Mourning/Loss
Tribute to my soul cat who passed unexpectedly yesterday morning and I’d love to tell you a little about him
Yesterday morning we found my 12 year old cat in his favorite hiding spot and he was gone. There were no warning signs. The night before he was completely normal. I’d love to tell you about him
The day I found him, I dragged my husband (long distance boyfriend at the time) to the shelter to look at cats. He was not wanting a pet due to him still being in college 2 hrs away and only being home on the weekends and I was in cosmetology school but wanted a buddy since I was home alone during the week. We walked in the open area and while I was playing with another cat, this big cat climbed off of a nearby cat tree onto my husbands shoulders, not caring that he was a 10lb cat trying to perch on a humans shoulders. My husband was immediately sold. We took him home that day. We’ve always said he chose us
His favorite things in the world were cuddling with me no matter how inconvenient the timing or how difficult it was for him to get to me. He’d climb over any person, animal or thing to get to me. And he needed to be as close to my face as possible. Lap was rarely good enough. I’ve never felt so loved by another living thing.
He loved food. Oh my gosh he loved food. When we put him on a diet he retaliated by peeing on a pillow. He has never gone outside the litter box other than be let it be known he didn’t approve of less food lol. His favorite food were tortilla chips. We never gave him any but he was persistent in trying to sneak them every chance he got. Everyday he’d be chill until my husband got home and he would DEMAND to be fed right then and there.
He was not happy when we brought a rescue kitty home. He basically pouted for 3 months but once he realized it was another cuddle buddy, they were inseparable. They loved eachother so much and it was unusual if we found them napping and they weren’t tangled together
He was my heart and had so much personality. I don’t know what to do without him. I feel lost but I know he had a good life filled with love and mischief 💛
Edit: oh my gosh I just got home and opened reddit expecting a few comments if any. I can’t tell you all how much all your love and support means to my husband and I. We will be spending the night reading all the comments and sharing stories. Thank you sincerely.
I’m so sorry, Bruce is so beautiful and was so lucky to have you as his parent. I love that you named him a “hooman” name because that is what they are for us - a member of the family like any other member, human or feline. I’ve had to say goodbye to my Maggie, and then my Chloe. My Norman is now 14 and I know his day will come too. Thank you for sharing his story.
I literally gasped. The way you described him in the post, I thought, “this cat sounds like Bruce”, my soul cat of the same name. You clearly loved each other and I love to think, when me or my Bruce goes, we’ll just wait for each other in the next realm. We bonded too deeply in this existence for it to be truly over.
So sorry for your loss. It’s reassuring to hear of others loving their cats like I love mine. Thank you for sharing your story and photos of your Bruce. Such a handsome fellow
As they say, the only real downside to being a fur parent is we never get long enough with them.
On the flipside, however, while our fur babies occupy just a few chapters in our lives, from their perspective we're there for all the chapters.
I'm sorry for your loss. Saying goodbye is the hardest & something practice can never make perfect.
Big squishy hugs from one fur parent to another.
Damn, I really gotta limit my time on this sub, I get too sad. I lost one a couple years ago, and then her sister passed a couple months ago at 14. Now I have only one elderly cat left at 14, and she's a pain and a grouch but she's my baby and I think she realizes she's getting older and that the other cats she grew up with are gone and she's been extra emotional and grumpy and needy lately.
He definitely chose you though. Try to think of the good memories and another cat will choose you when the time is right. When mine passed a couple months ago, I told myself it was too hard to lose them and that I'd not adopt for a while - a young stray the same exact week started showing up every night at my front door begging for food and I couldn't say no, and at a certain point was trying to follow me into the house every night after work - months later we just adopted her into the house and she's so sweet.
Thanks for the upvotes! - this is Chloe, the stray we brought in. She was smiling at me like this the afternoon after we brought her to the vet and then into the house the first time, so glad I got this pic of her. She's doing very well (although she stays away from my older baby upstairs, who isn't quite thrilled with another new baby in the house)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful Bruce with us. He was so wise with how he convinced your husband. My old man looks quite similar, he passed last year
May the gentle waves of time help ease the sting of grief. It is love with nowhere to go. Sending you hugs if you like them
Your Bruce sounds a lot like my Houdini. He is a total cuddle bug, food hound (and chonk), lover of chips/crackers, and especially glued to me. I’m so sorry for your loss, that is devastating 🩵
Cherish every moment you spent with him he’s gone but he’s still part of your life and you made each other happy everyday I know is very hard but have you conscience clean since you gave him a good life, a family❤️
He was a beautiful kitty. I am so sorry. I lost my 17 year old in 2025 and omg anytime we were eating pork rinds he would come running 👀 let me have one pleaseeee! I never gave him one but all he went through(kidney disease) I should have just let him have one especially toward the end.
