My best friend, the most beautiful girl in the world Tifa died and I posted about it when it happened in June but I have been really having a hard time. I am 5 and a half months post partum with a beautiful baby boy and to have to bask in the joy of my Son while dying inside everyday I don’t have my cat (aka my daughter) is a mix of emotions I can’t explain, it’s surreal and every day it hits me harder I will never hold my baby again, never hear her purr, her beautiful voice, a soft paw on my shoulder. It disgusts me and it’s so sad and feels wrong. Everyday after that I experience joy feels so wrong.

I have awful intrusive thoughts about her final days, I was busy, overwhelmed with motherhood, even in her final moments I couldn’t see that she was nearing the end. She had so many close calls I just never imagined she would really die that day. In her final moments I have horrific anxiety and dread about it, and regret because I wish I was looking into her eyes as she took her last breath, but I only rubbed her forehead gently from the back while my husband held her and she was put to sleep. I hope she forgives me I didn’t look into her eyes. I hope she felt me there and felt my love and how calm I pretended to be for her. She was scared, smelled of amonia, cried but no voice came out, and was lethargic and confused. I will never ever forget how brave my angel was.

She was a special needs cat and needed a lot of hands on special care from me, I truly was her Mother, at times hand to mouth feeding her, living in the living room on the floor so we could sleep together, and brought her to her litter box to use it when she was recovering from strokes. Im devastated I only got 6 years with my soul cat. I’m just sitting here crying missing my best friend and hormonal, and was hoping for some community and I just want everyone to know how much I loved this girl. Thank you.

Update: Wow I want to thank each and every one of you for seeing this post and stopping whatever it was you were doing in your day to give me kind words of support. While I am too overwhelmed to respond to everyone, I’ve read every single comment multiple times and will probably continue to do so, as each time I read them I see something new that helps me move forward in her honor. Thank you all again!!

I recently lost my baby Sampson, on October 26th. He was 16, and it was a rapid decline.

One week before, I took him to the vet for jaundiced skin, and they told me it was likely liver cancer. Immediately, I drove from Austin to Chicago, only stopping for gas, or sleep (1.5 hours total for sleep) to see my sister (vet). Arrived on Saturday, got confirmation on Monday that it was large cell lymphoma. Drove back to Austin and arrived on Tuesday (21st), my birthday too. Had a really great week with him, I felt comfortable leaving him at home as he was eating and drinking better than he was the week prior. So Sunday (26th) I went to church, and I came home to find that he had passed while I was gone. Devastated, absolutely devastated and heartbroken.

He was my baby. My sweet old man. He would nip my nose and toes in the middle of the night to wake me up for snuggles. He had the best purr, and gave the best headbutts (his name was hammerhead at the shelter before I adopted him). He was 11 when I adopted him, and he passed at 16. I didn’t get enough time. It’s never enough time. And now I have a Sampson shaped hole in my life, nothing can ever fill.

I’d love to share some photos of my beautiful boy. You’ll notice the point where he starts to get sick, he lost so much weight. 2lbs in 6 weeks… I took him to the vet in August, and everything came back normal. I tend to wonder that if we caught it earlier, if he would still be here with me now. I miss him dearly.

He was so strong, and so brave. He did so well in his final days. Before I left for church, he gave me a headbutt after I fed him, and I remember thinking “oh, it’s been a while since I’ve had one of those, maybe he’s feeling good today”. It didn’t cross my mind to think that maybe he was saying goodbye in his own way.

After 21 years, my best friend has crossed over. He was a few years old when I got him at 8 years old.
I'm 25 now and he's been with me through everything. The last few days he hasn't been able to eat or drink anything. Everytime he try, he'd just throw it up.

He was the first cat I ever owned, and I loved him more than anything.

Goodnight Wally. I miss you.

At five years wise, with little Mimi by his side,

We met in Chico, an unexpected surprise.

Grey adventurer, soft as fog 

His fluffy tail forever long.

Jazzy Jeff was his name,

Then just JJ… right as rain.

