My Sweet Simon--"Here lived a very fine cat, indeed"

He sounds like a wonderful cat.  So sorry for your loss.

Copihue, he was between 16 and 17years old.  I've had him since 2003. 

So very sorry for your loss, calliope. I know how difficult this time is and how suddenly the tears and heartbreak can grab hold throughout the day. Thinking of you and your Sweet Simon today. 

I'm so sorry to hear this...!

Thank you all for your sympathy and comfort. In addition to my own sense of loss, I am dealing with the mourning of my dog and my other cat.  I expected Sarabeth to be hit the hardest, but it is actually Gracie who is continuing to grieve, This has me so heartbroken for her. Simon was part of her pack. I have always told her to "watch the kitties," telling her to guard them, keep them safe. She takes her role very seriously. 

And while it is difficult to address these end of life issues, if you need to humanely end the suffering of a beloved pet, please consider in-home  euthanization. Simon, hated leaving his home,  He did not have to leave home, he was surrounded by all his familiar sights and sounds and my arms. I held him so he was secure, I felt the last beat of his heart, and I hope the last thing he heard, and felt was the loving beat of mine.  Death is a transition,and it is my opinion that starting that transition without the barks of strange dogs, the medicinal odors of a vet clinic, and the cold metal of that table, makes that transition easier for me and my beloved pet.

Always so hard to lose a loved one....thoughts are with you....

I am going to pick up Simon's ashes today. I am bringing him home for Christmas.

My sympathies on your loss.  Picking up the ashes is very emotional.  Our beloved cat's ashes sit in his favorite spot.  

It's sad, calliope...picking up their ashes is always so rough, yet I always feel better when they are back home, where they belong. One of my pugs once chewed up a wooden puffin carving and the other loved toy turtles. So I have a small puffin figurine next to Otto's box, and a ceramic turtle next to Freddie's. And I do still feel a connection to my boys - different, yes, but still there. (((hugs))) to you today.

He's home,now. Yesterday Gracie and Sarabeth played tag,for the first time in a long time.  This photo was from 2011.  Sleep in heavenly peace, my sweet Simon.

Ah Calli, what a beautiful picture.I know you miss your sweetie. I still miss my girl, her ashes are near the fireplace, that she loved so much in the winter time.

Calliope:  It sounds like you gave Simon the very warm, caring and comfortable "transition", as you called it, that he deserved.

It's very comforting to me to think of the end of physical life as a transition into the next stage of life, and that those we love and lose are ever-present in our lives.  I find Jasper's words very comforting, and hope you do, too:

"I find it helpful to talk and sing my silly songs to her, even if she isn't here to hear them."

Keep "singing silly songs" to Simon, and allow yourself to keep seeing him out of the corner of your eye.  He's still there with you, and the most important thing you shared -- the love -- will always be there, too.

Thank you,again to everyone.  Simon was a very vocal cat, so I did continue to hear him, but not since I picked up his ashes.  But my poor dog is still in mourning.    Last night I had some friends in for Christmas Eve.  After dinner we were preparing to play scrabble in the family room. One mentioned that The Hallmark Chennel had the Yule long and Christmas carols. So we put that on for a little atmosphere (because if I were to have built a fire,we'd be more likely to pay strip poker than Scrabble!)  Soon Gracie had all our attention, she was whining and barking at the yule log, because there was a large orange cat running through out the scene. Gracie picked up her Wubba toy and was squeaking it and moving it toward the screen.  She has never reacted like that, although she does like to watch TV.  It was cute, but also distressing. If there hadn't been witnesses, I would never post this story.