So sad...I've been there....

(HUGS)

Oh Rob, I’ve been there and very much understand. (((HUG))) What a good life you must have given him.

So sorry for the loss of Murphy. He sounded like a wonderful guy.

Everybody loves Murphy. Except me. But Murphy was my child's emotional support animal at University, and when she left home. I don't know what she'll do without him. He really is something❣️

Oh I am so sorry! This is always a tough one. My heartfelt sympathies to your child.

When we had to put our first cat down at the age of 20 my 18 year old 6'4" son cried like I had never seen him cry then or since and that was 20 years ago. That cat is still missed.

I guess it was a case of, Murphy was her child's cat, but Rob isn't really a cat person. My mother put up with my cat because he was my cat, but she didn't much care for cats herself.

I'm so sorry to hear about Murphy, Rob. I hope your child is OK. I know I couldn't even mention my first cat for well over a year after he died without tearing up.

Your communication was unclear. Nothing more needs to be said.

PS - your referring to me by a moniker I no longer use because of its misuse just as you have now, because you think doing so is derogatory, is childish.

As a reminder for others, it's the name of a cartoon character from Rocky and Bullwinkle program. Immature references to me using it, as per the above, suggested I change to a different cartoon character name. I told the forum of the change in advance so that I wouldn't be accused of a disappearance and reappearance using a different name. That's where I am now.

Edit to add -

There was a comment just above this one that had a childish insult in it. It seems to have been removed. This post now makes no sense as it refers to something no longer there

((((Rob))))

I am so sorry for your loss and for your child's sorrow. But no more pain for Murphy. I would suggest that you to get Cynthia Rylant's book Cat Heaven out of the library. Her Dog Heaven helped me get through rough times.

i'm so sorry, rob. it doesn't matter the species, losing a beloved pet is always hard. i've been down this road too many times to count but nothing grieved me more than watching my grown son lose his heart cat. when i knew the day was upon him, i called his vet's office and arranged to pay for the euthanasia and cremation. when it was all said and done, i had a memorial portrait done of cosmo and to this day, years later, it hangs in his living room. we still get teary when we talk about what a sweet cat he was.

i hope you can find comfort in knowing murphy will always have a place in your heart. sending you big hugs! 💖

There is no love like the love of an animal. I have loved and lost dogs, cats, rabbits and rats. It never gets easier. Rob, I'm so sorry for your loss and your daughter's loss.

I'm sorry for the loss of your child's pet. It is never easy. I am a " cat person", and I have an assortment and they are a comfort to me, so I understand the emotional attachment. I hope when she is ready, she will adopt another cat or kitten. I cannot imagine my life without my cats.

I've been down this road so many times. Some are harder than others. I've had a slew of cats over the years, but some make me teary just thinking of them. Your Murphy looked like my second cat, Pumpkin. I'm sorry you and your kid are going through this, but I hope you'll consider saving another cat's life.

Oh Rob, I'm so sorry to hear this. Sending you thoughts of comfort. He'll live forever in your heart.

I’m sorry…. it’s really hard to cope with, and it’s hard to think of your kids having to go through it. Sorry for all who cared for and loved Murphy. He was beautiful.

I'm sorry. Truthfully, it's one of the reasons I don't have a pet right now. They just don't live as many years as we might need and I don't feel strong enough to handle an inevitable loss. We've done a lot of afternoon pet sitting here at home for a neighbor whose wife left him a year ago - the little dogs were not used to being alone all day and we could hear them upset. DH would go get them and they would stay here until their dad was home from work. The eldest little guy is 13 now and I see him slowing down when we are way too attached. I'm sorry for your child tool

I’m sorry Rob.

Rob, I’m so sorry. You gave Murphy a chance at life and that transmits love. I’m sure your child is broken hearted too. It’s hard to let them go.

sorry for the loss. :(

I'm sorry for your loss, rob.

I'm sorry your child's dear friend won't be coming home too, but this is not the worst time for a fresh start. Things change. We keep moving ahead.

I'm so sorry Rob. It's never easy, no matter how many times we go through it.

So sorry that this happened. It hurts every time.

Rob, just wanted to add I hope these posts are some comfort. It helped me a lot when I knew there were others who understood.💕

Yes, there is much comfort here. It was such a shock and hurt me to hear this yesterday. I thought there'd be more time. But it's never enough. It's also hard that I can't be there with my baby physically.

It is heart breaking. I am sorry for both of you. I too have been down this road too many times but it is what you take on when you take in a little friend. The hardest ones for me are the ones who arent ready to go but you know they are going. I made the mistake one time to let nature take its course and would never do that again. Lesson learned.

I truly believe you show your love to that precious friend by taking in a new one to love. It helps.

patriciae

“I truly believe you show your love to that precious friend by taking in a new one to love. It helps.”

Agree. It might take a little time but sharing more love with another fur baby can definitely help…and honor the one lost.

We lost our little Chloe the day after Christmas. Really hard. Six years ago. I still miss her every day but more with a smile now.

Adding my condolences - so hard to let them go...

I'm so sorry, Rob. You nursed Murphy back to health and he had a good many years with your child. It's always hard to lose a pet that is so much a part of your family.

@rob333 (zone 7b), how is your child coping with Murphy's loss?

Thanks for asking Colleen. She was satisfied she did the right thing, and she said he purred up until the end. That seemed to bring her some peace. So far, she's distracted by the boyfriend's new kitten. As far as I can tell. I won't see her for another couple of weeks, so I'll have to trust that what she's saying is true. All I know is she's going to get some really big hug from me.

One thing she didn't tell me, and I got gobsmacked when it happened, but I did tell the vet to put everything on me and not let her have to deal with anything she didn't want to, she's having the remains mailed here. I'm dreading how I'm going to feel when he shows up. I'll be by myself, at that point. But I guarantee I'm going to put him someplace special for my child and out of respect for him.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know it is very hard to lose a beloved animal.

I've been reluctant to open this thread because we had to say goodbye to our Gracie Girl on Thursday. I am going to write down everything I can remember about her because you do forget. I couldn't tell you much about our last cat, who died thirteen years ago. I don't want to forget the little things that made her Gracie. Maybe your child would appreciate having a record of your memories of Murphy. She can add to them too.

(((Eileen))) I'm sort of doing that. Since she had the cremains sent to me, I'm making a little shrine. It has pictures of varying times in his life. Kind of like I did above. I hope you'll share Gracie Girl with us, when and if you feel like it.

He loved boxes more than anything in the whole world. He would fight every other cat for them. Not unlike Maru, he tried to sit in every single kind of box, no matter how small. The picture at the top is after he's destroyed a box which I would encourage him to do whenever we got one. He like to chew on them and rip them apart. You'll see, at the end he's just laying on top of his conquered heap of corrugated cardboard.

^^^^Our cats do that. They take bites out of the box and spit them out so the box is surrounded by giant "confetti". They work their way down to the base.