La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We said good-bye to our wonderful, loving, sweet, exasperating cats, Dudo and Moose, yesterday evening around 7. They came to live with us from a shelter in Seville when they were 10 months old. That’s exactly one month shy of 14 years ago. They made Spain home for us and our lives were forever changed. They both had different unresolvable health issues which finally made life challenging for them and for us. We’re grateful, though, that they were happy and loved until the very end and that one didn’t leave the other behind. That would have been impossible. We were all lucky to have each other for so many years.
Poor San Geraldo had the terrible task of forcing them into their travel carriers for the trip to the vet which made the entire experience even more challenging for him. But the vet clinic, Centro Clínico Veterinario Victoria, is an exceptional place filled with superb staff and they made it as easy as they could for all four of us. We went to Goiko for dinner because we didn’t feel like being alone in the house last night.
This morning, we cleaned up the cat things, uncovered the furniture in the living room, and we’re now waiting for the first of two friends from Goiko to come get cat trees, food, and more for their own loved cats. That’s making it so much easier.
San Geraldo had the litter box in his office. He cleaned it today for the last time. He had a huge, old, plastic spoon he used to scoop and spread the litter. That spoon had previously been used in our kitchen. He brought the spoon into my office and asked: “Can I sterilize this with boiling water and use it…” I rolled my eyes and said, “That spoon will NOT be used in our kitchen.” Ah, SG.
Ayer por la noche, alrededor de las 7, nos despedimos de nuestros maravillosos, cariñosos, dulces y exasperantes gatos, Dudo y Moose. Llegaron a vivir con nosotros desde un refugio en Sevilla cuando tenían 10 meses. Eso fue hace casi 14 años. Hicieron de España nuestro hogar y nuestras vidas cambiaron para siempre. Ambos tenían diferentes problemas de salud sin solución que finalmente les hicieron la vida difícil, tanto a ellos como a nosotros. Sin embargo, estamos agradecidos de que fueran felices y amados hasta el final y de que uno no abandonara al otro. Eso habría sido imposible. Todos tuvimos la suerte de tenernos los unos a los otros durante tantos años.
El pobre San Geraldo tuvo la terrible tarea de meterlos en sus transportines para el viaje al veterinario, lo que hizo que toda la experiencia fuera aún más difícil para él. Pero la clínica veterinaria, Centro Clínico Veterinario Victoria, es un lugar excepcional con un personal magnífico y nos lo pusieron lo más fácil posible a los cuatro. Fuimos a cenar a Goiko porque no nos apetecía estar solos en casa anoche.
Esta mañana, limpiamos las cosas de los gatos, destapamos los muebles de la sala y ahora estamos esperando a que la primera de dos amigos de Goiko venga a buscar árboles para gatos, comida y más para sus queridos gatos. Eso lo está haciendo mucho más fácil.
San Geraldo tenía la caja de arena en su oficina. La limpió hoy por última vez. Tenía una cuchara de plástico enorme y vieja que usaba para recoger y esparcir la arena. Esa cuchara había sido usada anteriormente en nuestra cocina. Trajo la cuchara a mi oficina y preguntó: “¿Puedo esterilizarla con agua hirviendo y usarla…?” Puse los ojos en blanco y dije: “Esa cuchara NO se usará en nuestra cocina”. Ah, SG.
• Su última visita al pasillo, el jueves por la tarde.
• Durante un año, esperamos a que los chicos se sentaran en el palco de la terraza e incluso saltaran a la plataforma para que pudieran ver lo que pasaba afuera. Nunca lo hicieron. Hasta hace tres días, cuando Moose lo convirtió en una actividad diaria. ¡Típico!
OMG!!!!! Devastating! My tears have started. Feeling for your pain – and all of ours. My sympathies for both of you abound. 🙁
Oh my! I am so sorry for your loss! You have done a remarkable job of keeping your duo happy and content.
May the paws rest in peace; may their energy and memories fill you with joy.
Rade
Oh Mitch and SG, I feel your pain. It’s never an easy choice, but The Boys are pain-free and illness free now.
And they loved and were loved, not just by you two, but by everyone who stopped by and read of their antics.
I myself will miss them terribly.
RIP Boys
This news breaks my heart. I always loved seeing their photos and reading of their antics and personalities on your blog. You gave them such a wonderful life! No cats would want or need better humans than you and San Geraldo. Hugs to you both and farewell, sweet Dudo and Moose.
Heartbroken here but you did the right thing. Still i will miss your reports on their antics. We have also been through this in the past. Dudo and Moose you were loved by many.
I am so sorry, so sad for your loss. Take time, take care of yourselves. Hugs from afar.
My heart is breaking for both of you. Much loved. Always will be missed. X
Mary
Oh, Mitchell and Jerry… my heart didn’t need anything else to make it sad, but this … this news is so hard to read. But, understandable… and I am so sorry for you both. What a sweet, happy, long life you two gave to those boys.
