breathe somewhat heavily, sometimes with her mouth open. I regret not taking her right away. I called the vet in tears on Monday, realising that her back paws were swollen as well and that she was panting with her mouth open sometimes. They still made me wait until the end of the day.

The swelling was painless and she was taken in for an X-ray, where I had to hear her yowl and hiss in distress, as she hated being handled by anyone but me. The vet pulled me aside to tell me that it wasn't looking good and that even an emergency clinic was risky, as she could suffocate at any minute. The X-ray shows her entire body being suffocated in liquid, which spilled out into her limbs. I couldn't afford an emergency clinic either.

My sweet girl had been so brave. I had to hold her with gloves as they injected a sedative that'd burn. The last meow I heard from her was a yowl of pain and a gentle warning bite. She'd stopped mauling me a long time ago. Even here she still would gently nip at me rather than bite me fully. She probably felt that I was the one hurting her and it tore me apart. She knew it was me. I brought her to my lap as she began to pass out quite quickly, trying to throw up but already being too weak. I pet her head and I was bawling at that point. I don't think I'll ever forget those wide, scared eyes as she was visibly struggling for every breath. She wanted to live. So badly. And I was ripping it away. It was already happening. I was so tempted to just beg the vets to save her instead, but I felt the sedative itself could kill her at this point, so I went through with having my cat put to sleep. We had to put her on the cold table where she got the final injection. Her body was so limp when I placed her back in the carrier. "She'd made it." the vet concluded after listening for her pulse/breathing.

She is now buried in a pretty, small grave in our back yard, where I light candles to remember her by. I let her return to the earth with her favourite toys and some treats and her favourite blanket.

I feel so immensely guilty. I'd always wished for her to have a wonderful evening to her life and a dignified end. Instead she died scared in a cold and sterile place, betrayed by the person she trusted the most, me. A part of me wonders if I dragged this poor, sweet and innocent animal with me rather than giving her up for adoption to a better owner because of my childhood trauma of losing my first cat, who was run over. She was taken to the vet by someone else, and I wasn't informed she had been put down until later. I swore to myself to keep this kitty and never leave her side until the end and I kept this promise, though I feel it has traumatised me. I feel like I neglected her, like I did everything wrong that could've been done wrong. I still replay the entire trip to the vet in my head over and over again. I wanted to make up for the time she spent suffering in our family, instead I feel like I'd neglected her and betrayed her when she so desperately wanted to live. I am falling back into a cycle of loathing myself, feeling empty, and crying at the loss of my only real companion, as I live alone.

I don't think I could bring myself to adopt another cat, or any animal for that matter. I am terrified to cause another innocent animal this same suffering. Yet, I have grown up and learned a lot about cats and how to respect their space and life over the years, so I really doubt that it would ever happen again. But the guilt is just too crushing.

What can I do? What should I do? I am at a complete loss.

I've had Butters since I was 19 years old. I just celebrated my 35th birthday. Her 17th birthday is on Christmas. I got her February 28th, 2010.

I dont even know what to say but I'm not ready for these (i hope) years ahead of me.

I knew she'd age. I've taken as good of care of her as financially able. We've been to the vet a lot lately and no matter who sees her, they all agree, she's exceptionally healthy for a cat her age.

But she has a thyroid issue and arthritis in her back hips.

I feel like every decision I've been making lately is wrong and i'm hurting her. I take as much of my vets advice as possible, but my savings is bleeding faster than i can replenish it. Being senior, everything feels twice as expensive.

She's been on the Solensia shot for over a year. I stopped it a month or so ago because after about a week, she refused to jump up onto something. She just cried until i scooped her. I called the vet so they could log it and brought her in.

Let me stop here and say i LOVE our vet. They are amazing and our animals love them. So much so, when we bring our dog in, he will refuse to leave. They take amazing care of our family.

The options they laid out for her are both really shitty options though. Not their fault, it's just where we are right now

• Option 1.. is to manage her pain with heating pads, joint supplements, and laser therapy. Which i am doing regardless. I got her fish oil too.
• Option 2.. is to start her on Metacam or Meloxicam, but we run high risk of degrading her kidneys fast. How fast?? No one can tell me but the range thrown out was 6 months to a year.

We did bloodwork, they came back and said she has the precursors for kidney disease so the Metacam will more than very likely degrade her kidneys at the faster rate.

I asked for time. If i start her on the Metacam, it sounds like i have maybe 6 months before everything crumbles. I asked for time to get her started on kidney food and get the joint supplements and fish oil into her routine. I also bought a cold laser therapy tool thing and have been using it on her 3x a week.

I've been reading into the med best i can. Everything on the internet says to never ever give a cat the dog version, but that's the version my vet gave me and confirmed was the correct one to use.

I ended up speaking with another vet (sister location) since my location happened to be closed on the day i called in and she advised me to NOT give her Metacam and instead give her Gabapentin to help with the pain. So we did.

Last night she could barely walk she was in so much pain. Her back right leg wouldnt support her at all, she fell over. I read the Gabaentin can make them wobbly but this seemed like something different... She's better today but i'm completely lost. She's in pain and i feel like it's entirely my fault. I called the vet again and asked about getting her back on Solensia. I feel like a fool for stopping that treatment.

She is my first. I don't think i'll ever get another. I can't stop crying. I don't feel prepared at all. It feels impossible to even google for real advice because of all of the AI crap. I can't focus on work so i figured i would try posting her.

Idk what i'm even asking for. How do I do this?

Cheetah was 12 when I rescued her from the Kitty Cantina cat cafe in December of 2020. She was turned into the shelter because her owners wanted a kitten.
Her face and story captured my heart.
She has been my best friend for almost 6 years.
I had 2 cats when I brought her home and have since lost them and adopted two more but my Cheetah will always have a special place in my heart and memory.
I can’t wait to see her again.

