Douglas

[Larkinis44]

Ok , well this is probably the most difficult mail Ive ever sent and I hope I will never have to repeat anything like this again.

Just over a year ago myself and my daughter decided after six months of loosing our previouse cat of 16 yrs to peritonitis, I would home two kittens.

I should add that my daughter is for the most part at university and I work alternating shifts, so the plan was to intergrate the two into the home so that by the time my daughter returned to uni for her 2nd year, the cats would be used to being not so much on their own except when I was at work . this actually worked well, the Kittens were happy playing and amusing each other, and after they had all their vacinations they had free run of the garden and the house of course, coming and going as they pleased.

They were brother and sister, so naturally had known each other from their mothers womb.
Doug was super affectionate, Pris, strangely not so ?, but a lovely natured little cat all the same.

It seem's strange to think of the hours I would spend watching them chase each other up and down the garden and into the house and out again, strange, becouse I never thought that it was going to end so abruptly.

It was just three weeks ago now that I had finnished my night shift's and was looking forward to being home for four days before I returned to begin my early shift's.

As I had been on nights it was not unusual for me to stay up late into the morning, At 03:00am I left Doug and Pris in the living room curled up with each other as I retired to bed.

I woke around 08:00 with Pris standing on my chest, trying in her own way to delicately wake me by inserting one of her tiny, but analyticaly sharp claws up my nostral .
But Doug was not with her ?

Not entirely unusual, but it was odd that he was'nt in the house or the garden even when I'd started rattling their food dishe's ?

As the morning went on into mid-day I felt there was something very wrong?

He had gone off on one of his jaunts as I recalled once before , but I hadnt seen him since 03:00 that morning, this was a long time now for him, he'd missed his morning meal ... Pris seemed unsettled, was I imagining thing's, was she missing him too?

Wednesday came and no sign, I was back at work on Thursday and the posters were being made on the works computer and printer. LOST !

Thursday after work I'm going around the house's of the people who's gardens all back (track for a cat) into mine.

I got a call within around twenty minuets of doing the block.

He was an older sounding gent, I was very aware that I'd given my mobile number to a bunch of complete strangers, and was a little guarded about what would happen if I did get a call from an unknown number, but this guy sounded genuine... It was difficult for him to give me the news, I could tell that much from his voice.

Then he told me he had found what he thought was my cat... and this is the hardest thing even now after three weeks to deal with, it was only half a cat, the lower half . he said he thought fox's had attacked the carcass...?

I can honestly say I feel as sick to my stomach now writing this as I did the moment I recieved this news. He was discribing my cat as a small cat and that he didn't believe he was very old. he was right of course. I didnt mention how old Douglas was or his build, the photo I had chosen was discriptive of his colouring and pattern around his face, but this guy was discribing him in other ways. It was him.

I asked him what he had done with his remains, he said he had put them in a garbage bag.
I feel terrible about this but I could'nt bring myself to go and collect his remains. numb, sick,
horrified that this could have happened to Doug .

I went home to Pris, I thought about going to get Doug's remains from this chap, I knew what house. but I could'nt. how could I bring Pris's brother home like that,and bury him wondering if she would know...

My Daughter called a couple of days later to meet up, I could'nt tell her what had happened to Doug. I told her he'd gone off. "cat's do that, I said , they go off all the time, it's in their nature". she was naturally upset, He was, as I have mentioned, a very effectionate little chap, he loved human contact, my daughter quiet rightly questioned why he would just go off ? What could I say, she was so upset to think he would leave us.

While my daughter was in the house I recieved a phone call from our local Cat rescue. I let it ring off . my daughter had left when I called them back.

First question, "have you lost a ginger cat ? and was he micro chipped or wearing a coller"?
Yes I said I have and I beleave him to be dead. the lower part of my cat was reported to me last week.
Ah, then yes this would be your cat. the voice comfirmed that the upper part of Doug had been brought in to the centre. he did not believe this to be a fox attack. Doug had been brutalized, he was hardly recognisable as a cat.

I had to ask him to stop.

As a result of this inccident I'm actually at my wits end looking after Pris. the only time I feel she is safe is when I'm with her. obviously I cannot physically do this 24/7 . So I've now resorted to locking her in the house when I go to work.

She has everything she need's, except the freedom she had known and the brother she was born with.
nothing is more saddening than watching her play on her own, eat on her own, and leaving her on her own.
I do still allow her to visit the garden, but not for long, I cant bare the idea of her going out of sight into the ajoining gardens.

I love her and care for her so very much , but also I'm so upset about all this, I did not bring two cats into mine and my daughters life for either of them to end up like this.

I'ts horrendous that this can happen to any pet. it breaks your soul.

I have struggled with the thought of letting Pris go to another home. as I say I love her very much, but this is not what I had in mind for her . she's still very much a kitten , she's only 15months old. she's used to another cat around and I think she missis this as much as I miss seeing her with another cat (her brother)

I dont know what else I can say really. just very sad. for all of us really.

