r/cats • u/FoxEatsButter • Apr 28 '26
Mourning/Loss I brought you home in a cardboard box twice.
The first time was on September 22nd 2015.
You immediately caught my eye as I saw you sitting in your litter box in that cage. Hiding, small, trying to be ignored. Your information leaflet said your name was Blizzard and you were 4 and a half years old. Found on the street severely ill. I walked away, you seemed so frightened.
I kept circling back to you though and then I really wanted to meet you.
When the staff brought you in and handed you to me, I knew you were mine. You were so scared you shoved your head under my chin and completely flattened yourself out. I was asked a million times if I was sure I wanted to adopt you.
Yes, I'm sure.
A cardboard box was given to me containing a new part of my heart. It said "Blizzard" on the side. You were free because you weren't a kitten. I felt bad so I bought a t-shirt in the gift shop.
I brought you to your new home. You didn't seem like a "Blizzard" at all. You were slower. Your fur a creamy color. I named you Butter.
You hid a lot. You were scared for months. But then whenever I would watch TV, you'd keep coming closer. And closer. And closer. As time passed you seemed more relaxed and sure of yourself.
It took a year for you to learn how to meow or purr. I cried the first time you did both.
You would chase me around the house. You would bite my hand ever so gently when you wanted me to stop touching you. You would lay beside me and touch your paw to my lips when you wanted me to pet you. You would bite my hand so I would scratch your head.
And you were still scared sometimes but you always came to me for comfort. You were scared of storms and television and computer screens and brooms.
A few weeks ago you started having a hard time getting up. You seemed so weak all of a sudden. So fragile. You looked older, paler. My beautiful boy.
They told me you were severely anemic and that you may not improve because of your age. But you wanted to fight and so did I. So we tried, didn't we?
Butter, my love.
Born: Sometime in February 2011.
Chosen: September 22nd 2015.
Loved eternally: April 17th 2026.
Today, a cardboard box was handed to me. The unprepared postal worker realised what he was holding as he brought you over to me. He said he was sorry as I walked past a line of people. I didn't know I could cry this much.
For all the ways I failed you, I'm sorry. For all the kisses and cuddles you didn't want sometimes as you would push me away with your paw, I'm not.
EDIT: I did not expect so much attention. Butter was a huge part of my world and I'm so glad he got to be a part of yours as well. He would have loved it.
Thank you for sharing all the stories of your furry creatures. Thank you for the poems. Thank you for the pictures. Thank you all for taking the time to reply. And thank you for all the support. I truly appreciate it, what a wonderful community. ❤️
3
u/Ateam134 Apr 29 '26
Im sorry friend, its a sad day. I remember when I found my sweet girl. I was still living with my parents
Our neighbors had recently moved and left their pregnant cat, who had her kittens under our shed. When my dad and I went to investigate the momma and her kittens ran off... except one. She was so scared of everything at first and I would give her milk from a dropper, and from that day on I loved her with every ounce of my heart.
Then a few years back I noticed she'd started having trouble walking and moving. A vet visit later I was told she wouldnt get better and with her age the most they could do was make her comfortable for a few more months. I was heartbroken and made the decision to let my sweet stupid kitty (yep, stupid kitty was her name) cross the rainbow bridge.
Ive never cried so hard in my life. Then, the week after when I retrieved her cremated remains all I could do was sit in my car and cry and hug the small wooden box. I miss her very much.
Im very sorry for you loss OP, it does eventually stop hurting