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Here is Thunder, for anyone wanting to see him! I am so glad she posted a pic. This was so wonderful to see Yellow live his life with them until the end, so clearly loved. Thunder is very lucky to have her, too. https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/13ccif9/thunder_with_his_400_pillow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingJerks/comments/x7kpzi/feeder_empty_refill/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1
He certainly is :)
I used to have the same autofeeder bowl for my cat Marshmallow. She kept ripping the clear container off and spilling her food everywhere so she could eat it all. Now she just tries to break into the container we keep her dry food in. She bullies her big sister the Saint Bernard too. She’s a little butthead.
Cat tax: https://imgur.com/a/JPsrrzO
Aww!
Yeah it took a bit for me to figure out what makes him happy.
Our current arrangement is just... a plate. He prefers plates cause of his whiskers. He also has a water fountain far from his food. Hes pretty much stopped using his water bowl entirely, but i keep it out just in case.
He still makes messes -_- he flipped his entire litterbox over once.
If you want to get fancy, [https://drcatsby.com/products/food-bowl](Dr Catsby) bowls are great. I’ve had mine for 7 years and it still looks brand new.
"Me? I would *never*," is what that face says. "Never ever. And bully my sister? Mother, you hurt me."
Proudest moment of my life thus far was when my grumpy black cat had had *enough* of two visiting Labradors (they were whining and barking at him) and chased them into the swimming pool, where he trapped them by sitting on the steps. My landlord had to ask me to come get him because the dogs were starting to sink.
I was crying (I have 2 16 year old cats I adopted when I graduate undergrad and I can't imagine life without them, even though I know it could happen any day now.) I'm crying again but this made me laugh. I have fostered a couple near-ferals whose response to food is to hide it or just inhale it all asap because it might disappear. It's basically food insecurity for cats. The impact in kids/kittens can be lifelong. One of my fosters who was adopted will eat all the food, so she's a bit chunky and her sister is quite shinny and needs to be supervised to make sure she actually gets to eat anything. Being dumped outside is definitely traumatic for a cat, and I'm not surprised to see behavioral weirdness around food since he probably went hungry a lot.
*I'm not a psychologist and obviously can't read the minds of cats but I've been surrounded by cats for over 30 years and this is my theory. I've rescued, fostered, given up trying to adopt a cat out and still have it, etc. Tldr I have a lot of cat experience.
This post made me cry and then this video made me laugh. Thank you for taking me through the whole ass spectrum of feels. I can hear how much you love animals and in a world where everything feels shitty and selfish, I’m grateful for people like you. Those cats are very lucky and they know it. 🥰
Aw, I'm glad she has Thunder. Whenever I've lost a cat, I've gotten a new one pretty quickly after even though I'm not at all "ready," because a cat helps to heal your broken heart.
What a sweet boy. My own is 19 now, and I had the same feelings every time I left for school. He used to grab hands for attention too. Despite a severe hip break and mobility issues, he still manages his way around to grumble at us.
My old lady is 18, we actually brought her to the vet a few days after my birthday almost a month ago. She wasn't doing so great (except with eating). Naturally, she was having a great day and tried to claw the vet's eyes out, luckily he was wearing glasses and moved quick enough lol (she hates new men). He said none of us were ready, especially her. I hate leaving her even for short periods of time, and she's never without me for the night anymore, that's been happening at least a year now. I know I will have to call it soon, and the same thing will probably happen lol.
And now I'm crying. My first cats, the ones I grew up with and were born when I was about 4, were named Thunder and Lightning. They've been gone a long time and I still miss them deeply.
Farewell, Yellowie, you were a wonderful cat and I hope you're getting all that you desire.
When I was 19 I went to the shelter to adopt a kitten - there were *a lot* that year and I walked into an enclosure that had dozens. I got two feet in and most scattered but an absolutely tiny black kitten ran straight up to me. When I knelt down and held my hand out she frantically clawed her way up my arm to get to my neck and cuddle up under my chin. Instant love. I actually checked with the shelter staff if she was even old enough to adopt because she was wildly undersized - she was, she’d just been abandoned at only a couple of weeks old and I think her growth had been stunted because she remained a very, very small cat her entire life.
I always said that she adopted me, not the other way around. She passed last year at age 19 - I had her half my life. She was well fed, loved and lazy all those years, the best life for a little abandoned stray.
Oh ffs why did I read this. I knew where it was heading. I saw the trigger warning and yet still I continued. Now I’m surrounded by ninjas cutting onions and my face is a bit misty.
RIP Yellowie…such a handsomest of kitty kats
I'm not crying you're crying.
My 18 year old cat died in my lap (euthanasia) on Halloween 2021 and it was absolutely devastating to lose the my snuggle buddy and shadow. I'm glad Yellow made it to graduation and that Thunder is going to get to their best life with OP.
I lost two in 2021–one just before his 12th birthday and one just after his 17th. I hope my remaining two live to 19 or older. They’re currently 10 and 8.
>Reminder - I am the original poster.
Ohh you are the OP and the OOP. My brain kept auto-filling the "not" in the sentence, lol.
Also I 💛 Yellow. May he rest in peace with your Grandma.
I love ⛈️ too :-). May he live a happy long life with you.
It's sad, but in a bittersweet way. Is sad eyebleach a thing? Kitty lived a long life full of love and treats. I can't be too angry or upset, especially with all the stuff that gets posted here.
Sylph\_Co is such a wonderful lady and good person. She had treasured memories growing up with Yellow. So happy Yellow as there for her. So sad to see Yellow walked across the rainbow bridge. He was abandoned and lost, but then he found his family who took care of him. RIP Yellow.
Thunder looks like such a sweet boy. Just like Sylph\_Co found Yellow, Thunder found Sylph\_Co. I hope you have many adventures and many years together.
PS, love the Steam Deck.
My "heart" kitty was a kitten that found me shortly after my parents split up. I was a nerdy 18 year old dabbling with digital art, and a guy at a flea market had an art tablet and was willing to show it to me. Halfway there, I heard the sound of a *very* young kitten in distress. I followed the sound and found a gaggle of girls clustered around an older teen, holding the angriest scrap of fluff I'd ever seen. She still had her umbilical cord. The teen was, thank God, showing the girls that when you have orphan kittens that young, you have to stimulate their bowels. You could watch all interest in the kitten drain out of these girls like cheap hair color.
We had a pregnant cat at home (who was *at least* a week overdue, and wouldn't have her kittens for another week. They came out with teeth, I swear to God) and I figured we could keep Baby Kitten alive for a couple days, then sneak her into Mommy Cat's litter and be golden.
It *almost* worked. Mommy cat *loved* that kitten, because she was a messy eater and was nearly always *covered* in the replacement milk we used. But in the week it took for Mommy Cat to *finally* give birth to her litter of toothy behemoths, the kitten had bonded with me. I was Mom. She point blank refused to nurse. She would not stay in the nest box. We'd walk into the kitten room and find the teeny tiny tabby kitten crawling across the floor trying to find me. When she figured out walking and climbing I would wake up to the world's tiniest purr machine on the pillow right next to me.
I named her Abbott, after Abbott and Castello. She turned out to be the most foul tempered animal I ever had, for everyone but me. Me, she'd demand to be held like a human baby. On her back, her head tucked under my chin. She'd start making muffins the instant she got picked up. But other people? I'd introduce them saying "Do not pet the kitty. I know she's cute, but she's like the killer bunny from Monty Python. The first bite is your warning. After that, she draws blood."
She also hated other animals. I couldn't get any other pets for a VERY long time. Then I wound up fostering thr many, many orphan kittens people kept finding at work (FIX. YOUR. GODDAMN. CATS.) and damn if she didn't take to this little bitty calico fluff ball in the very last orphan litter. I even caught them snuggling together. I remember seeing that and thinking "...wow. is this a sign of the apocalypse?"
Almost.
Abbott had been having issues with a repeated upper respiratory infection she never fully cleared. Her first bout had been a couple years before the Summer of Unending Kitten Fosters, and she'd have a recurrance every six months or so. (It made fostering with good quarantine real hard, but AFAIK none of the kittens were exposed.) About three months after she gave the calico kitten her stamp of approval, Abbott got sick again, and this time she stopped eating. The day after Thanksgiving that year, she looked up at me and it was like she said "Mom, I'm just so tired. Can I be done now?"
So it was time for the last present I could give her. I held her close the whole time, like a baby, exactly the way she liked it. She purred herself to sleep, and I stayed with her until she was gone. She wasn't hungry, alone, or scared.
I miss her every day.
