The next chapter of my life that I’d label The Hard Times would be when I have recently lost my beloved cat, Mew-Mew.
It was difficult at first but then later on I learned to overcome it.
I became a teen cat parent when I was fifteen when I decided to adopt a kitten. When I first glanced at Mew-Mew as a little calico kitten, it was love at first sight. That was when I decided to adopt her and then take her home.
Throughout those seventeen years with Mew-Mew, it was pure compassion, devotion, and, of course, love. Whenever I have to go someplace else for a few days or up to a week, I get worried about her as I left her alone with the cat-sitter, albeit it became the most joyous when I came home after a trip and she ran up into my arms. I never wanted to leave her behind me ever again.
There were hard times when it comes to taking her to the vet. At every vet visit, she would get scared about having the thermometer inserted into her butt and whenever she needed to get shots annually. I stayed beside Mew-Mew at every examination from the vet. I would then constantly hear the good news that she was healthy with the exception of being fat. Even though Mew-Mew used to be chonky, I kept spoiling her with cat treats and being lenient with her laziness.
I miss watching her have zoomies. I miss her sleeping beside me every night in bed. I miss her bunting against me while listening and feeling her purrs. All of that, I truly miss and I always cherish my beloved moments with Mew-Mew.
Eventually, Mew-Mew passed away midway to this year at the ripe old age of seventeen. She passed on by natural causes of old age. I became very emotional when she decided to go over the Rainbow Bridge.
In spite of my recent grief over Mew-Mew, I learned to overcome it all.
I later learned that Mew-Mew’s passing has been anticipated; I knew all along that she would pass away by old age. I became very okay with this type of anticipation.
I even sought advice from my cousin who recently lost her sixteen year old dog a few years ago. Coping with a family member who has experienced with pet grief brought me awareness that I am never alone. I learned from my cousin that I simply needed to move on from the tragic chapter and onwards to the new chapters of a better future. That became my next part of growing up: simply moving on from the tragic past and head towards the future of alterations.
I may have lost my beloved fur daughter, Mew-Mew, though I have a long way to live for since life is very short.
After when Mew-Mew decided to go over the Rainbow Bridge, I then made the personal decision to never own another cat, let alone any other types of pets. Not even a hamster or a little goldfish. I overcame my grief by making this personal choice to retire from pet owning. I have a writing career to focus on and I have plans to travel around by plane as part of my writing career. As I travel by plane someday in the future, I won’t have any pets at home to worry about while being away. It is becoming too overwhelming for me as I have a career to pursue; both my career and mental wellbeing are imperative than overwhelming myself with my love for animals. I’m glad that I made this personal choice to remain pet-free after Mew-Mew’s passing.
In spite of my current hard times with this chapter, I coped with it all by simply moving on and focusing more on myself, my career, and, of course, my mental health and wellbeing.
I’ve moved on to the new chapter of my path of wellness.
My beloved fur daughter ever since I became a teen cat parent may be gone, but she will always eternally be within my heart.
I then became okay with it later on as the days went by.
I love you, Mew-Mew. May you rest in peace. <3
(C) by Nix Cheng, 2026