Minuet – photo by our daughter Beth
Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Family Member
Does the fact that Minuet was a cat make this post seem any less sincere? It’s not. Anyone who’s adopted an animal knows that pets are family. And family means loving…
Unconditionally.
She Was Beautiful but Troubled
The moment our daughter Beth rescued her, we suspected this little cat had been mistreated, perhaps badly. But love was the cure. The more we held and stroked her, the more she relaxed, finally believing, it seemed, that she would never be abandoned again. She soon became affectionate and spritely, hence the name Minuet.
And then Misha arrived. If Minuet was the moody goth girl, we joked, Misha was the carefree cheerleader. And yet somehow these antithetical felines got along, even spooning together when they napped. That is, until Misha came of age.
Almost overnight, some insidious hormonal reaction occurred in Minuet. She seemed threatened by Misha’s very presence, repeatedly attempting to drive her away. And Misha, in-turn, defended herself; this was her home too—every inch of it. Claws were drawn again an again.
We finally had to permanently separate them, relegating Minuet to the place she felt safest, the basement. And so, for a year she lived in isolation. We visited her throughout the day, holding her and reminding her we loved her. But it was a band-aid, not a fix.
Our Daughter Rescued Her Again
Now out of college and living on her own, Beth came to visit. Her heart nearly broke when she saw Minuet alone in the basement. After holding and re-bonding with her Minuet, Beth insisted on taking her back with her to California.
To say that getting Minuet into a carrier and onto a plane was traumatic would be a gross understatement. She fought tooth and claws. Every fiber of trust we’d woven into her was shredded that day. Trudy and I cried as the plane departed, fearing our attempt at a solution had inflicted permanent damage.
But within a week, Beth reported, Minuet was exploring her new home and curling up next to her new hero at night. After all, Beth was the one who’d rescued her when we (in her perception) violently cast her out. It saddened us to be the enemy, but sometimes love makes you the bad guy. At any rate, it was a small price to pay to restore this beloved family member, who was now living happily with her true “mom.”
Minuet passed away five years ago this month, while looking quietly into her Beth’s eyes, knowing she was loved…
Unconditionally.
While still living in Latvia, we adopted a wonderful male cat we named Sid. He was with us until my husband died and was about 12 years old. After I left Latvia and returned to the US and took Sid with me. He missed his Papa so much, and finally, after some energetic roof climbing from my attic apartment, still loving me, and even learning to sit in palm trees at the age of 13, Sid joined his Papa in heaven. This is one cat I will never forget, but I’m glad they are together.
What a sweet story, Rasma. 🧡
rasma as for age 11
A loving tribute, Mitch. There is no love as strong as that which an animal is capable of giving. We can only hope our return love is enough.
Awwe. I can imagine the heartbreak there when you had to let her go. I felt that while reading your post. But I hope you were able to take some comfort from knowing she was settled at your daughter’s.
We definitely did, Liz. It was all worth it in the end.
So much love in this post; thank you for sharing.
My pleasure, Julian.
You are so spot on with this. I had various animals as pets in my life and each time one passed away it left a scar in my heart but the beautiful memories live forever.
They do indeed, Michael.
If anything, the fact that Minuet was a cat makes this even more sincere. Pets are 100% family, and Minuet clearly found hers.
Aw, thank you, Tracy.
As best we know, we are our pets’ only known God, and for cats, we are Mom-of-sorts, I think. An enormous honor. Either way, it’s so awful to break that trust and not be able to explain to them. And oh, what a lovely Minuet.🌷
Thank you, Carol. 🧡
It’s never easy. Your family and Minuet were blessed to find each other.
We were, Nancy. 🧡
They’re always a part of our lives. No matter how long it’s been, the pain remains in some form. 🙏🏾🩵
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I’m so sorry for your loss…but what a beautiful tribute to that cutie.
Thank you so much, Teresa.🧡
So hard to lose a pet. We’ve always had dogs in our house. Our last one was a 13 year old Llewelyn setter. He took a long time to love us and wasn’t a rescue dog. Came direct from a litter of puppies. We loved him until the end and he finally showed true affection in the last few years of his life. I have thought about getting a cat because they live longer. Maybe I will. You have my sympathy.
Thank you, Kathy. 🧡
What a beautiful tribute!
Pets are family!❤️🐾
They are indeed, Luisa. 🧡
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Moving post. Pets re family.
Thank you, Sunith. 🧡
Pet death is tough. I was attracted to my husband for several reasons when I first met him and the clincher was he owned four cats. Jackson, a swaggering black cat (they are special, those black kitties, aren’t they?) He become devoted to me and followed me around even climbed up a ladder to work on the house my husband and built together. Sadly, Jackson came down with leukemia and passed away in my arms. He was one cool cat.
Jackson sounds remarkable, Pam.🧡
It’s heartbreaking to lose a pet. I’m sorry to learn about your loss, but gratified that Minuet had a peaceful passing in Beth’s embrace.
