Do all cats go to heaven?
I’ve been wondering about cats and death this week. We decided to end our Oreo’s suffering on Tuesday.
Oreo. The cat my daughter slept with every night the last eight years. For as long as I can remember she would periodically announce, “When Oreo dies, I’m taking a week off of school, you know.” And there was the time, we almost lost him in the spin cycle.
I’ve read that adoptees often develop intense feelings for animals. Pets filling that bottomless unconditional love tank.
So I was worried about our daughter when it became clear that cancer was so entrenched in Oreo’s neck, he could neither eat or drink without suffering.
Oreo and Hannie in January before he got so very, very sick.
Tuesday, leaving the vet with Hannie in tears and Oreo at rest, taking one final ride home, I said I’d take care of burying him and go pick out a plant to place over his grave like our vet had suggested.
I decided to bury Oreo by the garden fence and bought a climbing rose which hopefully gravitates to the wire.
* * *
I missed the ornery furry cuss myself and had shed a few tears.
I wondered about our other pets. Our dog and cat, Daisy, must realize something is up?
Daisy had to have known how sick Oreo was — did she wonder why he disappeared?
Yesterday out tilling up my garden plot to plant tomatoes, peppers and squash, I saw this.
Daisy had been hanging out by me, then I realized she was on top of the spot I buried Oreo.
Yes, there’s the rose bush and the rocks I’d gathered around the new plant, not so much to enshrine the grave but more to keep someone from mowing the rose down. That kind of stuff seems to happen around here.
The rest of the afternoon, Daisy came back to that spot and lounged.
I can’t help but wonder if she knows that’s where her buddy is?
Thoughts?
Linking up with the Finish the Sentence Friday gang.
Today’s prompt: I wonder . . .
Gosh! it is tough to let go a pet. All I can send is virtual hugs to you and your family.
I am sure their five senses are sharp to notice someone buried way down there…makes sense for her to lie around that place.
Bob, our Black and White Manx cat is now day to day so this really hits home. When we put our dog, Lucky, down many years ago, Bob and Cappy (Cappy is our orange & white cat) both laid on Lucky’s grave for a couple of weeks. Our animal family is very close and close to us. Yes, I do think they know where their “siblings” are.
Wow Rhonda, thanks for sharing. The two cats were very different in temperaments but every morning esp if one was going outside and the other coming in from a night out — they would touch noses. I know Daisy must notice no Oreo to raid the food bowl.
I have to think so too. Sense of smell? Something. 🙁
Firstly – so sorry for Hannie’s loss. Eight years is a long time in pet years and a child’s growth.
Secondly, Daisy finding Oreo’s spot is amazing!
Oh I am so very sorry, Jamie. It is such a difficult time. However, the actions of your Daisy must so, so comforting. She really wasn’t prone to lying out there normally? Wow. Please give her and your pup a jumbo hug from me – and save one for yourself.
I’m so sorry for your and your daughter’s loss! And truly, I do think that animals know. When we had to put down my dad’s dog and planted a tree over her grave, my dog would lie at the base of the tree.
I’m so sorry. That’s so hard for kids — we lost our dog last year who was my “soul dog” and daily writing companion, but I was only her substitute mom since my daughter went away to college. Very hard for both of us. So I really feel for Hannie. And you. And for Daisy. She must know somehow. Take care.
I thought about you and Abby, Julia. I feel that connected to our lab. Guess like most things — we need to appreciate and enjoy the everyday.
Thanks for sharing that Kristi. In the comments on my FB post, many of my friends wrote the same thing. Their animals visit the graves of their companions who have died. Animals must morn too.
I was thinking that — cats do like to roll in the dust, but we have a yard full of dusty spots and I had tilled up and entire garden. She was drawn to that one spot. ?
Thanks Kenya.
So much love to you … they reallyare family, and we have said tooo many goodbyes 🙁
Thank you Nicole. Animals have such a simple love. It seems so pure.
That’s is so sweet, Jamie.
It makes sense that animals would miss a family member.
:). Daisy has been in my lap a lot lately.
I’ve always had cats but not many from kitten and none for as long as I had Casey. He was 19 or 20 when I had to accept that he needed my help one last time. To this day I swear I saw him sitting in the grass staring at me while I buried his body. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
So sad. That is a long time to have shared life with a pet.
This was so sweet and pure and sad – I’m so sorry for your loss. I do think animals know when their friends pass on. Our surviving cat became very down and needy when her brother died. The photos of Daisy are wonderful.
Oh my heart. We just put our cat down about a year ago…not quite. I would like to think there is something for animals after this life. And…we had a cat for years named Oreo. My grandpa used to call him ornery-o.
Animals sense and perceive so much, and so acutely. Losing a beloved pet (especially one who had been through the spin cycle!) is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for your sadness. Sending hugs.
It is hard to lose a friend. I tried to save a cat with treatments about thirty years ago. I later knew I had tortured my sweet pet for the last two weeks of its life. It is hard to let go; but, I have never done that again.
However, I have mourned the loss of every pet. I’m sorry about your family’s loss of Oreo.