Average Lifespan of a Ragdoll Cat
This is a common question among Ragdoll owners and people looking to get their own Raggie. Knowing how long your cat will live is essential information, even if this is an approximation. So, how long does a Ragdoll cat live?
The lifespan of a Ragdoll Cat – The average lifespan of a Ragdoll cat is 9-15 years. They can certainly live longer. Some readers have had Ragdolls live as long as 26 years.
When my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, was around 14 years old, I remember Googling how long a Ragdoll cat lived. I found out that the average lifespan of a Ragdoll is 9-15 years. But, of course, with Rags being 14, I wasn’t crazy about reading that!
Of course, Rags died at 19.5 years old, so he helped that average grow a little bit. So how do they come up with those averages anyway?
Something to remember about averages is that they are taken from a large crop of numbers. In other words, you have cats that die before 9 years of age and cats that die when they are older than 15 years old.
How Long Does a Ragdoll Cat Live?
In short, the average lifespan of a Ragdoll cat is 9-15 years, but averages are just that – averages. They can certainly live longer. My Rags passed at 19.5 years old. My parents’ Caymus passed at 16 years old and their Murphy at 16.5. And some readers have had Ragdolls live as long as 26 years.
Regardless, I would always estimate around 15 years old if you consider adopting a kitten. That kitty will be with you for a long time, and if you don’t see stability in your life, then it might not be the right time to adopt a cat.
Of course, you can never predict the future, so you might think your life will be stable, and something can happen that alters everything. There’s no exact to anything in life. Still, it is essential to consider a kitty’s life expectancy when adopting one.
No one wants to think about their kitty passing on, but it is a part of life and a sad part that every responsible pet owner must face.
As your cat ages, you may be considering what you will do when they pass – how will you handle it? How will you commemorate their life? You might want to check out different pet burial options if you don’t already have something in mind – that way it might be easier to deal with when the time comes.
Research now could save you from making a spontaneous decision later in a moment of grief.
Why is it Important to Know the Lifespan of Your Cat?
Knowing how long your cat is expected to live is crucial information for pet owners and people looking to become pet parents. Here are the main reasons why:
- You must know that you can take care of your domestic cat for its entire life. Ask yourself if you can support your cat emotionally and financially now and in 10 or 15 years.
- Knowing your cat’s lifespan can help you map out crucial developmental moments in its such as its time as a kitten, passing into adulthood, and reaching seniority. Kittens, adults, and geriatric cats require extra care and different lifestyles.
- You should also know how long your cat is expected to live for emotional reasons. Losing your cat will be an excruciating experience, so you should be prepared to know when it might happen.
Important Numbers about a Cat’s Age
Yes, the average lifespan of a Ragdoll cat is 9-15 years, but there’s more to think about than just those numbers.
It’s essential to remember that the age of 10 is a significant hump in a cat’s life and that most Ragdolls do get past it and live longer. Most of them reach the age of 15. But some live well past that, like my Rags, who made it all the way to 19.5.
Unfortunately, my parents’ Ragdoll cat Caymus passed at 16.
You’ll be happy to know that Ragdoll cats have even made it to 25. That is nothing short of impressive, but there are a lot of factors that influence the longevity of a cat’s life. Let’s go through the most important ones because this should give you a better idea of a Ragdoll cat’s lifespan.
Factors that Influence Longevity in Ragdoll Cats
When you hear a lifespan of up to 15 years, and even more, this means how long your cat could live if all goes well. But, unfortunately, plenty of things can leave a significant mark on a cat’s body and either expand its life or shorten it.
The good news is that you can actually control many of these. So as long as you take proper care of your cat, which you indeed have every intention of, you can give it an excellent chance at a long life. Here are the main factors you should be aware of:
Genetics
The lifespan average for the Ragdoll breed maybe 9-15, but you need to narrow that down to the individual, your Ragdoll cat. You might get more accurate information than the breed average can provide by asking how long your cat’s parents have lived. Look into the lifespan of its grandparents as well. This should offer more precise information.
However, don’t forget to ask about the conditions of the parents’ and grandparents’ deaths. It’s essential to get a bit of medical history because that could point you to the genetic diseases that they might have passed on to your cat. By being aware of these, you can inform your veterinarian and work more thoroughly on preventing them.
Gender
It is difficult to pinpoint whether tomcats or female cats (mollies) live longer because each gender is exposed to certain factors that might influence their lifespan. For example, male cats are territorial, and when they are in heat, they often fight other males to get to the females.
