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Socks the Cat


Shemoore

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Sherri,

 
HUGS no matter when you lose a loved one be it two feet or four it can be so so hard. The important thing is to do what you are doing. Cry, grief and reach out to others to help. Please, if you haven’t, go to https://forums.grieving.com/index.php?/forum/17-loss-of-a-pet/ and post this exact note so others can see it. You will find here others who understand that Socks wasn’t “JUST” a cat. He was someone whom you loved and loved back. We also have hosted chats where you can talk to others on this grief journey. 
 
Welcome. You came to the right place. 
 
Kelly
 
On Mar 17, 2019, at 8:33 AM, Sherri <grieving@getbacktozen.com> wrote:
 
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Sherri ( g.fridayseniorservices@yahoo.com ) said:

Hi.

Well, I feel like my world is completely shattered. I lost my best friend, Socks the Cat on Thursday March 14, 2019. He was just shy of turning 16 years old. Our vet was kind enough to come to our house and he went to sleep in my arms. I'm a mess. Socks was a very special cat. In 2004 I opened a home plus senior living facility on 18 acres, out in the country. One early morning I was outside putting flag up and sweeping the sidewalk when a young, gray cat with impeccable white paws walked straight up to me and greeted me with the sweetest, "meow." He was rather thin and had a light blue, worn collar around his neck. The residents at my senior home took to him immediately and the rest is history. He touched so many lives of those who lived and passed away at Glenn Moore Meadows. I have read about other people's animals who provide therapy to the sick or elderly but to experience this first hand was amazing! Two years ago, I sold my business and there was no question as to what I would do with Socks the Cat. He was coming home with me. He made the transition very well and settled in to his new permanent home. He slept in my linen closet, enjoyed the afternoon sun in our bedroom window and slept with me at night. His personality was endearing. I'm at a loss for words. He was my baby and I am feeling so alone. I can't imagine life without him and I am a mess. My husband would be devastated if he knew what was going through my mind right now. I found his whisker in the blanket I was holding him in and I kept it. I experienced pet loss before but this one really hit home. I'm afraid people would think I'm crazy if they knew I was crying over the death of my cat. I just want to crawl into corner and die to escape the pain of losing my friend.



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Sherri,

Welcome here...I am so sorry you lost Socks.  I know what it is to be very close to an animal and have lost many over the years.  Our relationship is unique with each one and once in a blue moon comes along that special one that speaks to our soul.  It sounds like Socks was that one for you.  

You are not crazy, what you are feeling is very normal considering your bond and closeness.  When we live with our furry companion and they are so loving, such a delight, they're in our everyday lives, so it's no wonder it hits us on every level when we lose them.  Many of us have felt the loss greater than losing people, part of that is because they were in our everyday lives, not living far away.  You are in good company here, with others that get it.

https://www.griefhealingblog.com/2014/05/pet-loss-is-it-different-kind-of-grief.html
https://www.griefhealingblog.com/2017/02/pet-loss-disenfranchised-grief.html
https://www.griefhealingblog.com/2017/10/pet-loss-when-nothing-eases-pain.html
https://www.griefhealingblog.com/2011/10/finding-support-for-pet-loss.html

 

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Socks sounds like an angel. I am so sorry for your loss Sherri. I have cried more tears than I ever thought possible for my cats. So, no shame in it. We just love them that much. 

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Thank you both so much for helping me cope with the loss of my cat Socks. I have never been good at making friends and my animals seemed to fill that need of companionship. Socks was just a very special cat. It hasn't helped that my horse of 29 years died last July while I was volunteering at a Black Bear sanctuary and my dog, who was 13 died two weeks later. So coming home is very hard for me right now. Thank you for sharing with me and being here.

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Sherri, I too am very sorry for the loss of your adorable cat, Socks. He is, and will always be, a handsome little fellow. And I know too well the pain you're going through. We all do. I lost my precious cat, Lady G., on January 14 of this year, and I am still hurting over her death. And I am not exaggerating, I have cried every single day since losing her. Every single day! In fact, I just came from outside after spending a little time at her grave, and was crying my eyes out while out there. I visit her grave every day and night, out back. Her death has been extremely painful for me. And I truly don't care what anyone thinks of me for loving her so much, or for crying all the time since her death. She was very special to me, and I want the world to know it! I'll proudly continue to talk about how special she was to me.

