If there is one thing that people do not always understand, it is that some people care deeply about animals. For an even smaller amount of people, they care about animals more than they care about people. Too often, people think of pets as “just a cat” or “just a dog” without taking into consideration the feelings of the people who do actually care deeply about their pets. For example, my pets always come first. They are a huge part of my family. If I were to lose any of them, I would be devastated.

Unfortunately for some good friends of mine, this has become a recent reality. They have lost a dear member of their family. A pet lover’s nightmare. It does not soften the blow any that their cat was old or that they only had her for about a year. This is where people miss the point; she was a part of their hearts.

Even as I type this, I know people are thinking about how ridiculous it is that I am saddened over the loss of this cat. They do not understand the sadness that my friends are feeling. Honestly, I pity the people who cannot love a pet deeply enough to be affected by the death of their pets. What this indicates to me is that they do not know what it means to love and be loved unconditionally. They have no true hearts. They are the people who would say “just get another cat” or “just get over it, it was just a cat.” They are the ones who will just never get it, even if they have pets of their own. They own pets, not care about pets.

To pet-lovers like me, never feel guilty about actually feeling something when you lose your pets. They are family. Do not feel guilty about taking time before “just getting a new dog/cat.” It is too easy to feel like you’re trying to replace your previous pet(s), and it is okay not to be comfortable with that. Grieve. Don’t let the pressures of it was “just a cat” or it was “just a dog” make you feel like you have to “just get over it.”

Pets become part of the family. They become a part of our lives. They come into our homes and leave pawprints on our hearts. We rescue them and they rescue us. Coming home to the happy tail-wagging dogs or the purring of cats is what makes the end of the day that much better. Knowing that you’ve always got someone to talk to, even if they can’t talk with you, is so comforting. They’ll never tell your secrets and they’ll love you no matter how much you rant to them. They know when you’re upset and they try to alleviate that. From every head tilt, tail wag, and wanted/unwanted kiss, they steal our hearts.

Losing a pet is losing a part of yourself, part of your heart. The biggest thing to remember is that, as long as they are in your memories, they are always with you. Those pawprints never truly leave your heart. It is okay to break down when you find their favorite toy that went “missing” ages ago. You love them. And you miss them. And that is okay.