Did you have a tough time adopting a new 'companion' animal after losing one you had long term?

[Bricealan]

A year before he died

I recently lost him to Cancer after 18 years and swore I would get another, but finding out it is not easy to replace a long term companion so easily, emotionally.

He died last October 15th

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By the way... my furry 'child' was named "Oliver"

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The most depressing thing about losing Oliver is that we got him as a 'baby' at 8 weeks old and fed him with a children's doll, baby bottle, he was that tiny.

[glennos89]

Adopting a new companion isn't going to replace the bond you had with Oliver. You will still miss the cat you bonded with for 18 years. Which is a very long time.

A strong relationship need time te develop. My advice to you is to adopt a new one when your ready for a new companion but dont expect she is going te replace your old one. Take your time to process your pain, give it a good spot in your memories where it will last and adopt a new companion once your ready to build a new relationship with a new pet.

It will take some time to bond again with your new pet but building relationships takes time and eventually you will bond with your new pet just as strong as with your old one.

I have a cat now that was dumped here with the excuse she would pick it up again after a month. This cat was semi-wild didn't wanne be here and only came home for food. She ate all here food and was gone again inmedietly. In the end I couldnt get contact with the owner again so now I'm stuck with a animal that I didn't want in the first place and because she was semi-wild she wasn't the most pleasant pet to have arround either. I have been thinking a lot about finding her a new place to stay but I was lazy so I didn't put the effort in to find her a new place...

I have her now for more then a year already and it's remarkable to see how she has changed in personality. It took a very long time for her to be able to thrust me. I have numerous scars from her being vicious when I tried to come closer to her but eventually she started thrusting me to the point that right now, whenever I go outside for a walk... She will follow me wherever I go as long as I don't cross busy streets or going into a store. If I do she will wait somewhere hidden and once I come back she inmedietly comes to me and walks home with me again.

It's amazing to see how the binding process works out. I started out with a wild cat that nobody wants but it changed till the point that right now I don't wanne give her away anymore because she slowly got rid of her wild and vicious side becoming a nice cat to have arround in the House

[nolabels]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm strictly a dog guy, but I feel your pain.

It always feels a little like betrayal to the former loved pet when embarking on finding a new friendly pet.

I believe that our late pets would want us to be happy with new pets. I envision my late pets playing along with us from their realm of existence.

I lost my little canine pal to cancer last year.

I'm sure that I could have found another little pal to love by now, but my painful medical issues aren't conducive to my chasing after a puppy or even integrating an adult dog into my household.

My first dog as a kid, and my latest pooch were the best dogs I've ever had. I've considered that it might be apropos to have bookended my life with the two best dogs that could ever be.

Still, I want another dog and think that it'd help me feel better physically and emotionally. We'll have to see how things pan out.

I wish you the best.

[Bricealan]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply, and I have to tell you that I am sorry that you, yourself are suffering from a painful medical issue that would limit you having a new companion, as you know companion animals DO help us emotionally AND physically at times.
My vet also said the same thing in that Oliver, if he could speak, would want another creature to have the care that I gave him for those 18 + years of his life.
I, too wish you the best in your health, and in having a new Companion.

Bruce

[sage2021]

WOW! I never realized how different each cat can be. My cat, Abby, died after 13 years of having her in my life.
I did get two more kittens from a pet shop, but neither of them wanted anything to do with me. They didn't even want me to pick them up and love on them like I used to do with Miss Abby. She was like a rag muffin and we were really close.
I kept the kittens for many years until they died, but there really was no deep feelings for them sorry to say.

[ShesRad80]

sorry for your loss, its never easy to lose a pet but if you choose to get another one you are never replacing your best buddy. just giving a new animal a great life and home. animals all have unique personalities no two are the same i been through it so many times but i keep in mind no matter how short or long their stay they were spoiled rotten and had great lives.

[Sparkie460]

I have lost many pets. I never tried to replace any of them. You'll never get any animal that will come close to the ones you lost. I always picked the cat or dog that came to me when I got down on their level. I let them pick me, not the other way around.

[Bricealan]

I understand what you mean about 'replacement', and that, of course is always true as they are as individual as we are... So many animals like him without 'homes'. I feel like a 'parent' that has lost a 'child'

[Sparkie460]

That is exactly the feeling I've gotten with every one of my pets.

[Bricealan]

God bless...❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢

[Sparkie460]

Thanks. Same to you. I hope you find another cat if you haven't already

[TheSpaceGnome]

No because they aren't a replacement in my opinion (in the same way that one friend or family member is not replacing another).

It's easier to deal with loss when you have someone comforting you, being alone does not bring them back, and you can still miss them while having new companions. It's easier for people with multiple pets to see this, whereas people with only 1 pet tend to have your outlook on it.

[Bricealan]

I have had multiple pets at one time... and I understand your feeling, and believe it is very true.

[mandyfire98]

I'm sorry for your loss 😢
Oliver was adorable.
Its never easy replacing a pet you loved and had history with.

[Bricealan]

Wasn't he an absolutely beautiful creature?

[mandyfire98]

He was a pretty boy

[Pink2000]

Yes. I lost my dog at 8 years old and then I lost her brother 2 months later at only 2 years old. They were poisoned from Hartz dog shampoo. I didn’t get a new dog until about a year later.

[Bricealan]

Thanks, Pink.

[Sparkie460]

@Pink2000 did you get in on the class action suit against hartz

[Pink2000]

@Sparkie460 I did not. I should have. I contacted them and they wanted to perform their own autopsy. My dogs had already been cremated.

[Sparkie460]

It's too late now but you could have sent them your dogs vet records if you took them to the vet regularly. I'm sorry for your loss of your dogs. I also lost my dog because of it. I sent them the records and I got a settlement. It wasn't nearly enough because he was like a child to me

[Pink2000]

@Sparkie460 yeah I looked into it when they first passed and I didn’t know I could’ve sent them their vet records. I should’ve done more research.

[Bricealan]

@Pink2000, how did the poisoning happen? Never heard about it?

[Pink2000]

I used hartz oatmeal shampoo not knowing how dangerous it is. It caused seizures and sudden death.

[Sparkie460]

There was a chemical in the shampoo that is toxic to dogs. Supposedly they changed the ingredients.

[sheenagwapa]

i have pets who died and until now just the thought of them is giving me a certain sadness or pain

[Bricealan]

I find it hard not to think about. I took many, many pictures of him over his lifetime and have them on the walls all over the house...

[D_Bone_Steak]

I only have my pet snake. It's a one-eyed cave-diving snake. The scientific name is "one-eyed-purple-headed yogurt slinger." I only trust my pet snake with women I have a lot of trust with.

[Nikki1989]

I had 3 dogs, and they all died, all within the same year. I have another dog now, but I have never recovered from my loss.

[LiamJHayden]

I have not done so since I lost my two old German Shepherds in less than six months, so I think I am having that issue currently.