OMG!!!! I HAVE TO GO TO WORK SHORTLY AND I’m now a mess!! Racoon time. I’m so sad to read this and for Rade’s Lilo. I loved your cats!! And for some reason enjoyed a kinship with Moose. I will miss them here. But being brothers it’s sort of comforting they went to the rainbow bridge together. My condolences to you and San Geraldo today. One pet is hard enough, let alone two. You guys had a lot of fun with them, and they were practically internet stars in their own right.
Moose and Dudo lived their best lives with you and SG. I’ll miss their little faces, their personalities and their brotherly antics. Thank you for sharing them with all of us!
Massive hugs you guys! You did the right thing for sure. We’ve had cats and dogs over our 53 years and can still feel the sense of loss for all them. Take care, and remember “no kitty litter utensils in the good silverware draw, EVER!” Winks
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh, sad news. Such a hard decision to make even when it’s the best thing.
Oh Mitchell, I have dreaded the day when I would read this post. It is so incredibly heartbreaking. I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet, the loss cannot be adequately put into words. I know you and SG loved those cats and the next weeks will be very difficult. I am typing this as both of my dogs are resting at my feet. I look down at them and my eyes fill with tears. I will miss seeing their photos and reading about their antics. Love and hugs to both you and SG.
Oh, no! Even knowing that this day was going to come doesn’t make reading this news any easier. My heart goes out to you both. Very sad.
RIP Dudo. RIP Moose.
Jx
Hugs from both of us.
And, thank you for sharing Moose’s and Dudo’s lives with us.
They knew they ‘had it made’ living with you two.
So sorry. But so wise and kind to say goodbye to both together, as they’d been together for their long and happy life with you and sg. But I know it’s never long enough. Boud
I honestly did not realize this day was coming so soon.
I am so sorry. I know what a huge place Moose and Dudo had in your hearts and your lives. You did the right thing although that was not the easy thing.
Please be tender with yourselves. And no, SG. Just…no. On the spoon thing.
With love…Ms. Moon
I’m very sad for your loss, and indeed, my loss on reading about and seeing the antics of those lovely guys. Please be assured you did the right thing. Big hugs to you both. 😢😢❤️❤️
I am so sorry to read this sad news. In the last 40 years we went through similar experiences 4 times, it is painful. Thinking of you both be well. You have Spring now to look forward to.
So sorry to hear this about “the boys.” Sending you love and my condolences. They had a great life with you both.
Mitchell and Gerry, I am so sorry. Sending you all my love.❤️❤️❤️
What a sad day. Didn’t realize both cats were so sick. But lots of wonderful memories.
Oh my goodness. I’m so, so very sorry for the loss of your sweet boys. My heart goes out to all of you. Sending you and SG lots of love.
Jennifer
Oh Mitchell and Jerry! What a day for you all. I am so sorry, and thank you for being such good stewards to the boys. Olivia
I’m sorry, but not really surprised. One or the other or both seemed to be sick every day and you made a lot of trips to the vet. You knew it was time to let them go. We’ll miss them, too, and will have to adjust to the loss.
Love,
Janie
Hi, we’ve all been there and it’s so… so… hard. As you mention this I watch the sun go down over the Jura and remember our last cat sitting on the kitchen windowsill soaking up the last of the rays, with tears in my eyes. That was over 6 years ago, but the memories still remain.
You gave those cats a great life and you will have many memories. It’s a blessing…. if one can say that… that they went together.
Oh Scoot, I’m so sorry. Having lost our Bella a year ago, I saw this coming and dreaded it. The boys lived a long and happy life because of you two. Them going together kind of warmed my heart in an odd way. Big hugs to both you and SG. Keep SG out of the kitchen until he has time to grieve.
My heart is breaking for you and SG. It’s never easy.
Please know that I care and I’m thinking of y’all.
Hugs to you both.
Hugs to you and SG.
May their wings give them lightness and continued flights of memories to you both for years to come
Awww
So very sad.
Sending hugs.
XOXO
May they rest in peace; you did all the best for them, guys ;-)! Jan from Perth.
So sad to read about the cats. I knew that they had been puking a lot etc, but didn’t realise they were so poorly. It did remind me of my previous dog when you kept talking about the sickness all the time……he eventually had a scan and was riddled with cancer. Sending hugs.
Frances
THANKS TO YOU ALL for the kind comments.
We had a wonderful 14-year run with Dudo and Moose and are grateful for every minute.
Oh, Mitchell, I’m only now seeing this news. I’m so sorry for the both of you. Losing a pet (never mind two) is one of the hardest things a human can experience. You did them a kindness by helping them along when it was time. Dave and I are thinking of you and SG.
Steve:
Thanks so much. We’re doing OK, but it’s so strange to not hear them, see them, be ordered around by them. And we both miss cuddling with them.
I read blogs on Sunday, and I read them in reverse. I could tell from the latter comments what was coming up and there was a part of me hoping this wasn’t so. I too am sorry at this loss. Having lost my pet last November I know what this feels like. I am glad to see you two surrounded by love here in the comments.
Urspo:
Thanks! As you know, it’s not easy. But, yes, the kindness expressed is heartwarming.