Books about Pet Loss

If you read my last post, then you know that we recently lost our beloved Arthur. I have had so many kind people reach out to us during this time. Pets truly become family members. Arthur was our baby, we raised him from three weeks old to the beautiful cat he became.

Reading is my comfort and escape as always, and over the years, I run across a few great books for those who are dealing with loss. I have made these recommendations in the past but finally decided to list them all in a post.

I hope you never need to read these books, but if you do, I hope you will find comfort in them as well:




These three are some of the books that got me through losing my pal, Rascal, a few years ago. Now, I find myself dusting them off and revisiting them for the comfort and hope that the authors offer. Note: these three books are from a Christian perspective. I really appreciated the way the authors used Scripture to back up the argument that pets do go to Heaven. One of the hardest things to cope with is when well-meaning (maybe?) people point out to you that dogs and cats do not have an afterlife, which I refuse to believe. I can't imagine God creating such sweet little spirits, then taking them away forever. 

Here are a few more books that are not from a particular standpoint, which are also good books on dealing with grief and pet loss: 





Note: On Grief & Grieving does not apply only to pet loss, but any death of a loved one. 

I hope that you find some solace in these books if you are experiencing the loss of a beloved fur baby. If you are, please drop a comment in the section below and I will send prayers and positive thoughts your way! 

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Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means a small portion of the proceeds go to support Pines and Peaches, at no additional cost to you. 

Sad Announcement

This week, we lost our precious fur baby, Arthur, to cancer. For those of you who have experienced the loss of a pet,  you know how devasting it is. Last Monday, we noticed he was having difficulty breathing and vomiting, so we took him to a nearby animal hospital. After hours of tests, it was determined that our boy had several masses in his abdomen and chest. 

We took him to an oncologist to see if there was anything that could be done, but unfortunately, he was not a candidate for chemotherapy. 

Arthur was a beautiful rescue story. We were blessed with a year and three months with our darling boy. It still feels like a nightmare, like I will come home to find him napping on the couch, like always. 

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. <3

Pet Update!

Happy Wednesday! 

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! By request, I am sharing a few photos of the fur babies! <3

Remember Arthur, from Arthur: A Rescue Story? Here he is, all grown up! :) 

Merlin, taking a nice midday siesta. 

Callie and Merlin watching the birdfeeder! 

You know the movie is scary when your cats start holding paws! We were watching Bird Box, by the way. 

Arthur, the piano cat. :)

Watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Sherlock! 

The movie is over, let's take a nap! 

Hope you all have a purr-fect week!!! Take care. :)

Arthur: A Rescue Story

Animal rescue is a topic that is important to me. I love animals and being able to provide a good home to a fur baby is one of the most rewarding things in my life. 

I'd like to introduce you to our newest family member, Arthur. He was discovered by one of my co-workers. Someone had abandoned this little darling in a restaurant parking lot. Fortunately, my co-worker was kind enough to pick this little guy up and take him to the vet to see if they could find a home for him. When the vet said they couldn't take a newborn kitten, he called me. I knew I already had three cats, and my husband frequently told me we were at maximum "cat-pacity." But, when I saw this tiny kitten, my heart melted. 

On his way to his fur-ever home! 

How could I let him go? Since I already have a cat named Merlin and a horse named Guinevere, Arthur seemed an appropriate name. The newly-named Arthur was about three weeks old, a few ounces short of weighing a pound, and had an eye infection. He was so young, he still needed to be bottle fed every three hours. 

Arthur's first day in his new home. His eyes are pink from infection. 

And so we started the touch-and-go care of a newborn kitty. I've known several people who have attempted to care for a newborn, only to get their hearts broken when they couldn't pull through. Knowing he might not make it, I did everything I could do and prayed this adorable little guy would prove tougher than the difficulties life had already dumped on him. 

Daily, we were giving him antibiotic eye ointment, medicine for his cold (which he thought tasted awful), and bottle-feeding him every three hours. Soon, I didn't have to set my alarm for the middle-of-the-night feedings, because Arthur let me know when his next bottle was due!

So tiny, he fit in a coffee mug. <3

Yummy milk! 

Week one was nerve-racking, but then we started to see tiny improvements. Arthur's eyes cleared up, and he started playing! Also, we moved from bottle feeding to drinking from a tiny saucer. Due to his infection and him being so weak, I kept him in a crate in our bedroom. This was both to keep my other cats from catching his cold, and to protect his tiny self from my much larger, playful cats. He was so weak at first that I didn't want to release him with the big guys yet. By this point, I didn't know what I'd do if he didn't make it. He had already stolen our hearts! (yes, even my husband's lol). 

Playtime! 

Week two (Arthur was now four weeks old) Arthur learned how to use the litter box! Now his eye infection was gone without a trace, and his sneezing had cleared up. He was energetic (as all kittens should be :) ) and we knew he was going to make it! Since he was so much stronger, I released him to play with his bigger "siblings." 

Sherlock giving Arthur a bath. 

At first, they didn't quite know what to think, but it didn't take long for him to become one of the family. Now they romp and play like he's always been here. Arthur fits in great with the others, and he definitely acts like the king of the castle (or apartment). He is a sweet, cuddly boy, and I can't imagine life without him. 

Arthur is a great reading buddy! :)

There are so many animals that need a loving home. If you are looking for a pet, please give adoption a chance. Merlin was a pound rescue, and Arthur was found abandoned in a parking lot. They are both wonderful additions to our family. Now is a great time to adopt, as kitten season is in full swing! 






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Baskets make wonderful beds. 

If anyone has questions regarding adopting and caring for a kitten, particularly newborns, feel free to leave a comment on this post. 

Stay tuned for more updates on Arthur and our other fur babies! 

Comfy and cozy in his blanket! 

Thank Y'all for reading! Be sure to enter your email address to get all the latest updates from Pines and Peaches!