Want to adopt again but not sure I'm quite ready

[MollsDolls]

Kitty only gone since end of Dec and the house is so empty without him. I think I'm ready to move on and rescue again but am not 100% sure. I keep looking and have seen 2 that are adorable but am afraid to make the move.

Sorry for your loss, I know it’s devastating.

You could go to the rescue just to see, don’t put pressure on yourself, have a few strokes and ear rubs and see if your heart sparks.

I was in a similar situation when my boy was killed and I did go ahead and adopt. It was difficult at first, as I couldn’t help but compare, & it made me miss my boy even more initially BUT my new little adoptee has helped heal my heart.
So sorry for your loss

We adopted 3 rescue kittens after my beloved boy died. We say we rescued them, but in reality, they rescued us. Do it. You'll never lose your love for your missing pal, but your heart just grows bigger to fit the newest friends in. It helps, it really does.

It's really hard. But it really does help
You move on. I knew about Penelope within a few booths of Magics death. Knowing that she was coming kept me going. When I gave her a cuddle a huge weight of sadness went. I still miss Magic and Maia but I remember them with affection not sadness now.

I adopted 3 days after I lost my boy but
I rang his old foster woman to say he had gone. She had left the rescue she used to work for and set up her own rescue, which had a cat in she said I should come and see
So I did. Within minutes of being there I knew it was right

My old boy was a tiny, noisy, weirdo black male
My new boy is a massive, silent, weirdo black male

After my last two died within a few months of each other, I gave away all the equipment and unopened food and wasn't sure I'd ever have a pet again. Eventually I began thinking about adopting and decided to make a firm decision once I'd retired, with about a year to go. But then I thought that there are so many lovely cats that need homes, and I've got a house, and DS and I are here most of the time, so why am I letting them languish in a shelter for another year when they could have a home right now? We initially went to visit a pair of ex-feral sisters, but we didn't bond. Instead we adopted two sweet young mothers whose kittens were ready to move on. So now there are two previously unloved cats who have a home of their own, two spaces in the shelter for the next poor kitties to be rescued, and as a bonus, two humans whose household now feels complete.

I second the advice to go and see what's available and whether you and they can be happy together. They won't be your old cat, they'll be themselves. But that's good.

@NC03 I love how similar, but different your two are.

We got a new kitten less than a month after we lost our girl unexpectedly.

It wasn't planned but it was absolutely the right decision and made the loss a lot easier to handle.

I'm so sorry

They say people who were happily married are the quickest to remarry... I think it honours the bond with your old kitty that you have room in your heart to give another a loving home.

I'm sure he'll send one along in the Cat Distribution System!

Sorry for your loss 😢 it’s really hard isn’t it.
It’s exactly 3 months since I had to have my gorgeous old girl put to sleep and we’ve been having the same discussions.

We had another family bereavement around the same time that my cat died (a human one though) and that’s affected how I’m feeling. I know I am not ready yet because at the moment I know I wouldn’t be ‘able to cope’ with the thought of a new cat / cats going outside and not coming back or something happening to them. That would tip me over the edge BUT at the same time I think having a new furry friend or 2 would do me the world of good.

Its really difficult and the cat distribution system is really letting me down right now because if someone turned up, I’d have to keep them!

I waited 3 years after Troy died from heart disease. I went to a rehoming day and my hand was shaking filling out the form. I know cats have different personalities but I had been lucky to have lovely cats and the apprehension of welcoming a little sod into my home was a gamble I wasn't sure I wanted to take. Also Troy was black and white and rescues were full of tuxedo cats and I didn't want another one like Troy because of the sad memories.

We got Haribo, mainly white with a grey tabby bum and head, a few grey spots on his body and a grey diamond on his face and although he has his moments he is generally a lovely, sweet cat.

3 months to the day here too. 😥

It’s awful isn’t it @MollsDolls hardly any time at all but still feels like a life time has passed.

I’ve been donating food etc to a local non profit cat rescue charity each month in an attempt to not feel guilty that I can’t rehome someone at the moment.

@ILoveNigelTufnel it is. I'm still heartbroken but feel we have so much love to offer to other kitties. Considering getting 2 but am not sure yet. Have seen 2 on the ISPCA site called Tom & Gerry and although they aren't brothers they seem to get on well. Lovely girl from the centre sent me pics of them in the same pod. I might go visit them next week end.

I’m sorry to hear that @MollsDolls . A cat shaped hole is a hard one to fill. I am still really struggling but it’s tied in to the other bereavement as well.
We’ve said we will have 2 when we’re ready because there are so many cats who need homes.

I think if you’re feeling like you have so much love to give and have been looking at cats who need homes, it sounds like it’s the right thing to do.
They do sound lovely and what harm will going and looking do? 😉

Edited to make the sentences make sense 🙈

I was going to wait a few months after my boy died, even have a long holiday.
But hated getting up in a morning to a quiet house. Friend asked me to take in a lovable stray, who was living on allotments and in a greenhouse. Couldn’t bear the thought of him being out in winter because of my feelings. Took him in two days before Xmas and three weeks since my other boy. He is a total lap cat and love him to bits, still miss my other boy, but new boy definitely helped me and there are so many in need of of a good home. Could not have taken him earlier as old boy was still dominant and went for any cat on sight, so would have had two unhappy cats

I took on two young cats when my husband died, they helped immensely in our healing, my children and l thought the world of them, they were a massive comfort. They have both since passed now but it's the same with anything you truly love, separation doesn't change those feelings, they are both still much loved, much missed, but we now have 3 black rescues that have stolen our hearts, alongside our beds, and the circle of love carries on.