[bobbys girl]

Oh my God, I am horrified! What a horrible, horrible thing to happen. And keeping it to yourself too, I don't know how you have done it. I can't say if it was the right thing or not to have not told your daughter - but I do understand your thinking behind it.

I am glad that you have shared this with us. It is an awful thing just to read, but I really believe you need to share with the folks on CC. Otherwise you would explode, I know I would!

I live in the wilds of west Fermanagh. Most of my (few) neighbours are wonderful people. But there are at least 2 trigger-happy ***'s who derive pleasure from blasting away at any small furry or feathered creature that gets in the way (in or out of season!) When they are active I always keep my brood where I can see them.

I really don't know what to advise you concerning Pris, poor girl. Although she must be missing the company of her brother, it would be an even bigger wrench to be re-homed.

Bobby really missed his Step mom, Lily, when she disappeared. He would sit in the window and cry for her. But he came around and is perhaps even closer to me now than he was before - a real mummy's boy.

Please know I am thinking of you and Pris,
with regards

Sue

[Walesgang]

What a truly shocking story - how awful for you and Pris

I don't really know what to say other than I am sure that Pris will eventually get over her loss of Doug. Rehoming her sounds like a huge step at the moment for both of you.

Is there anyway you can make your garden cat proof to keep her inside it? I have done this to mine.

RIP Doug. You were brutally taken too soon. Sorry on behalf of the human race

[SarahT1 [PLLE]]

Dearest Larkinis

Your story is so hard to read, I can only begin to imagine how terrible it is to live through. My heart goes out to you, your daughter, little Pris and darling Douglas at the Rainbow Bridge. You've all had a terrible experience and you will feel the pain for many years to come.

As Val says, I can't imagine any way whereby Pris would be better off being rehomed. She has lost her brother, she doesn't need to lose you too. The pain you feel at seeing her alone is, to be honest, largely your pain, not hers. She will cope and adapt, and she needs as much stability as you can give her. Our neighbours' little girl lost her brother many years ago, and she is a relaxed, chilled out little cat, who loves her home and her human family. Time heals for our furbabies quicker than it does for us.

As far as outside access is concerned, like Val, we have a cat proofed secure garden where our three can come and go as they please, safe from danger but with plenty of fresh air and the stimulus of different shelters, levels to sit on and birds and squirrels to watch. I know that there is a powerful school of thought from some cat owners/rescuers that freedom to roam is essential for any cat, but we have to be responsible cat parents and if it is dangerous for them to do so, we are entitled to protect them by limiting their movements within a safe environment as we would with human children.

Take care and give your little girl all the love in your heart. ((Hugs)) to you.

[Larkinis44]

Hello again.

Just a line to thank you all for your support with this.

Ive never had anything like this to deal with before and it has been very difficult to digest. So I do appreciate that it is not an easy thing to read and then reply to too.

I am hoping I can sell up and move house in the next year ? I feel this will help as I will never be able to feel that Pris will be safe in this area again, dispite this apparently being an isolated incident ?

It's a shame for many reasons, mainly that since moving into the property in 2007 I had regarded the immediate area as a little haven for cat's as there seemed to be so many traversing through the garden's, and it's pretty diffficult for them to get out onto the open road unless they actually go through another persons house, or, exit from the circle of rear gardens through what I know as only two exit/entry points where they can potentially come into contact with the passing public.

Well, that was my theorem.

Nemo, my old cat who sadly had to be put to sleep due to peritonitis early on in 2013, had a very happy life at this address, she went out when she liked, spent hours watching the fish pond, caught a couple of mice when they decided my house was great place to settle down and raise a family, she changed their mind's about that as I recall... and enjoyed the warmth of the woodburner stove in the winter.

Pris has appeared none too upset these last couple of days, as I have been leaving the house at 05:30 am.
I have let her out for a short time while I prep her food , then call her in and then it's lock down time until I come home at 18:00.

Obviously I dont know what she's upto while I'm at work ? but she always comes down the stair as I'm opening the front door, and surprise's me when I open the door to the garden, because she seem's more interested in the fact I'm actually there, and of course, she's know's she's going to get another feed.

She's not the most effectionate of cat's I've known, she could'nt have a more diverse personality from her brother , but I know I would miss her if I were to give her up and I really dont want to do that.

As regards making the garden cat escape proof, I really dont think that is a viable option for for Pris, the garden is surrounded by trees both side's of the surrounding walls and fence. It's a nice thought, but not practicle in this instance.
Pris is an accomplished tree specialist.

Kind regards

Nick (Larkinis44)

[Crewella]

What a horrific thing to happen - I'm rarely speechless, but I really don't know what to say except how sorry I am that you've had to go through this.

However terrible, it is really unusual for something like this to happen, and I'm sure Pris is much better off staying with you, as has been said.

Thinking of you, your family and little Pris. I suspect I will be for some time. ((((hugs)))

Rest in peace lovely Doug, safe now at the bridge.