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Sophie
Please join me in showing respects and remembering Sophie, our sadly departed Star Kit for today. She was 4 months old from Memphis, Tennessee.
I don’t typically write about my emotions when something horrible happens, but yesterday, I lost my baby kitten, Sophie and I don’t know how to cope so I thought telling her story may help. About two months ago, I started a new job and one of my coworkers found a stray cat who immediately started having kittens the day they found her. My coworker said the kittens were already two months old and free to a good home, so I ran home to ask my mom if we could consider adopting one. We have a two year old cat named Phoenix, who stole our hearts and we thought giving him a companion would be great for our family. After thoroughly considering it, we decided to adopt a kitten. My coworker sent me a picture of the runt, a little girl kitten, and I just had an instant connection with that picture, knowing she was going to be our newest addition to the family. I was so excited. We decided to take her for a few days and test out how the new little girl, who we named Sophie interacted with our older cat, Phoenix. We ended up never returning her. She was instantaneously part of our family and we were enthusiastic about having a little girl kitten.
She was very vocal, always meowing about something. She was a licker too. We slept together every night and she would always wake me up by licking my face. Yesterday, Sophie was scheduled to be fixed and so me and my mom woke up early and took her to the vet. We took two separate cars and Sophie always meowed during car rides and I kept telling her she’d be okay, that it was just a tiny surgery. I knew she couldn’t understand me but I hoped that my voice provided her comfort. After we arrived at the vets office, they took her back immediately. I didn’t get to pet her goodbye but I was okay because I knew I would see her the next day. After dropping her off, I came back home and me and my cat, Phoenix, took a nap together where I had a nightmare of my cats being taken away from me. Now I don’t know if it was foreshadowing or God talking to me, but when I woke up, my mom came home 30 minutes later in tears, saying that my baby kitten was dead. The vet said that the surgery went well but when they went to wake her up, her heart stopped. Now, I understand that I only had my little princess for two months but that girl had me wrapped around her little paw. She was loved by many, and best friends with Phoenix. She will be so missed and I honestly can’t comprehend the shock of her being a happy and healthy kitten yesterday morning to me mourning her today. I’m a 19 year old college student and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to carry on, knowing that my little girl won’t be able to have the future I hoped with me.
Author: Tom “The Kittenmaster” Cooper
Tom is the owner of 4 amazing cats, and using the Daily Kitten he provides a place for cat and kitten lovers to share the love for their own cats and kittens.
POUNCE!
Oh, I am so sorry about losing Sophie. Know that while you had her, she was loved and happy. Many of us, especially those who foster tiny kittens, will inexplicably lose one or more, sometimes never knowing why. It seems there can be issues they have that no one has identified, like Sophie having a heart problem. Our sweet babies are fragile.
Prayers being sent your way. Such a loss will leave a tiny hole in your heart. When you are old, your heart will look like fine lace, due to the love and losses you have experienced.
So very well said, Bobosmom.
You have already started to heal by sharing this story. My hubs made a ‘Memory Scrap Book’ of our cat Hootie who went suddenly to the bridge. That helped him immensely. You probably don’t want to think of another one right now but after about two weeks, we went to the humane society and saved another little one. Sammy is still with us today. God Bless.
Your story brought tears to my eyes. My rescue kitten made life bearable through graduate school and he was my baby for over 1/3 of my life. His loss devastated me. I have found new loves, but it took me years to get over that one. Today I rescue kittens and currently have 4 that are ready for that surgery. It worries me too cause I love those little buggers and I want them to have good homes. My first two kittens were bottle babies about 10 days old and after raising them I could not part ways. That little girl is now about 18 months old and cuddled the heck out of me last night. Don’t be in a hurry to get another kitten but be aware that there are so many babies that need the love you have to give and many of them will be killed in the shelter simply because they are kittens. Also, nothing heals a gaping wound better than giving love to someone who needs it. You saved Sophie, and she knew love for all of her short life and she will never forget you. In her honor you need to save yet another kitten….when you are ready.
I am so sorry that you lost dear Sophie. Her spirit will always be with you. She loved you too; know that in your heart. My thoughts are with you.
Heavenly Star-kit Sophie is in the Meadow by the Rainbow Bridge…’til you meet again when heaven meets earth.
So very sorry for your loss of lovely Sophie. Words on my part will not take away your intense grief, but know that your kitty knew only love in her all-too-brief life. None of this tragedy could have been predicted and life can be damn unfair. Only you will know when/if you want to adopt another kitty companion for Phoenix, a kit that will never replace Sophie, but one that you will be saving. For now Sophie plays at the Rainbow Bridge. If it helps you please come to TDK to get out all your sorrow, be it in the Café or feel free to start your own post. Here we absolutely understand. Blessings.
http://www.petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm
We have all been there and feel so sorry for your loss. She had a wonderful short life, and was loved dearly when she died. No one can ask more than that, of you, or for themselves or their cats. She’ll always be there, but eventually it will hurt a little less. We actually have room for many, many cats in our lives, in our minds. No one has to go away, no one is ‘replaced’; there will be room for another friend for Phoenix. Meanwhile you keep putting one foot in front of the other…and you will get there.
