I am not sure if this is good or not to post in here. I just need to let some emotional steam off now.

My beloved friend, buddy, and my little cute kitty died yesterday.
She was 25.

She put on such a brave face for me. Besides her aching joints she would still walk around on her own power. I knew the time would come when she would leave but one is never ready to let go. The signs were there. She started having trouble eating her favorite crunchy cat food. We were lucky that a friend had some other cat food that was in smaller pieces that she enjoyed to eat. She still had all her teeth to eat with. We of course had some wet cat food that was her favorite to eat too. But the biggest shock to me was when she had trouble drinking her water. That's when I knew. My wife and I would spoon give her water and milk. We did all we could to make her comfortable as possible. When she got to the point that long walks in the room were too hard for her, we would support or carry her to where she wanted to go. Then mainly she could only lay after a few days from that. We spent as much time as we could with her. For my wife it was easier because she doesn't work. My little kitty girl held on until I got back from work.
She was a stray kitty when I first came across her. Nobody could approach or hold her. It took me about 1 or 2 hours in the rain to gain her trust. I would leave some cat food one piece at a time in a line towards me. She would come to get the food. When I set the last piece on my foot she actually was on my foot crunching away. It was then I tried to pick her up. She purred as she look at me. As to say. OK I choose you to take care of me. For 25 years she has been great happiness and sunshine in my life. I am greatful for the times with her. When I would be sick, she was always by my side to comfort me. Our time started with her in my hand. She died in my hand. She held on that day to honor me that one last time to look eye to eye and to be once again in my hand.

I can't let go. She is so much a great part of my life that I cannot let go.

What a grand age for a cat, though.

25 has to be a record. That's unreal.

The tragedy is if even if they make it to 100 it's still hurts just as much.

My heart goes out to you and might I suggest you consider starting anew with another little girl, or boy, when you feel the time is right. Right now there is a kitten out there opening it's eyes for the very first time who needs you.

Thanks.

I babied her pretty good. She was the queen of the house. Thank you too.

My condolences. I hope it will be some consolation that she had a good life and awesome human friends.

If I may ask, what was her name?

I knew both the gentlest rabbit I've ever had and the gentlest cat I've ever had. The rabbit was a rex who lived to the respectable age of 10. The cat was a regular tabby who was probably roughly around 3. He got hit by a car quite a number of years ago. :(

Very sorry to hear! I also lost a beloved cat this past June, although he was only 12. He was very sick, so the biggest consolation was that he didn't have to suffer anymore. Death is a heavy subject for most people, but Eastern philosophy presents an alternative view that helps to ease the pain. Rather than viewing death as finality, I prefer to think of it as yet another phase in the continuous ebb and flow of existence. It's not easy to adjust to the loss of loved ones, but we'll find that peace eventually.

I'm sorry for your loss, RangerSolo. Given what you wrote it seems like you two had great times together and had developed a strong bond, so if it serves as any consolation, you'll always have those memories to look back on and remember how much happiness and love you shared with each other.
All the best to you!

I feel your pain RangerSolo. A kitty died in my arms 9 years ago and there's nothing you can do but to share last moments with them. Ease their pain a little and give them love until the end. I cried like a little girl that morning. Felt like a family member died. It's hard but you keep memories and all the good times you had.

deleted

Timmy Thank you very much I am sorry to hear of your lost. I too have experience the lost of pet from being hit by car when I was child back in the US. Thank you for sharing with me Thank you so much I am work here now. I teach English to the Japanese here and it's so hard to keep from just losing my control of my feelings in class here. I want them to have a great winter vacation and don't want to bring my pain to them. But I am so far holding up. A few teachers here know and have been working very well with me on keeping tabs on me in class.

Do what you can when you can. In that fact alone and as others have shown here has been very helpful for me. I hope you can enjoy your loving pets as long as possible.

That's a very beautiful testament to your cat. In all the eons of the universe, you shared the same time and space as your cat. By your words, it sounds like you enriched each others' lives. I'm sure she was very thankful.

I suppose as we get older, those closest to us die, but what they leave behind in us continues. They teach us to value every minute of our day, cherish our loved ones, and leave the best of us behind for those that go beyond us.

Our children are like our arrows. We fire them off to where we can't go, so we try hard to aim well. Our family, friends, and pets are like feathers of our own arrow. They help make our aim true.

I think in everyone's life, there's the potential for that one great pet. The animal that just is amazing. Perhaps even more than one. I'm glad you found yours.

I hope your heart heals well and that one day, you find another pet that is as dear.

Thank you TALLIMA

What a beautiful relationship you had with your pet. I'm so sorry for you loss and hope that your fond memories of your time with her will warm your heart and ease your grief.

Thank you SeeJayGammer

Have my sympathy. My dog passed away due to health problems eariler this year - in the middle of a depression, just to make it even worse - so I'm kinda familiar with that feeling. I still have some of her pictures and toys, and will keep them around in her memory.

You will have your own way and timing for dealing with it, of course, but I hope you start feeling better as time goes by, preferably soon. Your cat might not come back, but the good memories will stay with you, and those cannot be erased or replaced. Judging by what you wrote up there, you gave her everything you could, and she lived a good, long life - that's the best thing our little companions can ask for.

Best wishes for the future.

I held my cavy in its last moments. That's all I could do, really, so I understand your pain and hope you find another companion when you're ready. God bless.

even tho cats are the most independant souls on the planet, they do show us mere humans affection by rubbing on us at random times and ocasionaly snuggling with us as we sit and watch a movie or read in bed, It's always painfull when a long time companion has severe medical issues and we feel it even deeper when they pass on, they are our family after all, but look at it this way,she's no longer in pain after a very long loved life. my Grandmother god rest her soul once told me, "no one is ever really gone from our lives if we keep their memory alive, that's why I keep that crochity old bastards picture near my bed, I loved him." (talking about my grandfather, who died at the age of 86, after 47 years of marage to her, she lived to 97)

my point, remember her as she was in her youth, full of enegry and barely willing to trust, keep that memory alive and she will stay with you.
Mourn for a while, let the feelings flow and when your ready, another feline will choose you to be her (or his) human slave.