How long between cats?

[poing]

We had 2 cats and lost one due to ill health around Christmas. We still had the other cat and we knew she wouldn't take kindly to a new one so didn't look for any. On Monday we lost her, also due to health problems that are mainly age related.

Now myself and the other half are having a bit of a disagreement about new cats. I want to wait a little while, couple of months maybe, but she wants to go straight out and get another cat(s) with plans to visit the rescue places this weekend.

I know everyone is different so just looking for personal experiences and what other people found the best way?

[solo2]

I get very attached to my cats and extremely upset when I lose one. I tend to wait until the time has done some healing bit, and my heart is warming to a new arrival. Any sooner than that for me personally is not acceptable and feels like a betrayal to the cat I've lost.

Of course some people need to fill the aching void in their lives sooner. Each to their own.

[stupidbutkeen]

It took my dad 4 days from the day of having to put OLE to sleep before he turned up at my door with 2 farm kittens he picked up while on a farm to fix their BT line.
My other half said it was to early but, within a few hours of them being all kitten like, they had become part of the family.

[poing]

solo2 said:

I get very attached to my cats and extremely upset when I lose one. I tend to wait until the time has done some healing bit, and my heart is warming to a new arrival. Any sooner than that for me personally is not acceptable and feels like a betrayal to the cat I've lost.

Of course some people need to fill the aching void in their lives sooner. Each to their own.

That sums up my feelings exactly. I think it seems cold to replace them straight away, like a toy or something. The other half said if we don't get new cats almost straight away then she doesn't want to. We need to talk more about it but it doesn't help that she is away with work this week. I think she is just feeling a little hurt at the moment.

[Simpo Two]

You do it when it feels right. It's different for everybody, and possibly gets less for successive pets. But a friend of mine wouldn't get another cat after his last one died; he just didn't think anything could replace it, so he didn't.

[ali_kat]

You aren't replacing your cats

You're filling the holes that they have left

[Firefoot]

I had Pepsi for years and she was my baby. When I had to put her to sleep I was adamant that there would be no replacing her. A few weeks after she had gone, two strays started hanging around the house and they gradually decided that it was their new home!

I was glad to have them around as they filled the void that had been left, but I would have struggled with the notion of actually going out and getting a new cat.

[Jasandjules]

It sounds like your wife wants to take her mind of her losses by having some joy in the house in the form of two kittens.

I would say we waited nearly a year before getting another cat (well, pair) when we lost my shadow, but we had a cat as well so we still had one around the house to have on my lap etc..

[AMLK]

ali_kat said:

You aren't replacing your cats

You're filling the holes that they have left

This!

We had Molly PTS in June, just a couple of weeks later my husband and daughter were already scouring the rescue centres on the internet to see what they had. Last week Lily arrived in our family. She is lovely, but fortunately completely different to Molly.

Personally I would have waited several months before looking, but I got outnumbered. Having said that I am enjoying my cuddles and play time with Lily, and the house feels like home again instead of that empty feeling.

[poing]

Thanks everyone, seems there is no clear answer as I suspected. A longer chat with the other half is required I think to find a nice middle ground.

[Andy_GSA]

Over the last few years we've had to have 3 cats put to sleep for various illnesses, most recently a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't get any easier and we still miss the ones that have gone even though we've 'replaced' them. Cat owners will know how unique their cats personalities are and these can't be replaced.

We've always made the decision very quickly that we want another, we've started looking fairly quickly and decided that if it feels right when we see a 'candidate' then it's not too soon. As it happens we're collecting a new recruit tomorrow, thats a lot quicker than we've done before but it just felt right.

[Steve Evil]

ali_kat said:

You aren't replacing your cats

You're filling the holes that they have left

My wife and I found that I was the one who was ready to look at another cat before she was, I just felt there was something missing in my life, contributing to this was the fact that she was out of the country a lot after we had him PTS and I was even more lonely at home.

We've now got two young cats who are very different to our old cat, but still brilliant in their own ways.

[poing]

Well it didn't take very long in the end, went to see 2 little Ragdoll kittens yesterday and needless to say we are picking them up next weekend all being well. Just spent a fortune today on various bits and pieces so that we have all nice new things for them.

My first time with kittens because I've always gone for older rescue cats so this is going to be interesting.

[ali_kat]

You are going to have so MUCH fun!