My lovely Bandit has died

[sue11]

Unfortunately we had to have our cat Bandit put to sleep yesterday. For the past few days I noticed that she was straining to go to the toilet and seemed to be starting to go off her food. I took her into the vets and the vet told me that she was constipated and would need to be taken in to get sorted out. he said he did not think that there would be anything major wrong, although he could not say 100%. So I left her quite happily thinking I would pick her up later in the day. The vet phoned an hour later to say that he had found a massive inoperable tumour in her and the kindest thing would be to let her go immediately. I agreed to have her put straight to sleep, he offered to let me be there, but she was already anethetised and I would have found it too upsetting to have been there at the end so I refused. I am devestated though, she was 17 years of age and came with her companion Ozzie from a rescue home, I got her when she was just 9 months old. I am taking comfort from the fact that she certainly had the best life a cat could have asked for and enjoyed all the treats she could wangle out of me and they were many!
I still have Ozzie to cuddle, but at 17 and a half years of age, she has kidney disease although it seems to be progressing slowly, I know that we will lose her over the next few months.
Why do they have to die?

[MOUCHA]

For the same reason the sun rises every morning and sets every night Sue. So sorry for you. But thank goodness you rehomed them and gave them so much love and care. It is so hard to cope with but somehow all we pet lovers just about manage to do so. Just keep doing your best for Ozzie and keep a careful eye on him. I have lost many cats to kidney failure over many years. I am afraid there is no cure for them but you just have to watch out for a sudden weight loss. But hey, having said that you can still have some good time with Ozzie. Take care.

[ComfortablyNumb]

sue11 Sorry to hear about your Bandit my cat who was nearly 20 had exactly the same problem and had to be put to sleep just before christmas.Luckly i had a friend who went to the vets with me and stayed with the cat as i had to leave the room.

[sue11]

Thank you Moucha and Comfortablynumb for your kind answers. It is very hard, but I am smiling whiilst remembering the good times and the times her antics made us laugh. Ozzie has her good and bad days, she was always a picky eater so it is difficult to pinpoint any particular lack of appetite, but I am keeping an eye on her general condition and will do everything I can to comfortably prolong her life. Comfortablynumb, I am sorry about your cat as well, it is so sad when they leave us.
Hope you both have a good new year.

[yogi-bear]

sue11

I'm very sorry to hear about your sad loss, my lovely. x

[wolf63]

sue - I am sorry to hear about Bandit - but it be reassured that she did not suffer for very long. Losing a friend is always hard.

My two feline morons are only 4 and I dread anything happening to them - they are siblings from the same litter.

I hope that you and Ozzie help each other through this hard time - take time to grieve.

Susan
Frankie de Tom Cat
Princess Merlin

[Sqad]

sue...we all have to die as an appreciation of having lived.

Bandit could never have had a better home for her life.

Mrs sqad and me go twice a week in a voluntary rota to feed 80 cats in a cat sanctuary....it is heart breaking.....so remember the good times, appreciate Ozzie, as I am sure that you do and think of going to a rescue home for another cat needing a home.

[ummmm]

My little Brian was annoying me then. He suckles me...!! I gave him a big hug after reading this.

Sorry to hear about Bandit xx

[Bobbisox]

Me too Sue, it was this time 6 years ago I had to have my little Yorkie, Alfie, put to sleep, it's an awful thing to endure
Take care, I feel for you
Bobbi♥

[sue11]

Thank you for your kind words Yogi, it is very good to know that others care, Wolf say hello to Frankie and Merlin from me and Ozzie, I remember your posts when you got them and your concerns about how they would fit into your household! How quickly they steal our hearts (and our food cupboards!). I am sure that they will live long and happy spoilt lives!
Sue

[sue11]

Thanks Squad, there are lots of good people out there like yourselves who do what they can for the welfare of animals, I would always get pets from rescue homes to try to help give them a good loving home. Ummm give Brian a hug from me as well will you, Bobbisox I am sorry for your loss, 6 years and the pain is still felt, they give us such unconditonal love, I think we are fortunate to have had them in our lives.
Sue

[Drisgirl]

My poor old Flo died on New Years Eve 10yrs ago and i've never forgotten her -we were lucky to get Buddy just a few days later altho I could have kicked my daughters bum albeit it was well meant.Now we couldnt live without Buddy.
They give you so much love and pleasure and with that as with anything comes the heartache :(
For as much as we cant help you with the pain you are feeling at the moment we can empathise and its very tough.Be rest assured that Bandit had a great life and the fact you are grieving shows that it was reciprocated.xx

[pericat]

Sue - I am so sorry for your loss - a lot of us have cats on here and love them and know the pain of loss. And quite obviously Bandit had a wonderful home for her 17 years and you did the very best for her in the end. Give Ozzie a bit hug from me.

