This is something that has always bothered me, but it is weighing heavy on my mind tonight. She was always wanting to be right by my side, everywhere I went. When I was a teenager, my friends would always have to come to my house for sleepovers because if I wasn't home at night she would just pace and whine and keep my parents awake. She was my shadow when I was home...I couldn't even pee alone! I know she is with lots of other furbabies, and she adored other animals and has always enjoyed their company, but she has never been away from me. All I can think about is that she is so sad and lonely and doesn't understand where she is and why I'm not there with her. Does anyone have some insight on this?

I think they understand where they are at and are at peace with it. Though they may miss us, they know that they will greet us again. In the meantime, our furkids will enjoy the company and life at the Bridge while they wait. I hope this helps to put your mind at ease. They would not want you to worry about them or feel sorrow at the temporary parting. They are more aware than we are how temporary it is.

Kim, I wonder the same thing about my ferrets. Especially with the first one that passed. She was alone there with no familiar pets. She had only known my cat for 2 weeks before my cat passed away. I felt comforted by asking my mom (who passed when I was a teen) to take care of my baby for me until I get there. My mom loved animals esp. the little critters. I knew she would be safe with my mother. Since Buddy passed I have lost 4 more ferrets and I know they are now all together. That comforts me but I still worry about them being with out me. I always will.

I don't know of course, as none of us truly can, since none of us really knows for sure what the afterlife holds, but I believe that God would never allow our babies to suffer and torment and miss us. Perhaps their time at the Rainbow Bridge before we join them seems like just a brief moment to them and/or maybe they think if we aren't right there that we have just run to the store or somewhere but will be with them shortly. Again, I don't know, but I know our loving God would not have them suffer. (I worried the same thing about my dog (Ashley) as she too always liked to be by me all the time and wasn't too social with others or other animals.) But I just keep telling myself God would not want her to suffer and and I believe that!

I discussed this topic with my mother today and she brought up some interesting points. She and I both believe in communicators (such as John Edwards,etc.) and would watch those shows (like Crossing Over and Beyond) all the time. She reminded me of times when he would describe a pet being with a deceased love one, and sometimes it was the pet of someone still living. As comforting as the rainbow bridge story is, it is almost more comforting to me to think that she is with my deceased family members that loved her (my grandma, father-in-law, etc.) and is comforted by familiar faces. I guess I just won't know until I get there, and until then I will just have to trust that God loves ME enough to take care of my girl.............

I really think my Soshi comes to visit me, just to check to make sure her daddy and I are okay. She used to follow us around, too, always wanting to be near her people. I think she knows where she is, and that we'll join her one day. Until then, she comes to see that we're okay - through our dreams, and even while we're awake. This is very comforting, as she is not completely lost as long as I believe this. I'll tell you a little story I rarely share with anyone, because people tend to roll their eyes and not take it seriously. But who cares! Here it is:
When I was a child I attended my grandpa's funeral and saw what I thought to be his spirit. As I was only 7 at the time, and this was my first funeral, I thought this was a normal thing. I saw some translucent, grayish black 'smoke' (closest way to describe it) seep slowly out of his coffin as they lowered it into the ground. It moved very deliberately, almost like liquid, up into the air.
I realized no one else saw it, and knew it was important. So I've always remembered it. I also remembered some details from the cemetary, which I never again visited until adulthood. The memories matched.
Years later, when I told my mom, she said children are just much more receptive to things than adults. They've never been told otherwise, so their minds are open.
So there you have it. I hope I didn't get too hokey.

I don't know if this is something you can read about anywhere or not. Carol touched on it, and it's something I've believed about the afterlife for people for as long as I can remember. I don't see why it would be any different for our furries.

Aside from having the ability to check in on us, and there being plenty of distractions and things for them to keep busy with while they wait for us, there's also a difference in the way they perceive time. What for us is half a lifetime, is for them just a few moments. So, they really don't have an opportunity to get lonely before we're there with them.

There is no such thing as too hokey!

This has been a great thread to read tonight, when I was sitting here wondering about these things. I guess I feel that the spirits of my pets visit - or maybe they're here all the time - and my other pets know this too. One of two of my other cats will occasionally stop whatever they're busy with and stare fixedly at some point where I can't see anything. And yes, I know that cats have a tendency to do that anyway, with maybe no reason whatever, but it seems that they actually see a physical being, and are never frightened or angry about it.

Maybe, on the other side, there is no "time" as we know the concept, which several people have mentioned. Maybe on the other side everything is one long continuous day, interrupted by catnaps and meals. (Kind of like my cats' lives, come to think of it.)

Thanks, everyone. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who sits and wonders about these things.