Just lost my elderly dog, thinking my elderly cat is declining (animals, remove)

[Tylerrose]

I have a housecat, she was born on July 10th, 2002.

In very early 2005, my then elementary school aged son found a Border Collie/ Heeler mix.
She was a rescue, fully grown but I was told that she was possibly born January 2005.

Cat always seemed to be extremely healthy. Suffered kidney issues as most cats do once
in a blue moon. My dog was very elderly, her eyesight did not seem too good and her
teeth were broken and sticking out of her mouth strangely. Despite her obvious pain,
she absolutely loved going on long daily walks with me.

Day before yesterday, I had to run to the store. I petted and looked at my dog, asking
her if she wanted to get in the car with me. She really did not like the car, so I decided
unfortunately to just go as it was getting late. Apparently, unfortunately for some strange
reason, she decided to follow me out to the highway. I had no idea. I found her body
in the morning, she was hit by a car. Animal control came out and removed her for me,
that was a task that I was unprepared for so I just stood out in the lanes to keep cars
away from the animal control officer. I feel awful.

Now my cat is becoming very lethargic. She is sleeping all the time, but still eating, drinking
and eliminating. She cries when she thinks she is alone. I work from home, so I get to
stay close by her. I decided to keep her comfortable at home, she does not appear to be
in such grave pain that it would be enough for me to take her into the vet. Of course, I
would if that was the case. In the meantime, she is sticking close as she always has been
my baby.

I will turn 58 this summer, and my son will turn 26. He told me yesterday that he had no
idea the cat would outlive all our previous pets. I just wanted to post this, maybe I will
look back on it one day. I just see it as a major event in my life, the same as any loss of
any family or loved one. On one hand, I am ready to get my home back. No more litter
boxes or pet smells hitting you when you walk in the front door. It just hurts to see anyone
that you love and care for suffer or slowly shut down.

Meanwhile, I am done with pets for now. Maybe another rescue or two someday. Just not
now. I lost a beloved Golden Retriever who was 14 to a chest tumor a few years ago. I
cried for 3 days straight. She returned in spirit the 4th morning of her passing. She was
perfectly healthy, and she had a fuzzy pink bubble on her chest where the tumor had been.
I think that pink fuzzy bubble was her spirit's way of showing me she now understood what
happened to her.

It looks like the ending of an era in my life. I am no longer the mother of a child, with 3
rambunctious animals for pets. I am mother of a wonderful adult son, and some day I
will be greeted by the biggest homecoming ever when I get to see all my pets again in
heaven.

[Naturen]

My heart goes out to you. Losing a loved pet is torturous! I've lost 2 cats that were companions for 18-1/2 and 21 years - months and a couple of years later, I am still grieving. Give yourself some time and when you are ready and your heart is open, adopt.