My heart took another hit November 8th, 2025 having to say a final goodbye to my beloved cat, Juno.
Deep down, I knew Juno’s time was short. It’s one of those tough things about being very intuitive. No “gift” like that comes without a price. I knew that whatever was going on with her was not going to be treatable by a veterinarian, so I chose not to put her through that. I left it up to her to show me when she was ready.
Over the last couple weeks it was like she was saying her last goodbyes. For years, just about every morning she would hop up on the bed purring loudly to get chin and head scratches as I was waking up. Knowing what I know now about what was really going on with her, I know the incredible effort it took for her to jump on the bed that last morning.
Her eyes spoke volumes as she was visibly struggling to breathe. I tried to strengthen my resolve, knowing that this was the sign. I still gave her a little bit of her favorite food, which she ate a few bites of. Juno always loved food. When she was younger, she demanded multiple servings of breakfast, lunch and dinner. I wasn’t going to deny her that last meal.
As it was a Saturday, I knew I couldn’t call our regular mobile vet as they were only a Monday through Friday operation. I called the only vet in town that has an ER service. As it was a respiratory issue, they pre-checked us in and told me to come right to the counter and they would get her right in.
Of course the drive was traumatic. Juno was always stressed out about going in a carrier and taking car rides (which was the whole reason why I used the mobile vet). But this time, it had to happen.
They worked fast when we arrived. The front office person showed me to a room. About 10 minutes later, the vet came in and I already knew what she was going to say regardless of the fact that she had that look about her that already said, “I’m so sorry”.
It was heart failure. The ultrasound showed the severely thickened walls of her little heart and all the fluid around that and her lungs. “She’s really struggling… Unfortunately, with cats, there is no cure for heart failure.” She went over what little treatment options were available, but they were risky (such as draining fluid) and at best may only prolong her life for a few weeks or a few months. And what kind of life would that be, I thought to myself. My “knowing” was sadly confirmed. The vet also mentioned that cats can often show no major signs until the very end. It really was only the last 6 months where it became very apparent something was not right with Juno.
Even catching heart disease “early” in cats means palliative care—just keeping them comfortable until the struggle becomes too great and their quality of life is gone.
I held her tightly as the vet put an end to her suffering. In an instant, my little love was released. The vet gave me a few minutes alone to say a final goodbye.
It never gets any easier. In fact, I now believe that every loss by death you experience is compounded by every other loss from the past. It hurts even more.
Mario and I adopted Juno along with Hathor back in 2017. They simply called her “CC” in the shelter. She was in the same enclosure as the fluffy, Maine Coon mix we would also adopt and rename, Hathor. Juno had already spent months in the shelter, probably being passed by for adoption by being shy and definitely on the chonky side. She had my heart the moment I laid eyes on her. I had already come up with her new name on the drive home with her.
She yowled the whole way home on the short drive back from the shelter. She was so scared by the time we got back that she peed on the couch. If we tried to pick her up, her little arms flailed around like little windmills. We had no idea what her backstory was and how she ended up in the shelter, but we had a deep feeling that it wasn’t a good one.
We gave her a lot of time and space to get comfortable with her new surroundings, telling her all the time that she is safe and she is loved now.
I think it probably took her two full years before she seemed truly comfortable, although even on her final day, she still got scared by being picked up. Some scars run deep, but she found ways every day to show her love.
Her nickname was Lady Juno, because she always carried herself with a little touch of affluence. I’m so thankful I was able to give her a loving home and what I hope was a wonderful 8 years. I know she made my life better during that time. With our furry family members, we bring them into our lives in spite of the fact that, in the grande scheme of things, we get such a short amount of time with them.
And so here I am again so soon on the other side of love.
