Hello All,
I'm new to the CatSite, although I am a little familiar with it as I read through many threads last year when my life was changed by an addition of two lovely kittens, Totore and Quincy, and I was learning how to take care of cats. Totore, aka Toto or Totsy, was a birthday gift (best ever) and was very tiny when I got her, estimated at 6-7 weeks by the vet. Apparently, she was found in a garden one day by the people who my partner got her from. At that time I was working a lot and long hours so I decided to it'd be best to get another kitten to keep her company - that's how Quincy came to our lives. They got along almost immediately, after initial shock and confusion, they were best the following day. They are (were) quite different characters - Toto grew up to be quite independent, rather quiet, very sophisticated and such a hunter, often venturing into the little "woodland" behind our garden for hours and bringing home her catch, be it a mouse or a bird. Quincy on the other hand was always very needy and vocal, more like a dog - always by my side, always reacting to his name being called, always needing attention, he loved to be petted and had me wrapped around his paw!
Quincy was killed by a car a week ago on Monday 17th October in the early morning hours, between 7-8am. We are still coming to terms with our loss. He hardly ever went to the road, except sometimes when I was leaving for work or shopping he would follow me to the front gate wailing and crying (he really loved his mummy being near him all the time, he also slept either in bed with us or on the fur rug by my side of the bed), and would literally follow me at which point I had to pick him up, turn around, get him indoors and distract him with a snack before making my escape. He was just under 18 months old when he died. Needless to say, his passing is having a profound effect on me and my partner, but also on Totore. Poor little thing is hardly eating, she's been clearly looking for him, sniffing all around the house and hiding under the bed when she's not doing so. She also became much more vocal. She's a little bit better today but the initial days after Quincy's death it was unbearable for me to watch her suffer.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How long does it take for a cat to grieve another? My partner seems to think that she needs a companion. Although she has always been quite independent, she and Quincy had a bond, they would still play together in the garden (Quincy loved to pounce at her from the bushes when she was least expecting it and then they would chase each other - there was never any hissing or fighting, it was all play), or sometimes nap together, they were also often fed together. I'm very worried that if we introduce a new cat or kitten too soon she might get even more stressed out.
Please share your experiences and words of advice.
Thanks,
Magdalena
I'm new to the CatSite, although I am a little familiar with it as I read through many threads last year when my life was changed by an addition of two lovely kittens, Totore and Quincy, and I was learning how to take care of cats. Totore, aka Toto or Totsy, was a birthday gift (best ever) and was very tiny when I got her, estimated at 6-7 weeks by the vet. Apparently, she was found in a garden one day by the people who my partner got her from. At that time I was working a lot and long hours so I decided to it'd be best to get another kitten to keep her company - that's how Quincy came to our lives. They got along almost immediately, after initial shock and confusion, they were best the following day. They are (were) quite different characters - Toto grew up to be quite independent, rather quiet, very sophisticated and such a hunter, often venturing into the little "woodland" behind our garden for hours and bringing home her catch, be it a mouse or a bird. Quincy on the other hand was always very needy and vocal, more like a dog - always by my side, always reacting to his name being called, always needing attention, he loved to be petted and had me wrapped around his paw!
Quincy was killed by a car a week ago on Monday 17th October in the early morning hours, between 7-8am. We are still coming to terms with our loss. He hardly ever went to the road, except sometimes when I was leaving for work or shopping he would follow me to the front gate wailing and crying (he really loved his mummy being near him all the time, he also slept either in bed with us or on the fur rug by my side of the bed), and would literally follow me at which point I had to pick him up, turn around, get him indoors and distract him with a snack before making my escape. He was just under 18 months old when he died. Needless to say, his passing is having a profound effect on me and my partner, but also on Totore. Poor little thing is hardly eating, she's been clearly looking for him, sniffing all around the house and hiding under the bed when she's not doing so. She also became much more vocal. She's a little bit better today but the initial days after Quincy's death it was unbearable for me to watch her suffer.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How long does it take for a cat to grieve another? My partner seems to think that she needs a companion. Although she has always been quite independent, she and Quincy had a bond, they would still play together in the garden (Quincy loved to pounce at her from the bushes when she was least expecting it and then they would chase each other - there was never any hissing or fighting, it was all play), or sometimes nap together, they were also often fed together. I'm very worried that if we introduce a new cat or kitten too soon she might get even more stressed out.
Please share your experiences and words of advice.
Thanks,
Magdalena