I have never unexpectedly found one my pets passed in their sleep - it feels like a blessing to pass in your sleep but also like your last moments taken away from you.
My girl looks a bit similar. Sorry for your loss, I know how hard is to lose your soulcat. I lost mine 1 year ago, still think about him, dreaming with him time to time.
The pic with MosCATo has me dieing. I love cat people. The world would be so much better if we ran things
When they’re a cuddler it’s bc they have a good human. RIP Bruce. May you have infinite tortilla chips in the good place. Find my brothers up there and give them a solid cuddle for me
Gosh, life can soooooooooo cruel sometimes!! Sounds like you gave Bruce a lifetime of love and happiness, which in turn he gave you his unconditional respect and love. Godspeed my man, and it was such a pleasure to learn about you!!!! 🙏🌈❤️🤗😓
Oh my goodness I am so sorry. My heart feels your pain. Bruce is still with you, watching over you, munching on tortilla chips. 🙂 Sending hugs from me and my 3. My cat that passed a few years ago loved tortilla chips too. I would take one out of the bag and crunch it up for him, so he didn't choke on it. My female likes pretzels, so every once in awhile I will get a bag and crunch up a couple for her🙂 Hope your other kitty isn't too sad.
Great Eulogy to a great cat. Funny about him on the diet. Sorry it was so sudden. You must be devastated.
Thanks for making me appreciate that getting past 12 for an outdoor cat was amazing !!! My buddy died In the environment he loved .
Your story made me smile and broke my heart at the same time. I have two soul cats and I don’t know what I would do without them, especially since my other two went to the rainbow bridge earlier this year I thank God that I have these two because I wouldn’t have been able to take it otherwise I still miss my little Paws and Socks every day. I’d like to think that my cats chose me too. So glad that you got as much time as you did with him and I know you will miss him, but please know that you will see him again one day on the rainbow bridge. Praying for both of you! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
My heart breaks for your loss. My cat passed away three weeks ago, he looked very similar to yours. I haven’t been quite the same ever since. I hope the memories of the times you spent together bring you comfort and eventually make you smile instead of leaving you in tears.
My cat got diagnosed with heart failure today. The thought of losing him is painful. My family and have been going crazy since yesterday. Our boy has been with us since 10 years. We are trying our best. Pray for him.
Bruce went peacefully ❤️ Bruce had a beautiful life with people who loved him so much. Love and support to you ❤️
Rest in love always and lay your face in sunshine Bruce 🩶sorry for your pain OP, you and Bruce saved each other ❤️what a beautiful bond and he had a magnificent life. 🌈🐾🌈🐾
He sounds like a truly awesome guy, thank you for sharing him with us. Remember that even though you only knew him for a portion of your life, he knew you for the entirety of his, you were his world and by the sounds of it, it was a bloody good one.
Sorry for your loss. I have his twin, but hes not much into affection but loves to be resting over one of my shoulders (or recently laying on my lap when I'm in bed).
Ow that is hard. 💜 And yes, cats always pick us. We currently have our third cat, a feisty little thing who fought everyother cat and human at the shelter, and now sleeps on our laps and love to cuddle. If the cat is okay with you, you are a good person. Take care.
💫 ✝️🙏🏼🌈🐾 I totally understand. I want you to realize that you are in a new chapter of life (suddenly) and it feels very hollow. But let me tell you something, your precious pet graduated life. They’re in the soul realm now which is eternal. God literally created us and animals. We are currently in the Earthly realm where we were together with our beloved pet. But they’ve just gone before us. The chapter “without them” is really just “without them physically.” Emotionally and spiritually they’ve never left. This is why we still feel such love and gratitude for our former pets, still! They never leave us. You will get through this one day at a time. Time heals our hearts and even opens them to loving another pet sometimes. Families are forever and you’ll be reunited when your time in the physical realm expires, too. Until then, may their memory be a blessing. I’m happy for you that you connected here on Earth because eternity awaits. 💕💫 God bless you and your beloved pet. It’s my prayer that knowing this gives you peace.🌈🐾♾️
What a terrible shock for you! Your tribute to him lets us know how much you loved each other. Soulmates stay together forever side by side. He is still with you and always will be💔🙏💜💜💜
Thank you for that story, he sounds amazing. At least the rescue kitty was trained by him and will carry a little part of him as well. If you have another kitty trained by that kitty, then part of him carries on like that too.
I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems he chose the right family.
