Grey -- It's OK to have a "mourning period" -- pets are members of the
family too, and he will always have a special place in your heart -- but
think about how much good you could be doing a new kitten, and how that
also works the other way around. Ultimately, pet lovers are happiest
when they have a pet to love.

Two years ago, I awoke to find Zoe in a coma. I rushed her to the
emergency center; they didn't have much hope for her. After a 5 day
stay, she came home blind and lame. I put a lot of time and love into
helping her walk again. She had lost SO much weight (over 10 lbs) and
was very weak - she didn't even have the strength to squat when she
peed.

Zoe was diagnosed with Addisons disease. It's incurable, but treatable
with expensive meds. She is her old self now with just a few little
personality changes. She is my baby and I couldn't imagine losing her.
But, I know she won't be with me forever. When she does go, I wouldn't
hesitate to head to the shelter to find another sweetheart who needs a
home.

I see it this way: You gave that cat many years of wonderful care and
companionship. Without you, that cat my have become a strayy, may have
become a road-side statistic, and just as likely could have become a
little girls best friend.

So, given that the cat had a wonderful life in your companionship, and
you obviously got just as much out of it, then go ahead, get another
kitty. You'll make another little kitty happy, you'll have a different,
but, new, companion, and you'll always have sweet memories of your
kitty.

Greyhound!
So very sorry for your lose. I had 2 previous pomeranians. When the
female's health got bad (16 yrs.old), I took her to the vet. Surfice to
say, he told me that I needed to do the right thing. Well, the right
thing was good but I spent 3 days and nights in the bed crying my eyes
out. Some people do not believe that you can get so attached to animals,
wrong! I have never felt a hurt so bad in my life. Again, my
condolences.

.

Sorry for your loss Greyhound.
We lost our treasured dog in an ugly way last June. Luckily my kids
weren’t around for the drama but it hit them hard just the same. We did
a lot of processing around it, and talking and giving each other space.
I live in the camp of feeling the loss, living with it, accepting it and
then letting it go. Being happy is nice, And grief and sadness are human
emotions too and they need to be expressed. Ever hear of the poem
Rainbow Bridge?
I had to close out Rubicon’s life before even thinking of brining
another into the family. I found her stuff in all corners of the house
and yard for months afterwards. That needed to be cleared so another dog
could enter on it’s own accord, not as a memory of the past. In fact
when we were looking for another dog we came across a wonderful pooch,
looked very much like Ruby. We all agreed, Nope, not going to pollute
her precious memory with a new , look alike. We spent a lot of time
talking about the traits we wanted in this new family member. Finally at
Christmas we found all that. Was in a bit af a different package than we
imaged but Willie is just the perfect dog for us. It took a while to get
here, but well worth it.