How soon is too soon?

[Dancingfairydreams]

How do you know when you are ready for another cat?

We lost our girl very unexpectedly 6 weeks ago, I obviously still miss her so much, but I have a huge longing to get another cat, but I don't know if it's too soon. I worry ill compare a new cat to my previous cat, and that won't be fair.

I sit most days watching cat videos on Facebook/Instagram etc, I still get upset when photos pop up on memories, I still say goodnight to her....so my partner feels I'm not ready yet....but my heart is empty 💔

I think it’s really hard to have no furry in the house.
How would you get a new cat? If it’s rescue, I don’t see the harm in going to look.
If it’s kitten, then a kitten is so different to an adult cat that you won’t compare much.
Hug to you.

I wasn't planning to get another so soon after Maia as PTS. But it turned out that the right cat was waiting for me in the rescue. And she came home ten days later. However Maia's death wasn't sudden as I knew we were on borrowed time. So it was different.

Thank you both.

If we got another it would be a rescue, our girl was a rescue, 7 months when we got her.

I just find the house so empty, it's mad how much of an impact they make isn't it.

I think its all still a shock, she was fine until she stopped eating, 2 days later they found a stomach tumor, the call from the vets was awful. I just wailed down the phone screaming no.

A Facebook friend posted a new kitten today, I could have cried, I don't even know why.

Maybe a cursory look at the rescues may help, and maybe like @Toddlerteaplease the right cat will be there at the right time.

@Toddlerteaplease Same thing happened to me. I went to a rescue open day 'to look' right after I lost my first cat. It was quite traumatic, he had a spinal injury that he was not recovering well from despite surgery and was PTS.

My brilliant, charismatic and slightly calculating girl singled me out, came to the front of her cage, looked me in the eye and meowed deliberately, reaching out to be picked up. Then she immediately started purring. I didn't look any further. She was actually very ill at the time and hiding it, as cats will, but she recovered and is now sleek plump and beautiful with the most thick, luxurious coat. She looks nothing like she did when I got her, except for her eyes.

I almost didn't go and see Cheddar as the rescue said she needed a busy house, as she loves people. They then changed their mind and it put me off a bit. I wasn't feeling it when I first picked picked her up. (After we'd spent 45 min looking for her. She was hiding in plain sight!). Then she rolled over on my knee and made biscuits on my chest and that was that!

It really helped fill the hole that Maia had left. And I definitely think Maia sent her. (And I would never usually think like that) She's completely different, but some of her behaviour is exactly what Maia did.

My Bibi is the same tuxedo colouring and pattern as the cat I lost. Its funny how these things turn out.

Her name is actually Habibi but it got shortened pretty damn fast when I realised she's far more of a madam than the 'darling/sweetie' she pretended to be at the shelter. She dropped the act as soon as we got home. Wouldn't have her any other way though.

I'm so sorry op :(

IME, a new pet never replaces your previous one and you never forget the one you have lost but they do help with the grief.

If you want to start looking, then do so. You'll take the next step when the time is right.

It's lovely hearing these stories, thank you all.

We lost 1 of our pair. I wasn't bothered about getting ankg

Getting another. But dcat was distraught so we really had no choice....
No regrets and 2 very happy dcats now!

You were all right, I knew when I saw the right one! Have applied for a beautiful handsome boy, who hopefully be starting the new year with us....please keep everything crossed for me!

I said I wouldn't get another for at least a year after we had our old cat PTS. She was a very unwell girl and also never let me have a full night's sleep and I needed a break. We ended up getting our new pair 4 months later so that plan went well!!
I remember saying I don't think I could ever love them as much but I just adore them. They're completely different personalities and we'd never had kittens before so was all new to us. Plus they filled a very big gap we had.
I hope the new year starts with this wee guy in your home. He's a cracker!