This can be a significant risk factor if your male cat lives outdoors and has the chance to leave home in pursuit of females and, naturally, if the male cat has not been neutered.
However, most Ragdoll cats that come from catteries are already altered (neutered or spayed) when they get to their families. So running off after cats is an out-of-the-ordinary situation.
On the other hand, female cats are exposed to some critical risk factors. Even if spayed, there is still some risk that they might develop breast cancer. While spaying minimizes the risk, it cannot remove it altogether.
On regular checkups, the veterinarian will always examine the cat’s breasts because prevention is the best policy when dealing with this issue. As for female cats that are not neutered, that will produce kittens, they are exposed to the risks brought on by complications when giving birth.
Acute diseases
Acute diseases have a rapid onset and development. Yet, most of the time, they appear out of nowhere, and acting fast is crucial.
To make sure you can do that, you should do some research into emergency veterinary care options. If the time ever comes for you to need urgent care for your cat, it’s best to know where to turn to. Talk to your veterinarian about this next time to have it all cleared out.
Aside from that, you must be able to recognize the symptoms that your cat might be displaying. Some are pretty subtle – life apathy, loss of appetite, not drinking enough water, not peeing enough, etc. So you always need to pay attention to your cat. As for the prevention of acute diseases, it all goes into general preventative measures.
Chronic diseases
Due to genetic factors, Ragdoll cats are prone to developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. But just because they are prone to it as a breed does not mean they are sure to get it.
However, you can use this information to prevent heart disease in your cat. In fact, when it comes to chronic disease, that is the very best you can do – work on prevention. But, first, take your cat to the vet at least two times a year for checkups.
This ensures that any disease your cat might suffer from is caught in the early stages, not the advanced ones. In some chronic diseases, the symptoms are challenging to notice, if any. For example, it’s tough to spot if a cat has chronic kidney disease, but it would come up in a regular blood work checkup.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases are pretty violent and difficult to treat. The good news is that vaccination covers a great deal of the very dangerous ones.
This starts when your cat is just a kitten, and when it gets the vaccines, it needs to build a strong immunity to infectious diseases. But this has to be maintained throughout life, so make sure you attend vaccination appointments with your vet! It can help your cat live a while longer. Please note that both outdoor and indoor cats have to be vaccinated.
Trauma
In most cases, you can’t foresee trauma, and when it comes, it can have dire consequences. After it happens, nothing is left to do except call that emergency number and take your cat to the hospital. But while you can’t prevent everything, there are some serious situations that you can make sure your cat is never in.
For instance, you can install a catio for your balcony and safety for your windows to ensure your house is catproof. Another thing you can do is supervise your cat when it is outside if that is the case.
Flea and parasite control
Fleas and macroparasites are a considerable threat to your cat, even if it lives indoors. However, it is one that you can eliminate with parasitic control.
Your vet can offer the best medication options for your cat. This can help prevent diseases that drastically reduce your cat’s life expectancy.
Nutrition
This is an immensely important role in your cat’s development and quality of life. Providing your cat with a balanced diet and high-quality food will help its body stay healthy. Regardless of your preference for cat food, aim for products that do not use additives, artificial taste enhancers, and other chemicals.
The best diet for a cat is a raw food diet – this mirrors the food they would eat in the wild and ensures you aren’t feeding your cat any ‘fillers’ like grains. Unfortunately, switching to a raw food diet from a wet or dry food diet can take some time and persistence. Still, the benefits, including potentially extending your cat’s lifespan, are worth it.
It is also imperative that your cat has a diet that is appropriate for its age. Young cats need a different diet than adult cats and an entirely different one than senior cats. Another element to keep in mind is whether your cat is neutered. If your cat has been neutered, then it must receive a diet for neutered cats for the rest of its life to avoid obesity.
Aside from the diet, there are some nutritional supplements that you can give your cats, such as Omega-3 or vitamins. However, it is best to consult your veterinarian before your start giving your cat supplements, especially when it comes to vitamins.
Lifestyle
Where and how the cat lives will significantly influence its lifespan. Here are a few things that might have an essential role in the cat’s lifestyle:
Indoor or outdoor
Whether a cat lives indoors, in an apartment or a house, or if it lives outdoors will undoubtedly influence how long it will live. Cats that live only outdoors get much more exercise and breathe fresh air all day, which is very healthy and can make them live longer.