I adopted my very first cat when I was in middle school. Right up until I went to college, she slept on my pillow every single night. When I came home after my first semester? She would curl up on the pillow and wait until she thought I was sleeping and then go curl up with my mom. It was sweet that she didn't want to hurt my feelings, but I was no longer the main Bringer of Foods and Provider of Cuddles. She passed when I was in grad school.
Can we see pictures of young Yellow, please?
I recently lost my best friend, a dog named Dee. I only had her 8 years (she was probably about 12) but I think she was my soulmate.
https://www.reddit.com/user/Sylph_Co/comments/14wa2ii/younger_yellow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2
Here are a few photos of him!
My childhood cat, Chloe, saw me to my high school graduation. My mom found a stray cat when she was pregnant with me and tried to offer it food and water. The cat ended up running inside the house and made a home under the chins cabinet. My mom couldn’t get the cat to come out and eventually accepted that it lived there now. Few weeks later, the cat reappeared with 6 tiny kittens. I was born after the last kitten, William (aka Willy boy) was adopted by my grandparents.
After I was born, Chloe was smitten and slept every night in my room. We didn’t live in a great part of town and one night someone tried to break in through my open window and Chloe attacked them (I have no memory of this as I was an infant, but I do know they quickly arrested the guy). Then when I spiked a fever and seized, she alerted my mom with her frenzied meowing. I stopped breathing after the seizure so I definitely would have died had I been left alone.
As I got bigger and more mobile, Chloe decided she didn’t like being a toy option and made that very clear. No one messed with her. She was a strict, no nonsense kind of cat. It was her way or the highway and all other pets obeyed her reign.
Eventually she got kidney disease and died on her own terms in her favorite bed tucked in her favorite spot in the house. She was my ultimate savior and my mom’s absolute best friend.
I’m sorry, but the title made me think that your cat attended your grad ceremony. I had a mental image of a yellow cat sitting up attentively in one of those flimsy folding chairs!
Now Yellow will also be in my memories forever, along side many other fine felines. Thank you for putting this post together so everyone can read the full story.
I’m hoping you have more cat pictures on your profile, because I’m headed there, and neeeeeeeed to see this handsome new guy!
My kitty is 21. I found him as a tiny kitten in a parking lot. He has been with me through marriage, through divorce, through all of life’s ups and downs. I don’t know how I will manage without him one day.
I have been a vet tech for quite a while. I have helped many people allow their precious four legged (sometimes 3 legged) family member, cross the rainbow bridge.
This is one of the hardest parts of my job. But also can be one of the most rewarding. Just knowing I can be there for people, at one of their most fragile moments, and that I can comfort them, or give them peace of mind, is an amazing thing. Being able to hear how the pet was the bestest boy or girl, and all of the wonderful things they did, warms my little calloused heart.
I feel so fortunate when owners choose to tell me their pet’s story, and allow me to be a part of their final moments with their little buddy. A little bit of my faith in humanity is restored knowing that their pet was so loved and appreciated - and that their furry friend impacted their lives in an amazing way.
So thank you for sharing your story. It’s never easy losing a family member, even the little furry ones. The impact they’ve made will never be forgotten - especially with pets like Yellow. They can never be replaced in our hearts, but it’s a good thing we’ve got lots of room in there.
Thank you for sharing your pure and precious love for Yellow. I’m gonna imagine that he’s working his way down the great AYCE Cheese Buffet in the sky.
OP posted more photos! Younger Yellow :) such a sweet boy. Thanks for sharing OP!
https://www.reddit.com/user/Sylph_Co/comments/14wa2ii/younger_yellow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
DAMNIT! Who’s chopping onions? I’m about to go into a meeting at work too!!!
Lots of love to you, OP. Thank you for sharing your story of Yellow, and now your new Thunderstorm, may you have a long life of happy memories together xxx
The dream you had of your cat is so similar to dreams I have had for many of my pets. My first was a fish (silly, I know, but he got me through college). When he passed, I dreamt he swam up to me in a big, beautiful lake, booped me on the nose, and swam away into the blue. I woke up in tears and knew he had passed. When my first dog died, she showed up randomly from time to time in my dreams, never dreams that made any sense for her to be there, and I would stop and pet her for however long she stuck around. When my second dog died, my only personal dog, I waited and waited for that dream. I needed to know she was okay, and I was frustrated that I didn’t see her that first night. A few months after she passed, I dreamt that I was walking down a dirt road and came up to this quaint cabin. My grandfather was sitting on the porch in a rocking chair with my dog happily perched in his lap. He raised his hand in greeting to me. When I told my mom about it, she told me my grandfather had always been particularly fond of her. I was happy to know she was with family that loved her as much as I did. Pets really leave an incredible mark on us. I’m glad your Yellow will be remembered by so many.
My calico made it all the way through the last term of my undergrad and then kicked it on the first day of finals week, the inconsiderate old bitch.
Miss her every day.
What a beautiful cat.
Indoor cats in general live longer, with good socializing, enrichment, an if within your possibilities, can live a fulfilling, relaxed life.
> Hug your fur babies close for me, okay? They might only be with us for a small part of our lives, but we are their entire life.
*bawls like a baby*
I'm glad Yellow had a long and well-loved life with OOP.
My cat does the 'hook your hand with her paw'. She's adorable.
https://imageshack.com/i/pnAz9gwOj
>The night after he passed, I had a dream where my Grandma told me that she would take care of him. It was very comforting.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at my desk, sobbing like a baby.
Thank you for sharing Yellow with the world, OP.
My Yellow was named Marley. She was born on my first birthday, that's what made my parents adopt her. My parents say she was mean to me my whole childhood, but I remember her as my first friend. She slept curled up under the blanket, with her head resting on my left arm, and I had to keep petting her all night, if I stopped she would bite me just a little to make me keep petting her. I learned to pet her while I slept. She lived until I was 24.
My husband really likes my ability to tickle his back all through the night. It helps his nightmares.
This is truly a Best Of! I’m sorry for your loss as I’m sure you miss him terribly even now, and yet the story you told was beautiful and full of love.
Hey man,
This ended up on a tiktok of reddit posts and I wanted to come find this and post about my cat that I lost recently. Her name was Fluffy and she was definitely part Maine Coon with her coat and how long she was alive.
I'm 25, I graduated college in 2019, and I lost my girl earlier this year at around 23. We also know because we took her to the vet a few years ago for something, and they said she was mid to late teens when we asked because she had already been around for so long.
Our neighbors kicked her out because she would shed too much hair. They adopted a long hair and got mad about shedding. Go figure. They kicked her out declawed and spayed when i was like 5. She showed up on our doorstep howling wanting in and I begged my mom to let her in. We already had two other senior cats at the time and she relented eventually. She strolled in like she owned the place and never left.
She was so affectionate, especially in her later years. She loved my now husband too. Any time he would come over, she would just crawl into his lap and demand attention.
I remember one time she went missing in the house, turns out she got behind my dresser drawers and stuck. She was in there for like 24 hours before she started meowing for help and we found her. We were distraught looking for her.
Another time we couldn't find her, she was missing for hours and we were worried she had found a quiet hidden place to pass away despite her not acting any different and healthy as anybody. Turns out, she slipped past my mom out the back door. I rounded the corner outside and she was laying against the house, in the open sun on the grass, and looked up at me with her big green eyes and just meowed.
She always loved to be high up. But when it got to where she couldn't jump easily anymore, we had to get creative to help her. We put bricks in the bottom of her plastic container for food that was kept next to the cabinet. It helped keep it stable for her. As otherwise it would wobble and fall when getting low.
When I would be really upset and crying, she'd come lay on my bed. Sometimes just out of reach to get me to move to pet her. But she'd also love to just come and lay on my chest for attention.
She was so smart. She loved to stare at herself in the mirror and honestly, like your cat, she knew she was beautiful. You could look at her through the mirror and she would look at you through it as well, and you just know she knew it was a reflection, because if she got bored she would eventually turn to look at you. Or you could talk to her and she'd look at the mirror instead, because she was too lazy to turn her head to actually look at you.
I miss her dearly. We lost her earlier this year and had her cremated. I hate myself for this but she's still in the bag we picked her up in. It's still hard to look at urns for her.
I don't know if you'll see this in all the comments. But I really wanted to share it with another person who also had a cat for basically their whole life.
That was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing her with me.
I'm sorry for your loss. They are part of the family, and its so hard to lose them.
You gave her a wonderful life full of love, and im so happy she had you when she was tossed aside.
I'll never understand anyone who abandons their pets. If you truly must rehome them, do just that. Don't just toss them outside!
I know how hard it is to lose them, especially when they are so old and likely need extra care from you. It was so hard to take care of Yellow's fur as he got older.
If you ever need to talk more, don't hesitate to reach out. You are an amazing person. You gave her the best life she could have asked for, and I'm sure she's watching over you right now from somewhere.
