We had to put our cat Georgy to sleep yesterday. I have decided for various reasons not to get another pet. For a start I hate the idea that if I get a kitten or a puppy at my age it might outlive me. Also getting animals to the vet when I don’t own a car has always been a bit of a problem. Vet bills are also an issue. But the biggest issue for me is grieving the loss of a pet. In the last 10 years we have lost three cats - the real Miss Chicken (aged 15), Spider (aged 17) and Georgy (also aged 17). The last time I did not have a pet was about 30 years ago and that time I was only without a pet for about a year. So, I am asking people here who don’t currently own a pet 1) have you ever owned a pet 2) do you miss owning a pet 3) do you plan to get a pet in the future?
I am not a pet owner. Never have been, never will be. I just don't want to do it. I know I could never handle the responsibility of being a pet owner. Plus, I work all day and I live alone, so there's no way in hell I'm leaving an animal alone in my house all day.
Sorry to hear about the loss. After my 2 long time cats (15yo departed in 2017 and 16yo departed in 2020) passed, I haven't been motivated to get more. For some of the same reasons, I'm not in great health, so I'd hate to leave a pet behind to have to adapt to a new owner, etc and also those two times I went in with them on their last visit to the vet was a lot to take. I definitely miss the two cats I had.
I'm very sorry for your loss. I've always had pets, so I know how great a loss it can be. But, also because I've always had pets, I find it leaves a big hole in my heart to NOT have one around. The loneliness I feel without an animal in house is too great for me to consider not having one. Do you have a friend or neighbor who has a pet that might bring it over once in awhile--maybe a friend with a dog that could visit once or twice a month?
Sorry about your kitty @Miss Chicken. My family has always had pets. I lost my cat Charlie 2 years ago now. Her absence is felt every day. My mom is feeling better than she was last year but is still not getting around well so I haven't adopted another cat yet.
I'm so sorry for your loss, it's always hard to lose a pet you've had that long. We've always had pets in my family, and when the dog we had before our current two crazies passed away, we had a bit of a gap, and we couldn't take not having dogs around. It didn't take us long before we got our two current dogs.
Leaving pets alone in the house is why I got "Smokey" and "The Bandit". Cats do fine on their own and also do great if they grow up together - even with a dog in the mix.
The day my last cat dies I'm going pet free for the rest of my life. I look forward to it. I've had cats for decades but I am looking forward to not being responsible for an animal in any way. I love my cats but I feel like I'm totally over pet ownership on many levels. Sorry about your Gregory @Miss Chicken . I'm glad he had a long and happy life.
I have. I recall the heart ache of putting her down. I recall my wife's pain as I had to share the news that her family pet had passed. Do I miss it? No, but right now there's so much on my plate that a pet feels like more work. In the future, it's a maybe. I struggle with the idea of outliving my pet. It sounds cynical, and I'm sure animal lovers will curse my name, but I struggle with seeing the purpose in such pain.
@Miss Chicken - it's never easy to lose a pet, especially after all those years. My wife lost her rabbit Saki five days before her father died and Saki's death hit her hardest. We had to put my cat, Puzzle, down in 2021 and last year it was another rabbit, Coconut, which we spent about $6,000 in treating for abscesses in her jaw only to discover she had a growth in her chest. You're thinking about the pain their void created but you may discover that you miss that presence and company that only a pet provides. It is often a special bond that develops between you and them that transcends human relations. They can offer unconditional love to you, even if you are their servant (especially for cats ). Give yourself time. One day, that pet may show up at your door...
I just recently got cats two months ago. And they were my first since my childhood cats died. I love having cats, but the downsides are the cost of feeding and taking care of them and a small sacrifice of freedom. If I want to go out of the house for more than a day I have to ask somebody to come in and feed them, which does kinda make me feel like I can't be as spontaneous as I was a few years ago.
Sorry for your loss Miss Chicken Never had a pet when I was growing up, and as I moved around a lot and lived in places where I couldn't have a pet. It's rather doubtful that I'll ever get a pet in the future.
My condolences on your loss. *hugs* I've lived with pets my whole life and I don't think I could live without them, even with the pain.
I had a pet for nearly 19 years (since I got Finn in December 2004). We had a cat since 2012, two since 2019. I really don't want another cat after Zoey passes. I'm hopeful for a rental house that allows a second dog in the next few years, something I really wish we got to do with Finn. I was hoping Finn would live long enough for us to find a rental where we could adopt a new dog. Emma's 11 and Zoey's 4 so they will be with us for a while longer Riley's 2 1/2 and I think she'd outlive Finn. Oh, and I'm also hoping for a rental that is suitable for me to have an aquarium (freshwater) again. It has been a long time since I had one and I'd like to have one in the study where I'd be doing my remote work (I hope).
It hurts every time you have to say goodbye, but I still couldn't live without any of them (though I can understand the decision not to go through the loss again...).
thanks everyone for your kind remarks. The vet sent us a potted Howea (Kentia palm) and a condolence card. I have named the palm ‘George’ in memory of Georgy.
It's never easy to lose a family member, and pets are family. I've lost three cats, one disappeared and two passed away. Plan on getting another this summer.
It seems to be that my life would be easier without our cats. However, I like the living ones (and miss the deceased ones) so much that going on without them would be unthinkable.