On the other hand, they are also exposed to meteorological factors such as rain, snow, and extreme cold. This can have a negative influence on their health in the long run. They are also exposed to trauma if they only live outside.
As for indoor cats, they are sheltered from cold and dangers, but they are at risk of living a sedentary life, which is abnormal for cats and can shorten their lifespan.
However, you can quickly correct this by playing with your cat. Overall, living indoors is better for your cat. An even better option for an indoor cat is being taken outside in the garden. Or, you can take your cat to the park (with the proper protection of course) and have it under supervision at all times.
Stress
If your cat is stressed in its day-to-day life, this can negatively influence its health and lifespan. Cats can be stressed by other cats, family members, noises, inability to sleep, dogs or other animals that can scare them, and many other things. The only thing you can do is observe your cat and make sure that it is calm and relaxed. If not, try to identify the stress factors and work on removing them.
Activity
A sedentary lifestyle will actively shorten a cat’s life because it predisposes it to certain chronic diseases and diminishes its ability to fight disease. This is why playing daily with your cat is very important. Choose cat toys that exercise their body and mind, and your cat will be healthier.
Cats are independent animals, of course, but they still need a great deal of affection.
Affection and involvement
Cats are independent animals, of course, but they still need a great deal of affection. If their owners are affectionate with them, cats are more engaged and happier, which also helps them live longer. A state of happiness means a cascade of “positive” hormones in the body, which definitely provide a longer life to the cat. So, spend time with your cat daily, and it will live longer!
Do you have a Ragdoll cat? Or have you owned one that has passed? How old was your Ragdoll kitty when they passed?
How old is your cat now? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
My grandparents have a cat that’s 18 years old! She’s very friendly an loving. She’s much smaller than other rag doll cats, but she’s also been a sickly cat since they got her. My grandparents took her and her sister in a really long time ago. They were used for breeding so they always had a lot of health issues. Sadly the cat’s sister had to be put down because of cancerous sores in her mouth. My grandparents cat is still pretty spry for an old lady.
I have three generations = grandma Athena is 14. She has always been small but doing well. She had three kittens – one with cliff pallet. She lived 4 years, and loved every minute she was here – miss her dearly. Frankie and Sissy are 12, Sissy lives down the street at a neighbors and Frankie is and always has been the perfect Ragdoll. Frankie is loosing some of his hair on his sides, but otherwise in good health. Sissy had a litter of five kittens, I sold two and kept the other three (yes it was time to not do that again, I couldn’t sell them as they are my furry children lol). They are now 10 years old. Princess was with my daughter for a while and got over weight – has had weight problems ever since. Misty is very healthy, except she got a urinary track infection when she was young and we put her on Prescription CD. You need a prescription to purchase it, but Petsmart carries it and all my cats loved it. My vet said it is good food and fine to keep them all on it. They have all been on it for about 9 years now and I haven’t had any problems….except for Marty. He was one of the three I kept and at 6 he got Lipidosis (liver disease) – an awful disease and they don’t know why or how he got it. He died in my arms four days later, and I still miss him every day. All of my Ragdolls stay inside 100% of the time.
I loved my Ragdoll, Jazzy. I was forced to send her to kitty heaven this morning. She had enlarged kidneys several months ago. The vet couldn’t figure out what it was. I gave her several meds for a month, and then she came back with severe anemia. She dropped weight like crazy. We got to the point of a bone marrow aspiration that showed feline leukemia. After 2 blood transfusions she was ok for a few months, eating and drinking just fine, even playing. She just took a turn for the worse and I decided it was time. She was just 3 weeks shy of her 6th birthday. Jazzy was the love of my life and I can’t imagine that any other animal could ever replace her. I keep expecting her to turn the corner any second. Her passing was so peaceful. I brought her to a beautiful pet cemetary in Napa, California where she will be cremated and places in a beautiful pewter earn shaped like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. She will always be my little kitty.
I just lost my beloved Rosalind last week. She was seven years old. One morning I got up to find her apparently sitting on a piece of dirty string – when she got up to walk away, it was still attached to her body. It turned out that she had eaten a substantial quantity of ribbon and had to have emergency surgery to have it removed. It had bound her up so badly that she lost about a two-inch section of her bowel.
Two days later, the vet called to say that Rosalind was ready to come home, at the front of her cage, talking to everyone, and reaching out to touch the techs at the hospital. And then the later call, telling me that while they were getting her ready to come home, she collapsed suddenly without a heartbeat. They had been doing CPR for nearly ten minutes when I gave them permission to let my precious girl go.