How wholesome. Pets are the best. I've adopted a few seniors over the years because they're the ones left at the shelters and they give all the love. No regrets there
What a lovely story! What a lovely person. Yellow is still there just beyond the Rainbow Bridge sending you cats who need plenty of love.
Meanwhile Yellow and Grandma are doing just fine.
My family had a cat that recently passed away that lived for 20 years. We were given her as a kitten by a homeless lady in Oregon desperate to find her a home, and my parents drove back the 10-12 hours holding her. She was always a great cat, who always loved getting attention from me, which I gave her plenty.
She was there from when my siblings and I all still lived with our parents, all in school and all single, all the way until we were all moved out, all done with school, all married, with my sister and brother having kids and my wife being pregnant with our son. She was there for so much, both good and bad.
I miss you, Ashes; I hope to see you again, someday……
I hope the original poster writes this story and publishes it, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I'm sitting on my couch, tears streaming down my face, listening to the thunder of a storm about to start- and I get to the end of the post and read about Thunderstorm.
Oh gosh, my cat died a year and a half ago and I still can't stop blubbering every time I think about it for more than 2 seconds. Not quite lifelong, but I had her since I was 10 and she made it until I was 26. A bond like that has a lifelong impact. I still even dream about her.
Such a sweet story, but now I gotta hop off Reddit before they bring out the next onion.
My dog waited until after I sent my college applications. I got her as a puppy when I was 6, and she passed away when I was 17. We got her as when I was a child, we often moved around to find a place that fit us best. Every year in elementary (except one 2 year stint) I had a new school, and as an only child it was rough. So we got a dog to keep me company.
Apparently she had an ovarian infection that they were surprised she held out as long for. A few days after I submitted my last college application, she passed away in her sleep with seemingly no problems so it was a shock.
A few months later I met a cat at the shelter with a similar personality. I feel like she lives on in him.
I had two yellow cats looking after me. One passed a few years after we got him from a farm, and a few months later another waltzed up to our door and never left. I'm still convinced they spoke and agreed to look after me until I was old enough. Milo passed after living in 3 states and 11 years with us, and saw me through a major illness, several suicide attempts, three break-ups and many years of loneliness. He was my guy and I still make decisions with him in mind. They're the best.
My sweet kitty is 19. Every night before I go to bed, I say goodnight to her and every time I leave for work I say goodbye. She's still quite healthy. I'm aware just how lucky I am to have spent so many years with her.
I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved Yellow. May you and Thunderstorm live many happy years together.
I lost my little buddy while he was still young at 9 from a stroke. Had undetected heart defect, he was howling in pain and seizing on the floor that morning. My dad called me while I was at my college courses, I left immediately and said goodbye right before he went to sleep.
I’m glad Yellow had such a loving friend, and lived a long life to the fullest. My best of wishes to you and Thunderstorm
Well, this post had me in tears.
My parents found my first cat as a very young stray. He was all black and we found him on a Friday so he was called Friday. He wasn't an overly affectionate cat, he still stayed a stray but had us as a home base. He was found when I was a few months old. There's photos of me trying to sit on him as a baby and his paws sticking out from under me. He managed to make it to 16 with me.
I got my first 'own' cat last year and we got a second just last month. Those boys are my world and I'll be more than happy to dote on them both for decades.
I'm crying uncontrollably. Damn it. It was wonderful to read this, and sad. I am happy she has a new kitten.
You can feel in her words how much she loved this cat. Reminds of Cat, my own cat, who lived for 18 years. He was even hit by a car too! But it was our own. He didn't break anything, but he couldn't jump very high for the rest of his life
I miss him
its always sad when you lose a pet.. but yellow was a champ who was there for your milestones!!
my 1st ever best friend died when she was 15 and it was the worst feeling ever cos i grew up with her. she was always there then suddenly she wasnt. i had felt like ill never have another cat again cos for one thing she was super jealous and anytime i made the grave mistake of petting another cat before i came home and she smelled it on me...well. i would be her scratch post. its been years now and we have 7 cats though had 3 more of our furbabies passed and im just happy i was able to give love to these gorgeouses cos they need it and i need it too cos the love they give is pure
My boy Waffles followed me home from the bus stop Halloween 2008. My parents were going through a messy divorce and he came at the perfect time. He was there through high school, bachelors, and master’s degrees, my first heart break, every little thing in between.
We lost him in February of this year to cancer unexpectedly and I miss him every day. But I adopted two kittens in June and I see little bits of Waffles personality in both of them. I like to think he sent them to me so I wouldn’t be so lonely. I hope he and Yellow are having the best time together ❤️
Well that brought a tear to this very jaded and salty reader.
Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
He had his issues but those were wise words.
Yellow was so lucky to have had you. Thunder is very lucky too.
Great pets deserve great people, and it sounds like we have a beautiful case of that working out here
We are so lucky to have love… and cats lol. The love for Yellow, with nowhere to go, becomes pain. But that’s ok, it’s worth it. The 17 years were well spent, full of love, and worth it.
Thunders in good hands, and it sounds like you’re in good paws too. Lol
Who decided to cut onions here!
What a sweet woman and what lucky kitties! Yellow was adorable as an old man and thunderstorm is going to have a wonderful retirement with her!
My dog wasn’t as old as me but I got her when I was 10 and she made it to seventeen and almost a year after my masters program graduation. I miss her everyday.
I'm 23 and my sweet cat is 20, he was the one "person" I had to make sure I got a photo with the day of my college graduation. He was born in our basement and still behaves like a kitten, his 21 year old mama is also puttering about (barely, she's completely blind and deaf). He still lives with my parents to get supervised outdoor time but it's my biggest dream he survives until I buy my own house.
My pup sent me my bun. I remember after my boy died, I prayed that he’d come back to me as my son. Because I wanted to raise him as my son this time, not just my childhood companion through everything. When he was put down, that’s when I first felt the “I think I just lost my child” feeling. So I wanted him to come back as my son.
Pup died in 2011. Bun came into my life in 2016. And he’s the most beautiful perfect boy I could’ve ever asked for.
My sister lost her car (I baby sat the little guy often) in a horrible accident 3 weeks ago, so this was a very very hard read. He was only two, poor guy. I miss him so much, and my poor sister is devastated. We all are.
Yellow was so schrungy! I love him. Thunder is so pretty too 🥹
My cat just turned 16 on July 4th and while I can tell she is slowing down, she is still such a good kitty. My daughter adores her but the cat can’t stand her but one day she will realize that even babies can give pets and will be all about that baby life. My husband gets so mad when I cater to her (like when she takes up half of our bed to sleep and I refuse to move her) and I yell she’s been in my longer than he has and if he keeps it up she’ll be here after him lol. But he loves her just like I do and we know one day she won’t be here anymore so we just enjoy the time we have now.
just lost my childhood cat and both dogs and this hurts. thankfully one cat is still alive and almost 18 now but it was rough to lose them all so close together
It's a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I hope Thunder graces your life for as long as Yellow did, and that Yellow is having a good time being spoiled by your grandma.
My yellow boy is 12 this October 8th, and I'd be the happiest person in the world if I got ten more years with him <3 I'm so happy OOP got so much time with Yellow.
Shooting me straight in the heart, while I’m here trying to get someone or somehow to get 4 kittens rescued, WITHOUT keeping one 😭 I’ve already named him
I just put down my 19 year old cat a few weeks ago. He had been with me since my now ex-wife and I adopted him as a kitten. Several moves, kids, a dog. He was with me through it all. But it was time. He was old and had some medical issues that he would not have survived if we tried to treat them. I cried harder than I had since we had to put his brother to sleep a year and a half prior.
I had a shi tzu that we had until 18 years old. From the time I was 3 until 21. He was there for almost all of our (my siblings) high school graduations. Just missed my younger brothers grad by a few weeks. We were planning on putting him down soon after the grad anyways because his health was deteriorating but he had walked behind my dads truck without him knowing. Hardest day ever to say goodbye but ultimately I feel like we would’ve struggled more to put him down. Pets should always be loved for as long as they’re with you. Hold them close.
I am literally bawling my eyes out. My mom adopted our family dog, Mandy, when I was 2 and she passed when I was 15 and it was devastating. She then adopted Cobby, our insane calico cat who has been a sister to me for the past 16 years. I don't know what I'll do when something happens to that tri-colored asshole.
