Axis Mundi X discussion

This morning we woke to find that Mars, one of our cats, had died in his sleep. He was curled up in a box where he often slept. His eyes were closed and he appeared calm, as if he passed in his sleep. He was sixteen, with kidney issues, so his passing wasn't a surprise, although he had been healthy (much healthier than his blind twin sister) until just a few months ago. He was sixteen.

My wife adopted Mars (and his sister, Cleo) when they were kittens just as she and I met. Mars was part of our family as my wife and I first lived together, young and broke, then got married. Mars rode with us on a six week tour of America in an RV. He moved with us to Wisconsin eleven years ago. He was one of us. Mars was jet black until the day he died, the kind of cat who watched you very closely and took care of his smaller sister. He was a guardian. Mars and Shadow, our dog, started as mortal enemies but grew to tolerate each other over time. Just this past week they slept next to each other on the ottoman.

Mars, like most cats, was largely independent but hung out in the shadows and loved to sit on the couch armrests where you could pet him but where he could also make a quick getaway. He loved to sit on windowsills and watch the birds but he wasn't too keen on going outside. The basement was his true playground. When I took laundry down the stairs he would often appear out nowhere happy with his mouse hunt.

Last night he sat on my lap and purred while I watched tv. I glad I had that last chance to be with him, and I'm glad he passed in his sleep. He was a good cat.

I will miss you, Mars. Tonight I will raise a glass in your honor.

There has to be an afterlife. There has to be.

Aw, I'm sorry for your loss, Anthony. It sounds like Mars had a good life.

I, too, will think of you and your family as you deal with your grief. I'm glad you have such good memories to help you through.

Mars and Hobbes and Blue are skittering around in the afterlife wondering what's taking us so long in getting there.

:::hugs::::: ::::HUGS:::: ::::::hugs:::::::::::::::::

Oh RA, a beloved pet that has died leaves such a raw wound in the heart. I still think of my 2 but the pain has lessened. All my love to you and yours for this hard time.

And yes, there's got to be an afterlife.

Here's to Mars, a good cat! I'm sorry for your loss, RA, but glad that his passing was peaceful.

Sorry about your loss RA. I'm glad his passing was peaceful for both of you.

My ex's cat Shilo, named after the Inns, had kidney failure. His last night he looked at me from the bottom of the stairs and cried. As I picked him up I realized he had lost control of his back legs. I held him and watched TV petting him as he peacefully passed away about 2 yrs ago.

Koeeoaddi, your post reminded me of a poem my vets sent to me when my 13 year old Smudge died. She was the sweetest angel kitty ever.

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/...

Thanks, everyone. Cleo, Mars' sister, died this morning. That's the way it should have been...they were always together.

Willie, it was almost exactly like you describe it. Both cats had kidney failure. Cleo was stuck on the stairs in the middle of the night. I woke at 2:00AM or so to hear her crying. I think she was searching for her brother, trying to get upstairs, and her legs gave out. I sat with her on my lap for a few hours, put her on the ground, but she couldn't move. I took her into the emergency vet and had her put to sleep about an hour ago. It was one of the toughest things I've ever done, but it was the right thing to do. I held her while the vet injected her. I had to be a grownup and do it. She was my girl.

Oh, I'm so sorry, RA. You were a great friend to be there for her at the end. I'll be thinking about you and your family.

Thats so sad RA, to lose both of them, it must be hard. I'll be thinking of you and your family x x

:::cries::: I'm so sorry RA... oh man... I just went through this with my kitties.

they were lucky to have you as their human.

XOXOXOXOXO

Sorry to hear about these losses, RA. You not only did the grown-up thing; you did the merciful thing.

Anthony and Willie, I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry, RA. I'm glad you could hold her and pet her at the end.
*lump in throat*

I think I'll go read those bear stories again. Excuse me...

Did not expect the intensity of emotion. I was curt in my thought, but not in reality. I sorely missed her "mrrr" when I touched her upon arriving at home.

Im sorry for your loss,Ihave 4 wonderful dogs I know 4 im crazy!lol,And I love every one of them! My girls are more like my children and they would be missed and grieved like any other member of my family!

Last year my mom Shi Tzu TJ was hit by a car i bought him for my mom when i was 16 so he was 13 i believe far from being a puppy and when my dad told me it hit me much harder than i imagined! He was the 1st pet I remember losing Ive had others but when I was younger so I never was as close to the others TJ went everywhere with me. When I got my drivers liscense he cruised with me as much as my friends!LOL