'Fraid that our little orphan is no more. My wife rang me this morning just after my alarm went off to tell me that our little mate had been hit on the road. She found her in the early hours of this morning after she came home from seeing some friends in Chumphae. I came home early from work and have just come back inside from burying her.

It's nearly a year (28.03.08) since I rescued her from wandering across the road. She was only a few days old then, I reckon, so she was just coming up to her first birthday this week. Ironic that she should die like that, isn't it? Still, we gave her a year more than she would have had. I think that she was wandering further afield since her recent walkabout.

I've had several cats since I was a boy and I always end-up getting really attached to them and am really upset when they die. But because of the way that I found her and that she was so helpless, it's really hit me hard. I freely admit to being soft and sentimental but it doesn't get any easier as I get older. She meant more to me than a hel_l of a lot of people I know. The missus is really going to miss her as she was her mate when I was at my college during the week. Plus the fact that she brought out my wife's maternal instincts for the first time so she became really fond of her.

Anyway, not very elegantly written, I'm afraid. Just to let you know.

Hi mick,

Im so sorry.

I really understand where you are coming from. For many of us, our pets become part of our household and family. Its intimate.

I shared many experiences with my own cats, and many times they lent their fur to mopping up my tears on bad days as well as wonderful conversations, where they would listen with interested looks, purrs, intermediate meowed replies, big eyes, blinky eyes, cuddles, and so on and so on.

I also understand them bringing out maternal instincts, so i feel for your wife.'

Just keep the good memories and know you gave her a lovely life with you, and dont let the pain of losing her put you off offering another wonderful cat the opportunity to join your family later on.

All the best.

Sad, so sorry about that Mick ..... can't say anything else really.

Thanks for your kind words, eek.

Yep, I've definitely done my share of talking to cats. They're great listeners! But this one always seemed to be able to tune-into our mood really well. If you were feeling a bit fed-up, she'd come and lick your face and purr right in your ear. Always made me smile.

Like most Thais, my wife comes from a farming family (she's a teacher now) and has consequently always seen animals in a practical, unsentimental way. But this was our first pet and as she was so young, we had to feed her milk from an adapted eye-dropper bottle. It was the first animal that my wife had ever cared for and the mothering instincts really kicked-in.

As for another cat, well, perhaps one day. But not for a while, I think.

Sad, so sorry about that Mick ..... can't say anything else really.

Cheers, Thad. Yep, it about covers it, doesn't it?

BTW, Suegha, you were asking for the latest pic. I had a look and here it is. Taken last month.

I think you posted this pic in the pets section, didn't you? At least she had an apparently blissful year, which is far more than she would have had if not for you and your wife.

All that can be said in tribute was that she was a lovely cat and you loved her. Well done to you and your wife for giving her such a sweet and wonderful life.

Aww, thanks, sbk. Yes, she was a lovely cat and we certainly did love her.

No, hadn't posted this pic before; in fact, I only took it out of the camera today. Mind you, I can understand why you thought you'd seen it before. We were always taking pictures of her when she was asleep. First, because that's the only time she was ever still and second, she quite often slept in really daft, inelegant positions. Not at all like a graceful feline.

I buried her under her favourite tree. She used to like climbing it and taunting next door's dogs.

I'm so sad Micky, so sad. I'm really sorry for your loss. I feel very sad now...

ps Fantastic pic.

Oh wow what a wonderful photo Mick!

You can really see how comfortable and trusting she was with you to sleep like that. No fear, totally blissed out!

She has beautiful markings too.

Lucky girl to have had such a good (albeit short) life, thanks to you and your wife.

Mick,

I feel for you. My cat of 14 years old died a month ago (i put an ode for her in the pets section), and I really miss her so much.

I finally went to the vets to get her ashes just two days ago - couldn't do it before. She is now sitting on a table along side photos of my family.

It's all the little things that we remember about our pets that are good (and bad) that get us through the sad times. She also was a great listener and cuddler. And she was the only cat i ever had that snored!! I was with her when she died and she purred until almost the last minute. It was what I could give her for all the happiness that she gave me.

I have been offered other cats since - but no, not for now. I have another cat, Jimmi, so i am not catless. And he is also missing his "sister" and has become much more affectionate than before. Which is comforting.

Sorry again,

Patsy

Is this the daddest thread ever? I feel so sad...

Tiggie, do you and R have any pets?

I'm sad to hear of your loss as I lost my beloved cat to bein' run over as well. I never did think of getting another cat and I don't think it would've helped.

My wife has adopted a cat in my absence at work...I wrote about this one some years back in the pet forum as she gave birth to kittens in the kitchen roof space for which there was no human access. The cat kept hangin' around so the kids started feeding her and etc. I like to talk to cats like others on this thread and the first genuine laugh that I got from the wife's family was when in reply to their curious stares I stumbled out with 'tutsi kao jai paa'saa meo...', 'language' and 'understand' usually being part of most falang's beginning thai vocabulary...

Mick,

I feel for you. My cat of 14 years old died a month ago (i put an ode for her in the pets section), and I really miss her so much.

I finally went to the vets to get her ashes just two days ago - couldn't do it before. She is now sitting on a table along side photos of my family.

It's all the little things that we remember about our pets that are good (and bad) that get us through the sad times. She also was a great listener and cuddler. And she was the only cat i ever had that snored!! I was with her when she died and she purred until almost the last minute. It was what I could give her for all the happiness that she gave me.

I have been offered other cats since - but no, not for now. I have another cat, Jimmi, so i am not catless. And he is also missing his "sister" and has become much more affectionate than before. Which is comforting.

Sorry again,

Patsy

Sympathies to you and micksterbs on your loses.

My last cat died in 1987, he died in my arms with the injection the vet gave him. It had to be done, but it was difficult to give the ok.

He was 13 at his death, somewhat traveled as I took him to Colombia with me several times. An extremly large orange tabby (22 pounds) he was grace on feet. His exploits on the farm in Colombia were numerous. My wife came into the section of the hacienda that was ours only to find 6 rats he killed and brought back from the grain room only to leave on our bed. I watched him leap from the roof of the first floor to snag a humming bird outta the air above a rose bush. Only to land in the bush itself. I felt bad about the humming bird, but amazed he caught such a wary creature.

The maids on the farm wouldn't try to pass him in a hallway or stairs they were petrified of him.

I didn't have another pet till 4 years ago, when I caught a little 14" snake. The snake has grown to 5 foot and is a great pet, but he'll never measure up to my cat.

Tiggie, do you and R have any pets?

We did have 2 dogs but a few years ago we lost both of them within a few months of each other. We had them for 11 years since they were puppies. I have been too upset to get any more pets.

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts, everybody.

She's certainly left a big hole in our home this weekend; I keep wandering from room to room in a decidedly listless fashion. Keep expecting her to wander through the door and announce her presence. My wife and I took a couple of joss-sticks out to her tree last night and, after a quiet word, left them with her glowing in the dark.

Like so many of you have said, cats are great listeners and she was no exception. Actually, she still is; I just don't get the licks on the nose anymore and the contented purrs. Hey ho...

I'm sure that I'll end-up with another cat sometime. I remember when my last cat died (in England) that I thought "never again" as I get far too attached. But I can never resist them for long. Actually, they usually find me! Even when I was a boy, cats were always following me home much to the exasperation of my parents. And they liked cats!

We'll see...