Most cats live less than twenty years, so you are likely to experience the death of a beloved cat during your lifetime. If you enjoy a multiple cat home, you're likely to experience the loss of a number of cats.

We hope that the grief from losing your cat won't deter you from adopting again when the time is right. Each relationship with each cat is unique, so you cannot replace the former cat with a new one. But so very many cats need homes, and loving a cat is so rewarding, that it would be regrettable to shut yourself off from the joys of a new cat because of sorrow for the cat who is gone.

Here are some resources that we hope will help you cope with your loss.

Books

Please visit www.amazon.com and search the topic of Pet Loss. There are many books available to help both adults and children cope with their grief over losing a pet.

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

Please visit www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/goodbyefriend/plhotlines.asp. This site has a list of hotlines you can call for live assistance. It also has a list of books for both adults and children.