Posted on 05/09/2012 9:57:24 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
A grief-stricken pet owner killed himself because he struggled to cope with the death of his beloved cat, an inquest heard.
Bachelor Michael McAleese, 44, was devastated after 13-year-old tabby cat Sophie died in his arms after suffering a stroke.
The recluse - who was not known by his neighbours - was so traumatised by the loss that the dead cat 'slept' on his bed for three days afterwards.
Mr McAleese then told a man who came to collect Sophie for cremation that he would kill himself.
Five days after the cat's death Mr McAleese posted a moving video in the moggy's memory on YouTube, which featured pictures of her backed with sad violin music.
Unemployed Mr McAleese captioned the video with: 'This is in her memory. She was such a wonderful little cat.
'This is a montage tribute to my beloved Sophie cat. I loved her so much and still do.'
Mr McAleese's body was found eight days later on December 21 last year at his rented lodgings in Poole, Dorset.
A post mortem examination revealed Mr McAleese had taken an overdose.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The poor guy would've been better off mourning, and in the fullness of time opening his heart to another cat. May he rest in peace.
How sad. :(
Poor guy.
Maybe it was his own fault, maybe not. Doesn't matter. As someone said, he was living a life of quiet desperation.
As you said, may he rest in peace.
/johnny
Damn sad that anyone could be that bad off.
Truly.
The guy was only 44.
I completely understand. I lost Mr. Crookedtail (he was nearly twenty) and less than a year later Goosecat died in my arms of a massive heartattack after a wasting illness. I’m still crushed. I do so hope to see thoise guys again, some where/when.
I completely understand. I lost Mr. Crookedtail (he was nearly twenty) and less than a year later Goosecat died in my arms of a massive heartattack after a wasting illness. I’m still crushed. I do so hope to see those guys again, some where/when. ... Can’t type too well with blurry eyes
I’m sorry.
/johnny
I’ve got a cat with that ‘tude. RIP Sophie.
Sad, probably this guy had other problems and this was the final straw.
I lost a couple really good old animal friends in the past couple years too.
I was clearing some pics from my cel phone today and ran across the some pics of them. One, was as I was taking my 16 yo shepard mix for her last ride.
Hardes thing I ever had to do. But cancer was eating her up and she was in pain.
I’ve been a mess all day since. Still hard to type this.
But...others have since found me and adopted me.
About a year ago, a tuxedo kitty showed up on my doorstep and just waltzed in when I opened the door.
About a month later, my boxer/mutt, found a 5 pound Yorkie in the ditch that someone had dumped. His hair and nails were so long he could barely walk.
2 of my newest, bestest friends now.
I can understand the grief, but I can’t understand the suicide. Maybe I’m not programmed to.
My little guy, Tigger, had a stroke at nine. I was sitting on my porch the day momma brought her kittens out from under the neighbors barn for the first time, and this little orange furball spotted me, and climbed my steps to see what I was.
It fell asleep in my lap, and stayed there until the day he died.
He wasn’t my cat, I was HIS human. He wouldn’t have anything to do with the wife. When I would be on the road, for days at a time, he would sleep in my office chair, only coming down for food. Within an hour of my coming home, he would be on the stairs by the front door, staring at it, waiting for it to open. When I came in, even at nine, it was like he was a kitten again.
I’ve had animals that died before, several. But none ever affected me the way Tigger’s death did, and still does, to this day.
But suicide????
The loss of a beloved pet is an awful pain. My cat just turned 12, and I dread the day when he won’t wake up from a nap. Still, I have to think this fellow had other issues at play for him to take his own life.
Sad story all-around, though, whatever the case.
I almost adopted a kitten yesterday, but I felt bad at the thought of taking him away from his siblings to a home all by himself, with no other kittens to play with. Of course, we’d have hours of fun together, but I wouldn’t be home all day. I know cats are better than dogs about that sort of thing, but I think a kitten (or a puppy, for that matter) needs playmates.
As for the poor man...I’d rather live alone than have and lose something that meant so much to me.
Agreed. Poor guy.
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