Rosalind was the cat of my heart. She came to me within just a few weeks of my husband dying in 2006, and she never EVER let me grieve alone. And now I grieve for her. I brought her home that day. Her last resting place is in my back yard among the hydrangeas and peonies, marked with a large stone from my grandmother’s farm. I will miss her for the rest of my life.
Katherine – that’s sooo horrible! I am so sorry!
Katherine – I am so sorry, this is so sad. Your pain is so clear, I cried for you. Rosalind is loving your husband now and they both are with you always. You are in my thoughts as I go to sleep tonight.
Hi Jordan – Be gentle on yourself. Take solace in the fact that you know how much you loved him and that he knew it. It was a terrible accident, but it was an accident and you have learned from it. The guilt you are punishing yourself with is not serving any purpose. Take special care of Sasha now – you all need that love right now.
Thank you Betty for your kind and thoughtful response.
I’ve been extra attentive of Sasha the past few days. She’s an incredibly independant cat however and often feels like running around and playing in the bushes on the side of our house.
We’ve actually just adopted another ragdoll, a female this time who’s roughly 6months old. We got her as a rescue from animal control and she has her claws, currently am in the process of re-directing all the claw fury to a scratching pad and not our furniture. She’s sweet in temperment much like Sammy, however she obviously has her own personality. This is primarily for my wife and I think it’s good for her as she was having a really hard time.
I like this new one, but am still very fixated on Sammy. He was my lil’ pal, I often referred to him as any number of nicknames: Lil’ buddy, Sam-cat/rat, Lil’ Mr. Sam-Sam, Bubbers, Samuel L. Ratson, Puff Master, Bear-puss, etc.
An endless list of names and I constantly doted on him. I used to kiss his soft forehead or cheek and he would purr and nestle his head into my stomach or chest. We literally did everything together in our home. He hung out on me as basically a mobile lazy boy. I loved him without real words to describe the bond.
Thank you again and I’m looking to continue to adopt the lil’ guys and hopefully I’ve learned what it means to protect this special breed.
Hi Jordan – That love is called unconditional and it sounds like you had quite the full expression of it! You both were lucky to find each other. You know how Sammy buried his head in you? That is purely a statement of affection. When it’s the cheeks, they are marking but when it’s the top of the head, it’s an expression of love. Cats are like children – they are each unique and cannot replace one another. We love each other for who we are. You should allow yourself to fall in love with your new kitty with the full knowledge that you are not being disloyal to your Sammy. Love is the best healer; but you already know that – that’s why you adopted a new raggie for your wife. Let yourself fall in love with whoever this new kitty is and find healing. Holding back is not fair to this newbie who will love you unconditionally.
Hello everyone,
My name is Jordan I had a ragdoll named Sammy pass away 3 days ago at 11 or 12. I’m uncertain as until recently I didn’t even know what he was. We took him in as a pity/love at first site rescue from a friend leaving the states going back to Polland. He was owned by an older woman prior to this. For whatever reason he was declawed which always made me sad for him as he was a gentle giant.
Sammy spent a ton of time outdoors. He had our trusty first cat Sasha who is 4 with him and she, although small in stature, is a fighter and defender. Her and Sammy spent a great deal of time outside playing in our yard and generally just hanging out.
He also spent a large amount of time inside with me. Doing sumersaults across my legs and lounging in my lap, he was a great cat. I really didn’t know much about the breed and thought he was just a weird cat that maybe had dependancy issues due to his declawing. He was the sweetest animal I’ve ever had and I loved him dearly. He’d wander around our neighborhood and make friends with all our neighbors. We lived in a fairly quiet street and not much traffic, so his risk of cars was low.
Unfortunately luck ran out and short sighted as I was he was killed by a car. The car was actually my own and me and my wife were responsible for it. As soon as we went over him I rushed as he ran for the garage crying. I scooped him up and rushed to a vet wich was less a mile from our home. he was moving, crying and had peed but I did not see blood and hoped it was a minor injury of his leg or something similar. Unforunately this was not the case, he was put on oxygen but after a short 10mins in the back with a tech and the vet he came back to a waiting room we had been sent to and told us he had passed away. They gave him pain meds and even tried CPR on him but were unable to revive him.
