It’s a sad day in the Quinn household. Our cat Claude died unexpectedly this afternoon. We found him laying out in my son’s bedroom. He was only 8 years old and gave no outward sign of being sick. He was visiting me in the basement this morning, purring while I petted him. I guess his little heart just gave out for some reason. My oldest son and his roommates at college decided they needed a house cat at Penn State and got him when he was kitten. After a year with college kids, he needed some stability, so my son brought him home and he stayed here for good.
He was the sweetest, friendliest cat you could imagine. He loved lying under the Christmas tree and swiping at the ornaments.
He liked to pose for cute pictures.
He liked to look out the window and watch the birds and squirrels in the yard.
He loved his scratching toys.
His brother Smokey is going to miss him. They cuddled together and chased each other around the house every day.
Christmas won’t be the same this year.
At least he won’t have to wear that stupid Christmas tree hat.
My son and I will start digging his final resting place in a little while. I’m going to miss you Claude. You were everything anyone would want in a pet.
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We lost our 14 yr old Papillon on New Years’ Eve. I was surprised just how overwhelmed with emotion I was. All the little routines, and looks between me and Cirrus. I feel for you.
I’m very sorry to hear it, Jim. Losing a beloved pet is truly heartbreaking.
My current cat is only 4, but my German Shepherd is almost 13 and aging rapidly. He sleeps so soundly that I check regularly to see if he’s still breathing. I know that day is coming and I’m dreading it.
I’ve found that the best way to deal with it is to get a new one as soon as you can forgive yourself for replacing the old friend.
RIP Claude kitty. So sorry for your loss of a beloved family member.
He looks like our Lyon boy.
Those who don’t like cats have probably been a mouse in their past life.
“When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.” Quote Mark Twain
Sorry for your loss.
Greets from the Netherlands
They require effort to connect with. Some of those efforts might be related to virtues. I think that’s what Mark meant.
@Ken31
I think you are right.
Probably Mark meant also that if you love cats and you are able to win a cat’s friendship, you are capable of greater things, and then I want to be your friend too.
But what his quote was all about is the love for animals, especially the love for cats.
Thanks for adding to it. That all sounds true too.
I am very sorry for yours and the family’s loss of a family main stay. I lost a lab / boxer mix years ago and haven’t the heart to replace him yet.
Hmmmmm may be now is the time……
I know I joke around about cats but I do know how much they can be loved by their owners.
We have two in our house, and my wife cries and cries when one of them gets out.
There is nothing worse than a crying wife, so I care for our cats.
I am sorry for your loss.
There are things , sometimes small, that make us Human. I understand your grief and fully, But I expect a certain person dog person to aqueous and offer condolences. If not Off with his head 🙂
Condolonces, Jim. I lose my boy Blue of 12 years a while back. It was no small thing and it still isn’t. He was an orange tabby I got from the pound as a bottle baby. with no doubt some Main Coone in him and those make wonderful cats. Blue had Cerebellar Hypoplasia so social interaction was very important to him. He could really get going in a straight line after a laser though.
Claude will be waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge
An Old Cat’s Dying Soliloquy
Years saw me still Acasto’s mansion grace,
The gentlest, fondest of the tabby race;
Before him frisking through the garden glade,
Or at his feet in quiet slumber laid;
Praised for my glossy back of zebra streak,
And wreaths of jet encircling round my neck;
Soft paws that ne’er extend the clawing nail,
The snowy whisker and the sinuous tail;
Now feeble age each glazing eyeball dims,
And pain has stiffened these once supple limbs;
Fate of eight lives the forfeit gasp obtains,
And e’en the ninth creeps languid through my veins.
Much sure of good the future has in store,
When on my master’s hearth I bask no more,
In those blest climes, where fishes oft forsake
The winding river and the glassy lake;
There, as our silent-footed race behold
The crimson spots and fins of lucid gold,
Venturing without the shielding waves to play,
They gasp on shelving banks, our easy prey:
While birds unwinged hop careless o’er the ground,
And the plump mouse incessant trots around,
Near wells of cream that mortals never skim,
Warm marum creeping round their shallow brim;
Where green valerian tufts, luxuriant spread,
Cleanse the sleek hide and form the fragrant bed.
