I thought my hubby was calling my pets home with him, horse died, dog emergency surgery right after he went to heaven, Please don't take them, I need them I said. Seventeen year old dog keeps me cooking for her and letting her out, someone to come home for. We have two cats outside that I care for too. All good.

I think it's pretty obvious that I am a 'cat person.' :) Our cat, Izzy, had become part of the family when Cliff adopted him. I had told him and the kids that we didn't have the space to accommodate a cat - we were living in a postage-stamped sized apartment at the time. I came home from work one day, opened the door, and there was this cat. The kids were little then, and came running, shouting, "Can we keep it? Can we keep it, Mom? DAD FED IT." At that point, Cliff was busted for being the soft-touch he always was with furry critters. I said, "You fed it?? But we agreed!" And he shuffled his feet, and gave me that liitle boy-I-know-I-shouldn't-have-but-couldn't-help-myself look. Sigh.... He always knew how to get his way with me...

Izzy was a big kitty - a Maine Coon, they are a very large breed - he was 15 pounds at one point. Izzy stuck with us through it all, made the move from CA to FL with us (yowling on the plane for 8 hours - what were we thinking??), and helped my sons make the move easier. He would come when you called him, just like a dog, and used to like to sort of cat-skip to make his collar bell jingle. Very un-catlike in some ways.

When Cliff died, Izzy mourned. He meowed and meowed looking for him for days, even going so far as opening the cupboards with his paws and meowing, calling for him. It was silly and sad at the same time. He would never get up on Cliff's side of the bed, Cliff died in our bed, and it always made me wonder.

After Cliff died, Izzy used to curl up in my lap when I watched tv, and that was sometimes the only thing that would help me sleep. My sleep went all to heck when Cliff died, so he was like a furry sedative, and much needed. He didn't mind the extra hugs either, or the tears.

Izzy finally went to be with his Dad - he was very old and very sick, and he was put down on me and Cliff's wedding anniversary. I was heartbroken, but I knew he'd be in good hands again. I cried and cried - he was like the third baby I didn't get to have.

When I remarried and moved to England, I became step-mom to two kitties. The female, Minnie, became my constant companion, and helped comfort me and keep me company. My first year here I could not bring my sons, and on top of all the other adjustments I had to make, that was very hard. Minnie insisted on getting attention, and that helped me. When my sons were finally able to join us, she bonded with them, too, and made their transition easier.

Minnie developed a large cancerous mass, and we had to put her down last year. We were all so heartbroken. I cried for days and days, and I still miss her. Her half-brother who we still have was so lost when she died. He is getting up there, too, and has required a lot more care as well. When we lose him, I'm not sure I will have the courage to get another one.

Grief and cats! I don't know about anybody else, but mine were crucial in surviving this mess.

Love and Hugs, and a chin-scratch for Jaspa,
Martha

I am also a "cat person". We have 2 black cats, part manx and siamese. They are 9 now. My first cat Minx from Don died the month after we got married. She was my baby I cried for days when she passed away from leukemia at 3 years of age. tjat was Dec. fast forward to spring. We decided that we wanted another cat another indoor cat-at that point we still live on the acreage and had 4 outside cats but not the same sigh. We were looking online and found a woman that had the kitties for sale so we went to look. I fell in love with Sassy-she talked to me immediately when I picked her up and still does. CB on the other hand picked Don. She was tiny (he was big) and she crawled all the way up his legs, and chest till she came to rest under his beard and stayed there :). Well, we were there to get a cat for me so we decided on Sassy girl. I was thrilled of course. they were only a month old so had to wait a couple of weeks. I was away when they called and said it was time to get them. Imagine my suprise when I returned and found 2 babies. Yep Don could not resist CB. She became his constant companion always either sitting on him or with him. She was his little nurse. Every night would preen his should as if to say I will make you feel better daddy! When he passed away at home she was inconsolable. She went into hiding and I did not see her literally for a week and a half. Up until he died, she barely tolerated me. Now she is just as attentive and loving to me as Sassy. I have 2 wonderful furry bed partners that have been a great comfort. So yes for me they have been a major source of healing and I don't know what i would do without them at this point.

