Goodbye Milo

Last week one of my kittens, Milo, disappeared from home. We had two little kittens – Milo and Charlie – sisters, who were extremely special to me. They were strictly inside cats. If I didn’t see them around me for 30 minutes or more, I would have everyone in the house out searching for them.

On Friday, just after lunch, I noticed that Milo was no longer sitting in the study with me. I immediately began calling for her. Milo and Charlie were better than dogs. All it would take was a quick call from me and they would come running. Normally Milo would appear, running very quickly towards me, with a mewing sound, which I always thought sounded like her calling out to me, “Look, here I am dad!” This time, nothing.

Milo and her sister, Charlie

We began searching the house, the garden. My wife and son went walking in the park behind our home, up and down the street. We asked at our neighbours. Soon even I was out in the street, oxygen machine in tow. But Milo didn’t appear.

Late that afternoon we decided it was time to post “lost” posters all around the neighbourhood. I was hoping that before long we would receive a phone call saying Milo had been found.

We did get a phone call but it was not exactly the phone call I had wanted to receive. A lady bravely told my wife on the telephone that she had driven over a little cat by accident earlier that afternoon. She had rushed Milo to the vet but, unfortunately, Milo had died by the time they got her to the vet. Just two days before she was due to turn 9 months old, on the 15th of January 2012.

I must say that it took an incredible amount of courage for the women to phone us and let us know what had actually happened. She could have remained silent and we would never have known what had happened. Instead, we would have spent day after day looking for Milo and wondering what had happened to her. The world needs more people like that brave lady. Thank you for being so honest and thank you for your wonderful example of Christianity in action.

Obviously, I was, am, absolutely devastated about the death my little kitten. I began to wonder whether it was okay for Catholics to pray for their pets. I know that pets do not go to heaven. When they die their lives end. But does that mean that we can’t pray for our pets. While researching the subject, I came across an article by Dr. Richard Geraghty titled “Pets In Heaven”.

I also came across this prayer for pets[1], which I would like to use to end off this post about my beautiful kitten, Milo.

Almighty God,

I was fortunate to receive the gift of Milo from You

Now that she has left this life,

please help me to cope with my loss with strength and courage.

I know that my beloved companion no longer suffers,

and that she will live on in many fond memories.

May these memories be treated with the care and respect.

As she has enriched my life,

I pray that I may enrich the lives of others. Amen.

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[1] Prayers and Blessings for Pets and Animals, Jan 18, 2012