Robert, my cat ran away last year right after christmas because the painter's air compressor scared her when I opened my front door and she ran right out. I didn't think I was ever going to find her and after a week I wanted to get another cat right away so I could try to forget about her running away. But, I didn't think I was through grieving over her loss and I was still hopeful that she might come back. Sure enought, four weeks, later, a neighbor called and said that she could see her and I found her. I'll never understand quite how you feel right now until my cat or dog's lives were wrongly taken from them and me. I hope that if those kids did do it, that they are brought to justice and some kind of therapy is given.

I agree with Roy, don't get another cat yet. Wait a few weeks or so. Let yourself and your family remember her and give yourselves time to mourn her death, then get another kitten. It sounds like the kitten you are looking at anyways won't be ready to go home for another couple of weeks or so anyway. Its always good to get a kitten because they bond with you so fast and you get to see all their clumsy kitten moments. You might want to look at an animal shelter for a kitten as well. All the animals there look so sad that they are there, especially the kitten because they don't know what is going on.

I wish you and your family the best of luck and hope that the killers are found.

Best of wishes
Chip