Hello!
I don’t know how many people are still reading this blog, I feel like most of my followers/readers are on other social media these days, but I digress.
My youngest cat Arya lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, we brought her several times to the vet, but nothing much was found. Especially since she acted otherwise fine.
Two weeks ago though, she lost even more in just 2 days and refused to eat and drink, so we went straight back to the vet, who said she was dehydrated and took some blood.
He also kept her there on a drip, as she had a clear kidney failure.
2 days later, we had to face that her kidneys were still in bad shape and after a radio, we learned they were 1,3 too big.
The kidneys were either malformed from birth or through cancer.
In any case, she had just days, maybe weeks left.
The vet told us we could take her home for a few days, to make the end enjoyable for Arya and us. but after just 1 day, I thought, this made no sense. She was hiding in the bathroom, didn’t want to drink, and although she was always purring when I came to check on her, she was overall miserable. I called the vet and we arranged for her peaceful departure.
The injections were quick, one sleeping injection, the second deadly.
We petted her until the end and her last breath sounded like a sigh of relief.
Obviously, lots of tears were shed, but I also felt relief that she didn’t had to suffer anymore.
After a few days of mourning and way too much sugar for my own health, I decided to get out of my mood and sculpted my little cat.
I feel better now, of course, the presence of my other cat helps greatly, not to mention my boyfriend, and the overall kindness and love from fans and followers.
I’m in a (almost) good place again, although I miss her. I sometimes still cry, but I also laugh again! (you’ll see that in my upcoming Q&A video)
I think partly because I felt she was dying and I already started saying goodbye, and also because she was suffering so much it broke my heart.
My other cat Puss is very clingy and I think we need to find another cat, but that’s another topic.
This sculpture is very personal and was crucial for me, but I still hope you find it enjoyable!
xx
Stéphanie
41 thoughts on “Sweet Arya”
Oh goodness! Arya looks just like my Little Man! Almost identical!
I am so sorry for your loss, you did her a great kindness by letting her go even though it was very hard to do. I had the toughest time explaining it to my daughter when she was little. She felt that I came to the decision to have a family pet put to sleep to easily. But I told her that I had learned long ago that we should not let them suffer just because we don’t want to. No matter how painful it is to lose a beloved pet, letting them go peacefully surrounded by those that love them is a beautiful gift.
My favorite quote 🙂
Fragile Circle
We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own,
live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan.
Irving Townsend, “The Once Again Prince,”
Hugs,
Yes, keeping fragile and sick animals (even humans, imo) that just keep suffering without hope of getting better is close to torture. Better to let them go peacefully.
So sad for your loss….tears as I read this as we are soon facing the same thing…one of our 16 yr old cats has started w/kidney failure….trying to prepare myself for down the road, however, no one can really be prepared. Your sculpture captures your kitty so well….what a great way to help with your grief….blessings and hugs
Yes, letting go of furry friends is always sad and difficult, but death is part of life, so you cry, mourn and then go on. Enjoy your cat to the fullest now 🙂 it’ll be fine.
♥
:'( C’est trop triste. .. La sculpture est jolie, mais elle me fait pleurer alors j’évite de la regarder… <3
Ruby (aussi) ressemble énormément à Arya. 🙂
J'aime bien lire les articles sur le blog, mais c'est dommage que ça passe par bloglovin (c'est systématiquement le lien qu'il y a sur Twitter). L'article n'est pas accessible directement et Il y a un gros bloc noir en haut du coup.
Bref… des bisous salés!
ah oui, ça passe par bloglovin? je ne savais même pas!
je n’utilise pas franchement twitter, je n’ai jamais aimé cette plateforme. :/
Et oui c’est triste, mais c’est un peu le cycle de la vie. Et au moins, sa souffrance a stoppée.
c’est quoi ça blogloving
j’ai pas ça moi en passant par l’adresse du blog
c’est un site qui permet de lire plus facilement tes blogs préférés 🙂
merci jamais entendu parler
je vais directement sur les sites moi enfin parfois via bloger c’est vrai !
C’est très triste, ce post, mais beaucoup d’entre nous ont vécu ça aussi et te comprennent.
Je ne savais pas que tu avais des chats (mais j’ai du mal avec facebook, du coup je fais partie de ceux qui te lisent ici).
Pensées pleines de réconfort de ma part, bon courage pour ces prochains jours.
