I'm considering fostering after losing my kitty recently, wondering if anyone went through this and has advice.
My kitty passed away a week ago, she was 22 years old and had been dealing with terminal illness for a long time. It hasn't been long and I miss her and am still going through her things, but in many ways I feel at peace. There is grief and loss too but it's not overwhelming me anymore. I can look at videos and photos with a smile even though its only been a week.
For fostering, it's something I was thinking of doing for a long time, after my kitty was gone. Due to travel plans I would have to either start now or start in half a year (trip would be just over a month long but dates to be confirmed, but I have to start either now-now or after). My vet had offered to give me a reference very recently, and as I don't have any other animals I won't see this vet again. So in this sense it would be better not to wait half a year before using the reference. Otherwise I would probably give myself a little more time to figure out my emotions, even though I feel kind of okay and peaceful, but I know grief can be weird.
I'm just wondering if I would be setting myself up for some hurt if I foster now. Like if I foster so soon after loss, I don't know how it will feel to have a new cat in my old cat's territory. Maybe okay if I can get into the mindframe that I'm helping this little critter, not replacing my friend. Maybe having them here to pour my love into would help me and not feel invasive. I don't know, has anyone done this?
My kitty passed away a week ago, she was 22 years old and had been dealing with terminal illness for a long time. It hasn't been long and I miss her and am still going through her things, but in many ways I feel at peace. There is grief and loss too but it's not overwhelming me anymore. I can look at videos and photos with a smile even though its only been a week.
For fostering, it's something I was thinking of doing for a long time, after my kitty was gone. Due to travel plans I would have to either start now or start in half a year (trip would be just over a month long but dates to be confirmed, but I have to start either now-now or after). My vet had offered to give me a reference very recently, and as I don't have any other animals I won't see this vet again. So in this sense it would be better not to wait half a year before using the reference. Otherwise I would probably give myself a little more time to figure out my emotions, even though I feel kind of okay and peaceful, but I know grief can be weird.
I'm just wondering if I would be setting myself up for some hurt if I foster now. Like if I foster so soon after loss, I don't know how it will feel to have a new cat in my old cat's territory. Maybe okay if I can get into the mindframe that I'm helping this little critter, not replacing my friend. Maybe having them here to pour my love into would help me and not feel invasive. I don't know, has anyone done this?
