Pets
Related: About this forumAnd just like that, she is gone
I went up to brush my teeth and came back to find the beautiful angel has crossed the rainbow bridge.
So strange. She was so active one minute, and gone the next. So her mom did know something was wrong. Something may have been wrong with the whole litter.
It's raining out so I can't bury her with her sibling until tomorrow. I have a therapy session tomorrow morning.
Time for me to cry.
I am crushed beyond words.
TexasDem69
(2,317 posts)2naSalit
(92,371 posts)You have done what you could and it wasn't meant to be that she survived. As you said, the mother must have known something was amiss.
Be sad, briefly, but don't let it tear you up. Be glad that you found them and can give them some kind of dignity at the end. Sometimes that's what we're there for, to handle things at the end and that is all. You've given respect and that's truly the best you can do in this case.
OAITW r.2.0
(28,236 posts)2naSalit
(92,371 posts)Experience to have.
3catwoman3
(25,378 posts)Thank you for caring for this wee one for her all too brief life. She knew comfort and caring.
hlthe2b
(106,064 posts)blm
(113,791 posts)🥲
birdographer
(2,527 posts)I was sure she would make it since you found her and got her going. She was too young. Not strong enough. But she left in comfort and love and care. I would be crushed as well. You did a good thing and you earned some karma points (animal-wise, I discovered that those can get cashed in when you don't expect it and something wonderful can happen as a result--no other explanation in my case). It's okay, don't cry. You sent her on her way. There will be another who is sent your way.
Lunabell
(6,776 posts)She felt loved, dry, warm and had a full tummy when she passed. You were her angel when she needed someone. Thank you.
AltairIV
(643 posts)onecaliberal
(35,674 posts)spooky3
(36,038 posts)rockbluff botanist
(360 posts)I lost two sweet little babies last week in just the same way. Perfect little sweeties doing very well and then just gone. My vet said it was probably pneumonia. My vet always tells me, you can't save them all, but I'm so glad you try.
Siwsan, you have a big loving heart, and please know that you do so much good in the world.
TexasTowelie
(116,507 posts)At least she could feel your love and she had eaten well before she passed.
montanacowboy
(6,286 posts)sweet little baby go gently....
MN2theMax
(1,701 posts)You did your best. Served a meal and warmth. Not much more you could have done.
You are an angel of mercy to those dear feral babies. Thank you for all you do for them.
brer cat
(26,127 posts)her love and comfort, and that matters a lot. It won't take away the sorrow, but maybe it will give some measure of peace going forward.
wryter2000
(47,335 posts)You made her short life good. She didnt die alone in the rain.
InstantGratification
(266 posts)She knew a full belly. She knew the pleasure of a warm cuddle. She knew the caress of a kind hand.
You said she made tiny biscuits on you, so she knew contentment.
You gave her all those things and another that is the most priceless gift:
In her very short time, she knew a mother's love.
fierywoman
(8,094 posts)orleans
(34,880 posts)thank you for all you did
XanaDUer2
(13,660 posts)godsentme
(104 posts)So sorry. I know your heart is broken. That little one was blessed knowing warmth, comfort and love. Thank you Siwsan.
Warpy
(113,130 posts)Sometimes we get lucky and the health problem isn't catastrophic and we get a kitty who does fine as a house cat. Likely that kitty wouldn't have survived long as a feral. Other times, the problem is catastrophic, like seizure disorder or a heart abnormality. While it seems cruel to us to cart a kitten who is still alive out into the rain, Momcat likely thought that would finish the kitten off a little more quickly than starvation would have and she had to devote her energy to the kittens with a better chance of survival.
You sent that kitten off with a last experience of being dry, warm, and fed. There are worse ways to go.
JMCKUSICK
(373 posts)Maybe you were way station to help her get to the Rainbow bridge. She was loved when she passed, and that has to matter.
I'm so sorry, please know and believe that your love spring flows abundantly.
I'm not smart enough to know how this matters, but I'm certain that she needed you.
wendyb-NC
(3,762 posts)COL Mustard
(6,861 posts)Grieve as you need to. Peace and hugs to you and to her.
jtb653
(91 posts)I hope you will be OK. you did well for her.
