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About a year ago, I submitted the story “Man Starts Spending More Time in Front of the House Than Inside Due to Sweet Feral Kitten.” At the time, my boy was facing some health challenges, but we were hopeful it wasn’t serious and that he would recover.

James Sabatelli

At first, my wife and I weren’t overly concerned. He seemed to be managing, and we were taking him back and forth to the vet to stay on top of whatever was going on. The vets couldn’t find anything wrong and believed his issues were related to his teeth. Still, his health continued to decline, which was incredibly hard for me to endure. He also began drifting from our usual routines, which I understood — he wasn’t feeling well.

On the morning of his procedure, before I even got out of bed, he climbed onto my chest and pressed his face against mine for the first time in a while. I told him we were going to fix him. Unfortunately, that day the vet discovered the real issue, and one of the hardest decisions of my life was made. I had to say goodbye to my beloved boy.

James Sabatelli

I cried for six months straight. I’ve lost close friends, family members, and other pets, but this loss hit me the hardest. My wife said I was suffering from a broken heart, and she was right. He was my shadow. From following me into my office while I got ready for work, to waiting on the kitchen ledge for a head bump goodbye, to greeting me when I came home — where I’d sit on the floor just to pet him properly. We watched TV together at night, and he always wound down on my chest as I fell asleep.

This past year has been incredibly difficult, especially now that the one-year anniversary of his passing is just days away. Time does help, and in his honor, we rescued a kitten from a shelter. Still, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss him dearly.

James Sabatelli

Thankfully, I have a strong support system. My mother even bought me a book written by a woman who had lost her “soul” cat. While I didn’t relate to everything she shared, I found comfort in believing there’s a good chance I’ll be reunited with my boy one day.

Until then, rest in peace, my sweet Teddy. You will always be my boy.

Story submitted by James Sabatelli

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!