I lost my precious kitty Devon 5 weeks ago on Wednesday. (I wonder if Wednesdays will ever be normal again.) I miss Devy desperately. My apartment is so quiet and lonely. She was my only pet. I honestly feel that I have lost my baby. My child. I have never gone through so much pain. My children are grown and they have been very supportive but they have their own lives. There is a part of me that wants to get another pet. And then there is that part that does not. Last weekend my daughter and I went to a couple shelters but I found it very sad. It seemed to make me miss Devon even more. I look at petfinder.com a lot. There is a cat on there at an Atlanta animal control (which is about 4 hours from where I live) that looks so much like Devon that I can't quit looking at it. I am so tempted to get her, but then I wonder if I would really be better off (and the cat also) if I got one totally different from her. I am so conflicted. I know I would be saving a life if I adopted another cat. But I don't know if I can go through this turmoil again. I keep telling myself that, even though this pain has been horrendous, I would not give up the 4 wonderful years I had with Devy for anything in the world.
Does it sound like I should get a new cat yet? Should I get one that looks like Devon?
Any advise would be very appreciated. Julie

Follow your heart. If you're drawn to this particular cat, maybe Devon's spirit is guiding you to another animal that needs your love. No one can tell you the right thing to do, but giving an animal love and care is a great thing to do, particularly a rescue animal. Although I don't think I'll get another dog at this time, when I do, I've decided it will be a pound dog who needs rescuing. I got Rush from a breeder because of my son's allergies and asthma and although I love Airedales to bits, for me, right now, another Airedale would hurt too much. But if you're drawn to this cat and you have the resources to care for another cat, I think it's a great idea. There are so many furbabies who need love and a home, it's wonderful when people can rescue them.

Good luck.

I am so sorry for the loss of your baby Devon. I lost my lab Lucy over 6 months ago and it was incredibly painful. I found myself looking for another dog quickly thereafter and I felt guilty and conflicted. I was naturally drawn to dogs that looked like Lucy, and when I saw a picture of a particular dog that looked like Lucy who was running out of time at the shelter, we decided to visit him. Needless to say, we adopted him. It was very up and down emotion wise during the first month. Fergus, our new dog, was nothing like Lucy in personality and that often irritated me. But I have come to see that he is unique and really special in his own way and I can honestly say he is very loved and a huge part of our family. Something drew me to him...maybe his looks, his unfortunate situation. But we went ahread and took the chance. No matter what you do, it will be hard. But if you ride the roller coaster and take the ups and downs as they come, it will likely work out. It will never be the same as it was with Devon, and you will come to see that in time. But it can be equally rewarding and comforting in a whole other way. Hope this helps a little. I remember feeling very torn up inside when I was in your situation.

Good luck...it will all work out. Devon will see to that...

Caroline

I just lost me baby Kaluja on 8/8/05 and I went through the same lonliness and confusion you are going through. I chose to adopt two cats who had been in a kennel for 4 months and prior to that had been in a few foster homes. They are brother and sister, so I knew they would be happy together. The first few days were hard. I was excited to have them but felt guilty and then angry because I just wanted my baby back. Today I can honestly say that I am glad that I brought them home. After a while I realized how desperate they are for love and a mommy. They really are sweet and slowly but surely we are bonding. My kaluja was one of a kind and no other cat will ever take his place in my heart, but I am happy that I've given these two new kitties a home. Their original owner was dieing, so he gave them to this rescue group and for some reason they just couldn't adopt them out. I think it may be that the girl is really shy and they both get really scared in the carrier because I think they know it means going somewhere else other then home. I'm still mourning my baby, but when the little girl kitty crawls up on my chest and kisses me, it makes the day and night a little bit easier.
No matter what you decide, just be true to your heart and know that your baby would just want you to be happy.
Sarah

Wednesday for you too? My precious Zody (the black one) and much loved Spicey (the shaded golden) died two years apart almost on the same day, both on a Wednesday. After awhile (a long while for me) it does become just another day in the week, the actual date becomes more important.
I don't know what's best for you...I can only share my experience. When Zody died it was devastating, I had had to put him to sleep and the vet couldn't find a vein and he struggled terribly, I felt awful- I wanted to comfort him but then he was gone and all I could do was hold his limp body.
I made the mistake afterwards and got another kitty too soon, 4 months later, he was black like Zody but he wasn't Zody and he had at first a very annoying personality-annoying to me because he was totally opposite to Zody, Zody was calm, quiet, laid back, Loki was hyper noisy and mischievous. I honestly didn't like him at the beginning and even tried to find another home for him...but fate (or perhaps Zody's spirit) had something else in mind. Gradually the screeching hyper little maniac wormed his way into my heart, and it wasn't until he himself had a health scare did I suddenly realize how much I had come to love him. He'll be two at the end of September and I adore and love him dearly, no amount of money in the world would make me part with him now.
Now that my little sweetness Spicey died, peacefully in her sleep, which was still traumatizing for me but less than Zody's death, the urge to fill that big hole in my heart and the void in my home is strong but this time I am not rushing, I'm giving myself time to mourn her. (when I do get another cat I'm pretty sure I will look for one that resembles spicey).
That's just me though, and I think I realized from when Zody died that no matter what I did the ache in my heart was still there, in fact it is to this day.
Do what it is good for your heart, follow your gut instinct but know that no other kitty no matter how much you love them and how similiar they look to Devon will take away what you felt for Devon.
I do find it comforting that Loki is a black hairball like Zody was, he also has the same colour eyes, however his face and body type are completely different as his most of his personality, however I must say as he gets older he once in awhile does something that only Zody did and I look at him in amazement and wonder sometimes if Zody's spirit is whispering little cat words in his ear. Peace will come to you in time, and hopefully you too will feel as if Devon's presence is somehow close by.