I have been away from this space for a little while, mostly because I have been bummed. After 18 years of milestones, adventures, and countless hijinks, we had to say goodbye to our cat, Nugget. He had a fantastic run, and while we are grateful for having him in our lives, the finality of his absence is a difficult thing to process. He wasn't just a pet; he was a witness to nearly two decades of our lives. He was family.

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a complex mix of emotions. Though I am deeply sad because I miss his presence, I struggle with a quiet guilt for the things I don’t miss—the multiple late-night issues, the constant cleaning, and the heavy mental load of what turned into hospice care.

This brings me to a conversation we need to have more often: the reality of caring for our senior animals. When they grow old and frail, their care becomes a labor-intensive task. It is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. For me, it was worth it. I would do it again. That being said, the takeaway from this? It’s okay to acknowledge that burden without it diminishing your love for them. Also, when the time comes to make a decision, make it about them, not about you.

To that, I will end with this. These animals are designed to break our hearts. It’s okay. Just let it happen.

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat" - Ellen Perry Berkley