You're not alone in with your pain. And there's no magical way to make yourself feel better. Only thing we have is time, which can help lessen our pain a little.

I wish you the very best during this difficult time, Sherri. You hang in there.

Rest peacefully, Socks

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Beautiful cat!  It's very hard having multiple losses to deal with that leave an emptiness inside of you filled only with longing and a broken heart.  My dog is 11 and as a large mixed breed predicted to live 9-12 years and I don't know how I'm going to handle it when he's gone, he's my soul mate in a dog (I lost my other soul mate, my husband, nearly 14 years ago)...my cat is 24 so is already on borrowed time.  In addition, I've lost several others since my husband's death.  We don't know how we'll make it through the loss, but somehow we do, one day at a time, I won't kid you though, it's painful. 

I hope you will continue to come here and express yourself as you feel the desire to, it does help to get it out and put voice to it.  It helps to know there are others here that get it and understand and care.  (((hugs)))

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Dear KayC,

Wow! 24 years old! Your cat is doing great to be that age. I'm sorry that you've dealt with multiple losses too. I'm able to handle human losses better than pet losses. My mother said, even when I was a child, the death of my pets was very upsetting to me. Thank you for sharing your stories and taking the time to visit with me. I think evenings and nights are the hardest to come home to. I read an article one time that said even though your pet isn't physically there, they are spiritually present with you. I hope it is true. Right now, I try to keep my mind occupied with my work. I started another small business. I provide private, in-home care for the elderly. I don't say too much to people because they wouldn't understand. There still seems to be a stigma about grieving the loss of a pet. Thank you again for listening.

Shemoore

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Yeah, the article on disenfranchised pet grief talks about that, people don't understand unless they're a big animal lover and have experienced it themselves.  I think losing a pet is akin to when I lost my husband, and not just any pet, but one I'm particularly close to, like my Arlie, it's going to be tough.  But if I've survived the loss of my husband, whom I was extremely close to, he was my soul mate and best friend, "the one", I know I'll have to survive the loss of my Arlie when that time comes.  It's something we all dread, losing someone we're close to, yet it comes for each of us eventually.

Yeah, Kitty is ornery and I think that accounts for her age.  She's not like the cats on "My Cat from Hell", when I watch that I think I'm lucky she isn't that bad, but oh my gosh she rules the roost and is very vocal!  I've seen my huge dog circle around the house to avoid having to go by her, she's been known to take a swipe at him for breathing the same air as her.

I wish you well with your business, a very needed one!  I hope it becomes easier for you in time, I know it's tough, especially the earlier time, I pray for comfort and peace to come your way.

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There is a stigma I think over pet grief. It's like you mention it once and then it's over. But also believe that a lot more people suffer, they just don't show it either. 

Thank goodness for forums like this where we can share our losses and the pain. There is not much we can do but we understand. It's an emotional pain that I was never prepared for.

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Dear AJWCat,

You're right. This is an emotional pain we are never prepared for. I feel like I'm just going through the motions of getting through the day. It's one those days for me. Thank you for being here.

Shemoore

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Shemoore, 

That is all you can do. You just face each day and each hour one at a time. As the constant pain diminishes, then you find you'll get hit with a wave of grief from out of nowhere some days. At least, I did. This process is very tricky and our emotions are in flux all the time. And the one things relied on, our constant companion is not there to help us through. It's a cruel truth. Btw, my husband was devastated too but I still would go cry in the shower to hide my anguish sometimes. :( I promise you will be okay, just be patient. (Tell Socks you miss him and love him if it comforts you. I did that too.) 

 

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Dear AJWCat,

Yes, I understand. I found myself crying in the shower yesterday morning. When Socks the Cat was at my retirement home, he wasn't allowed to sleep in the linen closet. However, when I brought him home with me, he was quite pleased to find out there weren't as many restrictions in my home as to where he could sleep. Thank you so much for listening to me. Unfortunately, most of the people I know don't seem to attached to their animals like I am. They really don't care, so it's comforting to have someone who understands. Talk to you soon.

Shemoore

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