It's Official: I'm never getting another pet

Okay, so my cat who I've had for the last sixteen years dies and I find myself crying like a sissy little girl. I don't ever want to feel like that again, so I've decided - no more pets for me.
Has anyone else ever felt like this? It's kind of like the pet version of "Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?" Maybe I should wait until they develop some decent robo-pets . . .

 

That's a silly reaction. I'm sorry for your loss, but how much joy did your cat bring to you over the last 16 years? Wouldn't you like to have that again?

Amazing.

 

I've never felt like that. I've kept small animals for years - they make nice company in a cramped urban living space - and I've always wanted to get another one when one died. There really is no substitute for the unmitigated love an animal can give you, and you should not cheat yourself out of that.

Anyway, I am really sorry about your cat. For some reason, your first pet is always a very special one.

 

Get one of those huge turtles.

They live for over a hundred years.

You'll have your life companion, and it will be the one to mourn your passing.

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. I know how you feel and remember when I lost my cat I vowed to not have another. Destiny had other plans and I now have several others who needed homes.

Take your time in mourning Shelly. Most people don't understand that losing a pet is as traumatic as the loss of a family member.

My thoughts are with you.

-Ani

 

well i think im wierd. I have a cat and i have never really gotten attached to it and when i started to get close to it it never left me alone and i got annoyed so i avoided it and it became more of my little sisters pet. I found myself drawn to my aunt and uncles dog. he was like 18. when he died and i was crestfallen. i thought i would die and i never wanted to see another dog again. Well my uncle persuaded my aunt to get one and when they did i found that the puppy was very lovable and brought back memories of their old dog. It has been such a great thing for me that i did get another pet because i might never have bought another dog and then i would have missed out on alot of fun. So get another pet and treat him like you would your first one. You can always remember your firstpet but realize that they wont live as long as you. I dont know if this helps and i hope im not to confusing but i try to help so there ya go.

-silverdog

 

It IS upsetting when a pet dies yeah... 8 years ago I got two rescue Cockatiels that were in such a bad state I didn't think they would last the night... so I fed them bathed them and generally gave them all the love I could... bought them a bigger cage and toys to play with... now these poor little things were SO scared of humans one would cower in a corner if you moved near the cage and the other one used to attack you and hiss all the time... Spotty, the male one responded the best to love, care and attention and over the 5 years I had him the poor little blighter got stronger and more tame until I could get him out of his cage and play with him... I became really attatched to him eventually he got a really bad cold and I took him to the vets who gave him treatment and I took him home... a couple of hours later it had turned into Pnumonia (not spelled right) and birds go downhill really fast... he was on top of his cage and he came over to me and snuggled right up to me and died in my hands THAT was the most heartbreaking thing that has EVER happened to me. Possibly not because he died but because after all he's been through with humans being cruel to him most of his life he wanted to come to me, a human to be comforted while he was dying... that was 3 years ago and even now I have tears in my eyes!

I have more Cockatiels now though because for all the heartbreak you get when they die they are so much fun while they are alive and they are so loving!! I now rescue parrots as a hobby and rehouse them!

You NEVER get over a pet dying just like a loved one BUT it does get easier to live with in time and you will find yourself thinking about getting another pet m'dear but don't so it just yet... give it time make sure you get another PET and not a REPLACEMENT!

 

Get another pet, you won't be sorry. Recently I lost my cat, who I'd had for 15+ years. I'm at college now, but I really wish I had a new cat.

 

I know how losinga pet feels like. Most of the cats my family has had got hit by cars,and my sister had to have one of her cats put down becuase he was so ill. As much as I liked them,it's best to move forward. When my family's black cat goes,I want to get another one and name him after a member of the Black Panther Party. It's just coinscedence the one we have now was named for Bobby Seale.

 

It's not easy. I've lost many pets, and it stills upsets me when I lose one, especially when they've been with me a long time.

 

At 16 Shelly would have been the equivalent of 112 human years, so he lived a very long time. I think God in his mercy made it so that we would outlive our pets (most species anyway) so that we could care for them their entire lives and not leave them abandoned if they outlived us.

I lost my "firstborn" Sonya when she was 16 also and I cried like a baby for awhile. I too didn't want another pet as I was afraid to love another pet like that again and then see it die. But as I mentioned earlier, fate had a way of changing things and I now have a full house of critters (birds and cats). Here's how it all got started:

Ever since a child (as early as 3) I remember befriending stray animals so I'd often feed stray cats and dogs who'd find me on my way to and from work. Mind you these critters would only approach me so I'd manage to buy some sliced turkey or chicken from the deli near the train. One evening I was talking to a neighbor about this kitten I had been feeding for a month and he told me how smart she was in outrunning the dogs and kids who threw rocks at her. I didn't see "Baby" for about a week and when I did, I melted and took her home. We've been together since and I love her dearly.

