To my cat loving friends

[madboutcats]

I have sad news to share, yesterday my mums cat big ginge took his last trip to the vets. He's always had trouble with his back and earlier in the week his back end gave way, he was scutting about in a crab like fashion but he kept falling over and weeing, so we had to take him, the vet also diagnosed an over active thyroid so we made the painful decision to let him go, he passed away peacefully in my arms with me telling him to go over rainbow bridge and find my beloved patch to play with, he was my mums companion for 6 years, moving in as a stray so we had no idea how old he was, R.I.P dear big ginge..xxxx

[Jugglering]

So sorry to hear that news sweetie.. but you know you did the right thing in the end. Ginge is out of pain now - just imagine him snoozing in front of that great big hearth in the sky and then cuddling up next to Patch.... xx

[bensmum]

Oh that's so sad madboutcats. I've always enjoyed hearing about his antics and I love the name. However it sounds as if

[bensmum]

sorry - cat trod on the keyboard!
I was going to say that you had little choice really and did the right thing for the poor old man. At least he died knowing he was loved and also had some dignity. Thought are with your mum as I'm sure she will miss him
XX

[Eve]

I'm so sorry, so so sad to lose one of the family xxx

[madboutcats]

I went to bed on the weds knowing in myself that he wouldnt come back, bless him, the vet squeezed his back legs and toes testing his reflexes, even put him on the floor and supported his back end and off he ran with the vet hot footing it in an undignified position behind him.

[ruthann58]

i am so sorry to her this, sending you and mum hugs lots of mice to catch at rainbow bridge and sunshine to lay in R.I.P big ginge xx

[Jugglering]

lol.. what a brilliant way to remember his final few days here... getting the *nicevetman* running around after him !

[madboutcats]

My mum found it so quiet when she came downstairs this morning and there was no voice shouting at her for his breakfast, he was my mums furry little trooper.

[wolf63]

I'm sorry to hear about Big Ginge (his name always makes me smile) but it sounds as if his time had come.

It is always sad when a family member leaves us - but maybe the pussycat grapevine will be working and a needy stray will arrive at your mum's and help her get over her loss.

[Schutzengel]

So sorry to hear of 'Big Ginge's passing over the rainbow.
Love to you and your mum.
I agree with Wolf, cats who don't have a home, usually sense where there is a vacancy in a loving home. That's how two of my cats arrived. Hope all goes well.

[Rosetta]

So sorry to hear your news, you and your mum will miss the little tinker enormously. Its the hardest thing to let them go, but you did the most loving thing for him. He will be over the Rainbow Bridge now, basking in the sunshine and plotting mischief to his hearts content.

Best wishes to you and your mum xxx

[madboutcats]

He was still determined to get out into his beloved garden on the weds, still trying to do his own thing right till the end, mums going to miss him following her about when she's out in the garden, he was her shadow as she picked rasps/blackberries.
Hey wolf the grapevines already humming, theres been a ginger tom turning up everyday for a good couple of years (which is exactly what ginge did), he spends hours sleeping in the porch, he spent most of yesterday eve curled up on the sofa, they didnt really get on but sam knows that ginge has gone, its that sixth sense animals have.

[madboutcats]

I've just got my photo album out which is slightly dominated by photos of my beloved old patch, and ive found a lovely pic of big ginge (before he'd moved in) knocking at the window with a very determined look on his face, im trying to find a lovely photo of him that i could enlarge on the printer and frame for mum.
To each and everyone one of you give your loved furry ones a great big hug from me and tell them how much you love them. I will pass on your lovely messages to mum.

[Schutzengel]

madaboutcats -
Your mum is a lucky lady, to have such a loving and caring daughter as you. I wish you both everything of the best.
You see Wolf was right about the grapevine buzzing. Perhaps, and I like to think so, the ginger cat whose been around for a while, sensed that Big Ginge was nearing his allotted time, and hung around hoping to be loved like Big Ginge has been. I hope all turns out well. Please let us know.

[madboutcats]

Thank you so much schutzengel for your lovely words, mums in her 70s so even though i moved out years ago i still go home (it always will be) to visit and do things round the house for her, id always say to ginge "now you look after mum for me while im away". Mum has a large garden so im also her unoffical gardener, and sam (i'll be moving in soon) cat is my furry foreman, he follows me around the garden and watches what i do,he sees me as his girlie and im hoping he'll pass the love he shows me onto mum.

[pastafreak]

Oh-so sorry to hear your news,madabout. At least he took his final snooze in your arms,surrounded by love and warmth. He will be waiting for you at the 'bridge' xxxx

[madboutcats]

Sorry should just add, i think big ginge himself knew that time was short for him as he took to sleeping in some very strange places, id lost him the other week and found him asleep in the bathroom with his head on the weighing scales, and the other week he'd gone upstairs and curled himself up on the bottom shelf of the bookcase for a sleep. And the tail end of last week he'd got himself into the cupboard in the dining room where mum kept her floor brush and pipe off the hoover, and even yesterday morning he was trying to get into one of the cupboards in the kitchen in among the pots and pans, that sixth sense again....xxxx

[madboutcats]

The vet told me to keep talking to him as she did the deed and i told him id tell all my cat loving friends on here all about him, keep his memory burning, mum will get his ashes back, like i have my patchs', we couldnt bear the thought of him being buried, at least this way she can have him close, its 6 years since patch went over rainbow bridge and having his ashes is a comfort to me, its 6 years since ginge moved in, (im sure he had his suitcase hidden in the bushes ready) where he came from we'll never know but oh my did he have a spoilt life. love you big ginge.xxxxx

[Schutzengel]

Hi Madboutcats,
Is your mum's garden cat 'Sam', (apparently your adoring friend), going to be 'Big Sam'. What a lovely thought! If he slept on the sofa last night, it looks as if he's already planning to move in. I do hope so for your mum's sake. He sounds a loving cat, and he certainly would help ease the pain of losing Big Ginge. Hope all turns out well, please let us know. Give 'Big Sam' a big hug, and tell him we are all rooting for him.