I was crushed and my wife feels terrible guilt. We’ve both sobbed for days following this as I feel so terrible about what happened. I can’t remove the image from my head and know that he would have lived many more years if it wasn’t for my carelessness. I didn’t really understand what kind of cat that I had. I loved him like a child and loved how cheerful and happy he always was. He brought a special warmth to my life and we’ve dedicated a special rememberance spot in our cario at home for him.
I’ve never missed anything, not people in my life who’ve passed or otherwise, quite as much as I miss this cat. He wasn’t a pet, he was a family member and one I will never feel ok about as I was completely responsible and could have prevented his death.
Thank you for this website and I appreciate anyone who reads this.
I own 2 rag dolls. Chipper will be 14 in October, and his brother Rocky will turn 12 in July. They have always been house cats and never sick except for the occasion tummy upset.
Cheryl and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It brought back memories over fifty years ago when I lost a dear kitten who I can still picture in my mind. I have always had cats, losing one at two years to feline leukemia in the 1970’s, but others lived to be 10, 14, 18 years. No matter what the age, it is so painful. They are truly part of our families. I get teary just reading the stories on this site. I discovered Ragdolls almost five years ago when I lost my beloved Maine Coon mix at age 14. She was perfect in every way and so loved. My wise daughter suggested a breed I had never heard of, but she thought it would be a perfect match for me. All my life I found kittens/cats from a variety of sources: shelters, strays, gift from a student, even one that was living outside at a boatyard. That little sweet kitten needed so much medical care that my vet joked that he didn’t know how these cats found me… When I learned about Ragdolls I just fell in love. Four years later, my Ragdoll girls, sisters Molly and Daisy, are such a joy! It may be that I am retired and spend so much time with them, but judging by the reactions of those who meet them, they really are very special. They are gorgeous and have such personalities! I am so thankful for this site. There are so many knowledgeable, caring readers who understand what these little furballs mean to us! For needed support at any time with medical or other issues, this site is a resource. My best wishes for those of you going through difficult times with your babies.
Underweight while still eating could indicate a thyroid issue also…that’s easy to test for.
Do the vet check her renal values? It could be an underlying kidney disease going on. One of my cats had what we thought at the time was a stroke and it turned out she had pain on her kidney area. Muscle and weight lost are common symptoms of Kidney Disease as well…
Do the vet check her renal values? It could be an underlying kidney disease going on. One of my cats had what we thought at the time was a stroke and it turned out she had pain on her kidney area. Muscle and weight lost are common symptoms of Kidney Disease as well…
I would consider a trip to a specialty clinic . One that houses doctors of various types such as oncology, neurology etc., what you are describing is far from normal even at 15. it, you may get your answer there. I did after three years with my regular Vet.
I have a 14 year old lady ragdoll – queen cobweb!!
She is showing no signs of slowing Down just yet!! She is quite possibly the LOUDEST cat In the world, when she’s trying to get mine & my 1 year old sons attention it hurts your ears! She had a urinary Tract infection when she was about 6 / 7 – I personally think she suffered some kind of stroke, half her body went limb she collapsed a curved her neck and was making the most awful noise I was extremely upset 🙁 we took her in to hospital within a couple of hours and were told it was a urinary tract infection – hmm!
I wonder if anyone could shed a little light on something, she occasionally does this little dance type thing, she backs up and starts shaking her bum and sort of tippy toeing on her back paws, she doesn’t seem in any pain and makes no noise as though she is in discomfort.
Also she has virtually NO muscle mass anymore, her skin is so thin I can actually see her bone in certain places on her legs !! :S she eats Iams senior and she polishes her meals off but just seems to be wasting away ?!
She sounds very sweet. I have had a couple of cats who did that little dance. It always seemed to me to be a “happy dance”. They always did/do it when they see people they love – like after we’ve been gone all day – its a big welcome home rather than the usual “Its so good to see you” stretch. Could this be it?
What your describing with the “dance” is usually reserved for scenting or marking. They shake the tail and are immitting a scent or mark on something. This can be due to a cat being overwhelmed and exhibiting it externally or a sign of solidarity. Cats love to mark things and what thing do they love most? US! And our stuff!
Ha ha! I can laugh, Jordan because my cats are all fixed – they can try to mark all they want – I get the big welcome but not the stink! Thanks for the laugh 😀
Yes….indeed, marking is communication in the cat world. Just as people talk, some like to talk more then others wether they are fixed or not.
Its part of our world and must be tolerated if you are a cat lover. You learn to fight the marking and you live with it. But you must also learn each cats language so you will not be far behind answering like a human with the cat cleaner.
