# For the first time in over 35 years, I have no cats in my home **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290 "2025-10-26T01:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/1 "2025-10-26T01:00:07Z")
Our dear Kit-Kat rested on Wednesday evening at the kitty ER after an unexpectedly long bout of throwing up. She was alive when we started driving; 10 minutes later she likely had already died as we hurried up to the counter. She was only 10 years old. We buried her on Thursday in a back yard that has 4 other kitty graves (that I know of). No longer will I fear the squish of cold cat barf (or worse warm cat barf) between my toes. No longer will my wife’s nice furniture be shredded, not uniformly, but only in certain places. No longer will I walk around with pinholes in all of my T-shirts from sharp claws. No longer will I have the occasional parallel streaks of blood on my arm. No longer will I wonder if an accidentally unguarded dinner plate has been nibbled on. No longer will I enjoy the acrid aroma of cat pee around the house. No longer will I shovel clumps of litter and poop into bags, to be hauled out with the weekly trash. No longer will I patch the clawed up sections of our walls and door trim. No longer will I worry about whether the glass of water I left out contains cat spit. No more will I have to use a fur roller to remove cat fur from dark clothing. No longer will I hear the meows and scrabbling at the bedroom door when she wants to share my food. But none of that matters. Life is sad without feline activity in the home! More than anything, yesterday afternoon when I had some Taco Bell food, I wanted to do as I always have and let generous dollops of tacos and burritos accidentally fall on a small plate that was then placed where she could find it. But that food would have remained uneaten. **Rest well, little one!** [![](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3GDBmkV/0/LMs95hJxFVh3d63cwZ756GczGDm627pps8h8B5zsd/X5/i-3GDBmkV-X5.jpg) ](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3GDBmkV/0/LMs95hJxFVh3d63cwZ756GczGDm627pps8h8B5zsd/X5/i-3GDBmkV-X5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/2 "2025-10-26T01:02:58Z")
So sorry for you loss ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/3 "2025-10-26T01:22:25Z")
I’m so sorry, they sure do take a big piece of your heart when they go. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/4 "2025-10-26T01:45:11Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss. The house must feel so much emptier now without her. I’ve had cats for … well, since well before I moved out as an adult, many decades ago, and I can’t comprehend what it would be like without one. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/5 "2025-10-26T02:08:52Z")
Thank you. My wife just found a tuft of her fur on the piano and started crying. She said she can’t go through losing another animal. I’m going to have to bide my time and sneak in a new cat at some point. This silence is awful. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/6 "2025-10-26T02:25:09Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > I’m going to have to bide my time and sneak in a new cat at some point. This silence is awful. Trust that the cat distribution system will find you when the time is right. I will give my Moxie some extra pets in honor of your Kit-Kat and will hold you and your wife in the light. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/7 "2025-10-26T02:30:16Z")
As hard as it is to lose them, I don’t think I could live catless, not for long anyway. I’m so, so sorry for the cat-sized hole in your lives. I know it all too well and it sucks ☹ My crew sends quiet purrs your way 😿 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/8 "2025-10-26T02:51:30Z")
I too am sorry to hear of your loss. As a college-aged guy, I thought I was a “dog person,” but Halloween weekend 2007, I met and adopted two little 2-1/2 week old kitten brothers, who melted my heart and made me a definitive “cat guy.” We had to let one go this past May, but his brother turned eighteen years old this month. I know his time is limited–brother is showing his age–and I’m not looking forward to the second loss… But I recognize that I am a _far_ richer person for having let _them_ adopt _us._ Again, I’m sorry to hear about Kit-Kat. Tripler Cat guy. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/9 "2025-10-26T03:27:28Z")
They never live long enough, but they do leave their paw prints on your heart. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/10 "2025-10-26T12:19:53Z")
I am so sorry. I always have to have more than one cat. I couldn’t stand the grief with no other embodiment of Catness in the house. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/11 "2025-10-26T19:37:55Z")
Condolences. But the shelter is full of loving kitties and when you go there, one will pick you. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/12 "2025-10-26T22:00:43Z")
My sympathies. I lost my last two siamese a few years ago. I didn’t think it seemed fair to get another with 5 dogs. But as I was doing a dog rescue transport yesterday, a transport texted me the picture of a cat dumped at a trailer park. Since she was in Chattanooga, where yesterday’s transport picked up, I got her, too. No name yet, and she’ll have to get vet checked, but here is possibly Molly. This is the rescue’s pic. Right now she has the bathroom and laundry room, and I’m sitting with her and I have a baby gate and I’m sitting at the door so the dogs can get used to her safely. StG [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/WtqNIOy.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/WtqNIOy) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/13 "2025-10-26T22:48:24Z")
I’m deeply sorry for your loss. I think the loss of a beloved pet is analogous to that great line about faith: > For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who _do not_ believe, no explanation is possible. You’re among people who understand. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/14 "2025-10-27T00:32:22Z")
Very sorry for you unexpected loss. We are losing 2 of our cats, they are very old, 17 or so, and just got 2 rescue kittens to help them leave, and teach them the ways of this place. Many more needing homes out there. Have not had kittens for many years, boy are they silly. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/15 "2025-10-27T01:28:50Z")
I’m sorry. It’s always too soon, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/16 "2025-10-27T03:26:51Z")
Too soon or too long. Never the “right” time, because we aren’t allowed “forever.” Activate the UCDS! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/17 "2025-10-27T03:32:23Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I got her, too. No name yet, and she’ll have to get vet checked, but here is possibly Molly What a beautiful (and lucky) meezer! Keep updating us and more pictures please! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/18 "2025-10-27T05:38:49Z")
Condolences, My Friend. I confess that my first thought when reading the thread title was, _“Holy Shit! What an Extermination Saga!”_ I don’t think right. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/19 "2025-10-27T18:37:07Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > This silence is awful Fingers very firmly crossed, our two seem to be doing OK at the moment, though we lost two others over the last few tears. Oops, typo, years… but appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290/20 "2025-10-27T19:02:26Z")
This is me, too. Except for college dorms, I’ve never been catless. We had cats my whole childhood. When I would return home during breaks, there was always a cat. As soon as I got my first apartment after graduation (1999), I got a cat. That was Staci (Anastasia). Staci was with me through grad school, buying a house, and marriage. A month after we got married, we got Mona (Desdemona). That was May of 2006. Staci died in 2012 of complications of diabetes. A year later we got The Great Catsby. This past April, Catsby passed suddenly and unexpectedly from what we think was a pulmonary embolism. In July, Mona, rapidly approaching 20, finally gave in to age. And I was catless. We gave it a few months to see how it felt. We decided it’s too quiet. We’re picking up a six-month pair of siblings this Friday (currently Bubbles and Fizz, but that will probably change).