Our beautiful Amy turns 17 today. Healthy and still going strong.

she fainted the other day and the vet says she has stage 5 heart mummor. i’ve never heard her snore like this, is this normal? HELP NEEDED!

Hi i was posting this in hopes of anyone having advice on how to overcome or come to terms with the guilt of giving their kitty medicine everyday. Last month Jade had all of her teeth removed due to tooth reabsorption and she’s been doing super well with recovery. She gained a pound, is eating more, drinking, playing more, and hasn’t thrown up since this surgery which is HUGE for us as she throws up a lot from CKD. She’s only stage 1 levels and her constipation is also better from the increase in wet food. She’s still on daily meds because she’s having issues adapting to her toothless life and gets food stuck in her mouth and then paws at it. The vet said her mouth looks amazing and her recovery is great and to keep up the gabapentin for the next month or so until the pawing stops. Everyday is getting better.

Anyways, I feel intensely guilty whenever I have to give her these meds. I give a churu immediately after and try to associate it with good things but she hates it so much and she gets so anxious whenever I go to the fridge because she associates it with her gabapentin. :( she tries to run and hide when she sees me with the syringe and I just feel sick over it. I bottle fed her as a rescue 14 years ago when I was just a kid and we’ve moved across the country together. She means everything to me and I am her safe space so it’s hurting me feeling like this is compromising our bond. </3

Does anyone have advice on this ? Also enjoy the picture of Jade high af on her banana flavored gabapentin sleeping face down ❤️

Yesterday at 1:15pm, my sweet old girl who had been diagnosed with kidney disease and arthritis about 3 years ago has peacefully left us. Things will never be the same without her, I miss her so much already❤️‍🩹

10/14/26, what a gift it is to be able to grow old with your childhood pet 💕

(mojave is on instagram and tiktok if you’d like to see more of her: @Ursa__Minor)

Had Lap of Love come last night, after rescheduling the appointment once already, and I am really struggling with it.

This was my companion for 17 years, had moved all over the country with me, and has given me everything. For some context, the last week or so he was vomiting, and then stopped eating almost altogether except a few spoonfuls of baby food and whipped cream. Bloodwork showed his thyroid (which I had managed well with meds the last few years) was literally off the chart, liver values astronomically high (had doubled since his last bloodwork 2 months ago) and kidneys had further declined. He was drinking a little and peeing about once a day, but had not gone #2 in a week.

He crashed on Sunday. On Monday, vet gave him fluids, ozone, and vitamins along with some anti nausea and antacids, told me had only days left. She was shocked when he showed some improvement but when I offered to bring him in for more treatments Tuesday/Wednesday, reiterated that I should just focus on being with him.

This is where I’m struggling- he was improving a little, had really perked up and had his spark back. Jumping in the bed with me, following me around, wanting belly rubs. I rescheduled the lap of love appointment once, but against every instinct I had, went through with it last night. It was so hard to say goodbye to my boy when he was having a good day. I almost asked her to stop, and now I’m disgusted with myself for cutting his time short when he was not in acute distress. I know people say better a week too early than a day too late, and I know he had bad days ahead, but this is really tearing me apart.

I’m so grateful for the last 2 days we had, which were such a gift. I will cherish the last cuddles we had together, the last morning he pawed at my face at 5am.

I know I did everything I could to give him this last year- all the appointments, treatments, meds and supplements, hand feeding him. I know we were at the end, and were in palliative care mode. I just feel like it was too early, like he wasn’t ready.

For everyone who read all of this, thank you. He will be missed by so many, and most of all by me. And I will carry this burden for a long time.

I was often around this subreddit earlier this year because my boy got unwell and sadly lost him 14th Feb. I then dipped in and out because it was hard seeing stories of all the gorgeous cats nearing the end of their life. After losing my boy Timo, we were left with just Evie who is about year and half older. They were together most of their lives really minus a year or so. Evie was older, so I distance myself from here, reddit( the senior sub reddit) because I knew Evie was on the home stretch, at 16... She could have a year left, maybe 5. You just don't know, I've spent days sometimes wondering that I know I'll have to go through that pain again that I went through earlier this yeat and I pray I have Evie for many years to come. She's a beautiful white tortie, doesn't have any health issues atm minus missing a few teeth. I'm going to start doing regular check ups for her with vets, she was last there in March and absolutely everything was fine. She looks fantastic for her age and I joke she ages backwards because I look at her and thing, yeh.... Yours looking good girl. I'll continue to treasure every moment with her and hope we can get her to 20yrs old. Just wanted to add a nice post here about my lady. No real reason 😊

Most of these snaps, in fact all were taken within the last year. She going strong 😍

I will be at the vet in 1 hr, I have called them already

The left side of meatloaf face is completely drooped, she doesn't seem to have a way to lift her left lip, close her left eye, and she is repeatedly scratching her left ear. She is walking toward the left, seems to be struggling to chew her food so she is only licking her food. It seems difficult or impossible for her to look up at me, when she does I can clearly see the droop. If I pull on her whiskers she doesnt respond compared to the right side where she makes an effort to pull them away from me

The rest of her body seems normal. It is only her face

UPDATE UPDATE

I just talk to vet a few minutes ago.

she said there is a mass of clotted blood inside her ear but it is impossible to see where the bleed is coming from since its clotted already. When I was checking in her ears earlier I thought thats what I was seeing, but it was deeper than I could really see. They started an IV antibiotic for now and running a sample of the blood from her ear.

So it is possible the clot is so deep it is pushing on one of the nerves in her face 😭😭 but thank goodness the vet does not think she has had any stroke or anything like that