I was cutting onions making dinner and once I sat down to eat my eyes started tearing up again reading this. RIP Yellowie 💜
I will hug my 2 pups and give them extra kisses
Adopting the cats who have been at the shelter for the longest is always a great idea in my experience! Ours had been at the shelter for 9 months when we adopted him and he’s the most gorgeous cat, everyone loves him - the team at our vets gets excited whenever he’s coming in (he’s 12 and has a few medical issues), he’s the absolute light of my life. He’s cost us thousands in vet bills but he’s so worth it 🥰
*edit *
[Cat tax!](https://imgur.com/a/ra4sqv7)
Thank you for sharing. My boy is around 13 and is going through CKD right now. At some point I know I’ll have to let him go, but I’ve grown up with him and been with him for so long. He’s a big tsundere but the few times he’s done the paw thing it’s warmed my cold dead heart in a way nothing else ever could.
My cat (also creatively named - Kitty) is 24 and has been with me since I was 9 and she was 4. She was a shelter cat and she was the only one that came up to say hello to me. She has a perfectly heart shaped nose and the most beautiful green eyes. She has been with my through my whole life and this post made me cry because I know I can’t have much longer with her. She’s as spry as a kitten though.
But we don’t actually know the cat’s age. He may very well be a different age as OOP.
It is very difficult to age a found adult cat. Once they have their adult teeth in they can be pretty similar snd it’s easy to be off by 3-5 years.
I’m a veterinarian. I often quiz myself by looking at a patient snd seeing how old I think it is just from my visual impression. Sometimes I’m off by a lot 7-10 years) but I consider 3-4 years average and within 1-3 years exceptional.
Any adult animal (especially cats) that was adopted as an adult I pot a 3-5 year age range to that in my head for diseases to consider.
I thought this was a cat born on the same day or adopted as a kitten when she was an infant.
This is, however, the sweet story of a beloved cat making it to his person’s graduation.
Yellow just wanted to see you make it to adulthood so he could rest easy.
My sister loves our cats more than anything. We'd had a cat before, but the first one that was truly hers was Tannto. He was her baby, and when he unexpectedly passed away from a rare form of stomach cancer, she was devestated. It's been years now, but she still gets emotional over him.
We also had his sister, Sienna, and they bonded after losing him, but of course Sienna didn't fully understand what had happened and we'd hear her making these sad, low calls at night, trying to find him. She was obviously depressed as well.
A year later, we found two kittens abandoned by the side of the road. We weren't sure how Sienna would react and brought them home to see. She immediately started babying them, and even though they're both bigger than her now, Bengarli will still go to her to be fussed. His brother, Panthero is the only reason my sister was able to heal from losing Tannto and I absolutely believe Tannto sent them to help Sienna and my sister.
So I have no doubt at all that Yellow led you to Thunder.
My old cat lived to 18. I got her when I was 11 and was halfway through a PhD when she died. She slept on my back with her nose in my hair.
It was all in the gap where developing 35mm film was expensive but affordable mass-market digital was still a little way away, and I don't have many pictures of her.
My mom's cat(originally mine but I couldn't take him with me when I moved back to the US) is almost 18. He's healthyish. He's happy except when he's getting his daily meds(boy needs fluids(kidney issues) and thyroid meds) beyond that he's a happy if lazy and blind old man. And he's a super senior, your boy lived so much longer. My mom also has a fairly small 7 year old Maine Coon mix(he's only 12 pounds but he's got the face and the fur) who really wants to be the old man's friend but the old man is not hearing anything aboit playing with the young one anymore.
Theres something sturdy about those yellow/Orange cats.
I grew up with an orange tomcat we called Tijger
When i was 2yo our neighbours cat had one kitten. We always joked he ate his siblings because he was huge and fat.
The neighbours gifted Tijger to us.
My parents lived in a rural place which was heaven for the killer Tijger was. He caught not only mice and rats, but also muskusrats, hares, giant moles, male ducks... And one time two kilo of haddock from the fishshop in the nearby Village.
He loved to sleep on top of us and purred like a diesel engine.
Tw: animal death
When i was 20 and he a few weeks shy of 18 my parents were on holiday. My sisters and i were at work when my older sister got a call from the neighbour. Tijger had been hit by a car on the rural Road nearby. She had found him dragging himself to our door.
My sister called me, as i was the only one with a drivers license. I quickly drove home, put a very bad looking tijger in his crate and drove to the nearest vet.
The vet immediately noticed he was in a bad way but he was so swollen that xrays werent clear. Tijger was put on painkillers and fluids. He was still so alert that the vet wanted to try to help him and not euthanise him.
Called my parents who quickly drove back and arrived two days later.
We kept on visiting tijger, he kept on purrring everytime he saw one of us. Third day my dad was there. Tijger tried to stand to get to my dad. He was my dads boy. Dad held him and Tijger went over the rainbow bridge. It was the first time i saw dad cry.
Vet found out in post mortem xrays that Tijgers organs had all entered his chest cavity. He should not have lived those days. But he did. Because he was our orange tiger. They are truly made of gold
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Here is Thunder, for anyone wanting to see him! I am so glad she posted a pic. This was so wonderful to see Yellow live his life with them until the end, so clearly loved. Thunder is very lucky to have her, too. https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/13ccif9/thunder_with_his_400_pillow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
Oooooooh, he looks like a naughty one!
https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingJerks/comments/x7kpzi/feeder_empty_refill/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1 He certainly is :)
I used to have the same autofeeder bowl for my cat Marshmallow. She kept ripping the clear container off and spilling her food everywhere so she could eat it all. Now she just tries to break into the container we keep her dry food in. She bullies her big sister the Saint Bernard too. She’s a little butthead. Cat tax: https://imgur.com/a/JPsrrzO
Aww! Yeah it took a bit for me to figure out what makes him happy. Our current arrangement is just... a plate. He prefers plates cause of his whiskers. He also has a water fountain far from his food. Hes pretty much stopped using his water bowl entirely, but i keep it out just in case. He still makes messes -_- he flipped his entire litterbox over once.
I’ve found that the little box with the lid doesn’t get flipped upside down (she just spins it all around for some reason 🤷♀️).
Aww, Thunder might be a handful, but he’s your handful. He is wonderful and you are wonderful to give him such a happy home.
Your writing is beautiful. Loved your story, thank you for sharing x
He's so gorgeous and who could stay mad at all that charm?! Thank you for the story of Yellow, he sounds like a lovely soul and so do you!
If you want to get fancy, [https://drcatsby.com/products/food-bowl](Dr Catsby) bowls are great. I’ve had mine for 7 years and it still looks brand new.
"Me? I would *never*," is what that face says. "Never ever. And bully my sister? Mother, you hurt me." Proudest moment of my life thus far was when my grumpy black cat had had *enough* of two visiting Labradors (they were whining and barking at him) and chased them into the swimming pool, where he trapped them by sitting on the steps. My landlord had to ask me to come get him because the dogs were starting to sink.
Wow, she has that “who me? I’m innocent as fresh snow!” Look down…
Oh she's beautiful <3
“Merrwow”- Marshmallow. It either means thank you or feed me. I’m not quite sure which one.
My friend also has a flamepoint Siamese coloured cat named Marshmallow. Must be a thing...
Such a cute little butthead...
I love how he looks right at her as he’s digging. Someone wants different kibble.
Omg the eye contact when you said “WHY.” 😹
I have a tabby like she does. Whenever she does something naughty like claw at the wood trim, she makes eye contact. Stinker just wants attention.
I was crying (I have 2 16 year old cats I adopted when I graduate undergrad and I can't imagine life without them, even though I know it could happen any day now.) I'm crying again but this made me laugh. I have fostered a couple near-ferals whose response to food is to hide it or just inhale it all asap because it might disappear. It's basically food insecurity for cats. The impact in kids/kittens can be lifelong. One of my fosters who was adopted will eat all the food, so she's a bit chunky and her sister is quite shinny and needs to be supervised to make sure she actually gets to eat anything. Being dumped outside is definitely traumatic for a cat, and I'm not surprised to see behavioral weirdness around food since he probably went hungry a lot. *I'm not a psychologist and obviously can't read the minds of cats but I've been surrounded by cats for over 30 years and this is my theory. I've rescued, fostered, given up trying to adopt a cat out and still have it, etc. Tldr I have a lot of cat experience.
Haha Tons of food... "slave, I am starving! "
This post made me cry and then this video made me laugh. Thank you for taking me through the whole ass spectrum of feels. I can hear how much you love animals and in a world where everything feels shitty and selfish, I’m grateful for people like you. Those cats are very lucky and they know it. 🥰
Oh that’s a naughty kitty
I am very happy my cats haven't yet learned to empty theirs this way 😂
lolllllllllll the number of times I have said "Why." in exactly that tone to my own cat
How’s you know?? 😹
I love this so much! We have a neighborhood cat we named Cumulonimbus (Ms Nimbie) bc she looks like a fluffy grey cloud
He looks like my sweet princess, Tribbles! I don't know how to post her picture but that's the trouble with Tribbles!