AverageOldGuy
(1,991 posts)So sad.
Everyone here was cheering for Little Kitty and you.
MustLoveBeagles
(12,490 posts)At least she got to experience love and contentment before she passed.
yonder
(10,002 posts)As brief as your acquaintance was, you can remember HerHe for the squeaks and biscuits. HerHe will remember you for the bellyfull and a caring, warm, dry respite.
Good works.
ALBliberal
(2,826 posts)You strike me as such a lovely giving person thank you for giving love and comfort to this tiny being. Knowing it takes a piece of your heart to do so. That is truly love Siwsan.
revmclaren
(2,613 posts)too hard. She felt love and comfort at the end.
Hope22
(2,632 posts)Baby was loved and cared for. You did your best. That babe came to the right doorstep. Thank you for caring for her. Im so sorry for this loss. Hugs and love to you!💗💗🐈?⬛🙏🏼💐
AllyCat
(17,021 posts)orangecrush
(21,534 posts)I know I would be devastated.
AloeVera
(1,819 posts)She knew she was loved. She snuggled in your neck.
I am so sorry. It hurts, I know. One day her memory will bring you no more pain, only good feelings. You are awesome and a good soul.
I always say to my pets when they're going under that we'll meet again. I think we will.
CaptainTruth
(7,184 posts)Just know that in her short life she knew how it felt to be loved & you gave her that.
Sometimes that is all we can do.
debm55
(35,131 posts)58Sunliner
(4,958 posts)Gore1FL
(21,803 posts)The fact that your heart breaks with every loss demonstrates just how sstrong your compassion is.
Thank you Siwsan. You are to be aspired to.
sinkingfeeling
(52,962 posts)TygrBright
(20,987 posts)Owl
(3,703 posts)JustinBulletin
(88 posts)Caring people like you are what keeps us all going. Just know you did the best you could and that little baby felt loved and cared for.
niyad
(119,543 posts)and send peace and comfort to our dear Siwsan for all she does for your precious beings.
Hugggggggs to you, dear one. You gave that beautiful little one warmth and love and safety for their brief visit here. Blessings to you for all that you do.
keopeli
(3,579 posts)Permanut
(6,608 posts)Heartache is the burden you bear for caring so much.
relayerbob
(6,983 posts)niyad
(119,543 posts)relayerbob
(6,983 posts)I am so very sorry! 😢😭
riversedge
(72,972 posts)Ocelot II
(120,448 posts)Those little ones are so fragile and sometimes there's nothing that can be done. But you loved her for that little while, and that's everything.
Polly Hennessey
(7,424 posts)for you to love yourself and all that you do for our precious little friends.
KT2000
(20,801 posts)you gave it a good try and let's hope such kitties get another shot some day. I hope so.
Laurelin
(631 posts)And got her warm, fed, loved and comforted on her final day.
You were wonderful. It just isn't possible to save everyone, but one baby got comfort before she moved on.
Think. Again.
(17,324 posts)You will have the love of that little one for your entire life, how grateful she must have been to you! (And I am grateful to you also.)
10 Turtle Day
(421 posts)But we all know that you did everything humanly possible to save her. It just wasnt meant to be. Thank you, Susan, for all you do for the kittens that come into your life.
gademocrat7
(11,146 posts)lark
(24,099 posts)I had rescued a tiny kitten, eyes just partially opened, and was bottle feeding her for 2 weeks. She jumped off the bed and hit her head and a few hours later was paralyzed and in great pain and we had to put her on the rainbow bridge. It was 2 years ago, but it still hurts that I wasn't able to save little Misty.
TBF
(34,131 posts)Fla Dem
(25,628 posts)You did your loving best to save her and what a wonderful life she would've had with you and your crew. But it wasn't to be.
You saved her from passing on in the cold and dark never knowing the love you gave her. It was destined her last hours were with you, she wasn't hungry or cold, and she had love and caring.
As my grandmother would say, you earned another star in your crown.
Thank you for being the person you are.
appleannie1
(5,198 posts)If not for you, she would have died a cold, wet, miserable life. Instead she died peacefully, warm and knowing love.
3catwoman3
(25,378 posts)...meaningful and special.
