No more pets ever .. anyone feel the same?

Hi ..

Just wondering if anyone has the same feelings as me? My last 3 cats have died of nasty illnesses, and have needed lots of treatment previous to that. I've learnt to inject steroids/antibiotics, had many lessons at my veterinary surgery! The last cat I lost was in December to a nasal tumour. And may he RIP.

My remaining 12 yr old cat has been ill the past 2 days and is worrying me to death. She's rarely been ill in her 12 yrs. Previous to this I'd considered adding to our family .. be it a rescue cat, dog .. whatever. The way I feel now is that never again could I cope with the stress. I feel bad about that. I just feel that I can never have any pets ever again, and I know that's just a reaction to everything that's gone on recently.

Has anyone else had these feelings? I feel so bad that I just can't be botherered with the stress involved. I guess it's all emotional, maybe I'm just drained of it .. for now.

 

I can understand your feelings although I don't share them with you but I can imagine that I might possibly feel this way temperarily if I had been through the stress and emotions that you have recently. I think its something that may take some time but that you are likely to get over in the future as time heals. Its very difficult to lose animals and I'm very sorry for your losses. {{{hugs}}}

 

we all react to stress in different ways - and most of the time it's my doing whatever we have to do to avoid what is the stressor and right now yours is illnesses w/your pets. Don't feel bad for feeling the way you do - it's obvious you take good care of your pets and that is nothing to feel badly about.

And I can relate. I have a nearly 11 year old failing german shepherd. I'm not sure I want another dog right now. Somedays I look at her and wonder when she'll be ready to go so I can stop dealing with the leaking, the ocassional choking on food cause she eats too fast (she's getting slightly senile and tries to swallow food whole), the slowness in her gait when I can't get past her in a hallway.

But then when I come home and she's wagging her tail and smiling at me. When she follows me from room to room cause she wants to be with me - I feel horrible for feeling the other way.

We all do it

 

*HUGS* I cannot fathom what you are going through right now. Hang in there.

 

anytime i lose a pet..i always say that...until i start to miss them...just seeing a kitten play always reminds me of how much fun i had w/ my previous pets and how much i miss having one around.

What is that quote from For better or for worse

"pets dont need to stay as long on earth as humans...because they already know how to luv"

something around those lines..makes me smile everytime i think about it.

 

I certainly can understand your feelings at this time. Our relationships with our babies is much like our relationships with the people in our lives. They all effect us emotionally but try to hang on to the phrase "It's better to have loved and lost than to never haved loved at all".

Love, loss and pain is nature. It's what makes us human.

 

Thanks everyone for understanding. I guess I've just been through a lot with my pets, but perhaps that's because I've always become the proud owner of animals others decide they don't want.

I think whatever you do with your animals there's always guilt over something. Could I have done something more, or different? But in reality, we do what we can at the time.

As for me, I'm just very emotional! You can almost guarantee that however I feel right now, when we no longer have our kitty I'll be at the re-homing shelter within a very short period of time! I've never had such a quiet house, and am taking time to adjust to things.

But anyway, thankyou for listening to my rant.

 

I'm sorry to hear that you're going through all of this.

I can understand how you feel. I have a feeling that you won't feel that way over time, though. Once an animal lover, always an animal lover. There won't be any time limit for you get another animal. But, possibly days, weeks, or even years later, you will remember all the great things about pet ownership and you'll yearn for a little one to take care of.

I hope that things start to settle down for you!

 

Double posted (sorry)

 

Ginny,

I am so sorry to hear about those poor sick litle ones. I know how hard this is for you.

It's still really hard to talk about or remember my Maddie without getting upset. She was a really good kitty and a great friend to me all those years. Especially when my husbnd passed, she seemed to be a good companion to me and the kids. She was about 17 when she died last year. It was really hard, I guess, 'cause she died in my arms. Poor little sweet Maddie.

Well, just hang in there and don't loose your compassion for those little ones. Sounds like you have a great gift of welcoming them in and giving them your love. Don't loose that, I think it's a strength in your character.

 

Lilsister that must've been really tough for you. But 17, that's a great age, I really hope my little Cassie lives to be 17. I think I reached the stage where because I'd been through such a lot with 3 of mine, when Cassie's ill I just think 'here we go again'. And she's rarely been ill up until christmas time, so it's that bit more scary if you know what I mean.

At the moment I seem to be having such a dilemma constantly. I feel sorry for her being the only cat in the house as she's never ever been alone. On the other hand I have more time to give her lots of attention. I think for now I should just concentrate on her and see how things go .. I hope she'll be ok.

Thanks for your reply.