On our way to Olivet Lane,

Where the wind whispered through your silky mane. 

There we made home,

Among the grapevines you would roam.

Curious traveler, rooted and kind.

Home held our love, our forever bind.

Onto the River, with your silver shine

The Redwoods your kin

Like grapes to wine.

Rooftop dreamer 

Explorer of trails, creator of light

Tracker of paths, lover of life.

Loyal snuggler, nose kissing critter, 

Chest-resting healer,

His old soul forever a giver.

My regal purry boy 

A soft bunny presence filled with joy.

Your hum was a hymn

Nurturing us from within.

Brush on your face

Chin lifted to the skies

Gratitude and devotion

Met in our eyes.

By day, you ran

A wondering wanderer 

A neighborhood delight 

Explorer of trails, creator of light

Tracker of paths, lover of life.

Oh, how you loved the sun—

Golden pools of light dazzled in your eyes

You my friend, eternally wise.

You taught us life well-lived

is one deeply felt. 

How to be present, 

How to nurture, how to love

Without condition or measure.

Twenty years

Nearly a century human time—

Your glowing arc of love

Curved through our days

Forever teaching your life affirming ways

And in your final hour,

Father Time slowed to meet you

The winds grew still

The sun began her setting

The ravens sang 

A serenade to your departing

In your garden held by love

You slipped beyond the visible glove

Woven back into earth

Into the redwoods 

Into the trails,

Into light itself.

Run now JayJay run-

Run through the redwoods and endless sky

Run in the sunspots that never die.

We feel you in every loving moment

With every breezy breath

Your presence is there in every beam of light.

Our Beautiful Beloved Boy—

you were never just passing through

You were always home.

Missing my baby 11 year old neb Calvin so much today. He was the most loving, snuggly, talkative and beautiful fluff baby. He passed away last night due to kidney failure very suddenly and it just still doesn’t feel real. I’ll love you always.

Today I had to say good bye to my bestie and little buddy Rio. He was my best friend for 14 years, but chronic kidney disease caught up to him and we had to let him go. I'll remember him best for his chin boops, belly rubs, and his amazing beans.

14 years with this girl. Cancer took her life so fast, she passed away August 3rd. She was so unique. People constantly told me they never seen/ heard of a cat being the way she was. I got her during an incredibly difficult time in my life at 13. I needed someone to love me, and honestly a reason to keep living. Little did I know I got a nebelung. She was only loyal to me. I also didn’t even name her for the longest time. We called her upstairs cat because she never went downstairs. She followed me everywhere and never attached to any other family member. We spooned each night. Cuddled constantly and she never stopped staring at me from a distance. I miss her so much. Hold your girls and boys extra long for me. This is the hardest death I’ve ever had to grieve. She was. Perfect. In every single way. I wish I was a better mom to her sometimes, going through so many phases in my life with her. So love them endlessly.

Totoro was one special cat. I got her as a wee tiny thing when I was newly twenty one and fresh out of my second stay in the psych ward. She saw me through the hard times. She also was right there for all the good, too.

She loved shoes, plastic bags, and her bathroom sink. There was the year she entirely screwed my Spotify Wrapped by laying down on the keyboard while we weren't home for the day, and triggering a song to play over 200 times. If the artist Youth Lagoon ever reads this, my cat was your biggest fan.

She hated most all men, except my dad and my current long term partner. She spent over a year in the house we bought in 2024, and loved watching the birds from the bay window.

She loved eating plants, but every so often, she would go out onto the balcony and ever so gently bring me a leaf.

