The pain of losing a pet and having multiple pets / Does having other pets ease the pain of pet loss?

As I create my works and advise customers on how to cope with the loss of their pets, I sometimes get asked questions like these.

Will having another pet make the loss less painful?

Will getting a new pet help you calm down?

I sometimes get questions like these.

Some people find pet loss so heartbreaking that they always choose to keep two or more pets at the same time.
It’s true that adopting a new pet can sometimes ease the deep sadness that comes with losing a beloved companion.

Everyone copes with grief in their own way, but today I’d like to share my personal thoughts and experiences.

My Perspective

While it’s true that the love of a new pet can be comforting, in my case, the pain of losing a pet never fully disappears.
It feels as though two separate emotions—love for my new companion and grief for the one I lost—exist side by side in my heart.

Some people seem to recover completely after welcoming a new pet, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten the one who passed away. Others, however, may not feel any comfort at all from adopting again.

I’ll explain more about these different experiences in a moment.

A Common Question About Pet Loss

Many customers have asked me:

“I’m not sure if I should get another pet. Will it help with my grief?”

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it’s different for everyone.
Honestly, you won’t know how it will affect you until you experience it yourself.

So today, I’d like to share my own story in hopes that it might help you decide what’s right for you.

Multiple Pets and Coping With Pet Loss

Our family once had two cats.

They sometimes quarreled, as cats do, but overall they got along well. Most nights, they could be found curled up together, sleeping side by side.

In 2020, our tabby cat, Maro, passed away.

Looking back now, a few years later, I can better reflect on how I felt at the time.
(You can read more about my personal pet loss experience [here].)

Our black cat, Sora, is still healthy and with us, and I can honestly say that having Sora around was a source of comfort during that difficult time.

However, there’s something important I want to share:

Having another pet doesn’t necessarily lessen the pain.

And one more thing—
Sometimes, the behavior of the pet who remains can unintentionally hurt you.

When Maro passed away, Sora continued on as if nothing had changed.
If it had been a dog, perhaps there might have been some signs of sadness or loneliness. But cats, with their independent nature, seem to move on quickly.

For me, this emotional distance—whether it’s a feline trait or simply Sora’s personality—left me feeling a bit lonely and even hurt.

Have you ever felt the same way?

According to our veterinarian:

“That kind of emotionally detached behavior is just how cats are. You probably wouldn’t see it in dogs.”

I’ve also heard similar feelings from customers.

Some have told me:

“I was so heartbroken that I got a new pet, but I keep comparing them to the one I lost, and I can’t bring myself to love them the same way.”

That’s why it’s so important to prepare your heart before welcoming a new life into your home.

The fact that having other pets around can be comforting

That being said, it’s also true that having pets around can be emotionally soothing.

From a customer who placed an order: It’s been a year since I said goodbye to my cat and he went to the Rainbow Bridge. The loss was unimaginable, but I’m so grateful that I was able to get through this year thanks to KNIT My PET’s cushion and lap blanket. And, guided by the feelings of that cat who taught me the joys of living with a cat, I ended up adopting a rescue cat. (Omitted) It’s really nice to have the presence of a cat in the house. He won’t let me hold him yet, but I naturally relax in his bed.