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Pets are absolutely family, and losing them hurts, always. I still mourn our Gatsby, and think of him often. I’m so glad you found Minuet, and that she found her person and was loved unconditionally. This was a beautiful post.
Thank you, Katie.🧡
Minuet was loved. What a touching tribute.
Thank you, Chanél. 🧡
A touching tribute to your beloved Minuet.
Thank you, Liz.
You’re welcome, Mitch.
I’m sorry. I know what it’s like. I have had to say goodbye to three different dogs in my life.
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Ah, such a bittersweet story of love and loss. How tender-hearted of Trudy and you to mourn over and worry about Minuet’s move to California with Beth! She surely forgot the trauma of that day and settled into blissful contentment with her “person-mom.”
She did indeed, Nancy. 🧡
What a beautiful cat she was!
What a beautiful cat, and a beautiful tribute to her and to your daughter! There is something particularly special about black cats, and their imprint on our lives stays with us many years after they are gone! I lost my black cat 5 years ago, as well, and she looked very much like your Minuet! Such beautiful souls! I am so sorry for your loss, and so thankful that you and your family gave her a 2nd chance at a wonderful life filled with immense love!
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I’ve torn my shirts and beat my chest for every pet we’ve lost, both literally and figuratively. Pets are people, too, and love is always the answer.
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Sorry for your loss, pets are definitely family! 🐾 ❤️
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Sorry for your loss. Condolences
Thank you, David.
I’m always a sap when it comes to pets. Definitely family!
My beloved Simba (Goldendoodle) turns 8 this fall. I pray that he grows old with us, but my goal is “love him today like I’m saying goodbye tomorrow.”
Hopefully there will be many more tomorrows. 🙂
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Such a sweet post. It must have been so hard to let her go even though you knew it was for her good. Glad she settled and was happy with your daughter. The love of a pet is something else.
I’m so sorry and saddened for your loss. This is an incredibly touching tribute for Minuet. 💛
Thank you, Cate. 🧡
She’s a beautiful cat and I’m glad she passed feeling the love. So sad. It brings up emotion to me because on Feb 25 we had to put my precious black lab to sleep. The yucky part of having pets. It still gets to me. Pet loss grief is real and I’ll admit it – I still cry for my dog knowing that my tears are healing.
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It is very sad to lose a pet. I grew up on a farm so I have a different perspective on this. Blessings from Mighty King Jesus.
Thank you, Michael.
Such a beautiful and sad story. I can’t trust imagine holding a family member in their last breath. I think of my cat dying and I’m scared because I’m not sure how I’ll handle it. The few others we lost were accidents and my heart broke.
It’s a bittersweet memory to be sure, Iba, but there’s comfort in knowing the last thing they saw was the love in our eyes.
Adorable cat; lovely story told with a lot of compassion. Yes, indeed, sometimes you have to let go for the sake of a loved one.
Pets are family.
Absolutely not! Minuet was clearly a beloved family member.
So sorry
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So sweet 🥹❤️
So sorry for your loss. We said goodbye to our beloved Frenchie, Jagger, last December. We still miss him every day.
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That’s so sweet. It reminds me of Gypsy. My daughter rescured her from someone who kept her in a cage all the time. Unfortunately, at the time, my daughter was with her abusive ex-husband, two small children, and three other cats. Gypsy didn’t thrive (to say the least). She ended up locked in the bathroom. She came to live with us when my daughter and her kids left the abuser. She ended up in our sunroom for a while. Eventually, i got fed up and took her upstairs. i didn’t think she was going to make it through the night. She thrived. She is still a little overwhelmed by all of the space, but she is well on the way to becoming the lap cat she always wanted to be. When my daughter went back to her ex, Gypsy stayed with me
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What a beautiful tribute to your precious Minuet.💙 Animals are the best!
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You gave your daughter a great name! And it sounds like she has a beautiful, big heart
She does, Beth!
Aww, what a beautiful story!
Thank you, Nemone. 🧡
I’m very sorry for your and your family’s loss, Mitch. What a beautiful tribute!
Thank you, Ab. 🧡
Beautiful post. So sorry for you loss :(( praying for you and family.
Thank you, Lina, but just to clarify, Minuet passed away five years ago.
Never easy, Mitch.
I’m so sorry for your loss of your four legged family member. We become so attached to our fur babies. I’m still in morning from the loss of my Clyde who passed away in November. He passed just short of 21 years old. Praying for you guys.
And condolences on the loss of your Clyde. 21 years!
“… sometimes love makes you the bad guy.” True! We also had to give away our adopted cat when I ended up at the hospital for almost 4 months due to Covid and Nina needed to be with me in the hospital. But he’s with a family that’s been extremely nice to him since. (Leo)
Oh, Leo, I’m glad you found a home for your cat–but even more that you recovered! 4 months in the hospital!!
Loss like that is rarely easily forgotten. It’s normal that she will live on in your hearts.
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Minuet found her family. Thank you for sharing her story, Mitch.
My pleasure, Thao.
It’s so true, our pets are our family! We have three large dogs, 2 labs and a German shepherd, all clingy and cuddly! 🤣
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