"Baby" will probably die before I do but I understand a little better now.

 

I remember when my old dog Champ died. It hit us all pretty hard. That dog was half German Shepard and half wolf. How awesome is that?

He'd lived most of his life at the end of a chain, and been abused, until we came along and picked him up, I forget exactly where and how (I was like 4). He became like a family member, and was really loyal to us. Coolest dog ever.

I feel sorry for the guys who did the pool every week, though. They were scared out of their wits by him staring out behind the gate.

He barely ever barked. Just made this low creepy growling sound.

 

I had to put down one of my two cats last Monday because he was sick. It was hard and I've cried a lot over him since then, but I know what I did was for the best. I do not regret for a moment having him or any other of the best I've had. It's hard to lose them, but the love and enjoyment they bring to life is worth the pain of losing them. I'd rather love and lose than not love at all. That's just me though.

~*~Bria

 

your 1st pet is indeed very special. but, so can other pets. i know you loved your cat very much, but after sometime, you can love another cat. a few years ago, my aunt's little black mutt was killed by coyotes, she was very, very upset. now, she has 2 very lovable chihuahuas, and my aunt loves them very much. just take all the time you need, & if you feel you ready for another cat, then get one. if not, think of the wonderful memories you had with Shelly. i'm very sorry for the loss of your cat. losing a pet is very, very tough, & i wish you well during this difficult time.


peace,
DarthTunick

 

this is me.

This is me editting your annoying and absolutely illtimed post.

Edit, me, edit!

 

Jeeks, man. Just because you've had a bad experience with a pet doesn't mean they're all terrible nuisances or something. Some of us geniuinely love and connect with our pets. They've brought a lot into my life.

 

Buy a Parrot. They live longer than you do. And they make perfect pets if anyone here is worried about shedding and keeping a house clean.

I got a rabbit. Cutest thing in the world! And I will get a dog soon...I hope.

 

That's sad news, Homer. I'd kill myself if my little duck died.

 

I'm sorry for your lose, Homer. As much as I couldn't stand our dog when my girlfriend bought him, he's grown on me now and even though he's just a year old, I'd be pretty upset when if died. There's no shame in that, and there's nothing wrong with getting another cat .. you'd actually be giving another cat a chance to live a long life instead of dying in the pound.

 

I'm sorry about the loss of your cat, even though I've never been fond of them myself.


Ever think about having the remains cloned? My wife thinks it's wrong cause they have a soul or something - but i say clone the kitty.

 

I know how you feel, DarthHomer. One of my cats got run over when she was about a year old, and I was distraught for months. It was terrible. I felt very low indeed. But fortunately, there was another cat about the place (called Molly, for those of you who've noticed the sock!), so it took the sting out of the loss, but I do know how you feel. But get another cat! They're what holds the universe together. The cat parts of it, anyhow.

 

Yeah, I vividly remember the first dog I lost. We had to put him down because he had been through such a terrible accident (a neighbor dog had dragged him beneath a chainlink fence and broken his back). My mom had had him since college and I, although very young, had grown very attached to him. I remember we both cried for days afterward (if you catch her at the right time, my mom still tears up if you mention it). We had to get a friend to take him to the vet because she couldn't do it; when I realized that I would never see him again I screamed, "NOOOOOOOO!!" and ran into my room.

But for the 19 years of my life I never been without a dog except for the few months I lived in a dorm during freshman year. And everytime I've lost one I've always had more to console my loss.

 

Thanks for the support, Oakes and everyone else. This is the first time in my whole life I haven't had a pet in the house.
I probably will get another cat eventually, but I'm about to move house so I'll wait til then at least.

 

Last Semptember my 19 year old cat dissappeared. I'm only 16. I grew up with this cat. When our other cats passed away, it was not as difficult to get over, cause we still had our other cat. We looked for her for days, but we knew she was dead. Her health had been declining. This is the first time in my life, and the first time in 20-some years for my parents that we have not had a pet, it was weird getting used to at first. For awhile I didn't want another pet because I felt like I would be riding off our old cat too quickly.

My dad's friend takes care of a stray cat that hangs out around his house by feeding it. This stray just had four kittens on saturday. We are thinking about getting one of the kittens. I have wanted a kitten all my life, I've only ever had adult cats.

I miss having a pet around the house.

 

That is very sad, Lolipon. I know how you feel.