| Sooner or later, one of the hardest things you, as | | | | when you first got her and how she would play |
| a cat owner, may be faced with is whether to | | | | with her toys. Or how she'd leave "messes" you'd |
| help your sweet, little kitty--your heart, the love | | | | have to clean up; did she play in boxes? Or paper |
| of your life--out of his pain and suffering. | | | | sacks? Tear up the toilet paper? Or take flying |
| After seeing kitty suffer more than you think you | | | | leaps on the bed? Fun things like that. |
| can bear and after consulting with the vet and | | | | 3. Good times with kitty |
| trying numerous and various remedies (perhaps | | | | When you were lonely, did kitty keep you |
| even surgery) and countless other means to get | | | | company? Actually, she is still with you in spirit. |
| kitty better, all your solutions seem to no longer | | | | She'll always be in your heart so "tell her/her |
| be working. | | | | picture" how much she meant to you. |
| At times like that, it may be necessary to make | | | | 4. Talk with the vet |
| one last decision--to help kitty be comfortable and | | | | Make it a point to call your vet at least once or |
| put her to sleep. | | | | twice to get his reassurance that you did |
| Doing that, of course, leaves a hole in your heart, | | | | everything you could do to make kitty well. |
| and so you question yourself as to whether you | | | | Sometimes there really is nothing you can do for |
| did everything you could have to get kitty well. | | | | your kitty health-wise, no matter how much you |
| You also wonder if this was the correct decision. | | | | try. |
| Further, you wonder what you can do to get | | | | 5. Kitty-sit at the local animal shelter |
| over the sadness you and everyone in your | | | | Perhaps you could volunteer at the animal shelter |
| family feel. | | | | a day or two a week to help take care of the |
| Here are a few ideas that may lessen your | | | | stray kitties that come in to the shelter. That |
| sadness: | | | | way you'll be around cats that need you or |
| 1. Cat pictures and Cat Video | | | | someone; initially, you'll only be investing your time. |
| If you have taken pictures of your kitty, dig out | | | | Perhaps later, there'll be one there that you'd like |
| the pictures and take some time "to talk" to your | | | | to have. |
| kitty; tell her how much you loved her and that | | | | 6. Get another cat |
| you were glad to have her in your life. | | | | When your hurt at losing kitty finally seems that |
| Much like with the cat pictures, if you have video | | | | it's not as strong as it was at first, you could |
| of your cat, spend time watching "her" videos. | | | | maybe start thinking about getting another cat. |
| 2. Family time talking about kitty | | | | Of course, it won't be a cat to take the place of |
| Spend time with your family talking about your | | | | the one you just lost; but rather it will be a cat to |
| kitty. Maybe you could each take turns saying | | | | whom you can give all that love inside you. You |
| what you liked about kitty, and tell some of the | | | | can even talk to the new kitty about the kitty |
| funny things she used to do. Talk about how | | | | that was once in your life. |