'I Still Miss Him': Valerie Bertinelli Pays Tribute to Her Late Cat & Elaborate on Feelings of Loss

It has been ten years since Valerie Bertinelli's beloved cat passed away, but the pain of losing a fur baby still lingers. The actress recently shared her sentiments in an Instagram post.

The pain of losing a pet is no different from losing a family member, partly because they are already part of the family. Sadly, Valerie Bertinelli had to endure this feeling for ten years.

Bertinelli recently posted an Instagram tribute to her cat, Dex, who passed away ten years ago. Alongside the selfie photo she shared was a lengthy caption about her feelings.

The "One Day at a Time" star revealed it had been ten years since she last held her cat, and although time has passed, she still misses him. While she can't put into words her emotions, Bertinelli said:

"I've been through a lot of love and loss throughout my life, and it's not harder or easier; it's just… different."

Bertinelli often posts photos and videos with her fur babies, sparking curiosity amongst some fans. One social media user then asked her how many cats she owned, to which the Hollywood star proudly said six.

She posts videos of them with her in bed or playing together. In one video she shared, Bertinelli was making her cat dance. "I have no idea how my kitties let me do this to them!" she said. "Yes, I made three of them drum."

As a full-fledged cat mom, the actress does not miss out on celebrating International Cat Day, although she treats every day as a special occasion for her cats.

Besides her felines, Bertinelli is a mom to one adorable black and brown dog. She also posts about her dog occasionally, showing his charming smile.

While the "Valerie's Home Cooking" star is now happy with her pets, she once felt devastation with her family, specifically when she separated from her husband, Tom Vitale. Previously, the Food Network personality opened up about the hurtful words she would hear from her ex-husband.

Valerie Bertinelli revealed she would be screamed at and called fat and lazy. Bertinelli found a challenge in loving her body image but eventually learned to be comfortable in her skin. Now in her 60s, she finds happiness in cooking.

The "Hot in Cleveland" star also dropped a few pounds and now looks better than ever, even without a man by her side.