How do I move on after putting my fur baby to sleep?

I not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot, but I just need to ask this question to everyone that has gone through this. I am having such a hard time with Katie not being here with me, I miss her immensely. I put Katie to sleep July 16th of this year, I miss the companionship, giving my love, taking care of and pampering. I need to fill this void.
When do I get another kitty?
How will I know when the right time is?
My emotions are so mixed right now; Part of me feels like I can’t because of how much I loved Katie, she was everything to me…she was my baby. But then another part of me says to move on and save another little Kitty like I did with my Katie.
What should I do??
Someone please give me advice.

I think Katie doesn't want you to be alone, and she knows you will always remember her. I'd pick a day when I had some free time and go to the shelter. If there is one there that Katie likes, you will just know

I'm sorry that you lost Katie! It sounds like you loved her a lot.

The night I put Zoey to sleep, my SO and I went over to my parents' house because I didn't want to go right home to an empty house. She asked me THAT NIGHT when we were going to get another one. I was so hurt/angry that she would have the nerve....it was "just a cat" to her. I couldn't fathom getting a another cat right away.

However, over the next couple of weeks, the house was so lonely without a little furry friend to come home to. Zoey was so needy in her last month, that I was so used to having to take care of a cat, that I was constantly reminded that she was gone by the empty house. I knew it was time to start looking for another cat. I felt a little weary because I didn't want to be seen as replacing Zoey (especially since Belle looks much like Zoey did), but I went ahead and adopted Belle and Delilah anyway.

However, getting Belle and Delilah really helped me heal from the sadness I felt over losing Zoey. They did not replace her. My SO and I still talk about Zoey almost every day because she was so sweet and did things that this Belle and Delilah do not. I love all 3 of them and tell Belle and Delilah about their big sister. And, since Zoey was my first cat, and I had to learn A LOT about cat health and nutrtion very quickly once she got sick...I warrant Zoey for me being a better "mom" to these 2. She is my little angel and I will miss her forever (I still get teary thinking about her).

Getting another cat does not mean that you did not love Katie. It means that you loved her so much that her not being around makes you feel like something is missing. You won't completely fill that hole...part of it will always be missing...but another will help you heal (and you will be saving another cat's life)!

I agree with the others. My special Siamese kitty, Susie, was very close to me and I lost her well over 20 years ago. I still miss her and think of her often and no cat we've had since has replaced her. By that I mean that she will always have a special place in my heart but then each cat we've had since (2 before Bijou) each had a special place in my heart as well. We lost Simba a week before we moved to our current house and after about 1 1/2 months with no cat, it just didn't seem like a home. We got Bijou and the joy he has brought into our lives is immeasurable.

No other cat will replace your special kitty, but by giving another sweet kitty a good home is such a wonderful reward for both of you and takes nothing away from the love you had for her. I hope to read soon that you have taken in another loving companion. Lots of kind thoughts, prayers and love go out to you to help you through this rough time.

I concur with everyone here. When I lost my Miss Tobie, my other kitties just couldn't fill the empty space - she was my cat exclusively-she knew my moods, my health, she was really my "sphinx-cat" who guarded my dreams. Then I lost the custody battle for my grandson less than a month later & I really did not have the courage to risk losing at love like that again.
At that time, my disabled daughter decided to drag out her years of savings & buy herself a nice sound system. Before she did, though, she went to the pet store to buy her cat Christie some treats & wound up using her hard-earned & saved money to purchase 2 kittens, a Maine Coon & a Manx. The store owner adjusted the price of both kittens to fit into my daughter's budget (she couldn't give the papers, of course). And so we acquired JC & Joey, and Joey wound up being my other little "sphinx-cat" - I truly believe like my ancestors that those yet to be born are over RB with those who have lived and passed on back because Joey is so alike Miss Tobie in knowing my moods, their behavior, etc. that they must've met just over the Bridge. It's uncanny, amazing
So, here's some hugs for you & please keep us posted. Your new kitty (or hopefully, kitties) is/are out there & I hope that they are with you soon, to brighten your holidays Susan

