My Scarlet is dying tonight...

[Contrary1]

She's a feral kitty that I've been feeding for over 15 years. I believe she is most likely the mother of the four kittens I took in so many years ago. Found under a neighbor's deck, three of them are still with me. The 4th, a sweet little girl I named Baby, died about three years ago.

It is almost unheard of for a feral to live this long, according to my vet.

I developed a special call which summoned her to my back porch for meals. All this time, Scarlet never permitted me to get within more than six feet of her.

I was able to bring her in this past weekend. She is so weak that she finally allows me to touch her after all these years...no more growls or hisses. She is in a spare bedroom, bundled up in a blanket. She will not die out in the cold.

I am almost 63 years old, and I have said goodbye to many pets over the years. But saying goodbye to Scarlet...it just hurts my heart so much.

Maybe it's her independance and stubborness that I relate to, but I am so going to miss her.

[vanlassie]

1. So very sorry. Safe passage, Scarlet.

[lorrainehoward]

2. thanks

thank you so much

[suffragette]

3. So very sorry. Know that you shared your love with her and in her way she did the same.

[gwheezie]

4. She is letting you help her

So glad you are there for her. I've taken in several strays and sometimes the only thing I can give them is a warm blanket and peaceful end.

[roguevalley]

95. she is. She is saying I love you. Thank you for SEEING ME! I wish you and her all the love that is

possible. You get what you need from the animal kingdom. This cat just gave you diamonds. My best wishes to both of you. I feel your sorrow all the way to Alaska and return it in kind. (

[Savannahmann]

5. My condolences

[UglyGreed]

6. so sorry

it is always very hard

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I am so sorry...

I understand your feelings, you had a unique, but very special relationship. And you can take comfort in knowing that you were always there when she needed you. I was lucky, fed a cat outside for a long time, but was finally able to bring her in. She was 12 then and I had her inside with me for two years. My heart breaks for you, but you did all she asked of you and her life was immeasurably better because of you...

[KT2000]

8. I'm so sorry

about your Scarlet. Good that she has you. Peace to you both.
It is so hard.

[CrawlingChaos]

9. I'm so very sorry. It is so hard.

Bless you for giving her love and making her passage as gentle as possible. It is the purest act of kindness.

[Hari Seldon]

10. Its been a tough year

Bonobo my most special
Grendel my loyal hero
Shimmer the love of my life
Cupid my little man
Gala so sweet and scared
Mabby oh it hurts what you went through
and others
Percy and your sister who never even got a name
Napoleon who dissappeared and never came back...
and Spencer, can't forget him
And Stevie, can't forget him

Its been a tough year indeed
The middle of the night is the hardest

[niyad]

36. oh my word--a very hard year indeed. prayers for your little ones, and for you.

[sabrina 1]

11. Poor, brave little kitty. I am so glad you were able to bring her in.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I am so sorry.

Thank you for your love for her as shown by 15 years of feeding and, now, allowing her to pass in safety, warmth, and love.

[bearssoapbox]

13. Bless you for taking her in and making her comfortable.

She knows you love her and in her way she has shown you that she loves you.

Every cat that we have and have ever had we brought in as strays.

One momma cat would bring her babies to us when they were about 6 weeks old or so. She did that with two litters but she would never let us get close to her. We kept food and water out for her so I guess that was good enough. She was a sweetheart. Shortly after she brought us the second litter she disappeared. A demolition was going on behind our house and we think she was living under the building. That's when she brought us her last litter. We looked for her. I hope she wasn't in the rubble.

We still have a cat that was born from of the cats that Momma brought to us. Snuggles is 19 yrs. old this year and still going strong.

Pass easy Scarlet. You're getting some extra love tonight.





For you Contrary1...Thank you.

[malaise]

14. I know the feeling

We feed feral cats and really are attached to the survivors

[oldandhappy]

15. Love to both of you.

We send you on with love, Scarlet. Thank you for caring for her and for your gentle care of her now.