Oui, je parle peu de mes chats, enfin il n’en reste qu’un, maintenant.
Et merci!
So sorry. You did the right thing although that choice is so very difficult. We miss them forever it seems. Dear souls who add so much love to our lives . My daughter and her boyfriend are going through the same mourning over their cat, Rose. I have lost dogs and cats over the years. It is not easy. Your little sculpture is a lovely and adorable. tribute.
I have not been reading blogs nor blogging for a quite a while after blogging for ten years. I happened to have time today and came across your post. Once again, so sorry. for the loss of your beautiful kitty.
thank you so much!
yes, blogging seems a little dead, but I like blogging, so I keep going 🙂
It is so cute!
That blue Arya is amazing. I hope you find another cat soon….
Loved the tribute, must have been therapeutic too!
yes, very!
She is so pretty! Both the mini and the real Arya. Sorry for your loss.
thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear about your dear Arya. Good for you to have the decency and bravery to not let her suffer another day. She was a beautiful kitty – I’m very partial to tabbies.
I hope your memories of happier times helps you get over your loss.
it does! the sculpture of Arya makes me smile every time I see it, as I remember her sweetness 🙂
I have been there many times in my life time and it is the hardest thing to do, it is truely heatbreaking and I feel for you.
Jackie
thank you!
Beautiful sculpture! I love the blue feeling but I am really sorry you did it at this sad time! Hugs for you Stephanie!
it helped me a lot to sculpt her, it felt like a final act of tenderness if that makes any sense.
I’m so sorry though I feel those words are inadequate. I admire your strength. I have been there and had to do what you did, the only difference was our loved one was a ferret. Hang in there I’m thinking of you.
thank you!
Oh, what a sweet girl! She reminds me of my Tzippi; he’s been gone for almost 6 years now, but he was the best cat friend.
Although it is very difficult decision to make, I still feel we are lucky, as humans, to be able to help our animals in this way.
It’s a difficult decision but also a peaceful one.
Very Beautiful!! I Loved! Congratulation….
I have 2 cats and love them very much.
Kisses,
Maysa
Bonsoir Stéphanie,
En regardant vos vidéos sur Youtube, je viens d’arriver ici ..
Je ne voudrais nullement faire remonter de mauvais souvenir mais sachez que je partage vos compassion et votre amour pour nos petits compagnons.
J’ai moi même deux chats.
Très bel hommage que vous lui avez rendu !!!!
Avec tout mon amitié.
J-Luc.
Solo las personas que amamos los animales sabemos el vació que nos dejan con su partida, no solo sos una gran artista si no que lo complementas con un gran corazón felicidades
This past Monday I had to have my boy Shannon put to sleep. He was a rescue and was about 17 or 18 years old. Shannon stopped eating over the weekend & when I brought him to the vet there was nothing he could do. I was trying to find a way to memorialize him, he loved to hang out in the doll houses. Your video inspired me to make a sculpture of him. Shannon looks a lot like your cat. Thank you for the video.
Very sorry for your loss! Sculpting does help and time too.
Your creation is a lovely tribute to Arya!
God bless her baby soul.
HI, I have recently gone through the same thing you had with your cat when my cat went from 7 pounds to 5 pounds in less than a month. I had her in my life since I was three which meant she was 17 and made it really hard to let her go. I have tried to follow your video so I could make one in memory of my cat but learned very quickly I am only good at cartoon style clay work. I know this is a bit odd but is there any way I could pay you to make one that looks like my cat. It would mean so much to me. Your clay work is amazing and I would love to have something like that to remember her by.
I’m sorry for not getting back to you earlier, and sorry for your loss.
I can make a custom sculpture for you, just contact me directly per e-mail sk(at)petitplat.fr
My gosh. I feel the same way. Two of my cats went to Heaven. One died in her sleep because of old age and the other, roundworm. He had to be put down because there was nothing of his intestines. The worms ate it. He was in so much pain.
I am so sorry for your loss. I have had recent losses too and they make my heart ache.What a wonderful mememorial to your precious Arya. I had a male cat that looked so much like her. I lost him quiet a while back but I still grieve for him, so precious with so much personality. Your work is wonderful and I pray that it helps comfort you. I try to make polymer cats. Am going to try to make head as you did. Take care and keep creating your wonderful art.