A Huge Thank You

I am totally overwhelmed by the response to my post about Oscar's death, both on this blog and on the Oscar's Chair blog. I didn't realise how many friends he had throughout the world. Thank you so very, very, much for your loving thoughts, prayers, purrayers, headrubs and nudges. It means so much to me to know there are so many caring catlovers around.

Well, I'm coping. On Monday, my work colleagues, once they found out about Oscar, clubbed together and presented me with flowers and a card they had all signed...and I fell to pieces...again. It's left such a huge gap and when I come home from work, the place is so empty and lonely without the Furball yelling at me for attention or demanding to be fed. I keep thinking I'm going to hear the cat door go as he barrelled through it the way he used to.

I no longer get hassled when I'm on the computer; I no longer get woken up with a wet nose purring in my ear or those sharp claws needling my head; I don't have the playtimes we use to have...when Oscar would prance up to me sideways and I had to chase him so he would hide and jump out at me; I no longer have my little mate to jump up for his spongy ball and bat it madly through the place, creating absolute havoc. It's hard to accept and I know I'm going to have to accept and eventually, I will.

I have been offered two other cats, but I just can't even think about it yet and I'm not sure I want to go through this again, it's too harrowing. I had another loved cat killed by a car about 15 years ago and I can still remember how I felt back then. This has brought it all back and I just don't want to go through the trauma of losing another loved pet. I've had enough.

I was talking to one of my work colleagues (who is a cat lover) and mentioned that people who don't know cats say they only show cupboard love. Of course, we cat owners know far better that's not the case. Tabitha made a telling point. She said that when cats come up to us for a cuddle, scratch behind the ears or to jump up and settle on our lap, they do it because they want to, not because it's their nature. She's so right, isn't she?

I really do appreciate the time you have all taken to let me know you care. But I especially want to thank Connie and Lee for their supportive emails and caring messages of love and empathy. Thank you, my dear friends, you have helped make it a little more bearable.

In Memory of Oscar

Thank you all so much for your thoughts.

Sadly, Oscar was hit by a car and killed instantly on Thursday night/early Friday morning.

My daughter told me and I brought him home earlier.

Life is going to seem pretty empty now...he was a cat with a lot of personality and a very affectionate and loving companion.

I'll miss you so much, Oscar.

Oscar is Missing

Yes, my beautiful furry boy hasn't been seen for two days. I know it doesn't sound long, but he's never gone away for that long before.

He was sleeping on my bed on Thursday. I was actually home from work that day with some 12 hour bug. Anyway, about lunch time, it was obviously too warm for him and he went outside. Later on in the afternoon I went to buy some groceries. When I arrived back home, I could see he had been in and had a snack of his cat biscuits but had gone off again.

That's the last sign of him I've had. I've left food out and it's not been touched. The cat door is unlocked, so if he came back and I wasn't here or it was the middle of the night, he could still get inside. The worst thing is not knowing whether he is hurt or not, whether he is still alive or not, or whether someone else is feeding him.

As he is microchipped, I'm going to start ringing the vets in the area later on and also do a letter box drop, 1. to see if anyone has seen him and 2. to ask people not to feed him if he ventures into their property.

I'm really upset about his disappearance and I just hope he comes back soon.