Yes, they do become part of the family, and I feel your loss deeply.

I'm not offering advice, but my way of grieving is to share that grief with
new life...be it puppy or kitten. Somehow the hurt isn't quite so
omnipresent when you are cleaning up puppy poop all day {;-)

Jim



We have always had two cats during our married lives (35 years). Yesterday
I had to put our 20 year old cat to sleep. She was in severe renal
failure. I could hardly talk to the vet when I brought her in and sat in
the exam room for several minutes with the cat before I could leave. Pets
become part of the family.