I love cats as well. So did my Alex. If he saw a picture of a cat or one in a pet store he would look at me and say "I would love him". He he makes me laugh remembering that coming from him. I donates the adoption fee to a cat in his name at a local shelter. I will do so every year. Let the fluffy monster comfort you!

I'm not a cat person. However, I have two of them. My wife liked them so over the years we ended up with two. I wouldn't mind getting rid of them but I know it will probably be a little harder than I think it would be. Oh well.

My furbaby is a dog, though he has always been my pet, he knows Poppy is missing. Over protective now of me, I think because he fears someone will take me too. It's been 20+months and he's still on guard.

I am a dog person. I find he enriches my life so much. Forces me to exercise and makes the house feel a little less empty. Have nothing against cats but I will take a dog anytime. I may even get a second one in the spring. Gerald

I am a Cat person as well. My husband was the biggest Cat person I ever met. We had many kitties over our 34 year marriage. I now have 2 Maine Coons that we had gotten in July, 2012 that my husband wanted so badly since we had lost our wonderful previous kitty in May. He never got to see them grow up, as he went into the hospital in September and passed in November, so now the kitties are mine. I have to say that I would have been so lost without them over the past year. They are my only companions and the house is less lonely with them here.

I like cats but do not have one. I am not a dog person. I had to dog sit for my dad last year and thought the two weeks would never end.

On a note of humor, my husband had this tee shirt that says "I like cats but can not eat a whole one". Always thought that was mean.

Maggie

Dog person here. Our black lab likes to take naps with me. She puts her head right up near mine and snuggles in. Its really sweet and she has helped me so much.
Russ

I'm a little late responding to this thread, but I'm a cat person as well. We have had cats almost all of our married life. He liked cats but I have to admit, I like the more than he did. I have a Tortoiseshell Himalayan cat who loves to be held and loved. She has really helped me through this so I would hate to do it without her. She has been a BIG comfort!!!!

Two dogs here. I like cats but hubby did not.

Either way, pets do provide awesome companionship. And you can tell them anything and they don't judge you. :)

For me it's dogs, especially American Eskies. I have one left from the three we had at one time, but now in an apartment that is fine. He's 12 years old and I cherish every lick he shares with me. We mourned my husband together, shared meals (he likes people food) and he checked on me during the night. I could never have a pet as a child. Now I can't live without one. And they lower your blood pressure! Sharon

When I saw the subject: CATS today, I felt comforted. My husband passed in August and he had a cat that was 14 years old. He was ill for 12 years so he spent a lot of time with the cat. When he passed, of course, the cat became mine but he was mourning for my husband as well as I. Then he became adjusted and would come and hop on my bed in the morning and lay beside me on my bed until I got up to feed him. He followed me everywhere and when I would go away and come back, he could hear the garage door open and would meet me at the door. I could tell a few days ago that he was dying and it broke my heart. I always seem to know when to put an animal down. I think our spirits tell us that so I woke up at 1am this morning and knew this was the day for Farley, my cat. I was the first one at the vet with him wrapped in a soft blanket. He died peacefully and I came home and cleaned the house of all evidence of a cat, for now. Then I cried and cried and got ready to go help someone out. I knew that Farley had stayed just for me as long as he could and that was so special but I'm so sad and then I had to come home to a very empty house. No one to feed, no one to look for, no one to hold, etc. It is so lonely. I am so sad. Trying to carry on. Shiloah

I am so sorry you lost your Kitty, Shiloah. We grow so attached to them, especially after losing our spouse. In late may 2012, our 9 year old kitty was dying of kidney failure. My husband stayed with her 24/7 here at our house, and the last morning held her on his lap as the Vet put her to sleep. We were both heartbroken, my husband especially, because he worked from home for the entire time we had her so he was very attached. He built a shelf in our living room for her ashes and a plaque. Two months later we bought 2 Maine coons that he was so excited to get. He only got to enjoy them for about 6 weeks before ending up in the hospital, so he never got to see them grow. It's just so sad. I'm convinced he is seeing everything from heaven, and that he is with all of our Kitties we lost in the past.