Bagheera: Beloved

Bagheera (AKA Bug) our sweet mini-panther- passed away on February 19th. We said goodbye to him after sharing our home with him for almost 15 years. In November he developed some issues with gait and was ultimately diagnosed with a cancer. He was a love bug right to the end and is now reunited with his shelter brother, Dylan. I imagine the two of them, curled up together once again in a sunny spot atop a celestial cat tree. We love them both so very much.

The grief has been astonishing. I take comfort in the kindness of friends and family and from some unexpected sources. We received a bouquet of pink tulips from the pet supply company Chewy , upon learning of Bug’s death.

We are also very grateful for the gentle, compassionate end of life care Bagheera received at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in St. Paul, MN. The AERC also offered grief support via a Facebook group and in person meetings and counseling. I purchased the book, The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process by Wallace Sife, Ph.D.; an immensely helpful resource. Grief is a complex experience and seems to pick up all the threads of previous loss when one is struck by it again.

I am not sure what the future holds for us after Bagheera. I have had some communication with the Feline Rescue organization in St. Paul. There are many opportunities to support their efforts for shelter cats as they await adoption. At some point, I hope to volunteer. Until then, and forever, Bagheera will be missed so very much and is forever in our hearts.