[merrily]

16. I am so very sorry. Know that you made her life so much better and be grateful for her and for that

Usually, identifying something in a situation for which I can be be grateful helps because gratitude is a healing emotion for me. I hope it is for you as well.

[leftynyc]

17. You've been her guardian angel

I wish her a safe and peaceful last journey and peace for your incredibly generous heart.

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. I'm so sorry - I lost my doggie just three months ago - I tear up every time I think about it

Animals sure know how to love unconditionally

[madamvlb]

19. She was loved and that matters.

[ColesCountyDem]

20. I'm so very sorry!

[Triana]

21. I'm so sorry.

She was lucky to have you to properly feed her - and to come home to at the end.

I still cry over my Sassy. You never get over it. They take pieces of you with them when they go.

[raccoon]

22. I'm sorry to hear that. nt

[Bettie]

23. So sorry, but she came back to you

so there was a level of trust there. She'll die warm and safe and that is wonderful.

[Puglover]

24. What a sweet story

and what a lovely thing you did for Scarlett.

[ladjf]

25. Thank you for sharing your loving connection us. Good bye Scarlet. You were loved. nt

[noiretextatique]

26. so sorry

Claiming a peaceful transition for Scarlett. I still miss my kitty, Chewie...she died 3 years ago. She did not like her paws touched, and even when she so weak she could barely hold her head up, she still managed to pull away when my friend accidentally touched her paw You will always have those memories

[redstateblues]

27. So sorry-kitties will try to find a safe place when they are dying

She honored you by coming in to die with you.

[Phentex]

28. So sorry...

it's a terrible hurt. I am happy she found you and that you gave her a good life.

[City Lights]

29. So sorry you and Scarlet are going through this.

May she not suffer long...

Peace to you, Contrary1.

[magical thyme]

30. I am so sorry...

Scarlett sounds like one strong, smart kitty. Bless you for caring for her. Thanks to your love, she knew where to come when it was time to say goodbye...

[rhett o rick]

31. How wonderful for Scarlet to have had you in her life and visa versa. nm

[fizzgig]

32. go easy, sweet scarlet

losing our friends is so hard. peace to you

[DawgHouse]

33. Oh that poor sweet baby. How lucky she is to have your love and affection!

I'm sorry for your heartache, but thankful that there are kind people like you in this world.

[hamsterjill]

34. It truly IS almost unheard of for a feral to have lived that many years!

Thank you for very obviously taking great care of her over the years. Thank you for being there for her as she slips away.

With tears in my eyes...because I've been there many times myself.

[niyad]

35. May Lady Bast take your beautiful Scarlet in Her loving arms, and give you peace and comfort.

thank you for caring for this beautiful being for all these years. I know how hard this is, and just know that your DU family is here for you, and your Scarlet.

[herding cats]

37. You're the reasons she's lived such a long life.

I know all too well how painful it is to see a pet age and pass on and she was your pet, even if she insisted on keeping some distance. What you're doing now is all you can do, and it's a beautiful thing for you to be able to give her comfort, love and peace as she goes. You should take comfort in knowing she trusted you enough to let you be with her in the end. It's like she's giving you her thanks for all those years of care you provided for her.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[valerief]

38. She must be very bright to have survived feral for so long. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

39. All feral cats go to heaven

Pinta will be there to greet her.

[ozone_man]

77. That's true.

I've had a few in my time. My life has taken a turn the past few years, and I've happened upon a sibling pair of non-feral kitties, they go outside and hunt and have a great time and all, but they are not feral. They make up for that by being very cuddly, sleeping in at night instead of roaming the wilds.

[TheKentuckian]

40. I'm so s to hear about your loss. Lost my eldest last week after 15 years together and she was

already long grown so likely at least 20.

This one hit me hard too, except for my mother and a good friend young this one seems to be leaving the biggest hole in my heart in my whole life even though I know she hung as long as possible.

Peace be with you.

[niyad]

78. so very sorry for your loss, as well. may lady bast send you comfort and peace.

[joeybee12]

41. I hope the journey is peaceful for Scarlet...

I lost my Scarlet 2 years ago...good vibes coming your way.

