Coping With Anticipatory Grief While My Cat Is Still Here (Chronic Illness & Kidney Disease) | Ep. 130

What do you do when you're already grieving a pet who hasn't died yet? In this episode of Diary of a Cat Mom, podcast host Dagmar Gatell opens up about anticipatory grief — the heavy, confusing sadness that shows up while your cat is still curled up beside you, still breathing, still here.Dagmar is currently caring for two cats moving through chronic illness at the same time: Snow White, her ragdoll-eyed rescue of 11 years now managing thyroid and kidney disease, and Baby, a former community cat who came inside after a medical emergency involving seizures, weight loss, and an FIV diagnosis.This episode covers what anticipatory grief actually is, why "not dying" doesn't mean "okay," how to recognize and avoid caregiver burnout while managing a multi-cat household and a business, and the simple grounding practice — "stop and pet the cats" — that helps Dagmar stay calm, present, and connected during the hardest season of loving her cats.If you're a cat mom or pet parent walking through chronic illness, kidney disease, or end-of-life care with your own pet, this episode will help you feel less alone.What You'll Learn In This Cat Podcast EpisodeWhat anticipatory grief is and why it's valid even when your pet isn't actively dyingHow chronic illness (thyroid disease, kidney disease, FIV) creates a slow, ongoing grief processWhy "she's not dying today" and "she's okay" aren't the same thingReal signs of caregiver burnout in multi-cat households — and how to catch it earlyFive practical ways to stay sustainable while caring for a chronically ill catThe "stop and pet the cats" practice for staying calm, present, and regulated so your cat feels safe tooTimestamps00:00 — Intro: Living with anticipatory grief right now01:05 — Chapter 1: What Is Anticipatory Grief?02:35 — Chapter 2: Snow White's Story04:20 — Chapter 3: When Not Dying Isn't the Same as Being Okay05:10 — Chapter 4: Baby's Story07:00 — Chapter 5: Avoiding Caregiver Burnout08:40 — Chapter 6: Stop and Pet the Cats09:50 — Outro & Final ThoughtsDiary of a Cat Mom is a gentle, diary-style cat podcast about everyday life with cats—created especially for cat moms 35+ in multi‑cat homes who see their cats as family.Resources for Cat ParentsEverything I use for my cats is here: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/About the Diary of a Cat Mom PodcastDiary of a Cat Mom is a personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments from life with cats. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom, not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, always consult your trusted veterinarian.Help More Cat Parents. 🐾💕Share your knowledge, experience, and story to help cat parents better understand their cats.→ Learn More About Becoming a Guesthttps://stan.store/fromhereai/p/podcast-guest-packageConnect with Cat Parents. 🐾🐱Reach an engaged community of cat parents and build trust in your brand.→ Learn More About Sponsorshiphttps://stan.store/fromhereai/p/podcast-sponsor-package