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Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:55 pm |
I've always been against letting cats outdoors without a leach, but about a year ago I brought in a stray that just loved the outdoors. I moved apartments with him and even in my new one he loved to go play outside and he would howl until I let him out. I live in a wooded residential area on a slow street so I thought it would be okay. I always worried about him but in time worried less because he always came home. I have 3 other cats that I take for walks on a leach and harness, I just don't have it in me to let them outside, I worried so much about Figaro. Well today I went out this morning and didn't realize it until I got home but he was crushed and killed by my garage door. I guess before I went out he was up in the door and when I lowered it he didn't have enough time to escape and was pulled down and crushed. When I opened the door his body fell out. I am so sad. I wish I would have just kept him indoors with the others. Its not like he died of old age or naturally, he was crushed. I can't stop crying and blaming myself for this. I just wanted to tell everyone who lets their kitties out to always check their garage doors before they lower them. I miss Figaro so much, he slept in my bed with me every night. |
_________________ 24 years old...Please click to Fund Food for Animals at the AnimalRescueSite! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:10 pm |
How sad. I'm so sorry. We had a wonderful Manx cat a few years back that "adopted" us. She lived in our garage or outdoors. For some strange reason, she started darting across the street in front of cars and one day . . . well you know where this is heading. That's when I realized that if I ever had another cat it would have to stay indoors. I still feel bad about our cat. It's terrible losing a pet. It's not your fault though--it was just a terrible accident. |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:24 pm |
It's not your fault. This was an accident. I am so sorry for your loss and the pain you are feeling. *hugs*
I also had an outdoor cat, he was killed by antifreeze poisoning. When the time came to get another cat we vowed to never let him outdoors.
Again, I am very sorry for your loss and your pain. Remember the good and funny times with this precious kitty while you are grieving, and beyond. |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:29 pm |
I am so sorry.. I know how hard it is to lose a furbaby.. If you're open and listen, I bet your baby will visit you.. I know our beloved Tasha, that we had to put down, used to come to us a lot.. All of us had experiences.. Every once in a while when we are missing her badly, we know she's here, letting us know she's happy snd having fun and waiting for us at the 'Rainbow Bridge'.. I PM'd that to you, and I hope you get some comfort from it.. It gave us great comfort...
{{{Phoebe}}} |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:20 pm |
Oh, so sorry about your kitty . Please don't be so hard on yourself. It was an accident. Growing up, I had a few cats and without getting into details (still tear up thinking about it)I know that cats are so curious and mischievous that it often gets them into trouble. It's just their nature. Hugs |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:05 pm |
That is so sad *big hugs*. It seems each cat has its own peculiar place and unfortunately they are inclined to hiding. It's just their way, please don't blame yourself. When we got our cat from the shelter we learned that he was an outdoor kitty and I spent many hours training him with a harness, showing him where he could and could not go before letting him out on his own again. Of course, he still comes up with new ideas for us both. Take Care. |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:37 pm |
PhoebesMeow, I'm so sorry for your loss. I also lost my beloved "Salty" a boy , he just wanted outside all the time, and he was run over on our street a couple of years ago I still miss him. In fact I haven't gotten another boy kitty Janet. |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:48 pm |
I am sooo sorry to hear that. I can somehow relate to this being I have 3 cats and love them dearly..I've lost 3 (one to diabetes, the other to old age, and one was outside and choked to death on an unknown object:( ), and not only this..but we have some stray cats in the area. My mother loves kitties so she will feed them out of generousity. Many people in the neighborhood give their glares at us because we are cat lovers, and most of them are dog lovers. There was one kitty in particular my mom loved, who she named Lily...was a very small beautiful calico. One day my mom came home and the garage door was open. Lily's body was laying limp in a pool of blood. Her head looked like someone bashed it in and well..her one eye was not in place:/ She had just given birth to a litter of kittens we were finding homes for, and they went missing after that. I still have reason to believe someone killed them. Anyways, I feel your heartache with how it feels to lose a loved animal. You cannot blame yourself because you were unaware she was there. I hope you feel better. |
_________________ Extremely fair/sensitive skin(mild rosacea)that burns very easy.acne is rare/skin is dry.27 years old. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:03 am |
Oh my - I am so sorry. What a traumatic experience. I agree it's best to keep cats indoors. As I was growing up my parents insisted on keeping the cats outside. One by one the cats died, usually getting hit by cars, and a few simply vanished. There are simply too many hazards outside.