[westerebus]

42. A gental passing as she rests.

Good on you for being a kind caring human, that's what my cat told me to tell you.

[beemer27]

43. Rest easy Scarlet.

You have been loved, and loved in your own way in return.
We too have had feral cats who would adapt us. It is very easy to become very attached to some of them. We have had to say good bye to a few of them over the years, and it was never easy. She is warm and safe with you. Her passing will be peaceful, and she will be forever grateful to you for it. You are friends and she knows it.

[WheelWalker]

44. And the wheel turns...

[japple]

45. Bless you for saving her from dying alone in the cold. She loves you

and is so grateful to you for feeding her, looking out for her for all these years. May her last hours be peaceful.

[irisblue]

46. ((Scarlet))

May your trip to the summer fields by the Rainbow Bridge be soft. ((Contrary1)). What a blessing you are to Scarlet.

[Curmudgeoness]

47. Tears.

I am so sorry that you are going through this, but how wonderful that you were able to give her a comfortable place in the end.

I know you will miss her.

[cmos_sue]

48. So sad.

I'm so sorry. I hope Scarlet passes in peace when her time comes.

[MrMickeysMom]

49. ...

{{{{{{{Contrary1}}}}}}

[mopinko]

50. you done good.

made the world a little bit better place. more than many humans can truthfully say.

[Dont call me Shirley]

51. May comfort be with Scarlet and with you. You were honored to have each other in life.

[madmom]

52. So sorry, I just lost my big guy a couple weeks ago, tears your heart out!

[nomorenomore08]

57. Sorry to hear that. What breed/mix was he, if you don't mind me asking?

I like big, fluffy cats, so I've considered adopting a Maine Coon someday.

[madmom]

58. I really don't know his breed, he was from a shelter .. here

is a pic from this past summer

[nomorenomore08]

60. Looks like a big fat tabby (which is a coat pattern, not a breed) to me.

I'm sure he was a sweetheart.

[niyad]

79. what a beautiful being. so very sorry for your loss. may lady bast send you peace and comfort.

[nomorenomore08]

53. Sad that the critters we humans love the most have such tragically short lifespans.

I should know, we lost both of our cats (Bob the Siamese and Edna the tabby) in 2013. Edna wasn't unexpected, since she was 16 with a bad thyroid and eventual kidney failure, but Bob just dropped dead at a seemingly healthy 11.

P.S. Long-lived ferals do exist, in my experience. Two of the cats my aunt fed for many years, then took in when they got old, lived to be around 16 and 17 respectively.

[shenmue]

54. {{{Scarlet}}}

[raging moderate]

55. Scarlet knows you love her.

The love you share with Scarlet, and with her kittens, is true forever.

[Fla Dem]

56. Tears for you and Scarlett, hugging my own a little closer.

[hifiguy]

59. So sorry.

I lost two very dear cats in the space of three years. Both were older rescue kitties. I was inconsolable for weeks. I will adopt again, but a younger cat next time.

Pass quietly and safely, little Scarlet.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

61. I'm sorry to hear that.

Years ago I had a feral kitty adopt me. She eventually developed a mammalian cyst. We had it operated on, but later it became cancerous.

She was like a soulmate to me.

]I understand.

[packman]

62. There is something about cats

that bring out admiration and respect in certain people. I believe it's a feeling of romantic wildness, a spirit of independence that perhaps we all had but lost over a lifetime of playing our cards a bit too conservatively . No one can tell a cat what to do, they make up their own rules and I love them for that.

Scarlet came home to you, you should feel privileged to have to care for her.

[mcar]

63. You've been a wonderful friend to Scarlet

May her passage be peaceful. Best to you.

[TeeYiYi]

64. (((((((Contrary1)))))))...

...and (((((((Scarlet)))))))

TYY

[Skittles]

65. ...

Scarlet has loved you the only way a fiercely feral cat can

[glinda]

66. wish a vet could come see her.... so sad...U R a great soul!

[myrna minx]

67. .

