Paige Rechtman, Author at Tiny Buddha

Posts by Paige Rechtman

Paige Rechtman is a therapist and writer specializing in anxiety and pet loss. She is the author and illustrator of It’s All the Same Forest, a poetic tribute to the everlasting bond she shared with her soulmate cat, Squiggles. Paige hosts The Furever Forest, a supportive community for grieving pet parents who are looking for comfort, connection, and creative ways to heal. Learn more at paigerechtman.com or thefureverforest.com, and visit her on Substack here.

Paige Rechtman's Website

The Grief No One Talks About: How to Heal After Losing a Soulmate Pet

By Paige Rechtman

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~Anatole France

When my cat Squiggles died, I didn’t just “lose a pet.” I lost a part of my identity, my greatest source of comfort, and my sense of home.

Squiggles was the one constant in my life through every milestone, every heartbreak, every version of myself I grew into over the course of two decades. I had her since the moment she was born, and for almost twenty-two years, Squiggles was my constant companion, my emotional support, my soul-kitty.

But no matter how much I prepared …