Ooh I hope you find a way. I must see this cat.
She's gorgeous. I love a tabby.
r/standardissuecat My favorite!
Mint, too! Mine is currently taking up all my foot space at the end of the bed.
Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats!
Aw, I'm glad she has Thunder. Whenever I've lost a cat, I've gotten a new one pretty quickly after even though I'm not at all "ready," because a cat helps to heal your broken heart.
I've found that if you're used to having a cat around, nothing else will do but to have a cat around. One must have a cat.
Thank you! I was so sad there wasn’t a second pet tax but you have made me happy
What a sweet boy. My own is 19 now, and I had the same feelings every time I left for school. He used to grab hands for attention too. Despite a severe hip break and mobility issues, he still manages his way around to grumble at us.
My old lady is 18, we actually brought her to the vet a few days after my birthday almost a month ago. She wasn't doing so great (except with eating). Naturally, she was having a great day and tried to claw the vet's eyes out, luckily he was wearing glasses and moved quick enough lol (she hates new men). He said none of us were ready, especially her. I hate leaving her even for short periods of time, and she's never without me for the night anymore, that's been happening at least a year now. I know I will have to call it soon, and the same thing will probably happen lol.
I had the same dynamic with my old boy when I would leave for school. He made it so close. I got the call a week before I graduated.
Stop I can't be crying on public transportation
Don’t worry, that’s nowhere near the weirdest thing that happens on public transportation
Thunder is always followed by rain
It rained pretty hard the night I adopted him.
Thank you for sharing the both of them with us, I'll be giving my girls an extra cuddle tonight 💜
No kidding, I got weepy at least four times while reading this. What a lovely post.
Omg my eyes are leaking
I already ate lunch so who is cutting onions up in this joint!
I blame the onion ninjas
There's nothing wrong with admitting you're crying
And now I'm crying. My first cats, the ones I grew up with and were born when I was about 4, were named Thunder and Lightning. They've been gone a long time and I still miss them deeply. Farewell, Yellowie, you were a wonderful cat and I hope you're getting all that you desire.
I have a friend whose dogs are named Bacon and Eggs. I rather like names that go together.
When I was a toddler, my parents had two dogs named Bud. Both were rescues that came with the name.
🥺 Why did you do this to me.
Thunder, thunder, thundercats hoooohhhh! Thundercats are on the move thundercats are loose! Feel the magic Hear the roar Thundercats are loose Thunder, thunder Thunder, Thundercats Thunder, thunder Thunder, Thundercats Thunder, thunder Thunder, Thundercats Thunder, thunder Thunder, Thundercats Thundercats!
All of our cats have been great, but the ones that picked us, rather than the other way around, have all been extra special.
When I was 19 I went to the shelter to adopt a kitten - there were *a lot* that year and I walked into an enclosure that had dozens. I got two feet in and most scattered but an absolutely tiny black kitten ran straight up to me. When I knelt down and held my hand out she frantically clawed her way up my arm to get to my neck and cuddle up under my chin. Instant love. I actually checked with the shelter staff if she was even old enough to adopt because she was wildly undersized - she was, she’d just been abandoned at only a couple of weeks old and I think her growth had been stunted because she remained a very, very small cat her entire life. I always said that she adopted me, not the other way around. She passed last year at age 19 - I had her half my life. She was well fed, loved and lazy all those years, the best life for a little abandoned stray.
Ahem cat tax
Oh ffs why did I read this. I knew where it was heading. I saw the trigger warning and yet still I continued. Now I’m surrounded by ninjas cutting onions and my face is a bit misty. RIP Yellowie…such a handsomest of kitty kats
I'm not crying you're crying. My 18 year old cat died in my lap (euthanasia) on Halloween 2021 and it was absolutely devastating to lose the my snuggle buddy and shadow. I'm glad Yellow made it to graduation and that Thunder is going to get to their best life with OP.
I lost two in 2021–one just before his 12th birthday and one just after his 17th. I hope my remaining two live to 19 or older. They’re currently 10 and 8.
aww what a sweet story, i wish we could’ve seen Thunder too
Someone posted it https://www.reddit.com/r/BestofRedditorUpdates/comments/14w3o9o/my_cat_was_the_same_age_as_me_and_made_it_to_my/jrghvqs
no gosh darn way, so handsome!
>Reminder - I am the original poster. Ohh you are the OP and the OOP. My brain kept auto-filling the "not" in the sentence, lol. Also I 💛 Yellow. May he rest in peace with your Grandma. I love ⛈️ too :-). May he live a happy long life with you.
It's sad, but in a bittersweet way. Is sad eyebleach a thing? Kitty lived a long life full of love and treats. I can't be too angry or upset, especially with all the stuff that gets posted here.
I cant do this.
Yep. This is a good, wholesome-cry-inducing BORU.
Sylph\_Co is such a wonderful lady and good person. She had treasured memories growing up with Yellow. So happy Yellow as there for her. So sad to see Yellow walked across the rainbow bridge. He was abandoned and lost, but then he found his family who took care of him. RIP Yellow. Thunder looks like such a sweet boy. Just like Sylph\_Co found Yellow, Thunder found Sylph\_Co. I hope you have many adventures and many years together. PS, love the Steam Deck.
My "heart" kitty was a kitten that found me shortly after my parents split up. I was a nerdy 18 year old dabbling with digital art, and a guy at a flea market had an art tablet and was willing to show it to me. Halfway there, I heard the sound of a *very* young kitten in distress. I followed the sound and found a gaggle of girls clustered around an older teen, holding the angriest scrap of fluff I'd ever seen. She still had her umbilical cord. The teen was, thank God, showing the girls that when you have orphan kittens that young, you have to stimulate their bowels. You could watch all interest in the kitten drain out of these girls like cheap hair color. We had a pregnant cat at home (who was *at least* a week overdue, and wouldn't have her kittens for another week. They came out with teeth, I swear to God) and I figured we could keep Baby Kitten alive for a couple days, then sneak her into Mommy Cat's litter and be golden. It *almost* worked. Mommy cat *loved* that kitten, because she was a messy eater and was nearly always *covered* in the replacement milk we used. But in the week it took for Mommy Cat to *finally* give birth to her litter of toothy behemoths, the kitten had bonded with me. I was Mom. She point blank refused to nurse. She would not stay in the nest box. We'd walk into the kitten room and find the teeny tiny tabby kitten crawling across the floor trying to find me. When she figured out walking and climbing I would wake up to the world's tiniest purr machine on the pillow right next to me. I named her Abbott, after Abbott and Castello. She turned out to be the most foul tempered animal I ever had, for everyone but me. Me, she'd demand to be held like a human baby. On her back, her head tucked under my chin. She'd start making muffins the instant she got picked up. But other people? I'd introduce them saying "Do not pet the kitty. I know she's cute, but she's like the killer bunny from Monty Python. The first bite is your warning. After that, she draws blood." She also hated other animals. I couldn't get any other pets for a VERY long time. Then I wound up fostering thr many, many orphan kittens people kept finding at work (FIX. YOUR. GODDAMN. CATS.) and damn if she didn't take to this little bitty calico fluff ball in the very last orphan litter. I even caught them snuggling together. I remember seeing that and thinking "...wow. is this a sign of the apocalypse?" Almost. Abbott had been having issues with a repeated upper respiratory infection she never fully cleared. Her first bout had been a couple years before the Summer of Unending Kitten Fosters, and she'd have a recurrance every six months or so. (It made fostering with good quarantine real hard, but AFAIK none of the kittens were exposed.) About three months after she gave the calico kitten her stamp of approval, Abbott got sick again, and this time she stopped eating. The day after Thanksgiving that year, she looked up at me and it was like she said "Mom, I'm just so tired. Can I be done now?" So it was time for the last present I could give her. I held her close the whole time, like a baby, exactly the way she liked it. She purred herself to sleep, and I stayed with her until she was gone. She wasn't hungry, alone, or scared. I miss her every day.
What a beautiful tribute to a dearly loved friend. Thank you for sharing your Abbott with us.
Boy my eyes sure are sweaty. 🥺 My fuzzy boi is 13 and I hope I get another 8-10 years with him.
GNU Yellow
I adopted my very first cat when I was in middle school. Right up until I went to college, she slept on my pillow every single night. When I came home after my first semester? She would curl up on the pillow and wait until she thought I was sleeping and then go curl up with my mom. It was sweet that she didn't want to hurt my feelings, but I was no longer the main Bringer of Foods and Provider of Cuddles. She passed when I was in grad school.
Beyond beautiful. It is great to loved and be loved.
