"Charlie" Topic

It is with deepest regrets that I announce that Charlie passed away at 1605 on 26/01/2016.

We had owned Charlie since she was a 6 month old kitten adopted from a rescue centre. After her adoption, we had an interesting 24 hours whilst she settled in with our existing cat Max. I'll never forget that on second day in the house she jumped on my lap while I was sat having dinner and she nonchalantly reached up and grabbed and ran off with the steak on my plate. With that, our friendship was sealed and she became my feline friend for the last 17 and half years.

We'll never know what happened during her first 6 months of life, but she never really developed the ability to play and was initially a nervous cat and remained nervous of small children throughout her life. Although she enjoyed sitting on the kitchen back step, she never ventured far.

Charlie was very much my cat and would frequently be at my side. In later life, she would settle down for the evening on a cushion next to me on the sofa. When I went to bed at night, she would always jump up on the bed after I got under the covers. It seemed to me, that before she fell asleep herself, her final duty would be to check that I'd washed my face and especially my ears. Any spots I'd missed, she always washed clean. She'd stay on the bed for as long as possible until I rolled over or moved my legs.

Another of our moments would come with her being brushed. She used to get so happy at being brushed that she start to dribble! Coming home from work, you could always tell that she had been sleeping on my side of the bed and in her later years she seemed put out that I slept there!

Her first bout of illness came in 2008 when she was eventually diagnosed as being gluten intolerant. This made food shopping for challenging! She never really gained a taste for wet cat food always preferring dry food and was always a fussy eater.

In 2012 (2 days after our ginger cat Clive had died aged 10), Charlie was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Although there, it never seemed to trouble her and she continued to enjoy life.

Sadly, old age eventually caught up with her. Like all older cats, she slowed down in later life, spending most of her day asleep on the bed.

Two weeks ago she developed a cough that sounded like hiccups. A visit to the vet revealed nothing and it was assumed it was of those things as the cough cleared up. However, last week she went off her food, barely eating a couple of mouthfuls before wondering off and unusually spending a lot time under our bed. On Monday, she was barely moving and she was rushed to the vet. The vet initially diagnosed her as being dehydrated, however, a subsequent X-Ray revealed fluid around her lungs. This was successfully drained, but upon picking her up at the vet, we were informed that she had weeks to live and we were to bring her back the following day for a heart scan. Unfortunately, the scan revealed her heart was starting to fail and blood test revealed her kidneys were shutting down. The last straw was that she no longer responded to the medication in her drip.

There was simply no other choice and the decision was taken to put her to sleep. My friend of 17 years passed away.

Charlie is now buried in the garden, next to Clive, under our Cherry Tree. Max our eldest cat, has now outlived all his housemates.

Charlie Cat 1999 – 2016.

Lovely cat. My condolences to you and yours on the loss of your companion.

Sorry for your loss. Hard to lose a friend, human or not. Here's to Charlie.
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Tim

Sorry for your loss.

My sympathies.

17 years is a damn good run. Sincere condolences on your loss.

RIP, Charlie. Good cat!

Goodbye Charlie, you had a good and long life!

Sorry for your loss. Cats are such wonderful companions even when they are driving us bonkers. Charlies sounds like he was an exceptional feline.

A loss of a family member is always tough. Great looking cat. May Charlie rest in peace.

My sympathies. I'm one to whom our rescues become a part of the family.

Know that Charlie is being shown all of the best kitty places by Brandy, Suds and Patches, and he's waiting for you, no longer scared across the rainbow bridge for when you come home.

JJ

Yes, a damn good run indeed.

It rips all of us animal lovers when our four legged relatives pass away.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and thoughts.

Apparently 17 cat years is the equivalent of 125 human years, so she certainly had a good run.

"She has been – and always shall be – my friend"

So sorry to hear of your lose.

I am sorry to hear of your loss, you have my sincere condolences. We had to put out Breagha to sleep last week.

When it is your time she will be at the door waiting to wash you face and drool when you brush her again.

Terry

My condolences as well. Our pets become our friends and our family. She was a beautiful cat.

My sympathies as well!

Beautiful little cat, sorry for your loss.

Cheers Roger

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your cat and friend. It is always hard.

What a lovely cat – so sorry you've lost her.

Deepest sympathy and prayers for you and for Charlie…

I read your story. I wouldn't have done a year ago. But Buster wormed his way into my heart, damn him. He's gone now too.

Sorry that it hurts….

Buster

Sorry about your cat.

Sorry for your loss … always tough when you lose one

Thanks all your thoughts, prayers and kind comments. I think the hardest part has been how quick all this happened. This time last week, Charlie was doing all the things she normally did. Had there been some outward sign that all was not well, we could have at least planned for it.

Anyway, thank you again all for your sympathy, TMP is full of great people.

My condolences on your loss. Seventeen years is a good long life for a cat BUT it is still too short. If it is of any any comfort, Charlie is in very good company up in Heaven.
Very good company indeed.

Sorry for your loss. 17 is a long full life and I am sure you made it even richer and fuller for her. They too are family members. She was a beautiful lady. I well know that she will be missed by you and your family.

Until you cross Rainbow Bridge and join each other again.

my sympathies and prayers.

Sam

Same here. I still think of,and miss, Marilyn(a.k.a. Melon),me and the wife's cat who passed a few years back. A little fuzzy sweetheart. Rest easy,Charlie.