Not only is there always another good animal
in need of a good home,
but we must remember to be thankful
for the time and love our animals give us
while they are here.
Take time to enjoy them and learn from them.
As painful as it is to lose them,
they teach us to love unselfishly,
they teach us to live each day to the fullest,
they teach us to grow old gracefully,
and they teach us to die with dignity.
We do them disrespect
to focus only on the sorrow of their death
when they have given us so much joy through their life.
If we wish to honor them,
take what they have given us,
all that love,
and give it back to another animal
in need of help.

What a great, loving post.
This is how I felt after losing Tuppence and Jiskefet...
No-one will ever take their place in my heart, but there is an empty place in the house that can be filled, and plenty of cats that need a good home.
My husband chose Tosca after Tuppence died, and Jiskefet, on his way to the Rainbow Bridge, chose Ricky for me. The moment we buried Jiskefet, I suddenly knew I had to be at a certain animal shelter at opening time the next morning. And he was there, a tuxedo tomcat, clearly expecting us, indicating that he had been waiting for us.
When Stefie died, I did not want to get another cat just yet, because we still have another very old lady, and old cats tend to have more problems with change. But then I saw a picture of Spetter and he captured my heart. I don´t know if it was Steffie or Jiskefet or both, or maybe all three of them, but I do know Spetter was chosen for me by my rainbow cats.