Question for animal lovers...

Heineken Helen

Riverrunner wrote:

I think your feelings are quite normal. It is not that you loved your cat more than your grandma - you loved them both. It is just that you did interact with your cat daily. In my opinion, another factor is that we must care and provide for our pets - much like children. We feel responsible for them. When they die we feel it much more because of that dependence they had on us.

I agree... pets are even better than kids cos they're usually there for us and can be easily trained to be the pet you want . I lost my cat herbie when I was about 12 and I couldn't understand how I could be more upset about that than my granny who'd died a couple of years previously also.

There's no explanation and nothing to worry about... but I am sorry you're going through all this in such a short space of time

NY PJ1

jezebeloria wrote:

First off I am not trying to solicit any sympathy here...I am just curious of people's answer to this question. After having lost both a family member and a pet w/in the last 10 days why do I find myself more upset about my kitty passing than my grandma? Could it be because my gram was significantly older and lived a long life or maybe because my kitty lived with me for 12 years and I interacted w/ her on a daily basis? Any opinions?

thats not normal ,sorry.. but its an animal as opposed to your grandmother

jezebeloria

NY PJ1 wrote:

thats not normal ,sorry.. but its an animal as opposed to your grandmother

AmentsChick

I totally understand. I went through the same exact thing. My grandfather died from colon cancer and had to put my dog down all in the same week. My grandpa I was sad over of course, but it broke my heart to put Sunny down.





































Although, I should also state that my grandpa was a bigot, redneck who believed that men were better than women and that segregation should still exist.

chiquimonkey

NY PJ1 wrote:

thats not normal ,sorry.. but its an animal as opposed to your grandmother

you can't dismiss what someone feels as being normal or not, it's how they feel. you might just see it as just 'an animal' but not everybody has that same mindset.

jezebeloria

chiquimonkey wrote:

you can't dismiss what someone feels as being normal or not, it's how they feel. you might just see it as just 'an animal' but not everybody has that same mindset.

Thanks again

chiquimonkey

jezebeloria wrote:

Thanks again

no problem i understand that not everybody feels the same way, just know that there are folks that do feel where you're coming from, myself included

markymark550

I consider my pet bird a part of my family, so I will be quite upset whenever that day comes. He's been a really good friend for the last 21 or 22 years, however long its been now. Yes, I'll be very sad and upset when he passes on.

Heineken Helen

chiquimonkey wrote:

you can't dismiss what someone feels as being normal or not, it's how they feel. you might just see it as just 'an animal' but not everybody has that same mindset.

and especially considering everyone else is agreeing with the original poster so makes one wonder which of us is 'normal'

jezebeloria

I truly appreciate everyone's support on this. Wasn't quite sure how to react to the one particular post in this thread (which is why I didn't say anything but )but it seems as if the majority of you understand where I am coming from. Thanks for everyone's comments and assuring me that I might be "normal" after all.

wolfbear

jezebeloria wrote:

I truly appreciate everyone's support on this. Wasn't quite sure how to react to the one particular post in this thread (which is why I didn't say anything but )but it seems as if the majority of you understand where I am coming from. Thanks for everyone's comments and assuring me that I might be "normal" after all.

Normal and a great person imo!

jezebeloria

wolfbear wrote:

Normal and a great person imo!

Thanks yet again! You've all helped me feel alot better in the last few days. Words cannot express...

sponger

d'rather be with an animal...

Smartypants

Hi,

I lost my grandma and my 11yo dog in the same week and I also felt the pain of losing my dog much more acutely.

I agree with the other posters who've said that it's because our pets aremore a part of our daily lives - everything changed from the moment I got up in the morning (no more wet nose to wake me), to leaving and coming home and right up to the moment I went to bed. Also, I have to agree that since we are their caregivers, it's very different. I'd probably spent time with my grandma less than 30 times in my life, she'd always lived down in Florida. Her loss was painful also, but in a much different way.

Anyway, I'm very sorry for both of your losses

Michelle

decides2dream

jezebeloria wrote:

First off I am not trying to solicit any sympathy here...I am just curious of people's answer to this question. After having lost both a family member and a pet w/in the last 10 days why do I find myself more upset about my kitty passing than my grandma? Could it be because my gram was significantly older and lived a long life or maybe because my kitty lived with me for 12 years and I interacted w/ her on a daily basis? Any opinions?

firstly, so sorry for your loss.


secondly, sure sounds like you answered your own question. sadly, i've had quite a few deaths in my lifetime....and the ONLY ones i have cried over: my father....and each and every one of my pets. even a beloved aunt, as much as i loved her, didn't reduce me to tears. and i DO cry easily at movies, sappy moments, etc....but i guess? i don't cry so easily out of personal saddness? as many have mentioned, it IS sooo individual. i think if i were in the same situation as you, i'd do the same. your kitty LIVED with you, a part of your daily life...for 12 years. and sure, we *expect* people of advanced age to pass away, so perhaps while painful, a part of life that we are more *prepared* for......? who knows....

PearlJain

I had to have my dog of 17 years - "Azzie" -put to sleep - a year ago Valentine's Day. She was my first and - and last dog! She was my best friend. I now have a "lopped eared" bunny named "Roo". Roo thinks he's a dog. Roo is helping me to emotionally move on. I too, prefer animals to humans most days!



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