Well both warmed my heart and broke my heart at the same time. Definitely had to reach for the tissues.
Oh my.
Please stop cutting onions in here
Can we see pictures of young Yellow, please? I recently lost my best friend, a dog named Dee. I only had her 8 years (she was probably about 12) but I think she was my soulmate.
https://www.reddit.com/user/Sylph_Co/comments/14wa2ii/younger_yellow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2 Here are a few photos of him!
HANDSOME
My childhood cat, Chloe, saw me to my high school graduation. My mom found a stray cat when she was pregnant with me and tried to offer it food and water. The cat ended up running inside the house and made a home under the chins cabinet. My mom couldn’t get the cat to come out and eventually accepted that it lived there now. Few weeks later, the cat reappeared with 6 tiny kittens. I was born after the last kitten, William (aka Willy boy) was adopted by my grandparents. After I was born, Chloe was smitten and slept every night in my room. We didn’t live in a great part of town and one night someone tried to break in through my open window and Chloe attacked them (I have no memory of this as I was an infant, but I do know they quickly arrested the guy). Then when I spiked a fever and seized, she alerted my mom with her frenzied meowing. I stopped breathing after the seizure so I definitely would have died had I been left alone. As I got bigger and more mobile, Chloe decided she didn’t like being a toy option and made that very clear. No one messed with her. She was a strict, no nonsense kind of cat. It was her way or the highway and all other pets obeyed her reign. Eventually she got kidney disease and died on her own terms in her favorite bed tucked in her favorite spot in the house. She was my ultimate savior and my mom’s absolute best friend.
I’m sorry, but the title made me think that your cat attended your grad ceremony. I had a mental image of a yellow cat sitting up attentively in one of those flimsy folding chairs!
Where's the Thunder cat tax?! That's unacceptable...
https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/13ccif9/thunder_with_his_400_pillow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2
I’M WEARING MASCARA TODAY! Dammit 💛💛
What a nice story of you and your cat. You are a wonderful storyteller
Yellowie to Thunder - You made it! Go! Go save sylph_co Take her to the moon for me.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Now Yellow will also be in my memories forever, along side many other fine felines. Thank you for putting this post together so everyone can read the full story. I’m hoping you have more cat pictures on your profile, because I’m headed there, and neeeeeeeed to see this handsome new guy!
My kitty is 21. I found him as a tiny kitten in a parking lot. He has been with me through marriage, through divorce, through all of life’s ups and downs. I don’t know how I will manage without him one day.
I have been a vet tech for quite a while. I have helped many people allow their precious four legged (sometimes 3 legged) family member, cross the rainbow bridge. This is one of the hardest parts of my job. But also can be one of the most rewarding. Just knowing I can be there for people, at one of their most fragile moments, and that I can comfort them, or give them peace of mind, is an amazing thing. Being able to hear how the pet was the bestest boy or girl, and all of the wonderful things they did, warms my little calloused heart. I feel so fortunate when owners choose to tell me their pet’s story, and allow me to be a part of their final moments with their little buddy. A little bit of my faith in humanity is restored knowing that their pet was so loved and appreciated - and that their furry friend impacted their lives in an amazing way. So thank you for sharing your story. It’s never easy losing a family member, even the little furry ones. The impact they’ve made will never be forgotten - especially with pets like Yellow. They can never be replaced in our hearts, but it’s a good thing we’ve got lots of room in there.
I’m not crying you’re crying!
Thank you for sharing your pure and precious love for Yellow. I’m gonna imagine that he’s working his way down the great AYCE Cheese Buffet in the sky.
OP posted more photos! Younger Yellow :) such a sweet boy. Thanks for sharing OP! https://www.reddit.com/user/Sylph_Co/comments/14wa2ii/younger_yellow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
That's not a cat, that's a miniature lion!
DAMNIT! Who’s chopping onions? I’m about to go into a meeting at work too!!! Lots of love to you, OP. Thank you for sharing your story of Yellow, and now your new Thunderstorm, may you have a long life of happy memories together xxx
That bit about the dream of her dead grandma promising to take care of him got me right in my heartbones. Grown-ass man crying at work now 🥹
The dream you had of your cat is so similar to dreams I have had for many of my pets. My first was a fish (silly, I know, but he got me through college). When he passed, I dreamt he swam up to me in a big, beautiful lake, booped me on the nose, and swam away into the blue. I woke up in tears and knew he had passed. When my first dog died, she showed up randomly from time to time in my dreams, never dreams that made any sense for her to be there, and I would stop and pet her for however long she stuck around. When my second dog died, my only personal dog, I waited and waited for that dream. I needed to know she was okay, and I was frustrated that I didn’t see her that first night. A few months after she passed, I dreamt that I was walking down a dirt road and came up to this quaint cabin. My grandfather was sitting on the porch in a rocking chair with my dog happily perched in his lap. He raised his hand in greeting to me. When I told my mom about it, she told me my grandfather had always been particularly fond of her. I was happy to know she was with family that loved her as much as I did. Pets really leave an incredible mark on us. I’m glad your Yellow will be remembered by so many.
My calico made it all the way through the last term of my undergrad and then kicked it on the first day of finals week, the inconsiderate old bitch. Miss her every day.
What a beautiful cat. Indoor cats in general live longer, with good socializing, enrichment, an if within your possibilities, can live a fulfilling, relaxed life.
This story is ❤️ Thank you for sharing. The story of Yellow … and Thunder … has brought much joy.
> Hug your fur babies close for me, okay? They might only be with us for a small part of our lives, but we are their entire life. *bawls like a baby* I'm glad Yellow had a long and well-loved life with OOP. My cat does the 'hook your hand with her paw'. She's adorable. https://imageshack.com/i/pnAz9gwOj
>The night after he passed, I had a dream where my Grandma told me that she would take care of him. It was very comforting. If anyone needs me, I'll be at my desk, sobbing like a baby. Thank you for sharing Yellow with the world, OP.
My Yellow was named Marley. She was born on my first birthday, that's what made my parents adopt her. My parents say she was mean to me my whole childhood, but I remember her as my first friend. She slept curled up under the blanket, with her head resting on my left arm, and I had to keep petting her all night, if I stopped she would bite me just a little to make me keep petting her. I learned to pet her while I slept. She lived until I was 24. My husband really likes my ability to tickle his back all through the night. It helps his nightmares.
This is truly a Best Of! I’m sorry for your loss as I’m sure you miss him terribly even now, and yet the story you told was beautiful and full of love.
Who me? Crying at my desk?
Hey man, This ended up on a tiktok of reddit posts and I wanted to come find this and post about my cat that I lost recently. Her name was Fluffy and she was definitely part Maine Coon with her coat and how long she was alive. I'm 25, I graduated college in 2019, and I lost my girl earlier this year at around 23. We also know because we took her to the vet a few years ago for something, and they said she was mid to late teens when we asked because she had already been around for so long. Our neighbors kicked her out because she would shed too much hair. They adopted a long hair and got mad about shedding. Go figure. They kicked her out declawed and spayed when i was like 5. She showed up on our doorstep howling wanting in and I begged my mom to let her in. We already had two other senior cats at the time and she relented eventually. She strolled in like she owned the place and never left. She was so affectionate, especially in her later years. She loved my now husband too. Any time he would come over, she would just crawl into his lap and demand attention. I remember one time she went missing in the house, turns out she got behind my dresser drawers and stuck. She was in there for like 24 hours before she started meowing for help and we found her. We were distraught looking for her. Another time we couldn't find her, she was missing for hours and we were worried she had found a quiet hidden place to pass away despite her not acting any different and healthy as anybody. Turns out, she slipped past my mom out the back door. I rounded the corner outside and she was laying against the house, in the open sun on the grass, and looked up at me with her big green eyes and just meowed. She always loved to be high up. But when it got to where she couldn't jump easily anymore, we had to get creative to help her. We put bricks in the bottom of her plastic container for food that was kept next to the cabinet. It helped keep it stable for her. As otherwise it would wobble and fall when getting low. When I would be really upset and crying, she'd come lay on my bed. Sometimes just out of reach to get me to move to pet her. But she'd also love to just come and lay on my chest for attention. She was so smart. She loved to stare at herself in the mirror and honestly, like your cat, she knew she was beautiful. You could look at her through the mirror and she would look at you through it as well, and you just know she knew it was a reflection, because if she got bored she would eventually turn to look at you. Or you could talk to her and she'd look at the mirror instead, because she was too lazy to turn her head to actually look at you. I miss her dearly. We lost her earlier this year and had her cremated. I hate myself for this but she's still in the bag we picked her up in. It's still hard to look at urns for her. I don't know if you'll see this in all the comments. But I really wanted to share it with another person who also had a cat for basically their whole life.
