How are you doing? You know, with the cat dying and all.
Doing better, it was rough for the first week or so. I would just randomly start bawling out. The reality of it still hits me sometimes, and I still get my moments though. Nights are sometimes hard since she'd always follow me to bed and late at night I'll get up to go pee and when I get back in bed I just expect her to be there just for a split second. Then I can't sleep. Other situations trigger that too like when I arrive home and she's not running at the door to greet me. Or even when I go down to the basement, I didn't want her down there so I'd always be sure to close the door, and I'm still doing it out of habit.
One thing that really helped me cope is thinking of all the good times and how I gave her lots of love and petting to the end. She had a good life, almost making it to 18. Also I have so many pictures of her, so glad I took so many. Some random ones with my phone but also good ones with my DSLR. My only regret is I don't have that many videos of her, but I do have some. I actually need to make an album of her, I'd like to have some pictures in print, I just feel it's safer than only digital. I did do 2 separate cold storage backups though. Not just of my cat but all my pictures in general. I have pics going back to like 2004. Lots of memories in there.
But yeah overall doing better. I've been waiting it out but I do want to get another cat or maybe even two. I just don't want to jump the gun and if I do get two I need to think hard about that. Extra vet bills, more food, litter etc. But they will keep each other company when I'm on 12h shifts. My cat seemed to be ok with it but think the night shifts did stress her sometimes.