Should I get another cat

[Blackfellpony]

We found our lovely boy dead yesterday. He was only 3 and has been missing for 2-3 weeks

Ever since I have been trailing rescue centres to see what they have.

Someone please tell me the cons of another cat. It would have to be a kitten as I have a dog who chases cats who she hasn't known from babies. We also have another cat and I'm not sure if he would want a friend?

I can't remember the first thing about kittens though, are they as bad as puppies

Maybe it's just a knee jerk reaction, do normal people wait a few months?

I think is too soon. I lost my boy in the summer. Yes, I've looked and thought about kittens, but decided my other old boy wouldn't cope. And it's still too soon for me. But give it a while, when you're ready you will know.

I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost out old girl about 18 months ago. The house felt empty and I immediately started stalking rescue sites. But we had a holiday booked and so I had to wait a few weeks. Torture.
Each person and each loss is different. Some people immediately want another pet and some wait months. There's no right or wrong really.
How awful is it? They are much harder work than cats but good fun too. If you can stand having a kitten and a Christmas tree (baubles? What baubles?) then I think you'd be fine.

We have fostered hundreds of kittens in the past but we kept him and the older cat who is about 5. We had him from a 5 week old kitten and he was lovely, affectionate and no trouble at all.

I'm worried about getting another and it isn't a good fit but it's hard to tell how cats will turn out

I think it proberbly is a bit soon but it feels empty here even though it definitely isn't!!

I don't necessarily think it's too soon. When my Mum's cat was PTS a couple of years ago we were at Battersea 4 days later collecting her new friend. She wasn't looking to replace William, but she couldn't stand the cat shaped hole.

I'm sorry to hear about your boy

I think it is too soon. Be kind to yourself, you've had a nasty shock and no time to grieve for your poor boy yet. I also don't think it would be fair on your other cat, they will be adjusting whether it appears that way or not, and should have time to settle before facing a new addition to the house.

I managed a few weeks after my cat died in August. The only thing that made me feel better was looking on the local cat shelter's website. One cat had been there nearly a year and I felt so sorry for her (she's beautiful but very timid). She's asleep on the windowsill now . Also got another cat that had only been there a few weeks. They're both doing really well.

If I'd had another cat it might have been different, the house just seemed so empty. I still miss her but it's a bit easier now.

I have to admit it took several attempts to actually go to the cat shelter because I wasn't ready! You'll know if you are.

We waited about 9 months after we lost our old boy, and then rehomed 2 cats from CPL.

I couldn't have done it sooner, and to be honest, although they have been their own delightful selves, it is only now that we're settling down to their personalities, and we all still miss the old boy now and then (he was wonderful with the DC, and these 2 are not so compliant!)

So if I were you, with a cat and a dog already, I would wait a bit. You may find your remaining cat enjoys being an only. Time will tell.

Thank you all.

I will have a chat with DH and see what he wants to do

It's such a personal decision. When my Mum's cat was PTS she said she was never having another cat but, as I said, 4 days later we were at Battersea. She lives on her own and hated not having an animal in the house (she used to have a dog but can no longer walk one). She felt guilty and was worried people would think she was trying to replace William but I told her not to worry about other people, do what was right for her.

Good luck with whatever you decide

I'm so sorry for your loss.

It's not necessarily too soon. Whenever my family have been cat less another cat has been got within days. Just not right without a cat.

I lasted 3 weeks without a cat when we lost our old girl. Hated hated hated the house without a cat. The time is right when it feels right, there's no 'too soon' if you're ready.

Thank you everyone.

My other cat is so sad. He hasn't left the house for weeks. They normally played together and slept together.
My dog also loved him, they would wrestle most nights and she used him as a pillow

I wish I knew what happened to him

Sorry for your loss, they do leave a big gap in your life.

I'm still catless after Troy died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in May, he was 5. It was hard work medicating and monitoring him, taking him to the vets and having to work virtually full time for the 4 months after he was diagnosed. I think it's too soon for me but I love looking at photos of people's cats and kittens on here and Facebook.

Ah well, if your other cat is sad, then it's time. But cat or kitten? (My Billy didn't even notice his mate gone for ages, but he's lonely now. Sits outside our rooms and wowwls)