Why Does Pet Loss Hurt So Much? Insight and Support From a Life Transitions Therapist
Losing a pet can feel like losing a part of yourself. If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to a beloved animal companion, you know the grief can be as intense—and sometimes even more difficult—than other types of loss. Yet many people don’t always understand or validate this pain. They might say, “It was just a cat,” or “You can always get another dog.” But anyone who has deeply bonded with an animal knows the truth: pet loss is the loss of family. Here is some insight into why your feelings are valid, and how different solutions like life transitions therapy can help your heart heal.
Why Does Pet Loss Hurt So Deeply?
Pets are not “just” animals. They are our confidants, our sources of unconditional love, and part of our daily rhythms. When they’re gone, it’s not just the animal we miss—it’s the routines, the comfort, the companionship, and the piece of our identity that was tied to them.
Some reasons pet loss can feel especially painful:
Unconditional love. Pets accept us as we are, without judgment. Losing that kind of presence leaves a huge hole.
Daily companionship. Pets are woven into the rhythm of our days—mealtimes, walks, cuddles. Their absence is felt constantly.
A source of stability. Pets are with us through breakups, moves, jobs, and illnesses. They often feel like our anchor.
Family role. For many, pets aren’t “like family”—they are family.
My Own Story: Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Cat
I relate to this personally because two years ago, my life-partner cat, Obi-Wan Kenobi, died suddenly. I fought for him with everything I had. For a moment, it looked like he was going to be the one-in-1,000,000 cat who survived a terrible illness I had never even heard of—an illness that comes out of nowhere and is almost always fatal. But he didn’t make it.
I had never felt so much pain. I didn’t know it was possible to feel that sad, that helpless, that hopeless. It was just me and him. I lived alone. And because he was a Jedi, we had a deal that he’d live forever—or at least until 22. But that’s not what happened.
Pet loss hits us in ways we don’t expect. I think part of it is because we can’t explain to them what’s happening or say goodbye in the way we want to. I personally know what it’s like to feel lost without your animal companion.
With the encouragement of loved ones, I eventually adopted two new cats- MooMoo and Magnum. They can never replace Obi-Wan, but they helped me through the darkest days. It does get better. Our pets live on in our memories, and the love they gave us never leaves.
How Does Therapy Help With Pet Loss?
One of the hardest parts of grieving a pet is how invisible it can feel. While there are rituals and community support around the death of a human loved one, pet loss is often minimized. Online counseling can help you give your grief the space it deserves.
With the guidance of a virtual therapy practice, you can:
Validate your grief. Knowing that your pain is real and worthy of attention.
Create rituals of remembrance. Honoring your pet through memory boxes, art, or ceremonies.
Work through guilt. Many people struggle with the decisions around euthanasia or “what if I had done more.”
Find ongoing connection. Learning to carry your pet’s love forward while still moving through life.
Coping With the Loss of a Pet
If you’re grieving a pet right now, here are a few gentle practices that may help:
Tell your pet’s story. Share memories and photos with trusted friends or family.
Honor their life. Plant a tree, create a scrapbook, or keep a framed photo in your home.
Allow your emotions. Cry, journal, or talk it out. Suppressing grief only makes it heavier.
Seek community. Support groups or online communities for pet loss can be deeply validating.
Consider therapy. Especially if grief feels overwhelming or isolating.
Why Is Pet Loss a Life Transition?
Losing a pet is not just the end of a relationship—it’s a major life transition. Your routines, your environment, even your identity can shift. Therapy for life transitions can help you navigate not only the grief, but also the rebuilding of daily life after such a loss.
Closing Thoughts From a Sympathetic Life Transitions Therapist in Miami, FL
As both an animal lover and an experienced online therapist, I know that pet loss is profound because it touches some of the deepest parts of love, loyalty, and connection. When we lose them, the silence can feel deafening. But just as they gave us love in life, their memory continues to give us strength after they’re gone.
For me, that will always be Obi-Wan Kenobi—my Jedi cat, my companion, my quiet co-therapist. His memory reminds me daily that grief is simply another expression of love.
If you’re grieving a pet, please know you don’t have to carry it alone. Therapy can provide support, compassion, and tools to help you honor your pet while also finding your own way forward. Please reach out to me today by email at carly@carlystantontherapy.com or phone at (215) 469-1782 to get the support you need.
✨ Personal Note: This blog is dedicated to my cat, Obi-Wan Kenobi. For 12 years, he was by my side—in life, in therapy sessions, and even on my website as a Jedi painting. He continues to remind me, and now I hope to remind you, that grief is the echo of love.
Find Healing & Comfort After Pet Loss Through Online Life Transitions Therapy in Miami
Losing a beloved pet can feel like losing a part of your heart. The bond we share with our animals runs deep, which is why their absence can leave such an ache. Life transitions therapy provides a gentle, supportive space to process the grief, honor your pet’s memory, and begin to heal in a way that feels authentic and compassionate.
You deserve care and understanding as you adjust to life after loss. Through my online therapy practice, I can help you find comfort, connection, and hope in the midst of your grief. Here’s how we can connect and start this healing process together:
Explore how therapy can help you cope and find peace after loss. Schedule a free consultation to start the conversation.
Work with an online therapist in Miami who understands the emotional depth of pet loss and provides a safe, nonjudgmental space to talk about your grief.
Gain tools and emotional insight to help you move forward at your own pace while still cherishing the love and memories that remain.
Online Therapy in Florida: Other Services I Offer Statewide
Grieving the loss of a pet can stir up emotions that feel heavy, confusing, and sometimes unexpected. Life transitions therapy offers a space where you can express those feelings openly, honor your bond, and begin to move through grief at a pace that feels right for you. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning how to carry love and loss together in a more peaceful way.
Because every person’s experience of loss is different, I offer therapy services tailored to your unique emotional needs and schedule. If you’re wondering whether therapy could help you through this time, I invite you to start with a free 15-minute consultation. During this call, we’ll talk about what you’ve been feeling, the kind of support you’re looking for, and how my approach may fit your needs. From there, we’ll create a plan that works for your lifestyle and helps you feel more grounded as you heal.
For those seeking focused insight, I also provide one-time psychiatric evaluations through my virtual therapy practice in Florida. These evaluations can help you better understand your emotions and next steps. If you’d like additional comfort or resources, my mental health blog offers reflections and practical tools for navigating grief, change, and emotional resilience. You can also follow me on LinkedIn for my latest thoughts. However your journey unfolds, my goal is to walk beside you with warmth, compassion, and care—helping you find peace and connection again after loss.
About the Author
Carly Stanton, LPC, MT-BC, is a licensed professional counselor and board-certified music therapist who helps individuals navigate the emotional challenges of grief, loss, and major life transitions. She understands that losing a beloved pet can be one of the most profound and misunderstood forms of grief—and she provides a compassionate, nonjudgmental space for healing and reflection.
With a trauma-informed and person-centered approach, Carly supports clients as they process emotions, rebuild balance, and find new meaning after loss. Her clinical expertise includes working with anxiety, depression, adult ADHD, OCD, social isolation, trauma, relationship concerns, women’s issues, and adolescent mental health. She also integrates Music Therapy when appropriate to help clients access deeper layers of emotional expression and comfort. As a therapist featured in Psychology Today, Carly’s goal is to help each client move forward with compassion, resilience, and a renewed sense of connection—both to themselves and to the love they carry.
