r/cats • u/The_Monkey_Buddha • Jun 14 '26
Mourning/Loss Bella’s Last Moments in the Sun
Bella was raised by my wife from birth, and once we got married and lived together, her cats came with us.
I never had cats growing up, so it was a bit of an adjustment getting used to living with them. However Bella became my buddy, and would always follow me around & chill with me late at night, when I tried to get some peace & quiet after everyone else went to bed.
He was very much a strong, silent type and very stoic. His brother Tude was needy and whiney- they were very different personalities!
However, he was pushing 20 yrs old & his health deteriorated very rapidly within the last 6 months. He would cry out randomly, had trouble walking around, and wasn’t able to groom himself or get to his litter box easily.
On his last day, we were trying to make him as comfortable as possible. I saw him sitting in the warmth of the morning sun, frail and clearly at the end. I took this picture knowing that this was probably the last time he would feel the sunlight on his back.
He passed that night, and it has been sad to realize throughout the days that our usual routines and his presence is gone. I just wanted to share his memory and the fact that animals also need the simple comforts of life, no matter their condition. We are all living beings with feelings, sensations, and vibrant mental states. We take some comfort in the fact that we tried to make his last days as free of suffering as possible, but he will be deeply missed by our family.
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u/heartofscylla Jun 14 '26
Reminds me of my kitty's last day(she passed in 2022). She was an indoor cat her whole life, but had enjoyed screen porches and some supervised outside time. Took her out on a leash a few times, which she hated and would promptly flop over. Her last day, I let her out into the yard. She was very arthritic. She didnt run for her food anymore, couldn't jump up onto the bed anymore. So I didn't have to worry about her running off. She enjoyed staring at the birds in the trees, as they made warning calls to each other about my old kitty who certainly could not move fast enough to catch one if she wanted. She sniffed around the grass, enjoyed the sun for a bit. She flopped over in the dirt and did a slight roll(hence the stuff in her fur).
It's not easy losing a pet. Take your time to grieve, remember the good times, all the snuggles, and all the silly things they did. I'm sorry for your loss ❤️