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Alisa Morris
In 1979, Morris adopted a 5-week-old feral kitten found near her mother's house in Texas. Morris's mother claimed that there was "something special" about the kitten that was blind in the left eye, and begged Morris to adopt it. Morris agreed, and named the kitty Caterack.
Sadly, as Caterack got older she developed kidney problems, then arthritis. Morris started feeding Caterack wet food because it was the only thing the elderly cat could keep down, reports PEOPLEPets.com. In Caterack's final days, "she wasn't doing good," Morris said. "She wasn't bathing herself or keeping herself clean and she laid down real slow."
"It was time," Morris recalled, her voice trembling. Last Thursday, October 22, Morris drove with Caterack to the veterinary clinic. As the veterinarian euthanized Caterack, Morris cried and laid her head on the table next to her beloved cat of 30 years. "I kissed her goodbye," said Morris. "I feel better now that I know she's not hurting."
Adjusting to life without Caterack has been difficult. "I keep thinking I see her out of the corner of my eye," said Morris, who was unable to bring herself to launder Caterack's blankets until today. Chloe, the kitten, has also been acting strange and not adapting well. "Chloe didn't really hang around Caterack when she was alive, but in her last few days, Chloe stuck real close to her," said Morris. "She knew something was going on." With the older cat gone, Chloe has been inconsolable. "She's been walking around crying, looking for Caterack," says Morris.
Morris decided to have Caterack cremated and awaits her ashes, which will be arriving this week. "I feel like I'll see Caterack again," said Morris. "I feel like she's with my mom in heaven."
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Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your beautiful kitty Cataract, you were so lucky to have so many years of unconditional love. I lost my beloved Princeton after sharing 21 years with her so I can totally understand what you're going through. Princeton and the rest of my Angel Furbabies have welcome your sweet kitty to her new home up at Rainbow Bridge.
Susan, Berri Blu, Spookie Boo, Sammy, Ziggy, Lucie Jayne and Miss Skinny
Thank you very much for thinking of me at this time. It has been
hard to handle.
The article was almost right: Caterack only cried one time in the
car going to the vet. She never made a sound while in the vet...
She just purred and laid her head down and peacefully went to
sleep.
This is it for me as far as getting anymore pets for it is too hard
letting them go.
Thank you for your concerns.
Alisa
I feel honored Caterack has been reconized.
I am very sorry for your loss. It is very hard to say goodbye. I have had to do it many times over the last thirty years. I too so times thought I wa seeing the lost one out of the corner of my eye. Once I saw a cay who looked so mush like my lost puss Sheba I opened the sliding door and let her in thinking I had inadvertantly buried sheba alive! (Thoough she was eunthanized by my vet.) This cat moved right into our lives for the rest of her life. She became Corazon. I miss them all; each and every one. Condolances and one day Catarack will weave around] your ankles in heaven. RS
So sorry to read about the passing of Catarack. I know first-hand how difficult it is to let go of a pet after many years. I had a Maine Coon cat that we retrieved from the side of the road after being thrown from a moving car. She was only a couple of months old at the time. I had Cuddles for 21 years before I had to have her euthanized. It took three injections before she finally gave in. The vet told me that she was refusing to leave me. The vet sent me a very nice condolence card a few days later with a copy of the poem "Rainbow Bridge" enclosed. It is such a beautiful poem. Letting go of Cuddles was extremely difficult, but I knew it was the right thing to do because I didn't want her to suffer. I also had her cremated and her ashes are in an antique tobacco hunidor. I've told my son that when I go, she goes with me. Time will make this more bearable, although you will never forget. Just keep the wonderful memories of the love you shared with Catarack and try to get passed the last moments.
I am so sad to hear this. I lost a Calico, "Callie" when she turned 20, so I can somewhat understand what you're feeling. Thirty years is more than a lifetime. Caterack was just precious and lovely, and you should always honor her memory, as I know you will. Keep her alive in your heart. Take care.
My heart goes out to you! Caterack was beautiful!
Nothing is worse than having to say goodbye to you pet that you love so much. As I read this story, I cried thinking of the time I had to let go of my baby. As did Alisa, I put my head on the table and cried. So many of us know what she is going through and ache for her. I am so sorry for your heartache but once you get her ashes back, you will feel a little better, I know I did. You will cry the first time you hold the urn but it will get easier. You will have her forever!
my feelings go out to you,my baby was 21 years old when her time came, one day a cute fuzzy face will show up and that place in your heart will start to heal, it took me 2 years but in the middle of a two day ice storm my chica cried at my back door and and that was that she's been with me for a year and a half ,but my baby who i had creamated, still sleeps on my night stand
OMG! I was just reading about how the cat had turned 30 like..3 weeks ago!!!
Oh this is so sad!!!
='(
So so so sorry
On 09-09-09 and 0900 we had to have our precious min. poodle put to sleep. We got him when he was 2. He was from an abused home, we adopted him and he was so regal and also humble. He was 171/2 yrs. old. He was black-blue color and he just glisened when in the sun. He was gray and had lost his teeth, his hearing and his sight was almost gone. with the aid of our vet we had him a lot more yrs. than expected. I am still in the mourning stage. I too, look around for him. I had him cremated and still have his ashes. I just cannot bring myself to have his ashes scattered in our back yard. Maybe someday I will bury the ashes and put up a memorial stone. So to you, my sympathy !!!! I have the rainbow letter that was sent to me from our groomer and also the crematory sent us a card and letter.
I am so sorry to read about your tremendous loss. On 10-04-09 it was also "time" for my 19 year old feline goddess and best friend, Suzie who was diagnosed with kidney disease about a year ago. She was magnificent beyond words. I can relate to the grief you are going through.
Last July, a semi feral kitten ran through my yard, skinny and very scared. He had ear mites so badly he couldn't hear in addition to a terrible respiratory infection. He's now healthy, neutered and happy and although I had NO intention of keeping him initially, he's officially a family member now. Isaac's personality is the polar opposite of Suzie, who I miss more than words can say, but he keeps us all laughing and has been a wonderful distraction.
Please know that Caterack's long life is an inspiration to all people who have a cat they love. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this extremely difficult time...
We are so sorry to hear of your loss of dear Caterack. I have said prayers for her daily and have adopted her as the guardian angel for my kitty. We have a ritual in our house that everytime we have a drink we toast to our beloved creatures who are waiting for us in heaven.
I certainly know what you are feeling and sympathizw with you. When I suddenly lost my Sidney at thirteen ,very unexpectly I was devastated. Many times I thought I felt him jump on the bed with me. Although I now have two cats we adopted and they ae great therapy, I still think of my Sidney almost everyday. He was cremated and will be scattered with me when the time comes.