Do You Feel Grief Over The Passing Of A Pet?

@pyewacket (43903)
United States
February 9, 2016 3:03pm CST
I've had cats ever since I was about five years old. I'm now 60. Over the years that has meant I've had many "deaths" in the family. It has never been easy to deal with the passing of a pet, and it may sound odd for me to say, but I've often felt MORE grief over the passing of a "fur kid" than with a human family member. I often wonder just why I put myself through this, since I know our "babies" don't live as long as we do, but I can't imagine life without a pet (or two). I would really like to think there is a "Rainbow Bridge" where upon my own death, I'll be greeted by all the "babies" I've had in my life. How do you "deal" with the passing of a pet? Do you feel depressed, grief?
15 people like this
8 responses
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
9 Feb 16
I think it's normal to feel grief over the passing away of a pet if your heart isn't made of stone.
4 people like this
@danny1971 (1747)
• Church Hill, Tennessee
9 Feb 16
I love animals. I had a bunny once that I took care of. He was my favorite pet. He passed away suddenly about 4 years ago. I took it pretty hard, and was depressed for a long time. I do agree that some animals touch your heart, and than they leave like that, it's hard to just brush it off your heart. I still think about my bunny, and wish he was here with me.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Feb 16
They truly are forever in our hearts, right?
1 person likes this
@danny1971 (1747)
• Church Hill, Tennessee
9 Feb 16
@pyewacket yes, most definitely!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
9 Feb 16
I think that I've lost five pets (four cats and one dog) in my life. None of them was chosen by me. They all 'turned up', either of their own accord or by people asking if I'd look after them. I can't remember how many I have actually buried. At least two of the cats just disappeared, presumably when it was their time to go. All of them caused far more grief on their passing than I had expected and, after each one, I swore that I wouldn't have another cat (or dog) but, a year or so later another appeared and needed to be loved and taken in. At the moment, I don't have a cat (or a dog) but the next door neighbour's cat is 'lending' himself to me and comes into the house for half an hour or so. It makes me wonder whether cats (and also dogs) really think of us as somewhat dysfuntional animals who need taking care of. If that is so, then there seems to be some kind of network so that when one cat passes on, there's another who turns up in a little while to take on this human who needs looking after.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I often think too, is that animals "sense" we are 'animal people"…meaning we love and will take care of them and come to us.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Feb 16
Losing a pet is horrible and difficult. I lost my dog 10 years ago and it was so painful for me. I have 2 dogs now and I know once something happens to them i am going to lose my mind. =(
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I'm so sorry for your loss. They remain in our hearts always no matter how much time has passed
@KristenH (33363)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9 Feb 16
When I lost my childhood pet Buddy, I was 13 and upset. I was glad to have him for 13 years. Then I had albino mice for one year (my mother's classroom pet) and didn't have any grief with them. When I lost my cat, a decade ago, I've had her for a couple of years, before I've received my brother's former two cats. I did feel grief for her, since she was a weird cat.
1 person likes this
@rubyriaz007 (4188)
• India
26 Feb 18
I felt very sad when my cat was no more. It was very beautiful. It was loving also. Wherever i went It followed me.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12926)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Feb 16
I don't keep pets but it is normal to feel such
1 person likes this
@slayer08 (2377)
• Philippines
2 May 16
pets are family. so when they pass - it leaves us with the same emptiness we'd feel if it was our own family member who would die. I got depressed when my first cat passed away. I was stoic for a few months then all of a sudden I cried my eyes out after letting it sink in. She was my first cat and I adored her so much - she is the smartest and the sweetest cat I've ever had. She lived long (10 human years).