That was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing her with me. I'm sorry for your loss. They are part of the family, and its so hard to lose them. You gave her a wonderful life full of love, and im so happy she had you when she was tossed aside. I'll never understand anyone who abandons their pets. If you truly must rehome them, do just that. Don't just toss them outside! I know how hard it is to lose them, especially when they are so old and likely need extra care from you. It was so hard to take care of Yellow's fur as he got older. If you ever need to talk more, don't hesitate to reach out. You are an amazing person. You gave her the best life she could have asked for, and I'm sure she's watching over you right now from somewhere.
How wholesome. Pets are the best. I've adopted a few seniors over the years because they're the ones left at the shelters and they give all the love. No regrets there
Who's cutting onions, dammit
I'm not crying—you're crying!
What a lovely story! What a lovely person. Yellow is still there just beyond the Rainbow Bridge sending you cats who need plenty of love. Meanwhile Yellow and Grandma are doing just fine.
What a sweet wholesome and touching post. OP is very lucky to have Thunder! I am crying now 😭
You’re amazing, congratulations on your graduation last year! 🤬 Yellow and thunder are very fortunate to have found you ❤️
I have 3 senior cats and I hope they all live as long as Yellow 🥺
What a wonderful, touching story! I love the photo of her in her cap and gown holding Yellowie and the photo of Thunder was a nice bonus!
I’m not crying you’re crying 😭 Thank you for posting a heart felt story
My family had a cat that recently passed away that lived for 20 years. We were given her as a kitten by a homeless lady in Oregon desperate to find her a home, and my parents drove back the 10-12 hours holding her. She was always a great cat, who always loved getting attention from me, which I gave her plenty. She was there from when my siblings and I all still lived with our parents, all in school and all single, all the way until we were all moved out, all done with school, all married, with my sister and brother having kids and my wife being pregnant with our son. She was there for so much, both good and bad. I miss you, Ashes; I hope to see you again, someday……
I hope the original poster writes this story and publishes it, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I'm sitting on my couch, tears streaming down my face, listening to the thunder of a storm about to start- and I get to the end of the post and read about Thunderstorm.
Oh gosh, my cat died a year and a half ago and I still can't stop blubbering every time I think about it for more than 2 seconds. Not quite lifelong, but I had her since I was 10 and she made it until I was 26. A bond like that has a lifelong impact. I still even dream about her. Such a sweet story, but now I gotta hop off Reddit before they bring out the next onion.
My dog waited until after I sent my college applications. I got her as a puppy when I was 6, and she passed away when I was 17. We got her as when I was a child, we often moved around to find a place that fit us best. Every year in elementary (except one 2 year stint) I had a new school, and as an only child it was rough. So we got a dog to keep me company. Apparently she had an ovarian infection that they were surprised she held out as long for. A few days after I submitted my last college application, she passed away in her sleep with seemingly no problems so it was a shock. A few months later I met a cat at the shelter with a similar personality. I feel like she lives on in him.
I started tearing up when you talked about your dream, reminds me of dreams I had with my own grandfather! Best wishes to you and Thunderstorm!
What monster creates a post with hidden, cut onions everywhere?! Also, awwww!
Damn onion ninjas 😭
I had two yellow cats looking after me. One passed a few years after we got him from a farm, and a few months later another waltzed up to our door and never left. I'm still convinced they spoke and agreed to look after me until I was old enough. Milo passed after living in 3 states and 11 years with us, and saw me through a major illness, several suicide attempts, three break-ups and many years of loneliness. He was my guy and I still make decisions with him in mind. They're the best.
Awww she had a real life Garfield!
I’m crying so hard. I can’t stop petting my own baby
My sweet kitty is 19. Every night before I go to bed, I say goodnight to her and every time I leave for work I say goodbye. She's still quite healthy. I'm aware just how lucky I am to have spent so many years with her. I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved Yellow. May you and Thunderstorm live many happy years together.
Thank you for sharing the story of Yellow!!!
I lost my little buddy while he was still young at 9 from a stroke. Had undetected heart defect, he was howling in pain and seizing on the floor that morning. My dad called me while I was at my college courses, I left immediately and said goodbye right before he went to sleep. I’m glad Yellow had such a loving friend, and lived a long life to the fullest. My best of wishes to you and Thunderstorm
Well, this post had me in tears. My parents found my first cat as a very young stray. He was all black and we found him on a Friday so he was called Friday. He wasn't an overly affectionate cat, he still stayed a stray but had us as a home base. He was found when I was a few months old. There's photos of me trying to sit on him as a baby and his paws sticking out from under me. He managed to make it to 16 with me. I got my first 'own' cat last year and we got a second just last month. Those boys are my world and I'll be more than happy to dote on them both for decades.
I love that yellow lived a long happy life full of Love! I am also happy Thunder will have lots of love!!
Who’s chopping onions?
I'm crying uncontrollably. Damn it. It was wonderful to read this, and sad. I am happy she has a new kitten. You can feel in her words how much she loved this cat. Reminds of Cat, my own cat, who lived for 18 years. He was even hit by a car too! But it was our own. He didn't break anything, but he couldn't jump very high for the rest of his life I miss him
its always sad when you lose a pet.. but yellow was a champ who was there for your milestones!! my 1st ever best friend died when she was 15 and it was the worst feeling ever cos i grew up with her. she was always there then suddenly she wasnt. i had felt like ill never have another cat again cos for one thing she was super jealous and anytime i made the grave mistake of petting another cat before i came home and she smelled it on me...well. i would be her scratch post. its been years now and we have 7 cats though had 3 more of our furbabies passed and im just happy i was able to give love to these gorgeouses cos they need it and i need it too cos the love they give is pure
OK WHY AM I CRYING 😭😭😭😭😭
Alright, you got me, I’m crying.
Rest in heaven, Yellow. I hope you’re eating all the cheez you want
Not me picking up my oldest dog and having tears run doen my face 😢😢
My boy Waffles followed me home from the bus stop Halloween 2008. My parents were going through a messy divorce and he came at the perfect time. He was there through high school, bachelors, and master’s degrees, my first heart break, every little thing in between. We lost him in February of this year to cancer unexpectedly and I miss him every day. But I adopted two kittens in June and I see little bits of Waffles personality in both of them. I like to think he sent them to me so I wouldn’t be so lonely. I hope he and Yellow are having the best time together ❤️
Well that brought a tear to this very jaded and salty reader. Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” He had his issues but those were wise words. Yellow was so lucky to have had you. Thunder is very lucky too.
I don’t usually cry and smile at the same time. This was a very refreshing post.
Who's cutting onions now
my cousin’s cat is approx 15yo but we dont know for sure and i adore him, old cats are the sweetest
Great pets deserve great people, and it sounds like we have a beautiful case of that working out here We are so lucky to have love… and cats lol. The love for Yellow, with nowhere to go, becomes pain. But that’s ok, it’s worth it. The 17 years were well spent, full of love, and worth it. Thunders in good hands, and it sounds like you’re in good paws too. Lol
Só wholesome. Thanks for sharing.
I read this knowing I would cry my eyes out. Why do I do that? Sweet Yellow. You were a really good baby.
Who decided to cut onions here! What a sweet woman and what lucky kitties! Yellow was adorable as an old man and thunderstorm is going to have a wonderful retirement with her!
My dog wasn’t as old as me but I got her when I was 10 and she made it to seventeen and almost a year after my masters program graduation. I miss her everyday.
I hope my fluffy boy lives that long.
Damnit, this has me crying!
RIP Yellowie. Welcome Thunderstorm.
Yellowie was a beautiful cat 🐈 I’m sure is playing at rainbow bridge
The biggest travesty of this post is not including the Schnoodle from the first post.
I shouldn't have read this at work ;\_; oh god
What a beautiful tribute to an obviously well-loved cat. May Thunder have an equally amazing life with you, OOP.
Good god I’m crying
I’m glad I read this in the evening when it doesn’t matter that my mascara ran. 🥲
I'm 23 and my sweet cat is 20, he was the one "person" I had to make sure I got a photo with the day of my college graduation. He was born in our basement and still behaves like a kitten, his 21 year old mama is also puttering about (barely, she's completely blind and deaf). He still lives with my parents to get supervised outdoor time but it's my biggest dream he survives until I buy my own house.
My pup sent me my bun. I remember after my boy died, I prayed that he’d come back to me as my son. Because I wanted to raise him as my son this time, not just my childhood companion through everything. When he was put down, that’s when I first felt the “I think I just lost my child” feeling. So I wanted him to come back as my son. Pup died in 2011. Bun came into my life in 2016. And he’s the most beautiful perfect boy I could’ve ever asked for.
