A heartfelt tribute to a much-loved feline friend has touched hearts online after a man shared a poignant recreation of a 20-year-old photo with his childhood cat Gandalf before saying goodbye.
Photo tribute
The emotional post features a side-by-side comparison of the original photo of the man as a nine-year-old wearing an orange shirt and a recent photo of the man, two decades on, again in an orange shirt. In both images, he is cradling the fluffy cat.
In the accompanying caption, the man reveals he’s preparing for Gandalf to be put to sleep and wants to recreate the cherished memory as a final tribute to his feline friend.
The touching photo prompted an outpouring of support from the pet-loving community on Reddit, with many people sharing their own experiences of losing a pet. Meanwhile, others admired the late cat’s name and shared references to Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, including, “I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil”.
Goodbye Gandalf
The man responded to the comments about Gandalf’s name by explaining that he originally had a brother named Mordor. However, sadly, Mordor passed away at just three years old from cancer. But he added, “Gannie has lived enough for them both now.”
Many fellow pet-loving Redditors took the opportunity to share their own struggles with dealing with sick pets and the profound impact their four-legged friends have had on their lives. Some even admitted to talking to their pets, even after they’ve gone.
While he has to face the heartbreaking reality of a future without his precious Gandalf, at least this photo tribute is something he can cherish forever.
