My old girl has died

[ILoveNigelTufnel]

Just that really. I am so incredibly sad. I feel like my heart has broken and I don’t know what to do with myself. I had her 17 years from when she was a tiny kitten. The house feels empty without her.
I love her more than anything and I just want her back.
I know no one can fix this but I just need to tell someone.

It's not possible to 'replace' a beloved family member! I hate it when people say that! Like it's a vase you've broken or something. Each one is so individual and can never be replaced. But, giving a home to another one can help both of you.

I'd suggest a pair of kittens or young-ish adults, and they can keep each other company while you adjust to each other.

I know, my mother has tried this and been tremendously disappointed

My condolences

When my black cat Snowball, who I brought to the USA when I emigrated here in 2002, died at age 20 in 2013 it broke my heart even though at that age you would expect it. My DS had moved out and married by that time, and she felt like the last link with my UK life that was still with me. We have two other (American) cats who were younger then and are still with us, and they are lovely but now 15 years old. I think when they go I won't get any more cats. I love them dearly, and so does DH, but I am 73 and he is 81 and in the nature of things a cat is likely to outlive us.

My nana thinks the same. She’s buried seventeen or eighteen throughout her life and doesn’t feel up to saying goodbye to another. She’s so cat-oriented I think another older rescue/rehomer would actually suit or help but it’s her decision in the end. She is older than your parents by the way, 86 and I think my grandad is 90 this year. They are always a terrible loss even when it’s expected, just like a person - it’s why you never ever say a grandparent had a “good innings” when they died at ninety, for example. Pets are people, they’re just furry and can’t speak. It doesn’t make them less valuable. We love them. We get the benefits and pay the price.

So sorry, lost my Eric mid December, awake all night, I posted on here and the understanding and kindness helped so much. I have just been putting photos of him in my new frame, not over him yet. Awful when I come down in a morning and he’s not there. What helped was binge watching tv series, so I didn’t have to think. Hope you can soon remember with a smile not a tear, although I am not there yet. They just get into your heart and leave a massive hole. You gave her a long and happy life.Made my laugh that she approved of your new man, they are very good judges I find

So sorry to hear - she was a beautiful tortie
I hope that you will be able to welcome another wee furry into your life in the future
We lost our 2 cats in May within 5 days of each other and I was terrified when I got a kitten I wouldn’t love it as much - wrong I am now besotted and went through all the stress again when I thought we would lose him due to an accident - thankfully he’s now on the mend
Someone shared this with me and it really resonated

Thank you for the lovely comments.

I know I was lucky to have her for so long and I’m trying really hard to look at the positives. People who say you can get another one to replace whatever pet it was, really have no idea at all do they? Every cat / dog / whatever little creature is part of the family is different.

My parents have said the same, they’re in their 70s and have said when their cats aren’t with them anymore, they won’t get another one. But they said that 15 years ago when Sheba died and ended up with 2…

It’s just so odd her not being here. She used to always come and greet us when we got back from being out so now I’m totally stuck. Don’t want to be in the house because I miss her not being here and we used to hang out all the time and don’t want to go out because we’re coming home to an empty house. It’s made me realise how much of our day was focused around her!

I fall in the middle. Don’t try to replace your dearly missed darling. Another cat of a completely different nature or a carefullly considered dog could help though. Nobody is ever going to fill that gaping void of loss. Someone could help you in ways you both need though :)