Oh boy! This sure hits home. As I was on my way home today I was thinking about Siam and the void he has left in my life. I have Spud, my best bud, I've had him for 14 years, was there when he was born. He is my heart!
Siam was a "stray", someone dumped him out here. He and I bonded to the max, I loved his quirky ways and felt like we communicated w/o words. I had him 2 yrs before he got malignant lymphoma ( I will NOT capitalize those ugly words) he was with me for 7 weeks after being diagnosed. I had him cremated and bought him a beautiful urn and a piece of cremation jewelery that I wear close to my heart everyday.
We got Thai about 2 months after losing Siam. Spud seemed lost without his little brother and I had a need, the house was so quiet without Siam. We got Thai (another Lynx Point). He resembles Siam...but is NOT a Siam replacement. There will never be another Siam. Thai is awesome on his own. But I have to say that I will ALWAYS miss and mourn Siam and will never stop wishing I had him longer.
You have room in your heart for another cat that needs you. You will know which one when he/she chooses you. That cat won't be a replacement...it will be another kitty that needs love.

There is a lot of energy in your love for Katie and now that energy has no where to go. Open your heart to the possibility and Katie will bring a new companion. It doesn't mean that you love Katie less.

Petunia's been gone for 5 years now but I still miss her. Carly, Lucy and Much make sure that I'm not alone.

When I had Oliver PTS, I still had Whisky for companionship, so I don't know that feeling. However, I echo the thoughts of the others here.

You will know when the time comes...

I so agree that in some way, Katie will lead you to a new kitty that needs your help.

When I lost Smudge 1 from FIP, I was devasated. I wasn't really looking for anything when one night, on TCS, a fellow member was having trouble with her cat giving birth. To make a long story short, My beautiful "new" Ragdoll, Smudge (also) was born exactly one year after Smudge 1, was named after the first Smudge who touched many hearts, and was born in Maine and ended up being shipped to Colorado to me here!

Nov 26th will be 8 years since Patches died at the er vet and Dec 5th will be 1 year since Stormy was pts from arf and maybe kidney cancer.
It seems everytime I lose one another comes to me.
My stripe had Crf and I knew she did not have long to live.
My brothers cat had kittens I and I picked one that looked alot like Stripe.
Meeko was 3 months when Stripe was pts and she almost died about 2 weeks before stripe did.
Meeko has turned out so much like stripe.
I never expected that.
I got Oreo 2 weeks before Stormy died and never thought I would lose Stormy.
How can I lose coco's girl so young and sudden?
Oreo helped Meeko because Meeko was so upset.
She slept with Stormy all the time.
You will know when it is time to get another cat.
I always have.

In the past two months, one of my closest friends of more than 25 years died of MS, aged 55. Two weeks ago, a very dear friend and neighbour died of cancer - she had been a good friend to me and I had done what I could to support and help her through her last year when the cancer moved from her bowels and left lung to her liver, her shoulder, her spine and finally her brain.

Without Thingy, my cat, my sense of holes being ripped suddenly in my life would have been immeasurably worse. Thingy is of unknown age but around 19 or 20 by estimates of people who have known her longer than I have. When I took her on, it was with the knowledge that she hasn't too many lives left and then she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism for which I give her daily medication. The reality is she is going to die. It could be this week. It could, if she and I are very lucky, be another couple of years or so. I will be sad and I will miss her dreadfully. But she is a cat and much as I'll miss her, I know I'll get another cat, not a replacement I know but fulfilling the same role in my life. I don't know how long I'll wait but when I feel the time is right I shall go to my vet (who arranges rehoming of pets) and ask to take on a new cat.

Janet and Valerie are dead and one can't just go to the vet or a shelter and get a new friend. Indeed the vital roles they played in my life will never be performed by anyone else. I hope for all the joy and companionship that I have enjoyed, thanks to my sweet, cantankerous old moggy, I have things in perspective.

I am I hope a tender-hearted and a loving person but what I am not is sentimental. I don't sentimentalise people and especially not animals. That way madness lies.

