Cats and Grief

[Flar's Freyja]

Feel free to share your stories here......

The most amazing thing happened last night. Many of you have heard about Little Freyja, the wild cat I rescued who is also affectionately known as psychobitch.....because she is one.......

She goes from sweetheart to demon in a split second, and is not much of a lap cat or bed sleeper. She's been getting into bed with me at night since I came home without Flar, and usually will sleep at the foot of the bed if she stays. Last night, she came up to me and licked the tears from my face....as I can't fall asleep without crying. She has never, ever, done anything like that.

When I got home on Saturday night, his little cat Pouncy, equal on psychobitch level with Freyja in different ways, greeted me at the door. I told her he was gone and sat down and howled on the couch for about 30 minutes before I could unload the car. When I did, she walked through all the stuff on the bed, sniffing everything. I went to pet her and she hissed at me.

Pawsome usually hides in the closet when we have company. Joe's parents and their dog are here......he has been right out in the living room, social and talkative. Groucho isn't even hiding as much as he usually does.

The change in all of them is amazing, they are truly nursing me. I may have to let some of them go when I move and it's breaking my heart, I can't choose. I always told Joe that this was going to be a problem but he loved them all so much. I'm praying it will all work out.

[Isil Darkmoon]

Oh Freyja... *hug*

It really is amazing how wise they are. I've always found in my darkest times that animals find ways to comfort me when people fail. They know so much.

My Twinkles, my childhood companion who crossed the Bridge about a month ago, always slept at my feet every night. However, at the times I was most upset--whether I was audibly crying or not--she'd invariably come lay down at my shoulder when I got in bed and spend all night curled around my shoulder/neck/head. As soon as things were better, she was back to being my trusty footwarmer.

The current zoo normally spreads out around the apartment, but when either Andrew or I are having horrible times of it, it suddenly seems like they're all right there, just being close at hand. Java-the-Sheltie will hop up and lick away tears. One or anohter of the cats will lay claim to a lap and just lay there purring until I can't help but smile a tiny bit. My oldest boy Sam once and only once reached up a paw to literally wipe tears from my cheek. I don't know what I'd do without them.

I feel for you, sweet lady, and I hope things work themselves out in such a way that you don't have to part with any of your furkids, but that they can all stay in your life and bring you many more years of joy, comfort, and love.

[Valkie]

Between loosing Flar and Aine, I've been a wreck for the past couple of days... and I didn't know either IRL. Last night, the one cat that I can't spend much time with because I developed an allergy to her (it's been getting better since I got the puppies... go figure) not only curled up next to my head, but she stayed there all night. She didn't leave me until the puppies came running into the room this morning and jumped on the bed.

[Lunacie]

I don't know how they can tell, but they can.

A couple of years ago I spent an entire month in bed with influenza, seriously not getting up for more than a few minutes at a time. My daughter's cat FritziKitty spent most of that month in bed with me even though she had never slept in my bed before. She was a real comfort.

I think you and the cats are comforting each other now, eh?

[BlackMagicalCat]

Well,Im a truck driver,and never thought I would have a cat,I have always been a dog person,but 8 weeks ago a black cat came into my apartment,I left the door open so air could get in,the smell of flowwers was outside,me and my son took pictures and posted them in my album.

Well,the next weekend a black and white cat came walking into my apartment and while me and my son were playing video games,the cat gave birth on my couch.

So we got some rags and stuff,and the first one was not alive,the second one was,the other two were removed by a vet the next day when the owners took her to the vet.They said they couldnt believe thier cat let us pet her,let alone give birth in our apartment.So I took this as a sign and asked them if I could keep the kitten,they said okay,after they weened her.

So,Im not really a goddess type believer,im a christian,but it seems a Goddess sent me my kitten,at least thats how I feel,and I dont feel God minds,I just dont know who.

My kitten is one bossy,fiesty,hissing and spitting little critter,she is truly magical somehow.She has added a magical element to my life I didnt have before.And she is all black,and I named her Tabitha,this is my cat story.

And she is in my truck right now,she rides on the dash,and checks out all the cubby holes in my truck,I walk her several times a day to keep her happy.She snuggles with me at night also.

[EponaCapaill]

The change in all of them is amazing, they are truly nursing me. I may have to let some of them go when I move and it's breaking my heart, I can't choose. I always told Joe that this was going to be a problem but he loved them all so much. I'm praying it will all work out.
:wah: Yes, they do know when you need them.

My Merlin is always near me, but when I am sick or upset, he is almost smothering. One of the many reasons I love him.

I hope everything works out any you are able to keep all of your kitties.

[Yvonne Belisle]

They know and give unconditional love in return when we need it.

