The cat left behind- advice please

dippy3103

Last week i had to have my 15 year old cat put to sleep- rather suddenly. She went from old and frail to very ill overnight, the vet thinks she may have had a stroke. I miss her terribly, but know that it was the right thing to do for her.
I have another cat who is 8- he has lived with her since he was 8 weeks old. He is appears to be very upset by the loss of his friend. For a few days he walked around the house crying and looking for her, and is still very withdrawn. He is eating some food, but not as much as usual. There are no physical symptoms of illness. He is due for vaccination now, so I will be taking him to the vets next week so he will get a physical once over then just in case.
Has anybody had a similar experiance and some advice?
I feel it's too soon to get another cat, but intend to in time IF it is right for my very lonely moggy. If i did when is best, if at all?

Cinny91

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat, we have a moggie of about the same age and it's heartbreaking to think of anything happening to her.

I'm sure your kitty will be perfectly happy on his own for awhile, as cats aren't pack animals. I'd just give him lots of extra strokes, cuddles and cat milk, that's what I did with my cat Sh!tface after we lost his best friend Stitches and he sempt to come around quite quickly.

I don't really think there is a certain best time to get a new kitten after the loss of another. I know of people who have got a new kitten (normally for their children) after loosing their cat and others who have waited years before getting another. I waited 5 months between Stitches being buried and getting my other cat George (who sadly went the same way as Stitches at 1 1/2 years) Afew weeks after George died I was offered a rescued kitten, he died in march and the kitten couldn't be taken until June. But I couldn't accept as much as I wanted too because it was far too soon for me.
You'll know when its right to get another cat when you seem to be buying lots of ADmags and stopping infront of pet shop windows.

Sazzyukrafc

Oh dear, how sad. My mum and dad had two cats when I lived with them, one was a couple of years older and looked after the other from being a kitten. The older one - Sooty - was a tom and the younger - Sweep - very soft.

Sweep unfortunately died from his kidneys and for a good year or so, every night Sooty would walk around the house wailing. It was awful. When Sweep died, he changed and wasn't bothered about being a tom or defending his teritory. I think he wasn't bothered anymore.

We never replaced Sweep and sadly Sooty died a couple of years later. After Sweep's death he stopped grooming himself and pretty much gave up. It was sad to see, I guess he just didn't want to be around without his best friend

I know that's a sad story to hear, but what I want you to take is that no one will replace his best friend, but a new best friend will certainly make a lot of new memories!

We think if we'd got Sooty a new friend, maybe he wouldn't have given up, but we never really thought of it at the time tbh.

Give him time to get over it, remember, he has just lost his best friend and he is grieving like people do. In a short while, get a new kitten and he'll be thrilled - someone to boss around!

I hope everything goes well and please don't let him cope alone, he needs all the attention in the world right now and in a short while, a new friend will make him very happy!

lowis

sorry for your loss...it is heartbreaking

i lost one of my 12yo siamese cats in mid-June, she died of lymphoma. i still have her brother (they were littermates) and I let him see her body after she PTS. i think it definitely helped, he didn't call for her as much as he did when she disappeared to the vets for 8 days about two years ago.

they are both indoor cats so my remaining cat is now quite lonely during the day when i am work. he is alone 10hrs a day. he has become so much more clingy and vocal since his sister's passing (siamese are clingy and vocal to a degree anyway). his appetite has decreased slightly, but not alarmingly. siamese cats are notorious for needed company and attention and for these reasons I am now looking out for a companion for him. i hope to find a siamese of the same age with whom he can hopefully chill with in their older years together.

also, be ready for an element of feeling sad and guilty at the thought of getting another cat. i know that i am not replacing my Stormie, no cat ever could, but i think it is natural for such thoughts to raise themselves. whether this is a sign that perhaps i am not ready to give a home (and my heart) to another cat, I don't know. all i know is my existing cat can not spend 10hrs a day alone and i have to think of his needs. anyway, for all i know he may hate having another cat in his home and be happy being an only cat now...i will only find this out by trying though...

i am off to see a potential friend for him on sunday...let's hope things work out

Sazzyukrafc

Lowis - where abouts do you live? I know someone who has two siamese cats that need a new home, although they do need to go together! Not sure of their age unfortunately.

Good luck in your search for his new friend - both of you! Cats are just like us, they miss their friends and family when they go, but eventually we find new people/cats!

lowis

Sazzy - I am in London, but only want 1 cat - I only have a 1 bdroom flat
plus they need to be aged 12years plus...

Has your friend with the cats contact Siamese Rescue about their siamese cats? They have a rehoming service.

dippy3103

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

I do feel a bit disloyal to my old cat even thinking about getting another cat just yet.

Maybe i'll wait a while. In the mean time my other cat is being spoilt rotten!

lowis

please don't feel disloyal - i have to keep telling this to myself as well. you are not replacing your old cat...nothing ever could...you are just trying to make life better for your remaining cat.

and if you got yourself a rescue cat...it would honouring the memory of the cat you just lost, rehoming a needy soul would be such a wonderful gesture in memory of your baby.

the cat i have my eye on has just become 'orphaned', his owner passed away and he is all alone in the world now

jo_jo70

Hi

Really sorry to hear about your loss, big hugs for you.

To help ease the feeling of loss your other cat is experiencing, gently stroke his ears from the base right to the end. Cats find this really soothing and can help loads in times of stress or pain.

take care
Jo

Francesanne

Really sad about your loss and know how upsetting losing a beloved pet can be. Get another cat when you're ready but you're not being disloyal by getting another moggie in due course. If you live in London try Battersea or The Mayhew animal rescue. So many older cats needing kind loving homes like yours. All the very best.