[Vautrin]

My dad is not a cat-lover at all. He always insists that the current cat(s) are the last ones. 9 cats later, they were all favorites of my dad.

The dying part is always awful about pets. But the joys must not be underestimated. A cat or a dog can mean a lot to a single person, almost as much as a partner.

My grandmother had a similar issue, when my grandfather had died. She was alone, without pets, and never even had had a cat. But she still took one in, after much "hassling" of the family. She enjoyed that for many years, until the kitty died (she got an older kitty). But was not filled with grief, but grateful for the many joyous years.

Perhaps there may be alternatives, i.e. pets that are to outlive your mother?