[hopemountain]

68. scarlet brought out the best in you

what sweethearts you both are. i believe cats come back to us if they want to. thank you for feeding her and bringing her in from the wet and cold. i am very sorry for your sadness.

[Blue Idaho]

69. Thank you for sharing your love and your life with Scarlet

May there be peace and serenity in your home.

[840high]

70. My heart aches for you.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

71. (((Contrary1)))

All along, Scarlet heard your special call because she trusted you as well as she could. It is remarkable that she stayed with you as long as she did, but a real tribute to you.

Safe passage to Scarlet, and peace to you for a job really, really well done.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

72. Sounds like the night we had a bobcat come scratching at the door....

At the time I lived in a cabin in the mountains (Forest Falls, California) and I figured it came to us because we were the only lit place around.

The poor thing was very old and missing an eye. We gave it some warm milk and pet it and cared for it and it purred, snuggled, let out a long breathy sigh and was gone.

At least it died with some love.

[NCarolinawoman]

94. *

[Stargazer09]

73. Go in peace, Scarlet.

Thank you for making her as comfortable as possible. I personally believe that your actions are the reason she's lived such a long life.

[hrmjustin]

74. I am so sorry. Reading this brings up a lot of emotions.

You finally get to hold her after all these years but she is getting ready to pass.

You must have so many emotions right now but the important thing is you have been there for her every step of the way.

We are with you in spirit and I hope you feel our love for you and Scarlet.

[Marthe48]

75. Sorry to hear your sad news

We took care of a wild cat we named Pilgrim. We fed her outside and gave her shelter for 2 years, just saw her in the winter. The 3rd winter, she came inside, after some coaxing. And went out real fast. Later that winter, she came in and disappeared into the basement. We didn't try to force anything, just left food on the basement step and spoke gently. She went out when spring came and we didn't see her until the following winter. She had a litter of kittens with us, and left them with us when she left us again. She did get to where she'd let us pet her, inside. I tried to pet her once outside and I still have scars. We took care of Pilgrim for about 10 years. She left one spring and didn't come back in the fall. We loved her because she trusted us, no matter what else she went through. So I'm especially sorry to hear you are saying goodbye to a wondrous creature.

[sobenji]

76. She was lucky to have you

[Snotcicles]

80. touching. nt

[Laffy Kat]

81. Thank God you are there for her.

Comforting thoughts your way, Contrary1.

[jtuck004]

82. 15 years. How great is that for an outdoor cat!

At 60 I have had to say goodbye to many, yet there are a couple for whom the best I have ever been able to do is manage the feelings, and, of course, they were the ones that took the most work. But at it can be managed.

That's some great partnership you have, and that you are strong enough now to help is a real testament to your friendship.

Take care of yourself and Scarlet.

[Moostache]

83. I am so sorry for your loss.

My family is still coping with the loss of our Shmoo-boy this week as well.

We had him for 17 years - none of of my five children had ever known a day of their lives without him until today.
The losses never get any easier - we have lost 3 other cats before today, but none as long lived or as deeply ingrained in the family.

I find myself remembering the little things more and more this time, and the thoughts and wishes of others have meant a lot to me as well. I hope that the memories you have surface to keep you warm as well.

If there is anything worth calling heaven, then maybe Scarlett and Shmoo will meet there soon and wait for the opportunity to once more lighten our hearts and make our spirits soar with love someday...

My thoughts are with you.

[niyad]

86. so very sorry for your loss, as well. may lady bast send you comfort and peace.

[fadedrose]

84. Love causes more joy and more pain than anything...

sorry about your loved one . . .

[demigoddess]

85. so, so sorry for this pain

but I have had cats come back after they passed, and they were together, happy and loving. And I often say I know one cat that sits in heaven at the right hand of God, and he deserves that place.

[indepat]

87. What a beautiful bond you've had with Scarlett. May you find solace in the impact you have had on

each other.