Yet, stern dispenser of the final blow,
Before thou lay’st an aged grimalkin low,
Bend to her last request a gracious ear,
Some days, some few short days, to linger here;
So to the guardian of his tabby’s weal
Shall softest purrs these tender truths reveal:
‘Ne’er shall thy now expiring puss forget
To thy kind care her long-enduring debt,
Nor shall the joys that painless realms decree
Efface the comforts once bestowed by thee;
To countless mice thy chicken-bones preferred,
Thy toast to golden fish and wingless bird;
O’er marum borders and valerian bed
Thy Selima shall bend her moping head,
Sigh that no more she climbs, with grateful glee,
Thy downy sofa and thy cradling knee;
Nay, e’en at founts of cream shall sullen swear,
Since thou, her more loved master, art not there.’
Anna Seward (1742-1809)
I am sorry for your loss, 9 years ago I lost my big gray and white Tuxedo cat to cancer. That same day I adopted a skinny mixed breed red tabby male. He is the most loyal cat I have ever had, we get so attached to our pets. We all have different ways of coping, may you find your best way…
I’m sorry for your loss. I am of the belief pets do go to heaven. Call me anything you like, I’m not going to change my mind.
Jim, my sincere condolences on your families loss. It looks as if he has a nice resting place. I hope having him near adds extra peace to your time spent in the garden.
Sorry for you loss, JQ. My wife is positive that the souls of pets go to heaven too. May you meet again some day… not too soon though.
Four Feet in Heaven
Your favorite chair is vacant now…
No eager purrs to greet me.
No softly padded paws to run
Ecstatically to meet me.
No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
Will say it’s time for feeding.
I’ve put away your bowl, and all
The things you won’t be needing;
But I will miss you little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought me,
The comfort and the pleasure.
And since God put you here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow;
I’m sure there’ll be a place for you
In Heaven’s bright tomorrow…
Alice E. Chase
Jim, so sorry for your loss. I didn’t have animals for almost 30 years, so might not have understood your loss, except that last year, a feral cat transported her litter into my pole barn, so I took the litter in so there wouldn’t be 5 more feral cats around. Four are tuxedos and one appears to be part maine coon with the “M” on the forehead. They’ve gotten lot’s of attention and have all turned out to be wonderful cats. No doubt an attachment develops. They go in and out as they want and play in the trees around the yard… except after 7:00pm…. then they go out on the porch roof til bedtime.
My condolences, it’s tough when they go. Looks like Claude and Smokey are great cats in a cat-friendly home.
Love them while they’re here; miss them when they’re gone.
I am sorry for you. Claude was obviously a good kitty, and he clearly had a wonderful home. Thanks for being such a good owner to him. Give Smokey a scratch and some extra love, ’cause he’ll be hurting too.
Know the feeling. Our last cat of 11 years passed on 25 years ago. Never replaced. Born deaf. Found laid out on her heating pad. Buried in the backyard. Got a pleasant reminder when the white cat in the restaurant meme went around as it looked like a clone of her. Just another pothole in the road of life.
“If you would know [the character of] a man, observe how he treats a cat.”
~Robert Heinlein~
No doubt, Claude the Cat had good friends who cared for him. Who could ask for more?
We lost my last of three cats on April Fool’s Day this year. The King of the Rascals was with me 15 years and I will miss him rudely walking on me, eating my food, and snoozing on me. Mr. Poo was a long haired mix, part Nebelung gray with a very good temperament.
While he was here he was king. His loyal servants sorely miss him. 🙂 I didn’t have him or the others buried. I refuse to leave them behind in the earth when I sell the place. Their ashes sit near me, close to where I sleep.
Very sorry about Quinn it is hard when they go over the rainbow bridge. God bless
Condolences.