I lost Paulo about three months ago now. He was my soul kitty and we were very close. He would cuddle with me all the time and look right into my eyes with love and give me nose kisses. He needed me so much. And then so suddenly he was gone, after 8 years. He left behind Yuki, his littermate and lifelong companion. Yuki coped mostly OK, but he was clearly so lonely and bored with no one around for most of the day.
A few weeks ago, I was finally feeling good enough to consider another cat. I visited a nearby shelter that someone had recommended. I came upon a few cats that seemed like good candidates but eventually I narrowed it down to one, a gray tabby 1 year old girl. I took her home a few weeks ago. The first few days were especially difficult because she refused to eat, but eventually I got her going and she has been settling in well. I chose her partly because I thought she would get along well with Yuki and so far they are doing pretty well. Not yet cuddling in piles but they share food and play together sometimes. She is a bit shy, but she is gradually becoming friendlier with me too.
I feel like I should be happier, but it's been difficult. She has been improving but I don't know her well yet or really love her yet, but she has the same level of needs as any other cat, plus all the new "quirks" I have to figure out like how to get her to not scratch the door frames, something Paulo and Yuki have never done. I haven't even found her a name yet and I've had her almost a month. She is shy and likes pets sometimes but doesn't cuddle yet or want to be picked up (I hope she'll like those things someday). It makes me just wish I had Paulo back sometimes. And it's hard not to compare her to him, or feel like she is taking his place even if that's totally irrational. Her being here sitting in the spots he loved, playing with Yuki, playing with Paulo's old toys, it makes me a little happy but also so sad knowing that she can only be here because Paulo is gone forever. Seeing her reminds me that my time with him is truly over and that I have to continue on with my life whether I want to or not.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm looking for advice so much as stories from other people who felt similar to me at first and then had things change or hopefully improve. Thanks for reading.
A few weeks ago, I was finally feeling good enough to consider another cat. I visited a nearby shelter that someone had recommended. I came upon a few cats that seemed like good candidates but eventually I narrowed it down to one, a gray tabby 1 year old girl. I took her home a few weeks ago. The first few days were especially difficult because she refused to eat, but eventually I got her going and she has been settling in well. I chose her partly because I thought she would get along well with Yuki and so far they are doing pretty well. Not yet cuddling in piles but they share food and play together sometimes. She is a bit shy, but she is gradually becoming friendlier with me too.
I feel like I should be happier, but it's been difficult. She has been improving but I don't know her well yet or really love her yet, but she has the same level of needs as any other cat, plus all the new "quirks" I have to figure out like how to get her to not scratch the door frames, something Paulo and Yuki have never done. I haven't even found her a name yet and I've had her almost a month. She is shy and likes pets sometimes but doesn't cuddle yet or want to be picked up (I hope she'll like those things someday). It makes me just wish I had Paulo back sometimes. And it's hard not to compare her to him, or feel like she is taking his place even if that's totally irrational. Her being here sitting in the spots he loved, playing with Yuki, playing with Paulo's old toys, it makes me a little happy but also so sad knowing that she can only be here because Paulo is gone forever. Seeing her reminds me that my time with him is truly over and that I have to continue on with my life whether I want to or not.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm looking for advice so much as stories from other people who felt similar to me at first and then had things change or hopefully improve. Thanks for reading.