Sad day for a stray cat...........

[CathyA]

For several months now, DH and I have been seeing a large grey cat around. (We live out in the country and occasionally have strays hang around for awhile).
I'm sure he has helped to keep the mouse population down in the garden area, the barn, the woodshed. We would see him coming and going quite often. One day, he was sitting on top of a bluebird house (with babies in it!). We shoo-ed him away. He's always been very scared of us, even when we tried to talk nicely to him. I've often thought of what a lonely life that must be. But who knows.......maybe it was an acceptable life for him.

Anyhow, I was on my way to the grocery store today and about a mile down the road, I saw him dead beside the road. :(
He didn't seem that hurt......just a bloody lip and a laceration on one paw. It must have been internal injuries.
I just couldn't leave him there. After all, we sort of knew him. So I brought him home and we buried him near an area where we had seen him alot........on a little path through some trees.

He was so beautiful. It was strange to be able to pet him, when he'd run from me so often.
Well, at least there will be 2 of us who will miss him. Everyone needs someone to miss them.

[Float On]

:(
That was very nice of you to give him a resting place.

[puglogic]

Thank you for taking care of him like that, CathyA. I can't imagine anything more sad than having no one at all miss me when I'm gone....but I guess it happens to stray creatures and unwanted pets all the time.

[HumboldtGurl]

Ohhh, that is so sad. Thank Dog for folks like you who care enough to do something like this. May the kitty's spirit be by your side, always.

P.S. stepping onto my soapbox.....darn it I wish people, would get their animals spayed and neutered so there are fewer sad endings like this! k, stepping down now....

[Wildflower]

CathyA, this brought tears to my eyes. How truly kind of you. Thank you. People like you make the world a better place.

[CathyA]

Thank you everyone.
Puglogic, you're right......how very sad for all those stray animals who die alone.
All the animals we've ever had out here (as pets) were strays. I imagine how their lives might have gone if we hadn't found them and it breaks my heart.
DH admitted that he was secretly hoping this grey cat would become our pet. At least now, its close by.
I do appreciate everything you all have said.

[Mrs-M]

So happy our world has people like you, CathyA. Just knowing he has a warm and loving resting place, calms my spirit.

[grendel]

"Everyone needs someone to miss them." That's so poignant. And true.

[Gregg]

That was a very kind and loving thing to do CathyA. I don't know how everything works in the grand scheme of things, but there is no doubt in my mind that it is better whenever someone cares.

[daisy]

I'm glad you found him and gave him a nice resting spot. It pains me to know that there are so many homeless animals out there, so I'm glad he found a home with you, even if he kept his distance.

[bunnys]

That was a kind thing for you to do.

Sadly, he's not alone. There are 30M strays in the United States alone. If only there was a comprehensive, well-funded feral cat spay/neuter program available to cut down dramatically on the miserable, short lives these animals lead. It's very, very sad.