Boyfriend makes bittersweet promise to sick partner to cherish and protect her cats after she passes, tells a heartwarming story of heartbreak and healing: 'I [will] love them the way she loved them'

Oh boy, feline fam, better go grab your nearest box of tissues because this one is a tear-jerker, a heartbreaker, a soul-shattering story from which only the power of our love for cats can heal us. We normally like to keep things light and fluffy over here at I Can Has Cheezburger, but sometimes, we have to get real. Bad things happen in the world sometimes, especially to good people. All we can do is try to pick up the pieces afterward.

Our cats have helped us get through more trying times than we can count. Technically we saved them from life in a shelter, but they saved us many more times over. They are there for us in our most trying times, and for that, we are purrfectly grateful. When this feline-loving girlfriend falls ill, her boyfriend makes the bittersweet promise to cherish, love, and protect her cats after she passes. She left, and now he has them to remember her by. Scroll down to read the whole story below, and we're serious - get some tissues.

Author image for Blake Seidel Blake Seidel
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  • 01

    My gf of 7 years passed away and all I got were these lousy cats

    Cheezburger Image 10452032768
    via u/esairbear
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  • 02
    In all seriousness, my lovely girlfriend passed away a couple days into the new year after a battle with pneumonia and the complications that followed.
    via u/esairbear
  • 03
    Her biggest pride and joy were her cats, Olive and Pearl (the black cat and the grey tabby, respectively). I was never a cat person so I never truly wanted any, much to her dismay, and our living situations throughout the years meant we couldn't have any. However, a couple years ago we were finally able to move into an apartment with just the two of us and quickly she made plans to get a cat. Not even a month into living there did she
    via u/esairbear
  • 04
    andwich BEATABLY BREAD SOFT Baked Fre in the FTS 71140588 570 3. 15
    via u/esairbear
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  • 05
    finally get her wish by bringing in the little runt of a litter from one of her friends. She didn't even consult with me beforehand but nothing I could have said would have stopped her from bringing in Olive. I remember the moment she first took Olive out of her carrier for the first time and she just broke down crying. At that moment I felt an immense shame of having not tried hard enough not figure out a way to get her a cat sooner. But no matter, she was finally happy and a year later she als
    via u/esairbear

  • In our relationship, we were the one who loved animals. We begged our partner to let us get a cat, but we just weren't in a place where we could adopt one. Finally, when we moved into a bigger place all on our one, we went out and got one. He went with us because he loved us, but we were the excited ones. We adopted a kitten and instantly bonded.

    You know what happened next? They fell in love with her too. He went into full “dad mode," caring for her every whim and whimsy, cleaning up after she made a mess eating, even bringing her on him to snuggle at night. They always cave in the end, don't they?

  • 06
    ASSACRE
    via u/esairbear
  • 07
    Everyday her cats would rest and sleep on her. Now they rest on her side of the bed. When I've been coming home from the ICU, they greet me but I can see their eyes linger a little at the door, as if they expect their mom to follow shortly after.
    via u/esairbear
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  • This is heartbreaking. We can't imagine how the cats are taking this. They don't understand any of it other than the fact that mom isn't home anymore. They might think she left them (in a sense, she did). But at least they still have a dad that loves them and will protect them at all costs.

  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10452035072
    via u/esairbear
  • 09
    It's hard to say how conscious my gf was at the very end, if anything I said to her would reach her, but I promised her I would keep her cats protected forever and that I would love them the way she loved. them. She made me a cat person and I'll always love her for that.
    via u/esairbear

  • Members of the cat community joined in to comment on this story - scroll down to read all of their heartwarming commentary below. We wish for everyone to experience the healing and love emanating from these people. 

  • 10
    Next_Mechanic_8826 9h ago I hope you guys help each other heal.
    via u/Next_Mechanic_8826
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  • 11
    Faaarkme 8h ago Top 1% Commenter Man... you're in a tough spot. The cats can give comfort and help you through this to a less painful place. Take care of yourself and yr cats. They represent her.
    via u/Faaarkme
  • 12
    WTCfan 8h ago Bro, I'm gonna cry. I'm so sorry and I hope you can heal one day
    via u/WTCfan
  • 13
    accountnumberseventy 8h ago. Your hearing is the last sense to go, when your body is shutting down. Which is why, at least as an EMT, you're told to comfort and never, ever disparage or say anything that could upset the patient regardless of condition - - because there's a good chance they can hear you.
    via u/accountnumberseventy
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  • 14
    So I believe she heard those words and may have even found some measure of peace, because you're willing to love and care for what she truly loved, her kitties. Your fuzzies now.
    via u/accountnumberseventy
  • 15
    Thank you for taking them and thank you for telling your GF you would care for them as she had. Be well, friend.
    via u/accountnumberseventy
  • 16
    GlitterBlood773 · 9h ago Top 1% Commenter This was beautiful and heartbreaking to read. You are a wonderful person. Thank you for being such a loving partner to her and her cats, no and after her passing.
    via u/GlitterBlood773
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  • 17
    Every word you said to her mattered. I like to believe that she can hear you, then and now. Keep taking care of your cats and yourself. Be kind & gentle to yourself in and out of your grief.
    via u/GlitterBlood773
  • 18
    • DangerousMango6 · 9h ago I am so so sorry for your loss, it's genuinely brought tears to my eyes. The pain of losing a loved one is like nothing else, I can't imagine losing the person you're closest to.
    via u/DangerousMango6
  • 19
    Your partner got to build her dream life with you and I just know she felt so loved and happy. Meeting you and settling down, getting a place to call her own with you, and adopting those cats was her carving out the life she had always hoped for.
    via u/DangerousMango6
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  • 20
    You did great OP, try not to beat yourself up over things as you look back on your memories. Those little kitties are there to bring you comfort and companionship as you go through this. She knew you loved the cats. She will absolutely have known you'd look after them and I'm sure she took in every single word you said to her.
    via u/DangerousMango6
  • 21
    When I lost my daughter someone said to me that grief is just love that has nowhere to go and that helped me accept my grief as a friend. Sending you an Internet hug buddy.
    via u/DangerousMango6
  • 22
    Badger242 4h ago
    via u/Badger242
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  • 23
    10 years ago my wife passed after a long battle with cancer. This little ball of fur was hers. She loved this cat. I was never a cat person but the cat forever earned my affection by waking me up in the middle of night when my wife had a seizure. Before she died she asked me to take care of the fur ball. It's been 13 years.
    via u/Badger242
  • 24
    This cat is 21 years old and well loved and spoiled. She saved my life after my wife passed by being a reason to get out of bed and keep going. Hungry? She let me know and I had to look after her. Litter box full? Meowed until I cleaned it. Little by little the cat's insistence I keep going moved me through my grief to a point where I could function. All this time later I've processed my loss and survived and a little insistent cat is a big part of why. As long as this cat is alive she's going t
    via u/Badger242
  • 25
    I'm sorry for your loss. I hope the little fur balls help you get through as much as mine helped me.
    via u/Badger242
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  • 26
    Cat_Dad_101 • 5h ago
    via u/Cat_Dad_101
  • 27
    I'm sorry for your loss. My wife passed in January of last year. We did home hospice and our torbie girl didn't leave her side the whole time. This is her laying next to her on the medical bed.
    via u/Cat_Dad_101
  • 28
    MareeSaid 8h ago Tuxedo Thank you for fulfilling her desire to be the mom of cats before she passed creating memories to treasure. May you heal with Olive and Pearl. May you be enveloped with comfort as you grieve.
    via u/MareeSaid
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