I’ve had my two rescue cats for 6 months, they are just over a year old, tabby siblings - the kids, DH and I adore them and they’ve brought so much joy. We live rurally in a village with a small lane running up past our house. The cats have been going out daily for a few months now with tracker collars and they’ve enjoyed it, usually we are out there too but have been leaving them to it as they come back when called, we’re very precious cat parents (!) and have been quite anxious about it but started to relax. Well today my lovely boy cat was run over and killed by a neighbour going up the lane. Not her fault, it was an accident but we are all devastated and I’m honestly not sure at the moment how I can get over it. I wfh and spend so much time with them, they were really opening up and he was my little shadow - they were such a bonded pair, I’m desperately sad for my little girl cat, I can’t stop crying - I feel he is about to come round the corner and watch me putting away laundry or miaow for his biscuits. How do I get over this? The kids are so upset. It feels huge 😢 - we thought they were safe here, they don’t really go near the lane and I usually keep an eye on the tracker but I was busy this morning. I feel like I’ve failed him, failed her, the family. He deserved a long and happy life. I’m bereft …. I’m hoping others here understand. I never knew I could love a pet so much but they had become a part of the family in such a short time.