Bobert...I agree with Kendall. I have no children and I dearly love and respect animals. When my cherished bassett Sarah Monday died at an early age, I was inconsolable. And it was difficult, as this culture does not see as "really" serious, just how deep grief can be for the loss of an animal companion (the very word "pet" diminishes their improtance, to me).

From my vantage point, what I would want is 1)complete understanding about just how devastating the loss is, and 2) complete understanding about just how devastating the loss is. In other words, empathy. There is nothing to be "done" in the short term, altho gentle pressure to get another cat, at some point, may help.

Also, I agree with those who say, hold out a little bit of hope that this cherished cat will return. Not something you want to lean on, but with cats, particularly, still a hope.

I'm very sorry for your loss, and I can well imagine what P-vine is going thru....please offer my condolences...and thanks for being open to suggestion for how to make a bad situation, if not better, at least not worse.