My little kitten, Emma, died tragically January 4, 2009. She was a little gift from God and now she is gone. It is my fault. I cleaned the litter box and she climbed inside the litter container (Tidy cat pail with the hinge lid). I didn't know she was in there, by the time I found her, she was gone. I do not know how to cope with this pain. The guilt is overwhelming. She was only 4 months old. Her brother, Max, has neurological problems and needed to have her with him. We just got home from Spokane New Years Eve. Emma and Max both went along- they go everywhere with me. I have not been without either of them for more then a few hours since I got them at 10 days old. I know people survive such loss, but how. How, knowing it is your fault. I always look for any of my cats if I don't see them for a short time. I asked my husband if he knew where Emma was because I didn't see her when we started to watch a movie. He said she was in the cat tree by Gloria ( my tuxedo). A few minutes later, I looked and she was not there. I got up and looked a little for her, but thought I was being paranoid as usual and she was sleeping someplace! When the movie was about over I got a scared feeling and started franically looking for her. I took the clothes out of the dryer- afraid she may have gotten in there without me seeing her, I started to fold clothes when it struck me about the litter. I opened the container, and she was there- it is horrible! We tried to revive her, but it was way too late. She liked to crawl in there and play in the clean litter. I normally would have double checked that- but I neglected to do it this time. I killed my baby by not checking it this time. How could I have let this happen. I can not even tell you how devastated I am. I don't know what to do, I can hardly cope, I want to warn others this can happen.
Thank you,
Kim DeFord
Helena, MT 59602