Hi Sherri, Well, you said it, exactly how I feel too, "it stops me in my tracks, every time I think of it, and it makes me feel this emormous hole inside". I couldn't have said it any better. I'd be doing about my business and all of a sudden I get THAT feeling and my head spins back to that last day. It's awful.
As for another kitty, well, we'll see. It's all up to Dave now. It will be at his house so I have to respect his feelings. I really would love to get the older one. He's 8-10ys. He's been there since July. I wouldn't mind keeping him indoors(for whatever time he has left, however, it could be another 10yrs).
I have to tell you about that special bond thing. Mine came when I found Daisy. I already had Whiskers 11yrs old at the time. She lived another 7yrs. I had her when I was 8 to 26yrs. She was my sister, but Daisy, was my world. My world ended when she passed. I even felt guilty about loving Arthur for respect to her. But I opened my heart to him and I had another bond. If you go out looking for it you'll never find it. Just get another kitty, enjoy it, love it, cherish it. If a bond happens again, great, if not, so be it. Iggy is/will/and always be special, and you never will give that up, but don't let it stop you from opening your heart again.
Dreams can be bittersweet. Some are good, some are bad. We awake in smiles, or tears, or both. And the reality awaits us, that we have to begin another day without them. It's hard sometimes.
I wish you all the best with getting another and with Pete(keep him safe) and the kitty enclosure. I loved that silly picture it made me laugh..Also when I first let Arthur out, I had a string attached to his collar..Talk about stupid!..One spook and snap. What was I thinking...
Take care.. Hugs..Ann

Hi Kim. I tried Pete on the leash again yesterday afternoon: he really is pretty accepting of the whole thing (thank goodness). I bought him a harness about an hour ago (10-16") and was concerned it might be too small... it is. Pete needs to go on a diet. Good grief. Hopefully he will really walk with me (had to carry him a bit on the first couple of trial runs) and maybe get some exercise that way. He just really tends to put on the weight.

I feel like I am going backwards now somehow in my grieving process. I stayed in the house all weekend-- just didn't feel like being out in this town I find myself hating more every day-- and then cried my way home from work this morning. I feel absolutely wiped out. I feel like I am not getting any better, even though it will be two weeks tomorrow since we found out Iggy had been killed. I can't believe it's been two weeks: I feel like he was *just here*... ugh. I am so sad, I have been looking up information on depression online. But I feel like I should feel this way: my little Iggy was the closest, most consistently positive relationship I have ever had, with any species.

This is going to change me forever. I just hope it's mainly for better, and not for worse.

Wishing you dreams of your Sissycat! (fyi, the websites I was bouncing through this morning said people who have grief tend to dream of their lost loved one, while people who have been through trauma tend to have trauma-themed dreams that do not include their loved one: so maybe not dreaming of sissycat means you are just still too traumatized?... and eventually, you will be able to dream of her: I think this is hopeful info)

Sherri

Hi Ann. Thanks so much for understanding what I am going through, and taking the time to share that with me. I seem to be heading backwards in the grieving process since Friday night: I am just SO sad. I haven't dreamt of Iggy for two nights in a row, and Pete keeps waking me up meowing this ultra-sad wail in the morning, and I am looking around at all this holiday season stuff and feeling like there is nothing to be happy about, since my Iggy is gone.

I am really wallowing in this. I know it, and I can't seem to stop... I feel so weary, and I have zero motivation to do *anything*. I am certainly depressed, but that's one of the stages of grieving, so I guess this too shall pass.

And, on top of all this, I have to go to the dentist (in a couple minutes) to get a filling in a molar that lost a HUGE piece out of the center... ugh.

Anyway, I am not much of a "day brightener" today, I am afraid, but I am wishing that you get to bring home the shelter kitty! I got Pete a harness, but it's too small... but I think it holds great promise: he wore the too-small one for a few minutes without a complaint, and it will eliminate the irritation of having the leash clipped under his neck (which he does not like) as well as the choking issue when he strains against the leash. Well, I am sending you a big cyber-hug and hoping you have a great day. Thanks for being there for me: it means so much, I could never express my gratitude properly.

Ann, Sherri, Kim and anyone else struggling with the cat freedom thing..................

Here is something that I looked at but have not purchased as yet. I do plan on it though as we will travel 2,500 miles again with Mr. Jingles in the spring and I couldn't bear to lose him on the trip. I hate the collar and have bought so many harnesses that he outgrew so fast I could now provide one a month to a growing kitten. They were not really comfortable it seems although he tolerated them.

This looks like it may be secure and not so restrictive for a cat. He has been cooped up in the house now for a month and is doing OK with it. I don't want to even let him out on a leash as I know the very next day he'll be wanting out on his own and would tend to dart out. He tried that twice when we first got back here but now he just cries at the door if I go outside to walk the dogs. One day he ran so fast down the stairs when someone opened the door that if it had gotten closed before he got there I think he would have broken his neck! He is watching the birds & squirrels a lot today so he may be planning his next escape!

http://www.hdw-inc.com/walkingjackets.htm

Thought you may be interested.

Ginger

What a great link.


I just got to kitty's the last few months and the older one Rocky wants to go out all the time and he probably doesn't understand why daddy won't let him out. I know he's use to going outside, but after reading all the stories here, I'm nervous to let him out. But that cat jacket looks awesome, I'm going to consider trying it.

Thanks much!

Candy's Dad

Hi everyone and Happy New Year! I have been traveling to visit family over the holidays (computer-free) so I haven't been online for a while. I am still grieving for my dear Iggy and it has been really difficult to make it through the holidays without him. The house just still seems too quiet without my little mischief-maker around. I am planning to adopt a kitten soon, since I don't want my other cat Pete to get any ideas about being the sole cat of the house. (I think he already has some...) It also pains me so to see so many cats without loving homes and I want to provide a loving home for at least one of them. I am probably not going to have much time to be online this month, since I have two full-time teaching jobs (one online, one on campus), so please be patient with me if you send messages. Life will return to some kind of normalcy at the end of January, when I drop back down to part-time teaching online. I am counting down the days! Best wishes to you all and I hope the holidays brought you fond memories of your beloved pets. --Sherri

Hi Ginger. Thanks so much for the website and sorry I haven't responded until now (traveling for the holidays computerless). I am going to order Pete a walking jacket as soon as I get over the Christmas spending hump (ugh), but for now, I have bought him a harness and am planning to try that with him this weekend. I am hopeful that he will tolerate it more now that he's been stuck inside for a month already... Happy New Year to you and hope you are doing well!

Oh I was glad to hear from you!!!!!!

Yes, The Holiday have been rough for so many of us. Besides missing my Sissycat I have had other problems.

I will be glad for my life to start getting back on track also.

Just whenever you get a sec come post and let us know know how you are doing. And if you get that new furbaby!!!!
Many hugs to you and angel Iggy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!