Faithful Friend & Companion of 18 yrs gone

dirtmother

I think everyone is different on this. After a wonderfully settled period, I lost two cats in the latter part of 2013, one a very old lady the other a sudden unexplained death of a 7 year old.

We had two remaining cats and a dog, and adopted 3(!) rescue cats, one of which was still pretty much a kitten. He was the absolute light of our lives so it was especially hard when he was killed last year.

So I know what the routine is for me after a day or so... I hit the internet, all the rescues and go through thinking "Nah...nah... nah" and then, depending on what is available, over the weeks I may see something that tweaks my heart. And then the hunt is on for the right combination of tweaking my heart and fitting my circumstances (ie no good if they need to be an only cat)

I avoid getting a cat that looks like a previous one... that said I am typing this with a kitten snuggled up to me who does look weirdly like the one that died in a way (we didn't really realise that until we'd had him a little while... and we even find ourselves calling him by the old name a lot and it is OK...so I think you could say we're in love.... he's different... but he also fills a particular space we had that had been left empty, if that makes sense? We decided on him just over a month after the previous cat died and had to wait another month. I didn't want to leave it too long anyway as our remaining animals are strong personalities and I thought it was better not to leave it months and months in which time all the dynamics would change.

My husband felt it was too soon but it seems to have worked out...especially as this kitten shot straight into his arms when we went to view.

I am so sorry for your loss. There are a lot of cats out there needing homes who would be privileged to have you as an owner so I'd say if you feel the urge to have a look, at least have a look.

heartbreak_star

Lots of love to you. Run free on Rainbow Bridge, Scampi!

HBS x

cattie

I can't thank responders here enough for their compassion & support for me. It means a lot to me & to be able to keep returning here & read all of your messages has been such a help when I've felt so down & alone.

I just wanted to let you know that yesterday a friend came with me to the vets to return some of Scampi's medication & whilst there she asked if they had any cats for rehoming. They had just one, who came in about a month ago who was a stray & appears to be very friendly. He is about 6-7yrs old & I'll be collecting him tomorrow for a 2 week trial to see how he settles down with me.

I know my broken heart won't be healed quickly, but if he & I can give each other something we both desperately need, that will truly be a blessing. I will be back to update all of you lovely & empathic people. xx

Corelli

That is lovely news Cattie. Of course this poor little thing will never fill the Scampi shaped hole in your heart, but it would be nice to think that you will be able to find some love for this little one. Of course, it is wonderful too for this homeless puss to find a good loving home with warmth and food and medical care. Thank you for your generosity to him whilst you still hurt so bad for Scampi. I hope it works out well for both of you. X

surfsister

glad you have found another cat and re-homing a stray is the best way to go as it saves a life probably. All the best I know how you feel!

Here's to another twenty years or so!!

meritaten

no, you cannot replace a much loved companion. but you can find another, different companion. it doesn't mean you loved the previous one less. if you feel the need for a pet - then offering a loving home to an animal who needs one is NOT negating the love and companionship you shared before, its carrying it on.

Corelli

^^^^ what Meritaten said. Is the cat from the vet at your home now? How are you getting on with each other?

cattie

Hello you very lovely people. Yes the cat is home with me now & he has settled in very well. You'd think he'd lived here for ages the way he has accepted moving in with me & made himself at home. From day one he was up on the bed with me at bedtime & slept on a pet pad right next to me.

I've named him Barney & he is a very loving & affectionate cat & he is helping to take away some of the pain that losing my beloved Scampi has caused me to suffer.

Barney has rather an unhealthy interest in food though & does literally hoover the food up as soon as it's put down & is constantly pestering for food. Of course I don't know his history, with him having been found as a stray, so unsure if his constant focus on food is due to having not known where his next meal was coming from or if he has always been a greedy cat. Yesterday I caught him going through the rubbish bag to get at the remains of a meal I'd thrown away, so I'm going to have to keep a close eye on him & hope he will soon learn that the set times for eating are at breakfast in the morning & at dinner in the evening.

Scampi only ever ate until he'd had enough & always left a bit of breakfast to come back to a bit later & like many cats, you could leave a bowl of biscuits down for him to nibble throughout the day if he was peckish & he'd just have some when he felt like it. Barney I'm sure would eat a whole box or pack of cat biscuits with no trouble at all straight after a meal & would still keep pestering for more food.

When I take him to the vet for his next inoculation in a couple of weeks I'll speak to the vet about it, as he is already quite heavy, so I wouldn't want him to put any weight on. Being unsure of his past history, I don't know if he is a cat who has had access to outside, where he can at least get some exercise, or has been a house cat. I expect I'll soon find out when the time comes to try him venturing out.

no1catman

Sorry to read of your sad loss.


I said good-bye to mine back in 2008 had her from a kitten back in 1988 . When I had the blood-test results from the Vet (I had just finished the morning deliveries) I howled and cried - it wasn't easy driving back. Still my Partner and I got her through the summer - which she enjoyed, but in the Autumn her leg muscles became too wasted!
There have been times when I'm sure I've felt her on the bed.


Now is the first anniversary of taking on another cat - a mad calico (even the Vet referred to them as Naughty Torties) - a mature cat of nine.


Good luck, take care.

m1kjm

Thank you for the lovely update OP. We'd love to see a photo please.