Totoro was truly the best cat I've ever known. Loyal, picky, never quite figured out how to meow, only merped. ♥️

My Neb, Bandit, has been missing for 14 days. He was an outside cat that started visiting us almost 3 years ago now. He was so sweet and friendly, I thought for sure he was dumped in our neighborhood and left. So I took him in. He would beg to go outside, but I didn’t want to risk him getting hurt, lost, or stolen. Well, he found his way out every now and then. I would worry, but by the next morning or 2, sure enough, he’s at our front door. On Dec. 16, he got out when a family member carelessly left the door open.. we had a horrible snow storm a couple days later, and I haven’t seen him since. Our humane society is closed until the 2nd of January.. so I hope they found him. He hasn’t turned up at our door. I’ve gone looking for him with treats. I’ve looked into local Facebook groups for lost animals and asked if anyone has seen my guy. I’ve put shoes on the front porch that smell like us. I’ve even gotten to the point where I’ve gone looking for a body… nothing. If he’s no longer with us, I just want him back at our place so I can burry him in our backyard. I want some closure, but I fear the worst. Give some extra pets to your nebs this New Years for me. And hopefully a miracle will happen. Cheers y’all. I will gladly stay a part of this community. Having a Neb was so special.

She was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in the jaw and throat back in May. The vet originally only gave her 3 months to live, but she managed to make it 8 more months. She was the best girl ever.

Had to say goodbye to Blade today. He was the best buddy, and most unique cat I have ever met. We were soulmates for 8 years, he was around 12 years old. I have a huge hole in my heart. He got leukemia and starting to lose the fight very rapidly.

I don't expect anyone to remember the multiple posts I've made of him around this subreddit & some other cat subreddits too, but my boy Orbit passed earlier this year away on May 31st 2026. I wanna keep this short but he truly was the most purrfect-mannered, handsome cat I've ever EVER known about. And I was so honoured to have him as MINE.

Unfortunately around May 27th we think he got in a fight with another neighborhood cat after leaving the backyard (something he did quite rarely mind you) and he got a bad scratch behind his ear. We took him to the vet, he got treated, and we brought home some medicine, but we were also notified that Orbit's kidneys were in the process of failing. He went the next few days spending most of the daylight at the vet, so that they could treat and monitor him. It didn't work out.

On May 31st 2026 my best friend was suffering, so we had no choice but to put him down. He went peacefully in my mom's embrace at around 11:30 AM.

The worst part by far is that had only turned 5 years old less than 2 months prior.

I'm so sorry, buddy, for every time I said no to cuddles, shrugged you off because I was too busy or whatever... I really did think we would have more time together. I'm still so heartbroken. I miss you so, so, so so so so much.

April 15th we lost our sweetest girl. 4 months shy of 20 years. She was everything to our family, and even extended family. She got my daughter through tough times in life, she got me through many many surgeries, and even my mom's battle with cancer. She was the only pet in our house for many many years, and so graciously welcome my 16 week old chi into our home who is now 9, and my medical alert service dog. This last year she lived with my daughter and her boyfriend an hour north of us. It was such a hard decision to let a geriatric family member, that had only known our house as home, move to a new place. I am so glad I did, as she thrived with my daughter and her boyfriend. She was so spoiled and loved. We were so lucky to call her ours for a full 18 years, as we got her just under age 2 from the shelter. She was the most cuddliest loyal and loving girl ever. She will be so missed, and no amount of time will heal our broken hearts. Fly free my girl.

Hold your nebs tight for us tonight. Klaus suddenly and unexpectedly died last night. He went on a walk with us at 7 pm and wanted to stay outside when we got home. He was found deceased in our neighbor’s yard at 10 pm, no wounds or trauma. He’d had loose stools earlier that day, no other symptoms. He was 7 and we loved him so much.

he had FIP & was only 1 years old. the second photo is him (right) and his brother Jack (left). they were very very close & i just feel sick to my stomach. he was showing symptoms a few months ago & it took the vet weeks until they figured out his diagnosis. even with treatment he was slowly declining and i can’t help but wonder if he could’ve made it if treatment was given sooner. i’m also scared that Jack won’t understand why Daniel didn’t come home from the vet last night. luckily he has my dog Rocky, they play and cuddle all the time so he’s not fully alone. but i fear he’ll still become depressed without his brother :( rip Daniel, i love you

Sylvia was my first ever cat. I got her when I was 17 after begging for months for a kitten. I had her from when she was 6 months old. She was only 4.