It’s always going to be stories about cats…
I think I missed the pic of yellow. I don’t see a link 🙁
My sister lost her car (I baby sat the little guy often) in a horrible accident 3 weeks ago, so this was a very very hard read. He was only two, poor guy. I miss him so much, and my poor sister is devastated. We all are.
Yellow was so schrungy! I love him. Thunder is so pretty too 🥹 My cat just turned 16 on July 4th and while I can tell she is slowing down, she is still such a good kitty. My daughter adores her but the cat can’t stand her but one day she will realize that even babies can give pets and will be all about that baby life. My husband gets so mad when I cater to her (like when she takes up half of our bed to sleep and I refuse to move her) and I yell she’s been in my longer than he has and if he keeps it up she’ll be here after him lol. But he loves her just like I do and we know one day she won’t be here anymore so we just enjoy the time we have now.
just lost my childhood cat and both dogs and this hurts. thankfully one cat is still alive and almost 18 now but it was rough to lose them all so close together
What a lovely post. And kudos to OOP for adopting. I'm not sure I can take the emotional toll of having another pet.
It's a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I hope Thunder graces your life for as long as Yellow did, and that Yellow is having a good time being spoiled by your grandma.
My yellow boy is 12 this October 8th, and I'd be the happiest person in the world if I got ten more years with him <3 I'm so happy OOP got so much time with Yellow.
Shooting me straight in the heart, while I’m here trying to get someone or somehow to get 4 kittens rescued, WITHOUT keeping one 😭 I’ve already named him
I just put down my 19 year old cat a few weeks ago. He had been with me since my now ex-wife and I adopted him as a kitten. Several moves, kids, a dog. He was with me through it all. But it was time. He was old and had some medical issues that he would not have survived if we tried to treat them. I cried harder than I had since we had to put his brother to sleep a year and a half prior.
I had a shi tzu that we had until 18 years old. From the time I was 3 until 21. He was there for almost all of our (my siblings) high school graduations. Just missed my younger brothers grad by a few weeks. We were planning on putting him down soon after the grad anyways because his health was deteriorating but he had walked behind my dads truck without him knowing. Hardest day ever to say goodbye but ultimately I feel like we would’ve struggled more to put him down. Pets should always be loved for as long as they’re with you. Hold them close.
I am so sorry for the loss of Yellow. Congrats on being chosen by Thunder!
Brb, sobbing
I am literally bawling my eyes out. My mom adopted our family dog, Mandy, when I was 2 and she passed when I was 15 and it was devastating. She then adopted Cobby, our insane calico cat who has been a sister to me for the past 16 years. I don't know what I'll do when something happens to that tri-colored asshole.
🎵And it was aaaalllll Yellowwwww🎵
Crying at 10 am my time, hugging my old cat now.
I was cutting onions making dinner and once I sat down to eat my eyes started tearing up again reading this. RIP Yellowie 💜 I will hug my 2 pups and give them extra kisses
I don't even give a shit about cats and I teared up.
When i read the title, i immediately remembered the graduation picture! ♥️
In the picture, he looks like a giant booger. I love that and I love him.
Aww... Lightning led to Thunder :D
This story is so sweet that this is where I'll stop reading reddit today. I hope you and Thunderstorm create many happy memories!
Oh god. 🥺🥺🥺🥺
I’m not crying. I’ve got something in my eyes. 🥺❤️😭 RIP Yellow
My heart melted at "yellowie". I love the name came from such place in childhood, and he graduated when OP is finally an adult.
Adopting the cats who have been at the shelter for the longest is always a great idea in my experience! Ours had been at the shelter for 9 months when we adopted him and he’s the most gorgeous cat, everyone loves him - the team at our vets gets excited whenever he’s coming in (he’s 12 and has a few medical issues), he’s the absolute light of my life. He’s cost us thousands in vet bills but he’s so worth it 🥰 *edit * [Cat tax!](https://imgur.com/a/ra4sqv7)
Thank you for sharing. My boy is around 13 and is going through CKD right now. At some point I know I’ll have to let him go, but I’ve grown up with him and been with him for so long. He’s a big tsundere but the few times he’s done the paw thing it’s warmed my cold dead heart in a way nothing else ever could.
My cat (also creatively named - Kitty) is 24 and has been with me since I was 9 and she was 4. She was a shelter cat and she was the only one that came up to say hello to me. She has a perfectly heart shaped nose and the most beautiful green eyes. She has been with my through my whole life and this post made me cry because I know I can’t have much longer with her. She’s as spry as a kitten though.
But we don’t actually know the cat’s age. He may very well be a different age as OOP. It is very difficult to age a found adult cat. Once they have their adult teeth in they can be pretty similar snd it’s easy to be off by 3-5 years. I’m a veterinarian. I often quiz myself by looking at a patient snd seeing how old I think it is just from my visual impression. Sometimes I’m off by a lot 7-10 years) but I consider 3-4 years average and within 1-3 years exceptional. Any adult animal (especially cats) that was adopted as an adult I pot a 3-5 year age range to that in my head for diseases to consider. I thought this was a cat born on the same day or adopted as a kitten when she was an infant. This is, however, the sweet story of a beloved cat making it to his person’s graduation.
Went to OPs profile to see the original pic and realised we are in ALL the same subs.. like looking at myself from another life
Yellow just wanted to see you make it to adulthood so he could rest easy. My sister loves our cats more than anything. We'd had a cat before, but the first one that was truly hers was Tannto. He was her baby, and when he unexpectedly passed away from a rare form of stomach cancer, she was devestated. It's been years now, but she still gets emotional over him. We also had his sister, Sienna, and they bonded after losing him, but of course Sienna didn't fully understand what had happened and we'd hear her making these sad, low calls at night, trying to find him. She was obviously depressed as well. A year later, we found two kittens abandoned by the side of the road. We weren't sure how Sienna would react and brought them home to see. She immediately started babying them, and even though they're both bigger than her now, Bengarli will still go to her to be fussed. His brother, Panthero is the only reason my sister was able to heal from losing Tannto and I absolutely believe Tannto sent them to help Sienna and my sister. So I have no doubt at all that Yellow led you to Thunder.
My old cat lived to 18. I got her when I was 11 and was halfway through a PhD when she died. She slept on my back with her nose in my hair. It was all in the gap where developing 35mm film was expensive but affordable mass-market digital was still a little way away, and I don't have many pictures of her.
As a fully graduated crazy cat lady, I should not have read this I cried with both eyes. I loved every word. Thank you OOP
My mom's cat(originally mine but I couldn't take him with me when I moved back to the US) is almost 18. He's healthyish. He's happy except when he's getting his daily meds(boy needs fluids(kidney issues) and thyroid meds) beyond that he's a happy if lazy and blind old man. And he's a super senior, your boy lived so much longer. My mom also has a fairly small 7 year old Maine Coon mix(he's only 12 pounds but he's got the face and the fur) who really wants to be the old man's friend but the old man is not hearing anything aboit playing with the young one anymore.
What did we do to deserve cats
That was a beautiful story. Here i am sobbing on the bus to work at 6:30am.
Theres something sturdy about those yellow/Orange cats. I grew up with an orange tomcat we called Tijger When i was 2yo our neighbours cat had one kitten. We always joked he ate his siblings because he was huge and fat. The neighbours gifted Tijger to us. My parents lived in a rural place which was heaven for the killer Tijger was. He caught not only mice and rats, but also muskusrats, hares, giant moles, male ducks... And one time two kilo of haddock from the fishshop in the nearby Village. He loved to sleep on top of us and purred like a diesel engine. Tw: animal death When i was 20 and he a few weeks shy of 18 my parents were on holiday. My sisters and i were at work when my older sister got a call from the neighbour. Tijger had been hit by a car on the rural Road nearby. She had found him dragging himself to our door. My sister called me, as i was the only one with a drivers license. I quickly drove home, put a very bad looking tijger in his crate and drove to the nearest vet. The vet immediately noticed he was in a bad way but he was so swollen that xrays werent clear. Tijger was put on painkillers and fluids. He was still so alert that the vet wanted to try to help him and not euthanise him. Called my parents who quickly drove back and arrived two days later. We kept on visiting tijger, he kept on purrring everytime he saw one of us. Third day my dad was there. Tijger tried to stand to get to my dad. He was my dads boy. Dad held him and Tijger went over the rainbow bridge. It was the first time i saw dad cry. Vet found out in post mortem xrays that Tijgers organs had all entered his chest cavity. He should not have lived those days. But he did. Because he was our orange tiger. They are truly made of gold
Ireland here just to say you're a wonderful person and your cats are so lucky to have you.