My cat died this morning. Weirdly, I ain't really a pet person but became really attached to her. We got her as a rescue cat 10 yrs ago. She'd been mistreated and living wild under a shed. She's cost us a fortune in vets bills cos she is psycho and would fight with foxes ffs! She only sat on my lap twice but always sat on both my daughters and Mrs RCL on a regular basis. Yet I was the only one who she let rub her tummy or touch her paws. She went to a cattery where they used red ribbons to signify violent cats. We warned them that while she was lovely with us she hated everyone else. They were like yeah yeah...we've dealt with worse. When we picked her up the following week she had 4 red ribbons on her kennel door to warn the staff to use protective clothing She so fitted in to our family. My youngest is really devastated cos she was kind of like her stress pet. Mrs RCL came home one night and heard me talking in the kitchen about football with the cat...****er recorded me and sent it to my daughters
Losing any pet (even cats!) is the worst part of owning pets. Thoughts are with you RCL. I was devastated years ago when my budgie passed away, let alone when I lost my black/white spaniel (in my avatar) on Xmas Eve 5 years ago. That was blooming awful especially the timing. But I can assure you this isn't a "mental health" issue!
We had to help our dog over the rainbow bridge over a year ago and most mornings I still miss him greeting me at the bottom of the stairs , he was so much part of our day to day life and routine and a great listener when you needed to run things through
Dogs have always been my closest companions through life and our current lad is seemingly the only thing keeping me functioning some days. Apart from the occasional side eye or '**** you' response to a polite command , he's always there, watching, listening and (seemingly) happy. I still like to to think the devotion is a two-way thing, but my head tells me it's just about the next meal
Sorry to hear this, I have lived with Cats all my life, both at home with my parents, and then the wife and I got a cat within weeks of moving in together. So over time I have seen a few come and go and know matter what the circumstances it still hits you hard . I talk to my two all the time, but I am not sure that I have talked about football!
Really sorry to hear this @remembercolinlee . I've seen many go over the years but its always painful when it happens..
Mrs B and I lost our beloved cat 'Splodge' in Jan 2012. She was nearly 19 years old. She was the offspring of my kid brother's cat. When only just able to walk, she left her siblings and came to Mrs B and I and cried until we picked her up. From that moment on, if we were in the house, she was with us. She liked to sit on the top of doors and tap my head as I went in and out of rooms. Never known another cat to do anything like it. When she died, I howled in the street outside the vets. I miss her every day and still talk to her regularly. We have 2 cats now. I swore that I would never have another one after Splodge, but if you're a cat person, your house is always empty without one. For me, pets make a home and a family and despite the agony of their eventual loss, the joy that they bring is wonderful.
I've never really owned a pet. The level of attachment people develop with theirs has always fascinated me. At times very moving but I do think quite a few people take it way too far to the point that it isn't healthy.
Sorry for your loss RCL ,no matter how attached we may be to the pet its a family loss as well, look after your girls they will recover emotionally. I hope Tillys owner is not serious about losing a pet not a mental health issue. Having a pet whether dog cat bird etc can be the thing that keeps you sane in a crazy busy world. When i have a crappy day at work my dog greeting me at the door helps to restore the balance , as animals seems to sense mood.
Pets are a constant companion in our lives and bring contentment and joy to us. To lose them is simply more than losing a pet. We are losing a companion who has been a constant in our lives. But I do agree there are some out there go a little overboard with their attachments during their pet ownership.
Mrs B is a big supporter of using therapy dogs for her staff, especially after traumatic events, like the death of 4 young children in a house fire that received a lot of press coverage. All of those involved reported a positive reaction and the care home that my mother saw out her days in, has a cat and guinea pigs. Another local one has budgies. It is very helpful to troubled minds and souls to have animals to pet.
People, who have and love pets, suspect that those who don't are missing out on something wonderful, or in some rare cases, broken inside. Serial killers very often start out by killing and torturing animals. It's considered good form not to say so, which I abide by. It's just life's differences being played out and best not to judge what people do or why. . Daily, I dress in clothes and sport my remaining hair in styles that see me stared and pointed at. Largely, the rest of the world don't get it, but I don't get wearing the same thing that everybody else is wearing. I don't point or stare, as I support everyone's right to do 'their thing'. If we were all the same, life would be less dangerous, but ****ing dull.
Most mammals are close to humans in how they outwardly show their physical emotive state, so the "kindred" attachment should not be a surprise. "At times very moving but I do think quite a few people take it way too far to the point that it isn't healthy." Those people often "live their lives through their <X>" (where <X> = wealth, kids, possessions etc) .
The fact you’ve never owned one is why you don’t get it. Get a dog and you’ll see why people treat them like family. I prefer my dog to most humans if I’m honest and my life will be much emptier without him when he goes.
Same here....in my case because he is so genuine... just reacts to the world as it is with zero bullshit which is refreshing.
