As a country-living and pet-keeping newbie, I expected a few lessons. One of the first was a tough one.

The afternoon school run was interrupted by a phone call to the wife enquiring whether "she had seen the kittens".

"The kittens!" We had forgotten to check all three kittens were accounted for before driving off and now two of them were missing.

Presumably, they were sleeping in the engine compartment and had not been roused by its revving.

A check of the compartment found it empty and there was no sign of them (a black kitten and a ginger one, both females) in the area where we had stopped or on the road between Mae Yao and Rimkok Resort.

Three days, filled with hope that the improbable stories about cats finding their way home from many miles away might prove true in this case, have passed and still no sign.

The remaining kitten, whose "sister" is missing, has been pining while we have been wondering how, newbies or not, we could have been so stupid especially after religiously checking on the kittens whereabouts before putting car in gear four times a day for a month.

Flame away, we deserve it, but if nothing else writing this has been cathartic and just might save another kitten from a similar fate.

The cycle of life and death can be short for both people and pets here in the Rai. As one becomes conditioned to this, I find the grief cycle also shortens. You do what you can and learn to accept the vagaries of life.

I am sorry for your loss.

Pets become part of the family,and their loss is always poignant.

Condolences

Wiley Coyote

I know how the OP feels , I have experienced grief like this myself. Last year someone kidnapped my Chicken and because I wouldnt pay the ransom , they BBQ'd her .

I will never give in to Roosterists .

They are only cats, and easily replaced.

A real catastrophe.

Sad for the kitten but he goes to a new life early.

Edited June 7, 201214 yr by harrry

A real catastrophe.

Sad for the kitten but he goes to a new life early.

The real cat-tastrophe is that so few people neuter their pets. Too many strays out their as it is and more are born everyday.