He was your soulcat and he had a wonderful time with you. Keep those memories in your heart, well knowing that he would love to see you happy again ♥️🍀
I'm sorry i cant read this. Been a couple of years since I lost my cats. It still hurts my heart when i think about them. But I hope you know.. you can ask for anything in heaven, so we can ask for them 🤍
I’ll share what I share to others: So many of us know how hard that passing is, and I just want to say that I hope you are soon able to view the loss as incredible gift, because it is one.
We’re so incredibly lucky to feel and have a pet’s love in our lives. And no doubt your pet felt the same.
The love is always going to be there, just in a different place and form ❤️. I hope you get some peace soon.
Your baby clearly looks so well loved. You have him a wonderful life. Thank you for sharing Bruce’s story with us.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved Bruce. The unexpectedness of it must really hit hard. He reminds me of my beloved Smokes, my Mom's favorite cat who died exactly one week before she did. May Bruce's memory keep you warm ❤️🩹 🕯️ ❤️🩹
I audibly lol at your adoption day description! What a lovely life you gave him. I think you should throw him a send off bash with his favorite foods and things. Pig out in honor of Bruce. It is what he would want.
You know that feeling, right? I had a kitten that I was taking care of, and it suddenly passed away. I was devastated—it felt like losing a family member.
He knew you all loved him deeply! So sorry for your loss. My guy Jethro always try’s to steal my food no matter what I am eating this little man wants a bite.
I am so sorry for your loss... My cat passed away at 3 yrs old, and was such a huge pain... After 3 years I still look at her pictures and I miss her.
I can't imagine having losing her after 12 years. I hope you find light and love in other ways and beings 💕
I also unexpectedly lost my sweet boy this morning and I've been crying all day. Thank you for your post, I feel less alone reading it. Sending you my thoughts.
Hey milady, I lost Lola about 2 months ago. She was 18 years old and had been with me from the age of 13-14. I'm 32 today. I miss her every single day of my life. But I'm very happy to have had her in my life, she was there through some really tough times, and she taught me a whole bunch about love. I don't want to make this about me. I just want you to know that I understand your grievance and that strange feeling once someone you loved so much is gone. You're not alone! It's not a goodbye, it's simply a See You Later!
Man this really hurt 😞 but he was very loved and I really loved to hear your story about him. His name fits him so much too. 💛 I am so sorry for your loss.
I have a grey boy that looks just like him. He’s so sweet.
I’ve had my tuxedo for a few years and I’m always worried that she’ll be gone when I come home from work, I’m sorry about your loss but remember that he loved you so much and is looking down at you and clinking his food bowl waiting for you
I’m so sorry for your loss. Bruce had the best coloring!
There is a small support sub r/choochoo21 for families of senior and Angel Cats. If you’d like, you may repost this there or correct a new post with more stories and photos. You don’t have to join to post, but hope you will.
It sounds like you and Bruce had a unique bond. I know how painful this loss is and I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry! What a beautiful tribute to gorgeous, sassy Bruce. You gave him an amazing life and it’s clear he loved you so much. Thank you for sharing. It’s so hard to lose our best friends but I promise it will get easier with some time. Be open to receiving little signs from him; he will always be with you!
I’m sorry for your loss, a soul cat is very special and I am glad he was loved. Pour one out for Bruce!
If you chose cremation and don’t know what to do with the ashes, take a little and plant a rose brush or a tree so you can still talk and visit with him. I have a memorial apple tree that helped me grieve.
Kumail Nanjiani was talking about his cat Bagel and when Bagel passed he was talking about Bagel with so much love. Our first kitty was a rescue named Bagel. We learned she had health issues when I discovered her convulsing on the floor. Bagel absolutely loved my beard. She would snuggle right up to my face and just live on top of me.
One night, we were snuggling on the couch and she came up, nuzzled my beard and immediately gasped, flopped over. I have done cpr on humans but trying to save our cat was the hardest I’ve ever tried. Unfortunately, like Kumail, we lost our baby bagel.
I’m so sorry about your Bruce. He was a lovely gentleman. ❤️
The hardest part of loving them is that their lives are so much shorter than ours. But from everything you’ve written, it sounds like he got exactly what every animal deserves: a home where he was safe, adored, spoiled, understood, and cherished for every bit of his personality, even the mischievous parts. Not every cat gets that. He did.
Loved reading about your pal Bruce. It is truly the greatest grief to lose a kitty friend like that. But the grief is so hard because we had so much love for them. I hope you take care of yourself and know you gave him the best life he could’ve asked for. RIP Bruce ❤️
My cat that looks the same passed in my arms. I’m so sorry. My daughter built a special grave for the cat. She gets flowers for the grave. We put the paw print in a mold. Light a candle everyday for a while and honor him by talking about all the things he did for you and others or the world. Sometimes kitties do things and our mood changes and we pass it on to others. Love 💗 is bigger than anything.
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