but that you gave them the best life you could. And maybe realize that giving another pet a good life doesn’t mean you’re replacing or forgetting your last one.

I've told myself that the cats under my care are the top 1% of the 1% of animals. I would go as far as saying that they have it better than most of the 8B people on this planet. They have comfort, safety, abundance, and entertainment. I go the extra mile for them to ensure that they have a high quality of life.

When I have gotten another cat after one died, it was never a replacement. It was giving a home to cat who needed one. A cat sitting in a shelter waiting for their chance. And I tend to adopt animals that are harder to place due to age or other factors (e.g. "does not get along with dogs or kids") that are a non-issue for me.

Losing them is hard, but not adopting them doesn't prevent their eventual death. It just means that the death happens "off camera," and quite possibly much sooner.

[–] Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

When I have gotten another cat after one died, it was never a replacement. It was giving a home to cat who needed one. A cat sitting in a shelter waiting for their chance. And I tend to adopt animals that are harder to place due to age or other factors (e.g. “does not get along with dogs or kids”) that are a non-issue for me.

This is how I operate too. Any cat in my care is me doing my part, never getting another animal because it would destroy the integrity of the legacy of the one I had previously?... Kinda seems self-defeating.

My current familiar is Nessa, a temperamental slightly-wild girl who will hard bite you if you don't know what you're doing with her, but I've held cats for almost 20 years now and I know what to do and what not to do to keep her from biting me. Someone else's house? Some meathead's house? A big house full of kids? She'd get thrown out in a month.

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I have a cat similar to Nessa. She does very well in may home but would likely have issues in a different environment. Understanding cat body language and respecting boundaries is key.

Incidentally, she does get along great with other cats.