mom just had her cat of 15 yrs put to sleep, very sad, how do we deal?

pets are family members also, when u lose a family member u need time to heal,

A good way to "deal" with a loss of a pet is to grieve properly like the cat was a member of the family, because the cat was. Having a mini funeral between the family members that lived with the cat helps for closure and also maybe getting another animal doesn't always help. :)

You should wait for about a month and then take your mom to the pound to just LOOK at the cats there. If your mom's like me she probably will not be able to leave there without a cat or kitten. I've lost both cats and dogs after a long time and going to the pound to just LOOK always gets me another pet. Anyway you will be doing something great for that animal!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope this helps.

I completely understand how you and your mother are feeling, I had to put my cat of almost 16 years down exactly 4 years ago this week (I had him from the time I was 4 years old). It's extremely difficult, they become an essential and irreplaceable part of your family.

One of the things that I found helpful was to make a special photo album dedicated to the life of my cat, Whiskers. I also found a few of my favourite photos of him and put them in special photo frames and hung them on the wall. I still have his vaccination tags and collar, and keep them in a memory box. I also cried a LOT...but slowly, as time passed I found myself laughing when reminiscing about the silly things he used to do. I found it really important to talk with family and friends about him after I put him down, as hard as it was at the time; it helped me with the grieving process. Now when I think of him I find myself smiling, and feeling very grateful for all the time that I had with him.

Some people recommend that you wait to get a new kitten or cat, but I only lasted three days without a cat in the house...I ended up adopting a 13week old kitten from a local shelter, and named him Tosca. The reason I adopted so soon is because I couldn't get out of bed I was so depressed. I needed something to take care of...I could never replace Whiskers, but Tosca distracted me from the pain that I was experiencing, and forced me to get out of bed.

I hope this helps a bit, my heart goes out to you and your mother.

Wow-i am so so so srry- i know how that feels and then i came across rainbow bridge........Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

this brought tears to my eyes and made me feel better all at once........ there is also a link at the bottom of the web page for pet loss grief realeese-good luck

your heart may never be whole but eventually it wiil heal-good luck!

Give yourselves time to grieve and heal. 15 years is a long time to have a cat as a companion and it is normal to feel sad. I lost a dog to a tragic accident and have found compassion and understanding at http://p103.ezboard.com/fpetlossfrm1

I am so sorry for your loss.

dina

Buy a new cat, but maybe not right away. You won't be able to just "replace" the one you've lost. Sorry about your cat :( hope everything works out.

Well, I would check in my Cat book but my sister is reading it. Anyhoo, maybe get another cat if you can...it might make you sad and remember your old cat but then soon, you might love it.

Maybe remind yourself that everything dies sometime like your parents, your friends, even you.

don't mention other cats (idk why, but they hate it) maybe in like 5-6 months or so show her some new cats, maybe an older one that looks alike (unless she wants one that looks different). same thing happened to me, we did a nice burial for her outside under our largest tree and put a bird bath over the spot. just be extra careful about pet talking with her for a few months.

aww, i am so sorry 4 u.. i have a cat too and dont wanna think about tyhe day i wont have him...but i gotta say u gotta just pull up ur B*lls and get over it..u can dewl on it it will tear u up.....awwwwwwwwwww i am sooooooooo srry.

15 years is a long time. i imagine must be very hard. I'm sorry about the loss.