Housecats are VERY happy as long as you provide them with care and affection. I've converted outdoor cats into indoor cats. It's a pain in the neck at first because they are always crying to go out, but after a month or so they adjust and are quite happy living indoors. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:16 am |
Oh PhoebesMeow, you poor girl! Reading your story made me cry!!! I don't have kitties right now (tho I have had many many in the past), but I have two bunnies and if anything happened to them, I don't know how I would be able to get out of bed in the morning, so I know that the pain you are feeling right now is almost unbearable. Please don't blame yourself for what happened. You gave that kitty boy a good and loving home, and without you he probably would have never known love and kindness. Like Kiki, I believe that our furry family memebers are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge. |
_________________ 27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:45 am |
Phoebes...my god, I am so sorry!! I just saw your message, and my heart goes out to you...I know how much you love your kitties, and what Liz says is so true: don't blame yourself, because you gave your sweet boy a wonderful and loving home. And Kiki, too is right...our pets are always with us.
I'm off to work, but will PM you in a bit. Just had to let you know you and your furbabies are in my thoughts...
Mary |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:39 am |
Oh my goodness, I really feel for you, PhoebesMeow. What a truly terrible thing to have happened.
Although I can understand how awful it must feel, you can't blame yourself. Cats are curious creatures and get themselves into all sorts of trouble because of this. (For instance, during a recent trip to the emergency vets, we saw an 18 year old boy who'd been sleeping under a car when the car owner drove off.)
It may not help you feel any better at the moment, but at least that poor boy must have had a lovely life with you once you gave him a home. You gave him a chance - and not many strays get that. You deserve a huge hug for that.
Oh, but how you must miss him.
As for indoor cats, I think cats are often happier if they can go outdoors - although I'm an advocate of keeping them in at night so you know they're safe. There's always a risk with this, of course, sadly.
Some cats do seem content to be kept indoors, and it's a must for those with certain medical conditions, communicable viruses (like FIV), or psychological problems.
We try to encourage people who live near a busy road or who have no garden, etc, to adopt a "special needs" cat like this, who needs to remain inside. So many of these lovely cats are passed by because they're not "perfect". They can wait a very long time for a permanent home, and we have had some stay with us for life because no one would give them a chance.
Sorry about getting on my soapbox. I just really love cats. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:59 am |
I'm sooo sorry to hear about your sweet Figaro! This exact same thing happened to my neighbor when we were kids and it was really hard on her as well since she actually witnessed it.
I had a horrible similar experience when I was 12. My sweet kitty Tinker (and he was MY sweet kitty since he only loved on me and not my brothers or my parents) used to love to nap under cars in the shade. Well, when he was 12 and getting a bit arthritic he was apparently sleeping under our car and as we pulled down the drive on our way to church he didn't quite make it out and so we ran over him. I was in the front seat next to my mom and none of us knew what we ran over, so she kept backing down the drive until we saw him. It was the most horrible thing I've ever seen.
I know these stories probably don't help much, but I just wanted to get across the point that accidents happen all of the time and you shouldn't blame yourself. I read a book back in high school on cats and learned then that outdoor cats have a shockingly lower life expectancy that is 10 years lower than indoor cats! My kitty now was raised indoors so luckily she's a bit timid when it comes to going outside. She does love to go in the backyard every now and then, but I only let her out there when I can keep an eye on her to make sure she's safe.
I know it's hard, but time will get you through your loss. Just love those sweet kitties you still have, be grateful for the time you were blessed with Figaro and know that his life was better because of the love you gave him. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:06 am |
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My eyes welled up with tears reading your story.
We have lost several pets through the years, so I know the pain you're feeling right now. Losing a pet never gets any easier. In fact, I think it becomes more difficult as we get older because we realize what special gifts are pets are & how much they enrich our lives.
