2016 - get a cat before a hysterectomy?

Just before the new year, I lost my 9-year-old flame-point Balinese cat. She had bladder stones, and died of a stroke when recovering from the surgery to remove them. It was very unexpected. Before we lost her so unexpectedly, my husband and I had been planning on adding another cat to our family. We obviously put that on hold. A week after we lost her, my doctor and I agreed that it's time for a hysterectomy.

I've never not had a cat before. The longest I lived without a cat was when I had to leave my kitty with family when I lived overseas. The house feels so empty without a cat.

Am I crazy for thinking of getting a cat (or a pair of siblings) before I get the hysterectomy? I'm tentatively scheduled for the end of March. I want to make sure that I'm not just replacing my loving little Balinese, and I want to make sure that I can give another cat the love and attention it deserves.

I'm so sorry for your loss. You might want to wait alittle bit before getting a new cat. Your going to be going through major surgery so getting a new kitten might not be the best right now but it's all up to you good luck

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm not sure about timing. Post op, bending down can be painful or in some cases restricted. So having to bend down a lot for kittens could be an issue. Also, you'll likely have a 10 lb lifting restriction for 6 weeks. But I know having kitty company during recovery would be lovely. I'm not sure what's best, but be aware of the restrictions as you decide. Sometimes the right cat just comes along, and you know it. I still miss my last cat, losing him broke my heart, so I know how hard it is to go through this.

I am so sorry for your loss. 2 years ago we lost the last of our much loved 3 cats. We cleaned out all the litter boxes and put away all the food dishes. The house seemed so quiet and lonely without a kitty roaming around. We took some time to process our grief. A year later dh surprised me on Christmas Eve with a rescue cat.

You will know when the time is right and the right kitty comes along.

It is about the right kitty coming along, isn't it? All of my cats have appeared at just the right time. She appeared the weekend before I had shoulder surgery to repair a badly-torn rotator cuff. I wasn't expecting to add to our family at that point. She was very skittish at the beginning, so me being mostly immobile while she was settling in worked out very well.

I'll wait until another kitty lets me know that it's time.

I think it's a good time because you'll be at home with the new kittens more than you would probably be normally. As long as you help with the litter boxes at first I don't think there'd be a physical issue. Cats do not need walks and you can play with them waving a cat toy. They really don't need to picked up (my 2 hate to be picked up or otherwise controlled in anyway!) In fact, having just lost one being at home all the hours without a cat around when you are used to might be sad for you. When my cats passed I just felt my home was not the same without a cat in it and suddenly having a "quiet" house was very sad for me. The activity involved in acclimating the new one helps you with the grief of losing a beloved cat.

I know it's tough, but you might want to consider waiting. You're going to be going through a lot, and trying to acclimate a new kitty to your home will only stress you and maybe the kitty out.

I'm sorry for your loss.