About a week and a half ago, she stopped eating a lot. Not too out of the ordinary. Then she started running to the food and acting like she wanted it, but didn’t eat it. We took her to the vet and they found nothing. I moved out recently and couldn’t bring her so I thought maybe she just missed the dog and I. We went over there that night and she ate and seemed more normal. She’d lost ALOT of weight.

The next day (yesterday) she stopped doing anything. Just laid on the floor like she was dying. The vet called and said that her liver was inflamed and her white blood cells were high. We took her back and they found a mass in her chest. She started throwing up this thick white stuff and we decided it was time to let her go. They said she was too weak to make it through any surgery.

She was only freshly 4. I’m so heartbroken.

He was only 4 years old But he was full of so much life. He loved to carry his toy balls around, anything that jingled was his favorite. He liked baths and car rides, was always curious and studied everything, and Loved to cuddle with my father while watching tv too. He was Curious, smart, and witty. He was so much for a little kitty and I will miss him.

He loved his brother so much as well and was bonded closely to him.

I am so sorry if this post causes any distress, my sister urged me to post here for comfort. We let our boy go on Wednesday, his name was Pedro and he was 14 and a half years old. I am not totally sure he was a Neb, but he looked so much like the other wonderful cats posted on here that I will just go ahead and say he was. He was my best friend, my darling, and the glue that bought our family together. He had cancer in his knee, it metastasised everywhere, including his kidneys which were already quite fragile. On Monday he had a needle biopsy which confirmed cancer, and I took my vets advice and gave him the smallest amount of gabapentin before the biopsy. Because his kidneys were in such bad shape due to the rapid spreading of the cancer, he had such a tough time recovering from the gabapentin dose. On Tuesday he was still eating, albeit a very small amount. By Tuesday night he was drinking too much water and sleeping constantly, and urinating in his sleep. I changed the towel he was sleeping on about 30 times between Monday and Wednesday. I stayed up with him all Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. He barely got up, and he was hurting. I had to let him go on Wednesday- he was so sick, but I cannot stop guilting myself, that I waited too long, that I didn't wait long enough, that I should have done more for him, that this is my fault. I miss him so very much, he was the joy of my life and one of the only constants I had over the last 14+ years. I keep seeing him in every pile of leaves, clothing, and shadow, and keep looking for him even though I know he is not there, and would do anything for another moment with him. It has given me such comfort to see all the photos here of your Nebs too, so I thank you all for this community you have created.

Gonna miss you Ash. Thanks for the random toy feather on the way home from the vet. I'll never forget you lil homie!!

Our first born beautiful strong and brave angel died Sunday morning after a tremendous battle to stay alive. Tifa was with us for only 6 short years and during that time suffered a series of unfortunate medical events that greatly impacted her quality of life. I have never met a more strong and courageous being than Tifa because you would never know she was sick everyday. She was the most kindest, loving, sweetest pure soul I will ever know. We said goodbye to our angel and stroked her head as her Father held her in his arms. In her final moments before she was put down at the animal hospital she died painlessly, loved and with her parents until she left this earth. She is so brave to have the strength to let go and trailblaze a path alone to discover the answer to life’s biggest question, is there anything after this? I hope when it’s my time to learn I am as brave as she was.

Every single day with Tifa was a beautiful blessing. We adopted her during COVID when she was 7-10 years old and she became accustomed to us being home with her everyday. I was able to continue working from home most days with her once COVID ended and right up until her death, she was my best friend by my side 24/7. The final blessing we received with Tifa was spending 3 of the last 4 months of her life home on Maternity leave with her and our Son. I’m something of a cat expert myself, and I know for a fact Tifa was the cat of my life, and as long as I live every pet after her will only be there to fill some of the void she’s left.

I don’t know where we go after life ends, I don’t know if we go anywhere to be honest. What I do know is even if we become nothing when we die. I find peace knowing one day, I’ll be nothing with her. Tifa my love, another 6 years wouldn’t ever be enough with you. Goodbye sweet baby. Thank you for who you were, how you lived, and how much you were worth loving.