I'm so very sorry for your loss.  It will take time to get over the
worst of it, and I suspect there will be a part that never is gotten
over.  Let yourself grieve.  It's ok to cry.  A broken heart needs to
bleed before it can begin to heal.

Priscilla

Justin,

I lost my best friend "koshka" this past July to kidney disease.  She was
only 12, and I was very angry that she didn't get to live to be 16 etc. or
an older age.  You must be feeling some of the same thing, that 7 is just
too young!

I can't believe how much I cried over this little cat - I really *love*
animals and even I was starting to wonder what the heck was wrong with me,
because hey - it wasn't a person right?  Well.... don't think that!
Whatever you feel, you feel and don't judge it.  It will take some time but
you will stop crying about it - and you will have great memories of your
best friend.  5 months later and I still get very sad about not having my
cat around.  Sometimes it feels like an aching pit in your gut, but it's not
that crushing pain that you feel in the beginning.  I have pictures of her
up, and they're not going anywhere!  They make me feel better.

Do whatever it takes to work through it - write your cat a letter (sounds
nuts but it helped me), keep her photos around, write in to this group.  The
amount we miss them when they're gone is just a measure of how much they
touched our lives.  :-)

Take care,
Meghan

Justin,
Condolences on your loss of Squirm.
In answer to your question, you need to allow yourself to grieve and heal.
The pain is real and you do not have to deny it.  However, Squirm will
always have a special place in your heart. Take comfort in your memories.
She will always be with you that way.
You may be surprised down the road when another cat shows up in your life.
Do not think it would be disloyal to Squirm to allow this newcomer to join
her in your heart.  There is no rational way to explain it, but it often
seems that the cat that had to leave us recognizes our loss and sends
another cat to keep us company.  One way to honor Squirm would be to rescue
another cat.
Hugs,
Annie

Justin, I am so sorry for your loss.

I can't answer "why", but I can answer "how".  You need to grieve.
Don't feel badly about crying; it really does help and it is necessary
for the healing process.  Know that one day you will feel better
again, and that although you will never forget Squirm, there will come
a time when you realize that you are thinking of her with a smile and
not with pain.

You might want to check out http://www.petloss.com for further help.

Blessings,

Ginger-lyn

Justin, I am so sorry for your pain....

Time will be the only healer. Many condolences on the loss of what was
obvioulsy a loved friend. It is the cycle and we don't have to like it, but
it is important for how would we know life if we did not know death? I'm so
sorry it had to happen at such a young age. Many comforting purrs to you.

Karen

Oh Justin, I'm so sorry. I know how you feel, it does get better. And
remember she's watching over you now. :(

Karen

I'm very sorry for the loss of your beloved pet/friend. Surely you have
many happy memories of Squirm.