10/10/2026
To everyone that knew our yoga fanatic cat, Milo.
I am devastated to let you know that Milo passed away on the 5th October 2026. He passed in his favourite bed, in his favourite blanket in the sunshine. I was stroking him and telling him just how much I loved him. He had his dad there and our vet, Sophie, who had shown him so much kindness.
I first met Milo on the 12th September 2019 when I moved into my house. I had just met my neighbours who told me that my predecessor had left Milo. “Who’s Milo?!” I asked, imagining all sorts of answers. “Her cat,” said my neighbour. I met Milo that evening when he meowed outside the backdoor for dinner. He ran as soon as he saw me. I left some food in the bowl outside and saw him sneakily eating it later once I’d drawn the curtains. That was how it went on for weeks. Milo would meow through the glass door that he was ready for dinner, he would run when I approached the door, I’d leave him his food, he’d return to eat it when I’d shut the door. Then off he would go again.
I gradually pieced together Milo’s history through my neighbours. We estimate he was over 20 when he passed which is unbelievable. He had been one of three cats who had moved out when his owner bought two dogs. The other cats left but Milo lived in the garden or surrounding countryside and came home for dinner.
One day Milo didn’t run when I opened the door to give him his dinner. He let me perch beside him while he ate. The next day he let me stroke him. He put his paws on the step to the door and looked indoors, then ran off again. The next day he arrived and I opened the door. He ran past me, up the stairs, and snuggled down on my bed. He basically ruled the house from then on.
We spent lockdown doing yoga together on the patio or recording for YouTube which some students loved. When lockdown ended, Milo still wanted to join in and would meow outside the doors persistently for a whole class. If the door was open, he would appear at some point and rub himself over everyone, mostly their feet, and flop on their mats. He went from being a little scared cat to being the world’s most friendly cat. I think he really missed yoga being run at the barn but he was happy to spend his later days either sunbathing outside, running around in the fields, snoozing on our bed or snuggling up on the sofa. He loved a lap cuddle, he loved to meow at us, he loved bullying my husband for his dinner.
We don’t know when Milo first got ill but we think it happened a while ago. For a long time we didn’t have answers and I blamed myself, in a way I still do, if only I had spotted some of it earlier or found out about internal medicine specialists earlier, I might have helped him. We found out after a year of illness that Milo had lung cancer, stomach cancer, progressive heart disease as well as other illnesses like kidney disease and pancreatitis. We were stuck between two rocks: we treated the lungs and we risked exacerbating the heart disease, we treated the heart disease and it would ruin his lungs. We were told with the heart disease he had 6-18 months but the lung cancer, if untreated, would be the cause of death in a few weeks. We went home with a feeling of dread as I chose the palliative care option, not wanting to risk Milo spending his remaining time on an operating table. He had to have so much medicine, my poor boy. He started off pretty good, they had drained some fluid from his stomach and he finally had an appetite again. But that ended in a couple of weeks. He had good days and bad days. In the week before he passed, he was still adventuring down the garden or across the lane next door. I have a video of him jumping over a tall fence from next door’s field, something he hadn’t done in months. He was getting thinner and quieter. He couldn’t be in the house for long, it was like the change in pressure indoors made him feel ill. But every time we came outside, he’d come to greet us for a snuggle. In his last hours he followed me and my toddler round for a snuggle in the sunshine on the grass.
We didn’t wake up on the 5th expecting a goodbye. He took a sudden turn. I keep thinking what could I have tried differently to have helped him that morning, to have stopped him from declining so suddenly. I called the vets when it became obvious he wasn’t going to make it. They came to check him over and although his vitals were good, they agreed he was clearly lethargic and in pain. I could have sent him away for more tests, but I couldn’t do that to him again. I knew he wouldn’t come home. And he had to be at home, this was where he belongs.
To say that I’m heartbroken feels like an understatement. I’ve had quite a few pets in my life (does saying Milo was my 6th cat make me crazy cat lady? That’s okay. I’ve had three dogs, pigs, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs too… so we can say I’m crazy animal lady) and I’ve grieved and missed every one. But Milo’s passing has… hurt. It’s really, really hurt. The grief has been suffocating. The emotions are too big for my body and mind, it’s unbearable missing him. I feel like a part of me died with him. If soul pets exist, I think Milo was mine. We only had 7 years together. It wasn’t long enough. I would give the world to hold him right now and to tell him just how much I loved and missed him and to hear one of his meows again.
So many people miss Milo. He was such a light to have in our lives and yoga classes. He was one of a kind. He was the softest and fluffiest cat to the end. He was the most gentle soul and the most patient being. He knew how to make you smile and laugh and always had something to say.
Dear Milo, thank you for making the last 7 years wonderful. We love you so much. Sleep well, my darling x 🐈⬛ ♥️
