Our dream trip and goodbye to a dear furry friend

That's so sad about your cat, Carol. I'm sure it's very hard. I think that it will be easier once you get away, as you will be places that do not remind you of her. Try to be grateful for the 20 years of joy she brought you and enjoy your new adventure with your family. I hope you are able to have a wonderful time.

Last year this time we were getting ready for Italy trip. Week before we left, 15 year old dog died. It was sad but we liked to think she did so while we could be with her and that the person who would have been caring for her would not have to deal with it and that we didn't have to come home to the news of her death. It is sad. Good luck with trip and please share with us your experience when you get home.

So sorry to hear about your loss. We just returned from a 3 week trip to Europe and we had to "put to sleep" our 14 yo dog that was the best company for me. I had arraigned for someone to care for her but the months prior to the trip I could see she was going downhill quickly. So did I want her to pass when we were away???? No. So we had the vet come to our house before our trip. It was better for all of us as I would have been thinking about her the entire time. It is very hard, I miss her terribly and sometimes I find myself just crying when I look at her picture. The good news is I also have the wonderful trip to Europe to think about and know that she went quietly in my arms and not in a strange place.

Carol - I feel for you.....this past Xmas holiday I put my 12 yo peke in the kennel to visit my working husband 4000 miles away....9 days later on New Years Eve morn we received the dreaded call from the kennel that he was not himself - seemed disoriented and was wobbly on his feet. I had them take him to our vet who called an hour later to say he did not seem 'to be there', was anxious, and completely ataxic. I thought perhaps he had been given too much of his med to control his demodex and it can cause neurologic symptoms so asked them to push fluids. Two hours later they said they ran some tests and he had a mass in his abdomen which was displacing his organs and he was head-pressing. They wanted to send him to Dallas for diagnostics but they also felt he had a neoplasm in his brain as well as the abdominal mass......there was no way I could get home to take him myself until 3 days later and we did not want him to suffer. The vet let us talk to him over the phone and we put him to sleep....worst NYE We ever had. Trying to deal with our grief we went out for awhile right after that and on the way home there was a rainbow over the street where my husband was staying which was the same name as our other dog who was raised with our peek and died 2 years earlier. When we talked to him on the phone we told him Denali would be happy to see him and would be waiting. The rainbow confirmed to us that they were together and happy ....it eased the grief. I must say that being away lessened the deep sorrow as we were not immediately surrounded by by our pets home environment. I am glad you will have your trip - it will help. Chris

Carol,
I'm so sorry! A friend says that pets are children with fur. My dog, Molly, is gray now and moves kinda slow. I'm dreading the day when she's no longer with me but travel is her favorite thing so I know she'd want me to go as far as I can. Keep the happy memories and forget the bad.

Knowing that we will have to say goodbye to our pets is the price we pay for the years of love we get from them. My old girl, Ramona, will be 19 soon, and I worry about her whenever I have to be away from her, even though she is in great health. I am so sorry for your impending loss - I know how hard it is. But your trip will be a wonderful distraction. At least you can be with her, instead of having something happen while you are gone.

Oh, I feel your pain. I just watched with saddness as my 15 yr old dog died. It was 3 sad days for me. We had only gotten home from a trip the day before he got sick. We were so happy that we were home with him at the end. It would have broken my heart even more if he had died while we were gone. Even tho we knew he was beginning to slow down, it was still hard to let him go. Old pets know all the rules and have such history in the family. Your kitty was obviously well loved and a blessing for your family. This trip will be a treasured time. Another chapter and so many memories to store up in you family's story.

Carol, I'm very sorry to hear about the impending loss of your Cat. I've been through that situation several times in my life and it's never easy. My Cats are aging a bit, but still seem to be in good health. My Dog is about 13 years, and he's starting to slow down. I dread the day when he'll no longer be with me. Despite the circumstances, I hope you all have a wonderful trip in Europe!