This isn't about my cats but when I lost my first horse Star to cancer. I was 16 years old and I was distraught. I didn't know what to do, I felt so alone and helpless. I ended up taking the advice of my friends and family, and started looking for another horse in January, Star had died on November 24. Within only two months of looking, with not much interest in any of the horses I had seen, I stumbled across an ad for a horse four hours away from me that peaked my interest. She was barely green broke, had problems, and from the pic they emailed me was average looking. I drove all that way one Saturday with my friends, and fell in love the second I met Tia. Like Star she was a big Percheron x, and to my surprise the pic they had sent me did her no justice. She was gorgeous, and in so many ways reminded me of my Star but she also had her own distinct personality, and was a beautiful seal brown, while Star was a grey. We were meant to be as much as Star and I were and all the animals and people that have been in my life since. Everything happens for a reason. At the time I didn't see that but now so almost ten years later I do.

Grief is a feeling that needs to be dealt with and then put aside so you can then move on with your life and start celebrating the life of the one that parted. That is the why they were in your life in the first place. To enhance your life, to give you a connection with another soul that can never be broken. They are always with you, so take the lessons that they taught you and the memories you have, and start looking out for the signs of the next being that is supposed to touch your life. Being sad and alone for years is not what Katie would want for you. In celebration and memory of her be happy, remember the good times you shared with her and feel blessed that you had her in your life. Go out and share the love you have for her and lessons she taught you with another little soul. She can never be replaced but she plays a huge part in the next life that will be connected to yours. Follow the way Katie and the way the universe guide you!

I thank all of you for getting back to me, and you have know idea how much your words help me

You are right, Katie would want me to be happy again and help another kitty. I have so much love to give and I need to fill this house with love and laughter to make it a home again, it is very empty with sound and lonely. I am off today so I think I'm going to try looking.

Thank you all so much. I will keep you posted.

~Melissa

Your Katie was so very beautiful I lost my Alley almost 2 years ago and I still miss her and think about her each and every day. I have two beautiful boys now that I love very much.

No cat will ever replace your Katie, and none will ever be just like her, but they are all special in their own way and they all deserve a loving home

When you meet the right kitty, you will know.

I hope everyone's advice has helped you. Believe me, there is no 'right time' to feel as if you're over the loss of your furbaby. To me, at least, the 'right time' never comes. I lost my Sheltie Daisy 20 years ago, and I still miss her. (she was the world's best dog and I adored her) Every pet you've ever had will always have a special piece of your heart, there's no getting away from that. To be honest, there have been some kitties I've grieved for and then reached the point where I was able to look back on their time in my life with a smile. There have been others that were particularly close to my heart that I still grieve over losing, even tho for some it's been years and years.
Katie will always be with you, love doesn't just stop because someone isn't there anymore. A new kitty ( or 2 ) will never take her place, but you'll find a new different love with them.

Originally Posted by Cyber Cat

What should I do??
Someone please give me advice.

Click to expand...

I'm going to respond with a little feeling that I have posted here many times before.

Every cat leaves a hole in your heart exactly the shape of that cat. No other cat can completely fill it, but in making its own place in your heart, it will help make the previous hole hurt less.

It sounds to me like you're more than ready to help another kitty. If you walked into our shelter and didn't walk out with a new love, I would feel I hadn't helped you to the best of my ability. You can never exactly replace the cat you lost, but a new one can bring you new joy and love, new experiences, new playthings, new sleeping spots, new tummy-rub needs, etc.

I was devastated when we had to put Raven to sleep last December. Well meaning people tried to help out and get me another black cat, but I didn't want another black cat. I wanted Raven back. No one will ever be Raven. It still hurts to even look at cats who look like he did.

Neither my husband nor I were ready for another cat for a long time. Late summer I started browsing the shelter listings and looking more closely at the shelter cats in Petsmart. But then an underweight & injured fluffy black kitten arrived at our door. In my mind, the Universe decided that it was "time" for us to have a 3rd cat again.

Lola is a ray of sunshine and we love her dearly. She has also brought the playfulness out in my other cats again.

I'm glad that you are going to find a new kitty. As others have said, your new kitty will never and can never replace your beautiful Katie. Your new kitty will make a new space for itself in your life, filling it with love and purrs. I hope your new companion finds you soon