[sue11]

Thankyou Drisgirl and Pericat for your answers, everyone has given some lovely words of wisdom and comfort, Bandit was very much loved and cared for by both me and my partner Martin, we will miss her very much. Pericat, I will definately give Ozzie a hug, she is a scrappy unappreciative little thing though who does not 'do' affection unless it is on her terms! Bandit was the affectionate lap cat, Ozzie comes for her cuddles just at bedtime when she decides she wants a bit of a stroke and settles by my side for a short while before heading to bed for the night! Cats are funny things arn't they?

[ummmm]

My partner is called Martin too....

Him and Brian fight...me and Brian hug. As soon as he comes in from work he gets attacked. When I get up and Marty's still in bed...he gets attacked. Although Brian will give him hugs if I'm not available.

[pericat]

cats are wonderful - very individual creatures. We have had them all through our married life and been through many a heart break - we have two at the moment - Max and (as you may have guessed) Peri. Max is a big big cat and our first male and loves a cuddle and Peri loves to play and fetch a ring which we throw for her. She is sitting at my feet as I type this. Ozzie will probably play a slightly different role now Bandit is gone - I think their personality can sometimes change slightly when this happens.

[brenda]

sue 11, am so very sorry to read about Bandit, a very sad loss for you indeed.Please accept my sincere condolences at this sad time.I think that all pets which have been loved and cherished by their owners , never really die , they are always there in our hearts and minds always.The special good times are always with us.
Take care ,sincerely Brenda.

[20SilkCut]

Sue, so sorry to hear about your beloved Bandit. Animals are little gifts that are given to us to bring us happiness and love. I'm sure you have many reminders of that love, both in photos and in memory.

As peri says, you will prob find that Ozzie may become more affectionate now that she is the 'lady' of the house - and i'm sure that she too, will miss Bandit.

I am getting to the same stage as you with my cat (who is swinging off my dressing gown as i type...lol). He is 16 and a half, in pretty good health, but i guess he wont be around forever.

Take time to grieve Bandit and give Ozzie double your love. (Hugs) x

[sue11]

Thanks everyone for your continuing kind words, I just spoke to my mum to let her know that Bandit was gone and broke down in tears on the phone, it is very difficult.
Animals are pretty savvy in knowing who to get their affection from first, it is normally the one who gives in to the pleading looks and plaintive cries and that is always me! Bandit would come to me first for the attention, but would transfer he attention to Martin when I was not around! Martin is also a bit of a softy, but not as mallable as me!
I am not sure how Ozzie will react now as sometimes she would get stressed out by Bandit who was not backwards in demanding the attention first, so in that way, things may get easier for her. Saying that they were still friendly with each other even after all these years, so I expect she will miss her too.
Thank you to all that are taking the time to send in their very kind thoughts, it is very much appreciated and is very comforting.

[afcjan]

Sue, I am so sorry to hear about Bandit. I know how you must be feeling because we lost our Tinker at 16 years old and it happened so quick. he was fine at 5.15 had a stroke at 5.45 and rushed to the vet who told us that he was old and he had a thrombosis. I was and still am heartbroken. Think of the happy times with Bandit and she will be around you, they always are, you will see her and talk to her.

She will be out of pain now and playing on Rainbow Bridge with all the other lovely pets who have passed over.

God Bless you Sue and just take a day at a time xxxxxxxx

[leelapops]

Sue I am so very sorry for your loss-may your Bandit play happily at Rainbow Bridge-it sounds as if she and Oz certainly landed on their paws with you all those years ago!
She will leave pawprints on your heart with very good reason-remember all the happy times you had: they bring such joy alongside the pain don't they?
Lisa, Jack the Collie and Mysti the Greyhound x