Carol: My sympathies to you and family on the sad news about your beloved furry friend and family member. The fact that she was happy with you for 20 years is a testimony to the care and love you gave her. Look for a sign that she is there with you when you go on your trip -- you will find one and it will comfort you. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Oh, Carol, I'm so sorry about your precious Samantha. I know you've been a good Momma Cat for her to have had 20 years to spend with you! I've lost two kitties already (15 and 16 years), but Monday the 4th of July we'll be celebrating the 16th and 18th birthdays of Pumpkin and Stinker! And dreading 'the' day for them...so I know it's a very painful time for your family. I hope all of you find comfort in being together at this time. I look forward to seeing your posts in the future; DO have a great trip, in spite of the circumstances.

Carol, oh dear. My heart goes out to you. I just lost my 19 year old orange tabby "Rusty" who was an insulin dependent diabetic cat for the past 10 years. It was very hard for me to travel and find someone to care for him. Now that he is gone, I am "free" to go places and be away from home, and that's what I want to do --- because home doesn't feel like home without my beloved fur-baby. I find that in Europe it is so charming to see all the animals and you'll probably find yourself photographing all the kitties of Europe. Do it for Samantha :) I look forward to reading about your travels.
God bless you for loving your Samantha with such committment.

I'm so sorry to hear this, Carol. I hope you can still be excited about your trip and know that your kitty had a long, wonderful life. At the beginning of May, we put Vivian, our 18-year-old cat, to sleep - she had irritable bowel syndrome, trouble breathing, and she stopped eating. She hid all day for days and was telling us that it was time for her to go, so we did what she wanted and put her to sleep. We still miss her but know that it would have been wrong for us to keep her alive just to hold on to her. You are doing the best thing that you can for your cat. Vivian's sister is also 18 and is still alive and doing well but I'm really dreading the day when we might have to make another hard decision. These cats were my first real pets (not counting frogs and hamsters and little animals like that) - I've had them since I was 12 and I didn't know it would be this hard. You and your family will get through this and you'll have a lot of wonderful memories of your cat.

Thank you for your kindnesses. It meant a great deal reading all of your experiences and support. After reading the messages, with one about having a Vet come to the home, I found a Vet to come to my home last night so that Samantha could pass away at home and not be afraid of her last moments somewhere strange. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done- having a hand in her death .. but it was a gift of love when she needed my love most. We sat with her and thanked her for the 20 years of companionship she gave as I grew up with her. I was 26 the day we got here and now and 46 and she has really decorated our lives. What a lesson that a soul with nothing but sweetness, loyalty and friendship, without even speaking, can add so much to our lives and create a love so deep. I hope some of the intense hurt will lessen so that I can get happy to go and help my children be happy as well. Hoping for a safe, happy and memorable trip .....thank you Carol

A toast to all of our Furry Friends - Past, Present, and Future! They mean more to us than they'll ever know...

Our sincere condolences. Losing a treasured pet is so traumatic. Our precious Persian cat had been sick before we left for Europe. We didn't want to leave her, but stood to lose too much money if we canceled the trip. She died while we were gone, and we learned of it through an email in an internet cafe in Paris from our pet sitter. It was such a devastating experience. We cried for hours, and then made a vow to grieve only at night and go on with our trip of a lifetime as planned. The 1st couple of nights were the worst, but we still had a good trip. Coming home to an empty house was awful. Our pet sitter was an absolute angel, and our kitty could not have been in better hands (other than ours!).
Please enjoy your trip and remember all the good things you love about your kitty.

So sorry to hear Carol... and the rest of you are putting my stomach in knots..I have a 9 year old Golden Retriever mix named Misty who is my whole world. I can't imagine what it will be like when she is gone.. I come home from work each evening and she greets me at the door with her tail wagging, a toy in her mouth, and this look of love on her face that melts me every time...
Carol, you guys should talk about the funny things Samantha did over the years, and the little shows of affection that she gave...that will help ease your loss.. and keep a picture close by to share with any new friends you meet on your trip, as there are lots of pet lovers in Europe who will understand what you're all feeling..

Carol, I lost my cat Ariel at the age of 20 a couple of months ago. I know you will miss her, but hopefully having the trip will give you all something good to look foreward to. I hope you have a wonderful trip and my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.