Goodbye To My Beloved Ozzie

[sue11]

We have had to let go of our beloved cat Ozzie today, she was over 20 and suffering from kidney disease, I was with her as she was put to sleep and she was purring as she fell asleep, I am so glad that I had the chance to say goodbye to her.
Her last couple of years were spent mostly sleeping as she became less mobile, but I am full of lovely memories of her as a young cat, bounding about the garden with our other cat Bandit, play fighting behind the curtains, rolling about loving the sunshine on our garden patio, being spoilt with treats, she loved cream, I fed her some yesterday which she very much appreciated even though she was not able to eat a lot of food at that point. I would have loved to have had a bit more time with her, but it was not to be, the day was grey this morning, but looking out onto sunshine now, perhaps she has bought it to me as her last gift.
So so difficult to let our loved pets go....

[Nibble]

So sorry to hear this, but as you say, Ozzie had an absolutely great life, and lived to a really great age with a lovely friend to look after her in her later years. I know it'll be hard for a while, but your memories of young Ozzie will help. {{HUG}} ♥

[sue11]

Thank you Nibble, both Ozzie and Bandit were both rescue cats, they were both about a year old when they came to live with us back in 1993.
Ozzie was scared of men so we guessed that she had been mistreated by a man at some point. It took her a while to trust my other half but they became best of friends and she used to prefer to cuddle up on him rather than me, it was good that we managed to restore her trust in humans. Bandit left us about 5 years ago, so I hope if there is an afterlife, then they are both playing together once more.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Sue

[wolf63]

I am sorry to hear about Ozzie. She seems to have had a good life and fell into an eternal sleep at the end - a cat's ideal death.

It is always hard to let them go - but in some ways it is a bit of a relief, you are no longer looking at her and wondering if she is suffering.


Cats are strange animals - I love my two so very much, apart from when I feel like throttling them. I hope that the sunshine stays around for you for a while - it is Ozzie's beaming smile. Having said that I was always told that I should never trust a smiling cat!


:-)

[sue11]

Thank you Wolf and Desktop, Ozzie was diagnosed with kidney disease about 5 or 6 years back and the vet then said that most cats get between 6 months to 3 years at best, trust Ozzie to prove us all wrong, the vet was surprised that she just managed to keep going, I think it was all the treats and our slavish devotion to both our cats, that made them decide to stick around for so long. Wolf you always make me smile with your descriptions of your cats, I think it should be never trust a cat full stop! They get under your skin and before you know it, you are doomed!
Thank you, I am sitting here smiling remembering all the happy times, there were many so lots of good memories to help with the sadness.

[dustypuss]

Dustypuss was sixteen when he went I still miss him that was fore years ago. thinking of you in your sad loss.

[echokilo]

Sorry to hear your news, but WOW ..... what a lovely longlife she has had Sue11 ..... over 20 years!!! And just looked at how your lovely environment helped her get over her early traumas and what a lovely likfe you gave her ...... and how when the time came, you did the kindest thing any human can ever do for a pet - you let her go when she needed to. She will be waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge xx:


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author Unknown

[sue11]

Thanks Desktop, it is appreciated, it is so hard to let them go, although we have been expecting her to fall seriously ill at some point, it still hits you when it happens.
When Bandit died, (the vet found a tumour in her stomach during surgery), I was offered the opportunity to say goodbye to her, but was too upset to go, but now looking back I regret that I was not with her when she died.
I am very glad I did stay with Ozzie and would always recommend this if any other pet owner gets the chance, it was very comforting somehow.
Thank you for your thoughts
Sue

[boxtops]

Thinking of you, sue, it's a horrid time. Nearly 30 years ago, I lost two furries to kidney disease - they were 10 and 11, in those days there wasn't a lot you could do about it. Your dear Ozzie's had a great life, and it's so good that you were with her as she left.

we're all here if you need to talk, later ♥

[sue11]

Thank you all for your kind words, echokilo, I have read the rainbow bridge story before, I hope that both Bandit and Ozzie are there playing, Ozzie will be cleaning Bandit and Bandit will be putting up with it, with a resigned look on her face as she always used to!

[chaptazbru]

Awww sue I've just read your post and I'm crying. It's the hardest thing in the world to let them go and only a true animal lover knows that awful pain. Fancy her purring as she went to sleep, as if she knew she would be OK. Oh well, I'm actually sobbing now. RIP little Ozzie and I hope you find peace soon sue x

[sue11]

Hello chaptazbru, thank you so much for your kind words, I feel a deep sense of sadness and I so wish we could have had another few weeks but it was the right time to let her go.
It is very hard for all of us isn't it to have to let loved pets go, we do the best for them during their time with us and we have to try to do the best for them at the end of their lives.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts, I have been touched by the support given.
Sue

[DTCwordfan]

Just take in those really good memories and enjoy them sue.......

Take your time in replacing your two cats, they will never be an Ozzie or Bandit, but they will be their own personalities and install themselves. Remember Disraeli's quote about an Afghani and substitute the word "cat" in - "You never own a cat, you only rent him or her."

[ruthann58]

so sorry to read this , she must have had a lovely life , you did well to get her to that age sending you a hug

[sue11]

Thank you for the further posts, they are much appreciated. I was feeling very sad last night and said to my other half in a plaintive way that I really missed Ozzie. He replied I don't know why, she never took any notice of you anyway! It got me laughing as never a truer word spoken, I was good enough to feed the little scamp and scratch her head in the way she liked, but any affection and lap time was mostly given to him not me! More good memories to think about, there are plenty of those to keep me going!
Once again thank you all for the responses.
Sue

[horseshoes]

So sorry Sue. It's always hard to lose a furry loved one. Hugs to you. Ozzie's beaming smile is reaching us in North Wales too, so he's obviously in a happy place:-)

[sue11]

Thankyou horseshoes, it is lovely and sunny here in Dorset as well, so Ozzie is managing to spread the smiles quite far and wide, I hope you are enjoying the results. I was just watching 4 buzzards circling overhead finding some warmth to soar upwards, quite a sight and a bit uplifting (excuse the pun) to see.
Sue