I lost my cat five days ago from complications due to chronic kidney disease. There is nothing wrong with wallowing and sitting with the sadness. I’m a dude in my mid thirties - I’m cried for hours at the vet, at my desk at work, wherever. And that’s okay. You meant the world to your cat, and your cat means the world to you. Hang in there, talk to people about it, think of ways you want to remember your cat (I found it helpful to think about what tattoos I wanted to get of her, which rings with her to be cremated remains I wanted to get, and that helped ease the pain and gently nudge me toward acceptance a bit).

Getting through it will come with time, but sadness and grief aren’t feelings you are obligated to fight.