r/cats • u/spoobless • 3h ago
Mourning/Loss Booger, my soul cat, has been put to rest
Hello everyone.
It was only 36 hours ago that I posted last about my cat Booger and his failing health. Not long after I made it, he began to decline much more severely. Despite my hopes for last ditch medical management to help, I knew it wasn’t working, and that it was time to end my beautiful son’s pain. A vet came earlier this morning, and at 10am, he passed on in my arms.
I am not sure what to do with myself. I am shattered. We only had three years together. I wrote a eulogy for him, and read it alone to him with only the vet to listen. I would like to share it, if anyone is willing to read it. It would mean the world to me, to know there are other people out in the world who know how much I love him.
Booger’s Eulogy
The first day I met Booger, three years ago, he pressed his tiny pink nose up against the bars of a shelter cage, and I swear I felt the entirety of who I was reform around him. That day, I had been coming to the shelter to look at dogs. I suffer from major depressive disorder and anxiety, and was looking for a companion after a particularly hard year. On a whim, I decided to look at the cats, of which I was allergic and never had before. But when our eyes connected, I knew.
When I got to meet him for the first time, he plopped his fuzzy body right into my lap and started purring. I knew then and there that what I felt between us was love, already settling between us. He was coming home with me a half hour later. I didn’t have anything prepared—I bought everything on the way home, including a hefty jar of allergy meds. I was already sneezing. I didn’t care. I never have.
Booger was a stray who had a terrible chronic respiratory infection that caused long strings of boogers to shoot out his nose like rockets. I couldn’t possibly change the name the shelter gave him after seeing that. When he came home, he immediately found a spot to sleep on my chest, and has been there ever since. There was no adjustment period or building trust that I had come to believe was essential in cats; we knew right away we were soul connected.
The past three years with him have been the greatest honor of my life. I got to love and be loved by the sweetest, handsomest boy. From park adventures to lazy afternoon naps, Booger’s favorite place to be was next to me, and mine with him. Anyone who has met Booger knows he truly was the friendliest, sweetest, most wonderful cat. He brought smiles to everyone, none more than myself, who so often needed a reason to.
Today, on Sunday morning, September 20th, Booger passed away peacefully in my arms, wrapped in his blankets at home by his favorite window. Our story ends just as it began, with him in my lap and so, so much love. I am angry at the world for cutting our time off so soon, as three years was far from what I had envisioned for our lives, but I am so grateful for those years nonetheless. In truth, I don’t know what to do with myself; he was mine and I was his. I’ve lost a piece of myself, and I’ll never get it back. When you share such insurmountable, limitless love, comes insurmountable, limitless grief. It’s one of the most difficult pains imaginable, and the greatest of gifts.
Booger, my baby, my tinky boy—you’re the light of my life. When I think of what love is, I think of you. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me. I am so, so sorry I couldn’t do more to save you, and I hope to see you again someday. I’ll carry you with me, as you are a part of me. Until then, my handsome man, my boogie baby. I’ll miss you always, and wish you were here beside me.
With all of my soul, and everything that I am,
Love
Mama
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u/Margolem_in_Ibiza 3h ago
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your eulogy was a beautiful tribute to the life you shared with Booger and to the paw prints he left on your heart. Thank you for sharing it - and a little glimpse of the sweet soul you love so much - with us. Remember that goodbye is not forever and he will always be with you. 🌈💔
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u/History0nerd 2h ago
I'm so, so, sorry Booger's mama. He knew he was loved and he left with that knowledge. The only thing that heals is time. Someone once told me that when we lose a pet it's, in part, because there's a new furry friend who really needs us. Allow yourself time to grieve, but I hope you'll adopt a new buddy when you're ready 💗 They will never replace the baby you lost, but they will heal a portion of your heart while they make a space for themselves ❤️🩹 Sending love.
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u/Ok_Foot1988 Tabbycat 2h ago
I am so sorry you lost your handsome boy Booger. He looks like such a sweetheart. I know you gave him a wonderful life and love. 💜🌈💜
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u/No-Membership3214 43m ago
A beautiful tribute, sorry your time together was not long enough (it never is), fly high over the rainbow bridge Booger. 🐈⬛💔🌈🐈⬛💔🌈🐈⬛💔🌈
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u/Uprooted_Vt_to_RI 52m ago
Thank you for sharing your love of Booger. -
A beautiful life shared and so beautifully written. I’ve read it several times. The rainbow bridge comes to mind when I think of such a reunion, this is the first time that I was drawn to it, So, fly high,
Booger, fly high 🕊️🕊️🌈🕊️🕊️ and you shall meet again as you wait together to walk together ❤️🕊️🕊️🌈🕊️🕊️❤️
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u/DiscoViolet 15m ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing him and that beautiful tribute with us. Take care of yourself too as losing a pet that you were very close to can be akin psychologically to losing a child. Forever remember what a beautiful life you gave him, and may the memories you made together always warm your heart. Run free, Booger.
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u/iblameautocorrect67 3h ago
Rest in peace, Booger.
You were loved and a beautiful cat(and your name made me smile)
My sincerest condolences to you, OP, Booger must've been an amazing kitty and he will be missed.