[gordianot]

88. I have a feral who does allow me to pet her but would never let me bring her in the house.

For me she is a new relationship with cats and the one litter she had (I had to trap her to get her spayed) inspired me with the absolute devotion to her kittens. The kittens were caught and adopted, her cries at the time still haunt me. Bless you for your devotion.

[virgdem]

89. I'm so sorry for your loss..

I know the pain you are feeling. I've lost 7 cats and fed three outdoor/feral cats for three years. The bond you developed with Scarlet over the years is special and you took good care of her. I'm sure that she knew you cared deeply for her and I believe that is why she let you take her in in her final days. May she rest in peace and may you find peace in the memories you have of her.

[Lifelong Protester]

90. I am late to this thread, but I wanted you to know

I'm so sorry. I have been there, too, and it is damn hard.

[LibertyLover]

91. I'm not a cat person, but

I have rescued 9 dogs in the last 20 or so,years and lost all but the last 2, so believe me when I tell you that you were a light to Scarlet and a true blessing. Both you and she were so very lucky to,have found one another. Thank you for loving her and caring for her. It is a rare joy to share your life with an animal. She will meet you at the rainbow,bridge.

[Ash_F]

92. This was very kind of you.

Thank you.

[PatrickforO]

93. I"m very sorry about Scarlet

I've said goodbye to many furry friends over the years as well and it is never easy. I'm glad the cat has you on her last night.

[denbot]

96. Peace to Scarlet, and ease in her passing.

And much kudos to you for being such a good kitty friend.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

97. Thank you for looking after her for all those years.

She came to you because she knew you loved her. R.I.P., Scarlet.

[NCarolinawoman]

98. She will always love you, and you her.

The love will never be lost, ever.

[blkmusclmachine]

99. You are a good, kind person.

[mountain grammy]

100. every living creature should know some kindness

Thank you.

[AllyCat]

101. Peace to you and your fur fairies as Miss Scarlet passes

She was lucky to have you in her life.

[3catwoman3]

102. Such eloquence in this thread.

One of our vets once told me that we accept animals into our lives, knowing from the outset, that we will likely outlive them. We do it anyway, because of the great joy they bring.

She knows you love her.

[Mz Pip]

103. So sorry.

I think of all the kitties that have passed through my life, the ones I saved, the ones I couldn't. We do the best we can but it is never easy to let them go.

You are giving each other one last gift.

[FourScore]

104. It sounds like Scarlett finally came home. n/t

[Curtis]

105. So sorry

You're doing a magnificent thing for a living being. My hat is off to you

[applegrove]

106. Vibes to Scarlet all the way from Canada. For

mom too.

[Prophet 451]

107. So sorry for both of you

Just know that you made her years easier.

[colorado_ufo]

108. Such a remarkable story.

Blessings on you and Scarlet; she was so fortunate to have had you in her life.

[vlyons]

109. What my Tibetan Buddhist High Lama says about pet death

You can take this with a grain of salt. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, all sentient beings were once our Mother in a previous lifetime, so we treat all animals with respect. Upon the death of a pet, reciting Om Mani Padme Hum helps both the animal and the person saying the mantra to maintain a calm and tranquil state of mind. Om Mani Padme Hum is the secret mantra of Chenrezig, the Buddha of compassion. You may wish that the cat is born into a better situation, preferably as a human. Only humans have the opportunity to hear and practice the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, and so enter onto the path to enlightenment. It is also my personal prayer that everyone be reborn into a loving family and to have the good fortune to meet authentic teachers. It's tough saying goodbye to our 4-legger friends.

[TygrBright]

110. You helped her live her life on her terms. The love does go both ways. n/t

[Contrary1]

111. Thank you all for all the kind posts...

Tonight I buried my sweeiie B.T., along side his feral mother Scarlet. Rescued him, and his three littermates from under my neighbor's deck over fifteen years ago.

I had been able to bring him back from several illnesses, but not this time...it was kidney failure.

B.T. was unique among the kitties who have owned me. I taught him to fetch his toy, and do a somersault after bringing it back to me. His record was 27 times in a row. That was in his younger years, of course.

My pets bring me so much joy...it's saying goodbye that hurts.