[Know Your Rights]

Cats just know.
I used to have one cat, whenever I was sick or having a bad day she'd spend most of the day with me, keeping me company, and cuddling, and she wasn't a very cuddly cat... she also knew when it was her time. She spent the next 5 days (Christmas morning to Dec 30th, when we put her to sleep), coming into my room the second I woke up, and staying with me all day. I got her for my 5th birthday, I was, truly, her human. That was her way of saying goodbye...
Anyway, off topic.
Freyja, I believe that felines can just sense when things are differant, or out of sorts, especially when it comes to someone they love, I'm sure these cats love you, and they love Flar, they are mourning with you, perhaps? And letting you know that it's okay to cry and be upset. That, and some of the creatures that Flar was closest to are keeping you company in your time of need.
They'll look out for you, and I'm sure they'll understand if you can't keep all of them, it will be a tough decision, but you will make the right one.

Blessings and strength to you.

[halfwaynowhere]

cats are just special like that. they can sense when you really need them. sometimes when i come home in a bad mood, my cat Houdini will come up to me, curl up in my lap, and just start purring like nothing else... it really helps me feel better... of course, these past few days, i have had to be the comforting one for a little kitten... she was very protective of her little sisters, got upset when either of them were taken out of her sight. they were sick though, and spent the night at the vet, where they died. now i get to turn around and be the comforting one for a very lost and lonely Artemis... she's hanging in there pretty well though...

[SS'sBaby]

I'm so very glad to know you have them to keep you company and give you their love and share your grief.
:hugz:

Perhaps he knew you would need them all to see you through should anything ever happen. :wah:
They are truly little blessings are they not?

[Flar's Freyja]

I'm so very glad to know you have them to keep you company and give you their love and share your grief.
:hugz:

Perhaps he knew you would need them all to see you through should anything ever happen. :wah:
They are truly little blessings are they not?

Yes, they are and please pray that they all get to stay........

Freyja licking tears off my face was incredibly amazing, if you knew her, you'd agree.....

Thanks for sharing your stories!

[SS'sBaby]

Praying for you and them right now.
*hugs*

[LadyAutumnCat]

I'm so glad that you have them to comfort you. Thinking of you and hoping that you can all stay together, they obviously love you so much.

[Flar's Freyja]

This morning I woke up with my boys parked on either side of me. Pawsome usually sleeps at the foot of the bed and Groucho NEVER sleeps in the bed. It's amazing how they've changed since I came home without him :(

[Bryony]

Cats are great. They give when you really need it, and put up with you when you really need it... but won't let you sleep when you think you really need to.

[farm girl]

Cats are such wonderful creatures!

Last winter, I found out at a routine u/s in my third trimester that one of my twins died. I was 28 weeks at the time and they didn't want me to deliver because my other twin was still alive and needed the best chance possible. I had to go home- carrying one dead baby- one living. I was falling apart. My cat & dog knew something was going on. They clung to me.

I delivered 4 weeks later. Said good bye to my still born twin and watched my living twin go off to the NICU. I had two babies in my big belly- but I went home with none. My animals again began to comfort me. This time they looked worried. They knew I was missing a babies.

My baby finally came home from the NICU and my animals watched her intently. But a week later my baby got very sick and had to be admitted into the PICU where she stayed for weeks. My animals paced. They looked out the window. They looked in the crib. Sniffed her blankets. I thought they were having panic attacks with me.

My baby came home on treatments and wasn't even allowed out until May. My animals guard her and watch her. They cuddle with her and have a special gentle way. I still cry over her twin sister, and when I do, one of them is right on my lap- as if they want to hold me through it.

[Flar's Freyja]

I'm so very glad to know you have them to keep you company and give you their love and share your grief.
:hugz:

Perhaps he knew you would need them all to see you through should anything ever happen. :wah:
They are truly little blessings are they not?

Actually, I'd been telling him from day one that taking on the boys could be a problem in the future. I used to tell him, "You can't die and leave me with all these cats!" So far, so good but I'm having panic attacks when I think about money. :wtf:

So far, I've been able to stay here. It's been two months and they've gotten worse, sometimes to the point I'm peeling them off me! They really miss him and it seems they're seeking reassurance from me now. Pawsome now sits next to me on the couch, I can't walk through the house without Groucho trying to knock me down, sometimes Pouncy's trying to put her head on my hands while I type and Freyja sneaks past the other three to get in bed with me when she can. She's always at my feet or on my lap. And Groucho still hollers in the middle of the night. I was listening to a medium show on Hay House Radio that indicated that animals sometimes do that when they see spirits. Maybe Flar's wandering the house at night.

Last night when I got home and was eating supper all four of them were in a circle around me. It was kinda nice.