Would it be right to get another cat?

MrsE_2

Ted our adored Red persian died a couple of weeks ago.
He was 7.5 & it was very sudden, the vet thinks it was a heart condition that is more common in male persians.

When it happened I said we would never get another cat.

But I wonder would it help us?

DH & I really miss the affection you can give a little furry lovable cat, its as enjoyable for us all the petting & cuddling as it is them, isn't it.

I worry though that I would compare any cat to Ted & sadly I don't think another cat could ever compare, he was like a little dog, he followed us around constantly, he never went off on his own much.

DH said last night, even if he was doing something scary (like mowing the law or drilling) & the noise scared him, he kept his distance, but hung around close until the noisy thing was turned off.

When we had Ted I always said if he (Ted) had let me have another cat (Ted didn't like cats) that I would have got an "exotic" (an exotic is like a short haired persian, body plush like a teddy bear, with a persians head on top & MOST IMPORTANTLY PERSONALITY LIKE A PERSIANS), because of the constant hair battle you have with persians hair, so I could get a red exotic which would be a little like Ted, but not too much

But I don't want to buy a kitten & feel like its a cheap impersonator?

Any advice?

Kimberley

Go for it get another one. I have two Bengals, they are expensive but not like normal moggies. They really are much different I'm sure if you didn't get a pedigree a rescue will love you as much

Paparika

MrsE

you and DH are still mourning your beloved companion and there is a big void that he has left.

But it is fair to say that you have so much love to give and yes it could help, but as you have said the new addition to your family will not be Ted, this one will have his own characteristics.

my pup Perry reminds me so much of Nipper the last family dog we had when i was younger, in the way he is and behaves.

Good luck in your decision :grouphug:

foreign_correspondent

there are pedigrees in rescues too - lowis recently rehomed a siamese and she has some links

MrsE_2

I KNOW it great to give a rescue a home & I did help the Cats Protection for a while.
BUT rescues often do come with history.

AND if its coming into my home & family I would rather pay & get the "perfect cat" for us, as I did with Ted & we had over 7 great years with him.

I KNOW a rescue is the kind thing to do.
But its not for me.

MrsE_2

Kimberley wrote: »

Go for it get another one. I have two Bengals, they are expensive but not like normal moggies. They really are much different I'm sure if you didn't get a pedigree a rescue will love you as much

You will "know" then how special pedigree cats are;)

Ted was a persian & they are know for being home loving & affectionate, Ted was so affectionate, he followed me & DH around like a dog.

At night when moggies come alive & start tearing around the house, Ted followed us up the stairs & climbed in bed for the night.

Janey51

MrsE so sorry to hear about your loss. Over the years I have had to say goodbye to a few much loved cats and, at the time, said I would never get another one. But I did:rolleyes:
At the moment I have 4...all from Cat Protection and all loved. Each have their own special personalities. Whether you get a Pedigree Puss or a Moggie
you have such a lot to offer to a lost little animal and you sound like cat heaven

Of course you will compare any new kitten to your lovely Ted but in a good way and a new kitten to love will help the pain.

Good luck with your choice which ever way you go. Ted was very lucky to own you.

lowis

so sorry to hear of your loss. i lost my siamese girl Stormie in June, she left her brother behind and he got VERY lonely so I adopted an old 14yo Siamese in September to keep him company. my 'new' Siamese's owner had died so there was nothing wrong with him in terms of beahviour etc, he just needed a new mum. i wasn;t sure i was ready to get another cat, but i had to in order to keep my other cat 'sane' - i had your concerns too, but i soon realised that my new cat is not a replacement for Stormie, and is a completely different character to her...and i adore him. it sounds to me like you have a lot of love to give a cat that needs a home...tealady recently posted this poem, i think it is quite moving and might help you decide that getting another cat is no bad thing at all:

When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have
to those they love.
I, too, would make a will if I could write.
To some poor wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home,
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand,
the loving voice,
The place I made in someone's heart,
The love that at the last could help me to
a peaceful painless end
Held in loving arms.
If I should die, Oh do not say,
"No more a pet I'll have,
to grieve me by it's loss"
Seek out some lonely, unloved cat
And give my place to him.
This is the legacy I leave behind -
'tis all I have to give.

if you decide to go down the route of rescue cats, there are LOADS of pedigree rescue organisations - Persian Rescue (probably covers exotics), the Birman rescue always have loads of cats that need rehoming (long hair but easy to manage as they are single-coat cats), as do the Ragdoll Association (not so easy to manage, they need grooming a lot). here is a link to a list of the pedigree rescues that exist:

http://www.catchat.org/adoption/pedigree.html

good luck x

Kerriebaby

I have promised myself that when Mr Kiara goes to the big cattery in the sky, I am having a Norwegian Forest or a Maine Coon. I say go for it

Kimberley

MrsE wrote: »

I KNOW it great to give a rescue a home & I did help the Cats Protection for a while.
BUT rescues often do come with history.

AND if its coming into my home & family I would rather pay & get the "perfect cat" for us, as I did with Ted & we had over 7 great years with him.

I KNOW a rescue is the kind thing to do.
But its not for me.

I understand that. I first went for a rescue but because I live on a main road I wasn't allowed one, so I tried a Bengal and now I have two. I will always probably have pedigrees now. Goodluck in your search

MrsE_2

lowis wrote: »

When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have
to those they love.
I, too, would make a will if I could write.
To some poor wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home,
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand,
the loving voice,
The place I made in someone's heart,
The love that at the last could help me to
a peaceful painless end
Held in loving arms.
If I should die, Oh do not say,
"No more a pet I'll have,
to grieve me by it's loss"
Seek out some lonely, unloved cat
And give my place to him.
This is the legacy I leave behind -
'tis all I have to give.

Made me cry again, such a sad but touching poem.