How long did you wait? *Update*

Snuggles

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. It has made me feel that it wouldn't be "wrong" to give a home to another cat sooner rather than later, if it feels right for us.

I can totally relate to the comments about the house without a cat, it just doesn't feel right at all. I have been looking online and have seen a cat at our local RSPCA rescue which sounds like it could be right for us, and also a beautiful pair of girls a bit further afield. No harm in going to look...

vicx

I lost my two dogs in 2011 within weeks of each other. My dogs were my life, the ones that made me smile when I was feeling sad. To lose one was very hard but two within weeks of each other was so difficult to accept. I was absolutely heartbroken and thought the tears would never stop. I was adamant I would never get another dog; I just couldn't go through the heartache again, didn't think I could ever get attached to another and didn't want to feel like I was replacing them even though they could never be replaced.

After 5 weeks of saying no I don't want another, definitely no more I finally decided to take not one but TWO little pups. I admit I brought them home and cried for a few hours. It just felt so wrong, all I wanted was my other two back. I was thinking have I done the right thing, was it too soon? However, they kept me busy (double trouble) which helped take my mind off things and they filled that emptiness in my home. I was still grieving over my other two but as the months went on the tears weren't all day every day like before.

Now 17 months on and I am so pleased I agreed to get another dog (or two ). They are the only ones that have helped me get through the loss of my other dogs. They won't ever replace what I have lost but I couldn't be without them

I don't think it's ever too soon and a new cat will certainly help you get through the heartache. My family kept asking me daily if they could buy my another dog and I wouldn't even consider it, I just wanted mine back. I was on rock bottom and couldn't take anymore, it was then I realised I need to fill this emptiness in my home so along came the little twins. If they weren't my relatives dogs pups then I don't think I'd have got another so soon but these two were kind of pushed on me and I am so pleased they were, they remind me so much of two yorkies I lost in 2007 and 2011 so it is like having two of my three dogs back

vicx

I've sat here with tears running down my face for the past hour since reading and posting on this thread. Now I remember why I stopped visiting the pet board, it always has me in tears. It has brought back all the memories of losing my two and getting two new pups. I guess I am still not over the loss of my two dogs that passed May & August 2011 and don't think I ever will be but the sad days are few and far between.

I still think of them every day but so pleased the tears aren't constant like they were for almost one year after they passed. Time is the best healer and a new furry friend or two to lighten up your home and fill that emptiness

Tree_Lover

Snuggles wrote: »

As some of you will know from my other post, our beloved cat died last week. My initial emotional reaction was to think that it would be a long, long time before I could even contemplate getting another cat.

But the house feels so empty, and yesterday a cheeky little cat came and stood up on its hind legs looking at us through the patio doors, meowing and rubbing its face against the glass. Somehow this made me realise that there will be another cat out there for us who we can give a loving home.

Part of me thinks it's far too soon to be thinking of it, and another part of me wants to rush out to the local rescues to find another cat. I know we have to at least wait long enough that we won't feel disappointed when a new cat doesn't behave the same way as Maisie, and we won't feel guilty about "replacing" her.

I realise it's a very personal decision, but I was wondering how long those of you who have lost pets waited before you felt ready to get another? I am so devastated at losing Maisie that I'm not sure if these thoughts are just part of the grieving process or if I really might be ready to have another cat sooner rather than later.

I've owned 3 cats, but am currently pet free as I decide whether to get a dog (always wanted one), or not. I think you are obviously a caring animal lover, so why wait if this is what you want to do? It's a totally personal decision, but the fact that you have reflected on your own feelings should be enough to tell you how you will cope when the new cat doesn't act the same way your cat did.

When I had 2 cats, Mabel died and I was left with Jessie. Jessie lived a long life and when he eventually passed I knew I would get another. It took me a few months, but that was only because I wanted a pedigree this time, but a rescue cat, not a kitten, so this is why it took a while as I was happy to wait for the 'right' cat.

Johnmcl7

We never really thought about what to do when our dog passed away even though he had been terminally ill for some time, you just don't want to think of them dying at all really no matter how inevitable it is.

As it happened when we had to put our dog to sleep, we missed him terribly and the house felt so empty particularly coming down in the morning and back from work that we chose another dog the day after. Our main concern was we were being disloyal to the one that had passed away but at the same time it was because he'd been such a great companion to be with. It helped us to not dwell on the negative and focus on being positive, the previous dog was certainly not forgotten as got some new pictures of his printed out and framed plus put up digital photo frames with his pictures.

John

marlasinger

We lost our lab/collie cross in March last year, and a week later we picked up a 8 week old labrador puppy. Before we had our dog PTS we thought that it would be months before we got another dog, but once he was gone, the house was just so empty. We started looking a couple of days later - even though we were both still grieving.

I'm sure people thought we were mad, and that we should give it more time, but it was the right decision for us and we haven't regretted it at all.

The other thing is that we were so distracted with watching and training a new puppy (and it's such a shock to the system after having had an older dog :rotfl:), that you almost forget that you are supposed to be grieving.

Lurker1972

Snuggles wrote: »

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. It has made me feel that it wouldn't be "wrong" to give a home to another cat sooner rather than later, if it feels right for us.

I can totally relate to the comments about the house without a cat, it just doesn't feel right at all. I have been looking online and have seen a cat at our local RSPCA rescue which sounds like it could be right for us, and also a beautiful pair of girls a bit further afield. No harm in going to look...

Oh that sounds like us!! And when you are chosen by your new fur babies (cos you will be) you have to post pics!!

The difficult bit was that we got chosen by ladies that didn't match my preconceptions. Little black cat was my thought. Not 2 big fluff balls that are grey/white & tabby/white. What did I know eh?!

Merry_Wanderer

We just got our new rescue dog after having our previous one PTS. We waited about 6 weeks before taking in the new one, but that wasn't intentional - we just waited until the time felt right.

Snuggles

Thank you all for the lovely comments.

Well, we decided to go and look round a couple of rescue centres to see how we felt about it. As soon as we walked in and saw all those cats needing homes, we knew we didn't want or need to wait. We were tempted by a beautiful pair of seven month old tabbys, but something didn't quite feel right about it, and we knew they would easily find a home due to their overwhelming cuteness (and sure enough they were reserved the day after we saw them).

Our minds kept wandering back to a little female tortie (around 1 to 2 years old, tan/ginger and black) who had grabbed our attention just as we were leaving the same rescue centre where we got Maisie. It sounds daft but there was something about the way she had looked at us so intently and meowed at us so urgently! So we went back the next day to find out more about her and meet her properly, and she is absolutely adorable. She spent ages happily cradled in my OH's arms, lapping up the attention. It was a very easy decision after that!

I am trying not to get too carried away, because she has to go to be spayed, and after what happened to Maisie, I am not going to let myself get too excited until I know she is safely through the surgery. But all being well we should be bringing her home in ten days or so. And of course there will be pics!

murphydog999

Aah lovely. It was obviously meant to be, those 'feelings' / instincts never let us down, and she plainly thought YOU were the ones :j :j