I'm going to choose to remember her as Flicker - a brief, bright presence in our hearts.
pazzyanne
(6,597 posts)Whenever we choose to engage in helping any animal, we have a deep well of love to draw from. We know the risks, but choose to use our love, resources, and skills to help. When you found the newborn kitten you did not turn your back and walk away. You did not give up before trying your best to get a positive outcome. Hope is still alive in you. I am remembering all the ones you save and rehome in loving "forever" families/homes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Grieve for the little one you gave so much today. Know that she loved you and appreciated what you did for her today! You are truly a blessing to all you help!
-misanthroptimist
(1,161 posts)There is a feral/semi-feral cat colony in the woods near our property. We've been through this a few times. I know it's hard and makes no damn sense. And it never get easier.
We had one momma cat, who was very friendly, bring her litter to our porch, literally right after they were born. A few days later momma cat disappeared. I suspect she was hit by a car. My wife and I saved all four of the kittens. But it was rough going. They had to be fed every couple of hours and stimulated to poop. And we're older, so it was a job. We never could find anywhere to place them, so they stayed with us.
But success is chancy. We've probably lost as many or more as we've saved over the years. There's one I still can't mention around my wife. He lived about a month...and just quit. It broke her heart even worse than it broke mine.
Hope you feel better soon.
Shipwack
(2,301 posts)Elessar Zappa
(15,708 posts)Im in tears here too, animal deaths really get to me. But you gave the little baby a good final hours of warmth and love. Youre a good soul.
samnsara
(18,281 posts)SimplyHadEnough
(65 posts)Siwsan, you have such a giving and loving heart. You gave that Little one a life time of care. So sorry for your loss.😿
femmedem
(8,429 posts)I hope that in time, it will ease your grief to know that the kitten would have died an awful death without your care, and instead, it was kneading, warm, and loved until something in its tiny body suddenly failed.
But it's still so sad.
LoisB
(8,517 posts)SupportSanity
(1,071 posts)Saoirse9
(3,794 posts)LiberalFighter
(53,442 posts)But YOU gave it a bit more time for the kitty.
ggma
(711 posts)And looked for you and found this. Your heart is good and sweet still. I'm so sorry and I send you a hug.
AverageOldGuy
(1,991 posts)You made her last hours warm, fed, and cared for.
Evolve Dammit
(18,464 posts)We appreciate your compassion and efforts. I have lost a few and know how painful it is. Take care
ChazInAz
(2,771 posts)Whether seniors or kittens. Out of four of her litter, my Grey Mouser lost one at only a week old, and another began to display neurological problems, dying in a massive seizure at three months. I still lovingly recall every cat who has shared my home.
slightlv
(4,237 posts)From the way you describe, it sounds like she had a heart defect. But you gave her time, love, and dignity in death. That can't be over rated. She wanted some comfort before the end, and you gave that to her completely. Just know you did all you could do for her, and bless her on her passing. You gave her your love -- the most important thing in the world to give, especially to one like her. {{hugs}}
calimary
(84,133 posts)You did everything you could. Everything anybody could. She was lucky to have a friend like you, even if only for a very short time.
Cinjanik
(23 posts)You were her Angel. You Are an Angel. Her mommy brought her to you because she knew you could, would, help her over the Rainbow Bridge the way she deserved, With love and dignity.
Bless her, her mommy and you.
TNNurse
(7,102 posts)It is always hard.
niyad
(119,543 posts)andbsend peacevand comfort to their grieving loved ones.
I am so sorry for your cousin's loss.
chowmama
(495 posts)But she died warm, dry, fed and loved. Not suffering. You did a good thing.
Mousetoescamper
(5,014 posts)Although it was traumatic to fall in love with the kitten last night only to learn that it had died this morning, I don't regret opening your post and looking at that sweet little face. There were tears last night and tears this morning, and it was worth the grief to have known of the kitten and your effort to keep it alive.
I understood your work in thought and was touched emotionally when I'd occasionally check in to see what's up with Siwsan and the cats, but now I'm deeply feeling what it's like to be in your shoes, temporarily. You've much strength, Siwsan. Dealing with the death of one of my cats in 2022 was almost too much to bear. You care for so many, with so much more potential for grief (and joy). I admire you!