We got a new cat a week after our very old one died because the apartment was so achingly empty without her. She'd basically raised our kids and was perfect in every way. She was ill for long enough at the end for us to take time telling her that, and grieve while caring for her and loving on her and waiting until the first available time for the home vet to come so she wouldn't have to go anywhere. And whisper it again into her fur as she took her last breath.

Afterward we looked around at all the things we had to make her comfortable and realized that while no one could ever replace her, there were other old cats sitting in shelter cages who needed love too.

We went to the city shelter and wound up with a cat who is disabled, can't jump and needed all her teeth extracted. So we paid for that, and brought her home.

Soon after, we somehow also ended up with a feisty stray kitten.

Miss Perfection's ashes are on a shelf, and I tear up when they catch my eye, but the misfits give us an outlet for all the love she taught us.

but that you gave them the best life you could. And maybe realize that giving another pet a good life doesn’t mean you’re replacing or forgetting your last one.

I've told myself that the cats under my care are the top 1% of the 1% of animals. I would go as far as saying that they have it better than most of the 8B people on this planet. They have comfort, safety, abundance, and entertainment. I go the extra mile for them to ensure that they have a high quality of life.

When I have gotten another cat after one died, it was never a replacement. It was giving a home to cat who needed one. A cat sitting in a shelter waiting for their chance. And I tend to adopt animals that are harder to place due to age or other factors (e.g. "does not get along with dogs or kids") that are a non-issue for me.

Losing them is hard, but not adopting them doesn't prevent their eventual death. It just means that the death happens "off camera," and quite possibly much sooner.

Telling others how to grieve is disrespectful.

Moving through the grief is different than deciding to take on another pet. You do what you want with your heart, and I'll do what I want with mine, thanks.

hundreds? more like thousands...

That was the one stuffed animal I chose during my single visit to Disney World in the 80s.

I'm retrospect, I wish I had gotten that gross little gremlin from the Captain Eo ride, but I think I was too flabbergasted to make any purchasing decisions when we passed through that gift shop.

Edit: The gross little critter was named 'Hooter'.

Aww, that's so cute. Mine will sit, look up, and gently pretend to smell the air. If they're very interested, they'll lift their front paws and rest one one my leg. It gets me every time.