Death of our cat?

Jamilla Sinjab(Beautiful Squirrel) died yesterday after being hit by a car.
She was saved in 2006 being found wandering the streets of Dhahran Saudi Arabia. PAWS, People's Animal Welfare Society found her, neutered her and allowed us to adopt her. She settled in well with our other cat Sufi and dog Barak and enjoyed coming to America with us.
She had the most unique personality of any cat I have ever known. She was very adventurous and playful and loved people. My wife called me last week while I was out of town and said Jamilla had gotten out of the house during a party she was hosting.
I know had I come home immediately and started looking for her I would have found her. I came home after 2 days and gave a half-hearted attempt to find her by walking through the woods and calling her. My wife found her hit by a car over 2 miles from home. We buried her at our home 05/03/08 with great guilt and saddness. Jamilla please forgive my neglect. How can I forgive myself?

2008-05-04T07:19:12Z

Thanks for you judgemental empathy Lavish G. I am trying to find comfort and forgiveness and you heap scorn and contempt. For your information we spend more on vet bills and food for our animals than we do ourselves, we always get abandoned pets from shelters, we limit our pet ownership to what we can afford so they will have good lives and except for Jamilla our pets live to be 18 and 19 years old and when they have lived full lives and start suffering we have them humanely put to sleep by a vetrinarian.
Do you think my wife and I are not cursing ourselves enough ?

2008-05-04T07:21:49Z

http://jamilla-sinjab.last-memories.com/

2008-05-05T05:25:53Z

Thank you all for the support you have shown. My wife still cannot even read your responces without starting to cry
and grieve. This will take time. Personally I feel I deserve my pain but it is comforting to read what you have written. I was especially moved by the link Michele-Cat-Cyprus sent in and learn that what we feel is typical when a pet dies. Here is another I fould at the site which will be helpful to grieving pet owners and I post it so you kind people can pass it around to others in this forum who may need it. Thank you all and may whatever God you pray to bestow you with blessing and mercy.
http://www.pet-loss.net/emotions.html

2008-05-06T05:58:01Z

I want to thank all of you who posted the supportive and helpful advice. It is going to take my wife and I a long time to work through the sorrow and guilt but I know in time the laceration in our hearts will heal and we will be able to remember all the good about our life with Jamilla Sinjab.
The one good thing that has come of this is my wife has decided to write a children's book about Jamilla and her heritage as a african wildcat (Felis Lybica) and how they are the ancestoral progenitors of all domestic cats today.
Thank you all again for your caring. I will not vote whose answer was the best because all the sensible answers deserve to be best.

cocoaroma2008-05-04T11:47:49Z

Favorite Answer

I am very sorry for the loss of this beautiful cat. Bless you for the love and joy you showed her, she will live on in your heart forever and she will one day meet you at the Rainbow Bridge. May you find comfort in her memory and the joy she brought to you.

Connie S2008-05-04T06:46:43Z

while I am deeply saddened by your loss, may I recommend when you can reaching out and saving another lost soul in this world. There are millions of homeless cats, and thousands are put to sleep every single day because there aren't enough homes for them, and thousands more dying on the streets never having known the love of a good family and the joy of sleeping on a soft bed.

If you don't feel you can take in another cat at this time, donating to a spay/neuter clinic to help keep other cats from becoming homeless, or spending time at a local rescue and giving love and support to those waiting for homes.

Accidents happen. Even if she had never left your house, there is the chance she could have died early. You did what you could. Forgive yourself as I am sure she has, and remember there are others out there that need you

J C2008-05-04T07:32:18Z

I am so sorry to hear of her untimely death - surely you are not the average people who view their cats as disposable commodities or you would not have brought them halfway across the world with you. Accidents can happen even to the most caring and responsible of people. Perhaps coming home immediately would have saved her, and perhaps not. It's very easy to second guess these things, and blame yourself for what happened.

When the time is right, you can honor her memory by saving another equally deserving cat. It won't bring back Jamilla, but will make a big difference in the life of the one you save.

ThatGirl2008-05-04T10:18:33Z

I'm so sorry... sometimes people do things that they regret, and would do anything to take back. You came home, you were tired after traveling, and you made a mistake. Jamilla loves you and your wife- I'm sure she forgives you.

Edit: The person who said that many indoor cats get out is right. They have a mind and will of their own- and sometimes they want to explore. This is how cats are, and one of the reasons we love them.

rrm382008-05-04T07:31:35Z

I am so sorry that you lost your Jamilla. Ignore those who failed to read and understand your post. You are NOT a bad or irresponsible person. Please, do not be too hard on yourself. You were being more than responsible and doing the best thing for her by keeping her indoors. I think that most of us who choose to keep our cats indoors have experienced them somehow getting outdoors on at least one occasion. It doesn't mean that we are irresponsible or that we do not love them. It is just something that unfortunately happens on occasion. Take the time that you need to grieve the loss of your Jamilla. Know that she does not begrudge you, and that you provided her with the very best life possible in her time with you. In time, your memories and thoughts will return to the good things. When you feel that the time is right, consider bringing another cat in need into your life. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

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