Hopefully all the support & understanding from all of us will help comfort you through your initial grieving. This stage will pass, and then you will be able to focus on all the special moments you shared with Figaro. My thoughts are with you, take care. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:18 am |
oh no.
my condolences |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:01 pm |
I'm so sorry too. I have three kitties and I don't know what I'll do if something happens to one of them. You gave him a good home and I'm sure he knew how much you loved and still love him ... maybe it was his time. Don't blame yourself ... how could you have known? Sometimes bad things happen no matter how much we try to keep our little babies safe. All we can do is love them like our family and give them the best life we can while they are with us. |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:37 pm |
Oh thank you all for all of your kind words. I feel a lot better today. I just feel a lot calmer about it today, like I know he's okay. I got the book Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul. Its so pretty. I kept saying to myself if I would have done this or wouldn't have done that but I can't do that anymore. And I know I couldn't have kept him indoors, he was meant to be outside, he loved it so much. I had found him outside so I couldn't really change that about him and I think if I would have he wouldn't have been happy. My other kitties are just fine indoors though, 2 of them were actually born downtown chicago in a highrise so they are NOT outdoorsy kitties. LoL. And the now oldest, Phoebe, has as someone mentioned "psychological problems" so she only goes outside with her harness and leach. Well anyway, I got my very first EDS package in the mail today with my very first Juice Beauty Green apple peel in it and some Jurlique powder and lots of decleor samples so that made me real real happy. It was sad though because I also got a coupon for a free bag of cat food and get this, a free bag of catnip actually came in the mail. And all day today I'm seeing things and going "Oh Figaro loved *insert whatever I was looking at here*" and then of course I get my mail and its like "Figaro LOVED cat food!" and "OOOOH Figaro REALLY loved catnip!" It was almost funny. Of course the other kitties are enjoying it right now and all I can do is spoil them. |
_________________ 24 years old...Please click to Fund Food for Animals at the AnimalRescueSite! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:00 pm |
I'm SO glad you're feeling a bit better! What a great idea to get that "Chicken Soup" book...has to be very comforting. And I agree 100% that your sweet Figaro is doing just fine...he's probably having all the catnip and treats he wants up there in kitty heaven!
Mary |
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Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:29 pm |
I'm so happy to hear you are feeling better.. What a great idea to get the book.. I wish I would have thought of that when I had to put my Tasha down.. In fact, even tho it's been 3 years, I think I'll look for it this weekend.. It still hurts so bad that she's not around.. I have her remains in the window that she spent so much time in.. I can't bear the thought of putting her away... |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:32 am |
I'm Kiki wrote: |
I have her remains in the window that she spent so much time in.. I can't bear the thought of putting her away... |
Can you please explain? I'm assuming you mean her ashes in an urn or something? I don't mean to pry, but I've just got this really awful visual in my head!
I'm glad to hear you're feeling better too PhoebesMeow! It sounds like a great book and I'm going to look into it as well. I love cat books, especially the funny picture ones. Cats are the best! |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:20 am |
Oh, PhoebesMeow, I feel so bad for your kitty and you!!! It broke my heart just reading what you are going through right now. I wish you didn't have to go through such pain.
Unfortunately, I had something horrible like that happen to my precious baby kitty that I had got in college and had for almost 10 years. She was so wonderful that when her accident happened back in 1999, I STILL feel the physical pain of her loss to this day. (It is lessening a bit so that helps but it still is a knife jab to my chest.) Her death was my fault because I left her alone with my mom's dogs (for only a few minutes too -- that is the hard part because it all happened so fast). It's been hard for me to forgive myself and move on even after all these years.
Please try not to be too hard on yourself. We can't change what happened. All we can do is to make sure things like that don't happen again so at least that makes us feel better. After she died, I made a vow to be even more protective of those in my care whether animal or kid. Honestly, though, I still miss her so much and I feel sooooo bad that I let her be in a situation where she was with those dogs. She was my bud (I even took her camping with me in college!) so it was so hard to lose her. Hold on to the good times with your kitty and try to dwell on those -- not your last memories that are filled with such pain. |
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