Life can be a very fragile thing for two and four-leggeds alike. Enjoy everyone in your life as you never necessarily know when they will return to the Light (God). Letting them go can be very traumatic I know. Yet know Sophie would want you to go on with your life, as hard as that may be for a while, as she knows she will always be in your heart. And indeed when the time is right go to one of your nearby shelters and find another companion for Phoenix as well as for yourself. I had to put down one of my fur kids a year ago who wasn’t all that old either and it was devastating. It helped me to look at other cats/kittens at petfinder.com which is a compendium of all the available cats, kittens, dogs, birds, etc. that are available at shelters in any given part of the country. A month later I found the perfect Siamese boy kitten and his sister who just turned one year of age on Sep 1. I wanted a boy to replace the one I had lost yet couldn’t bear the thought of tearing the bro/sis kitten duo apart so they both came home with me and are a wonderful part of our life. Bless you for loving Sophie as you do and take care!
I’m so sorry to read about your baby Sophie. You may have only lived with her for 2 months, but we would all agree that as little as 2 minutes is often all it takes for our cats to make an imprint on our hearts.
I lost 2 of my cats in the space of 9 months – Gandalf, who was 7 (and who, like Sophie, didn’t recover after surgery), and my sweet Mae, who was 16. Sometimes when I’m lying in bed, I’ll feel someone leap on to my bed, walk a bit and make themselves comfortable next to my leg. I’ll look over, and see that’s it’s neither of my 2 boys. I know it’s probably Gandalf, just making sure I’m ok (he was always my “protector”, especially when we’d watch the Walking Dead together!).
They never leave you, and will always love you, even in spirit. Smile, and remember the happy little Sophie, and how much she loved you.
Brigitte, Atticus and Malcolm in Toronto
I am so sorry for your loss of beautiful Sophie. You connected quickly and she will forever have a wee corner of your heart. You showed her so much love while she was with you and gave her a wonderful life.
Sophie will be waiting for you over the Rainbow Bridge.
I’m very sorry for your loss. I know how it hurts to lose a pet.
What a pretty girl sweet Sophie was. Godspeed sweet girl.
Everyone here has expressed the sorrow that we all feel for your loss. We are here for you if you need to talk or vent. Sophie had a brief but loving life. I have been loved by so many cats over my lifetime that I would have to have a piece of paper to list them all. I have 9 cats right now. They are all unique. I have lost some to old age. I have had some ripped away suddenly and not know why. There is always a void in your heart for each and every one of them. Please don’t blame yourself for this. You didn’t know such a simple procedure would end this way. Live with the delight in knowing that Sophie loved you very much. In her brief life she was able to touch your heart and give you so much more than just being a pet. Just remember that you will see her again over Rainbow Bridge. I know I will need unlimited time when I get there. I have way too many babies I need to love on again. Sending prayers to you.
I can’t express any better than those who have posted before me. I feel you loss and pain-we all do-as we have loved and lost our best friends too. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and Sophie.
I’m sorry about what happened to Sophie. She knew what it was liked to be loved thanks to you and she loved you back with all she had. I hope you’ll feel better and that sharing your story helped.
I am going to play devil’s advocate here which some might find distasteful, but in this case for Sophie, I would ask you if you are well acquainted and trusting of your vet and if you or your mom actually went back to the office to see for yourself what had happened to her. Secondly, if I were you, I would consider filing a report/complaint with the Veterinary Dept. of the Tennessee Board of Health.
http://tn.gov/health/article/vet-about
I’m so very sorry. Sophie was a very pretty kitten – she wore those classic tabby markings extraordinarily well. It is clear that you loved each other very much and Sophie made a place for herself in your heart.
The human heart is fragile but big, and in time perhaps it will be ready for another friend. There are no replacements, ever, but from tragedy can come a new generation.
Sups cute
I share your pain, having just lost my big Maine Coon, Jeb, and my dear old black stray, Sam Grant.
You are an excellent writer and I suspect you will go far. Along the way you will find more sweet companions.
I am so sorry that you lost your precious Sophie. Placing a cat under anesthesia always carries risks. Some cats just don’t respond well to anesthesia and can be lost even when they are healthy and the operation goes well. Most of the time, though, the benefit from the operation outweighs the risk from the anesthesia. This is certainly the case when having a cat altered.
My sweet little Solange has already greeted Sophie at the Rainbow Bridge, and they will be great friends, playing together until we come for them.
I’m very sorry Sophie didn’t make it. Just remember that, when you think you are ready, there are a lot of wonderful kittens and cats that would love to love you and Phoenix and fill in some of the void that was left in Sophie’s wake.