I've always had two cats. Each time I lost a cat it felt super important to get a new one as soon as possible. The longest time that has passed between a loss and a new cat I think was between Sotis and Molly – a month or so. Between Saga and Zoe it took exactly two weeks.
Therefore I am little surprised as I watch Molly to see how she's taking this with Zoe not being here. She takes it surprisingly well, although she was quite confused that Zoe was in the carrier first before we set off, and then that the transport cage was empty when I got home again. During the evening yesterday she was lying on the stool in the kitchen and looked several times out into the hall with wide eyes and a slightly surprised look. My personal guess is that she saw Zoe.
I've been extremely torn about this getting a new cat after Zoe. There are many reasons for that – including group dynamics. Every time you subtract or add, group dynamics change, and we've had a lot of changes here in the last six months. Maybe it should be over with, until our puppy shows up. And yes, I say our puppy – because it will be. Mine and Molly's.
It is strange and unaccustomed to living with only one cat. Oh my God, it's barely been a day and a half, so it's not that strange. But I'm fascinated that the feeling I get from Molly is that she likes to be a single cat.
And it's clear that she gets. If she doesn't want a friend, then she doesn't have to. There, I kind of just have to listen and accept. Much like how I listened to both Ella and Zoe in terms of when it's time to leave.
But I can't stop being fascinated by, and think it's kind of cool, that the feeling I get is so clear. I get the sense that Molly is totally fine with Zoe being done, and now she thinks it's her time to have her mother without any other cat.
Who am I to argue?
Then you can this is of course changing. I am ok with having both one and two cats, I notice. But right now Molly wants to be alone with me, and then she will be allowed to be.
How extremely strange and absurd feeling this is. I'm sort of sitting here with my chin slightly on the hill – and I live on the third floor, saw that is quite skillfully worked, actually.