Posh paws,
The last couple of posts before yours was of our heartbreak of losing our ragdoll at the tender little age of 15 months. It has been nearly 3 months since we lost Bella, and only now have I been able to come back to site. As soon as I did, and saw all the beautiful pics of the ragdolls again, I knew I shouldn’t have.
But to read your pain, straight underneath mine. How heartbreaking this is. I’m like you, we can’t live without a ragdoll again either, but we are (we have a 13yo very healthy, but lazy moggy). The pain of losing Bella was so severe, I can’t replace her. And hearing so many stories, of so many health issues they have, confirms it for me, I/we just can’t face it again. We had a little piece of perfection for just a short time, but it will always be with me. Good luck on your decision, sending loads of love xo
Also, I just wondered about this?
This breeder that I may get my kitten from says she does not do the test because all her 5 generations are clear. Just say I take the kitten to the vet at some stage and get him tested and it comes back that he has got it. What would I do?
Does that make sense? sorry if not.
Thank you, I am so devastated. Can you believe how it happend? I mean, we thought he was fine, just having tests for the day. There were two cardiologists there and they brought his heartbeat back but he lost oxygen to the brain for too long so he was dead really.
Ive been talking to a lot of breeders and they say its unusual, they have never had anything like that. I found one who has the mum dad and granparents and proof of 5 generations.
Thanks for the link Laura
What is Tachycardia Gayle? is that a heart thing?
Tachycardia is a heart problem in which her heart beats much too fast. We give her Atenolol 2x a day which slows the heart down a bit. This heart problem affects her appetite, too, so we give her a prescription med for that so that she will eat. She was diagnosed with this about 3 years ago. The Vet had to pull most of her teeth because of this condition, too, but she manages to eat without them. I love her dearly; she is the sweetest little girl.
I told the breeder about it and she said that none of her other Ragdolls had it.
It is so sad that these precious cats end up with this awful heart condition. I’m so sorry that your precious baby had it.
I bought my ragdoll last July, he was the most amazing cat I ever had. He loved me so much. He got an abscess when he was about 7 months old then the vet told me he could hear a heart murmur, he said not to worry for now as it was not too bad. I went back a month later to get him neutered, the vet didnt want to do it with the heart being a bit funny and referred the cat to a specialist, we went two weeks later. The cardiologist said he was going to do lots of tests so we left our lovely boy with him. As we were driving home 10 mins later we got a call from the vet to say he just took my boy out of his box to weigh him and he had a heart attack and died suddenly. I cant believe it, I am so sad, miss him so much.
I cant be without a ragdoll now, so Ive gone and put a deposit down on another kitten but Im so worried now. Im thinking I should of just got a moggie. This has been so hard and horrible, I cant cope with it again.
Make sure the breeder that you are getting your new kitten from does DNA testing for HCM. Ragdolls and Maine Coons are the only two breeds at the moment that are lucky enough to have this test. Here is a link for more info. http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/csds/vcgl/ragdoll-faq.html
I am so sorry about your Ragdoll. Mine has Tachycardia and is now 5 years old. i feel lucky that she has made it this long and hope she is with me for many years to come. I give her meds everyday and hope it extends her life. Again, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to you.
Your loving thoughts are so very appreciated thankyou.
And to Betty, what an absolutely heartwarming message of love and support. This touched me so much, I was unable to read it aloud to the rest of the family.
Your words regarding animals isolating themselves at their time of death and reminding me that Bella stayed with us, on us, have really left an impact on me. A thought that I can hold with me as the days wear on and remember it as her last gift of love to us. Thank you so much xx
Dear Sheryl – You are all in my heart and thoughts for the coming days. Dying is not a passive act, it is the act of letting go. The letting go is a difficult thing for both humans and animals. For animals, it involves becoming completely defenseless which is perhaps why so many isolate when it is their time. Bella did not isolate, she did the opposite. Bella held on to come home to pass in the comfort of her family. You all should try to take comfort in the knowledge that your love for her was reciprocal. She knew she was well-loved and she showed that in the only way she could – by coming home to engage in perhaps the most personal of acts. But even knowing this, my heart feels your pain and I am sorry that you lost such a brave little baby. Be gentle on yourselves in the coming days and weeks.
Sheryl,
I am so very sorry that sweet Bella passed away. You tried your best for her to get better. I know how you feel; it’s devastating to lose your furry baby.
Gayle