Beloved cat put to sleep a few months ago, shall we get a new kitten?

[Crunchymum]

Bit of background. Cat was 12, not a baby but pretty young and it was utterly heartbreaking as she got so ill so quickly. Then a week later my mum died suddenly.... so I've been a mess, am dealing with a lot of emotions and essentially just putting one foot in front of the other.

We have the opportunity to welcome a new kitten to our family and I'm just not sure? Anuy advice?

FWIW I work from home, we have young kids (but very "cat" savvy we had our girl before we ever had children) and our house is kitten friendly IE shabby

I just feel unsure?

Just to add we always planned to adopt at some point but we've been asked if we'd rehome an unwanted kitten very soon. We have first refusal (sounds so transactional, but its a friend of mine rehoming kitten for an irresponsible family member. My friend knows us well, and if not she is happy to keep kitten herself)

Yes. Do it.

Dogs are much nicer

You know best! But sounds like it would be ok, positive even.

I did. I swore I wouldn't, but the house was so quiet without her and i missed chatting to her, even though she was an aloof, scratchy witch. So i got 2. I can honestly say they are a total joy. I've remembered why I swore never to have another ( cat litter, wrecking the carpet and, currently, bloody fleas) but they are so affectionate and entertaining and they are best buddies and I am utterly besotted with them.

Yes yes yes do it!
Your children will love it and it will give you something new and exciting. Despite their reputation I have always found cats very loving and mine certain keeps the local rat population down.

Yes, and then get another one.

Yes. We are in a similar position and the heartbreak will never end. A massive cat-shaped hole in our hearts. But we have space and a home to give, and joy to share. It doesn’t mean we will forgive our departed cats or remember them less. Do it.

So sorry about your mum
I lost one of our two 12 year old cats in June
We got a new kitten end of September
She is fabulous and my surviving now 13 year old think she is hers .

Doesn’t take the pain away but it brings new love and another part of your family
She even sleeps with our dog every night 😊

@Tomorrowisanotherdayyouknow nope.

@Tomorrowisanotherdayyouknow

Dogs are much nicer

Was this really necessary? Op was not asking about dogs

And yes OP I think you should take in the kitten! Could be what you all need this year. Sorry about your beloved mum and cat

@Tomorrowisanotherdayyouknow

Dogs are much nicer

So are helpful comments and yet that didn't stop you.

OP I would get the kitten. It's not going to replace your old cat but it'll bring a new joy.

Yes do! Just bear in mind that it's not the beloved cat you lost, and you might feel sad, or even resentful at times when its chewing your phone cable . That passes and he/she will imprint their own personality on your hearts in time!

I've always replaced my cats when they go.. can't have a catless house (have a dog too) and would never be without!

Absolutely do it. I adopted 2 kittens at the end of last year and they have brought our family so much joy during these times. I have litter box problems with one of them, tried everything, it’s an ongoing saga! But still wouldn’t be without them. They make me smile and laugh every day.

@Crunchymum

Sorry for my comment, it was unnecessary. I think my problem is the neighbour cat is a nightmare, digs up my seed bed, plants and souls in it, sits over the bird table waiting to kill the. Studies show bird population reduced due to huge number of pet cats. I imagine they are not all like that.
If it helps you and family then that's the main thing that matters

Soils the seed bed not souls!

Yes, I think he/she would bring joy

Yes! Unless you can get two.
@MonaLisaPiles can you tell me how your older cat and kitten were introduced? We lost an 18 year old a month ago and still have her brother who doesn’t seem to be pining for her (the heartless shit!) but I have real reservations about how fair it would be to get a kitten (or two) at his age. He’s also still got a powerful punch in him so may also be unfair in the kitten(s)!

@Tomorrowisanotherdayyouknow and my beloved cat was killed by an arsehole dog that broke into my garden but I’m not spending a lot of time haunting dog threads telling people to get cats instead because dogs are cat murdering arseholes. And need their poo collecting in plastic bags. If you’re not a fan of cats what do you really think you’re contributing to the specific question?

Yes take the kitten. It will help you through this X

We lost 1 of our dcat siblings this year. Dcat was as miserable as us... New dkitten has been here 2 weeks. Breath of fresh air!

Yes do it, I think the opportunity arose as you need it

We lost our 6 year old boy in June and we decided to get a kitten as soon as possible. Actually got him beginning of August

We now have a 6 month old terror

DCat was PTS in January and as a family we decided that if we were going to have another, we would wait till at least spring 2021 - this was in the days when we still had plans to go places and do things mind.

We ended up adopting ChampagneCat over the summer of lockdown and it's honestly the best decision we've ever made. She's not replaced DCat but has filled the gap and we couldn't imagine not having her (despite her being a noisy old hag)

You sound in a good position to go for it so I would be fully in favour

I would wait until you've done your grieving.

I got a new cat straight after my old one died long before I had finished grieving and it was a mistake. I had trouble bonding with the new cat because I was still so sad.

But everyone's different.