Lost my kitty Sprinkles of 16 years, and relatives are telling me I'm overreacting because it's not even human

As the title says, I've been absolutely heartbroken by my big fluffball I've taken care for 16 years didn't survive surgery to remove a small tumor, and people are saying I can "Just get another cat" it's not like you lost a child, and I really have to keep cutting people off my life, as dramatic as it sounds, he got me through the darkest moments of my life, and it has been really hard keeping it together recently, the worst part is going to bed alone and not having him sleeping on my pillow next to me :(

I really wish human decency extended at least 10% to people's pets as it does to someone who loses a human child. I can't even think right now if I want to adopt another one after how much it broke me having to say goodbye to my boy of 16 years.