This is serious, my son's cat is 16 years old?

Question

He is thinking of having her stuffed when she dies so he thinks he won't miss her. What would you say to him? I'm not up to the idea of having a pet stuffed. Let alone the cost.

He is serious about it. I kept avoiding the issue but her health is starting to decline.

Answer 1

The loss of a pet is, in and of itself, tragic. However, stuffing the pet to keep it's memory alive just only delays the inevitable--accepting the fact that she is gone. Having a pet album or some pictures of the beloved pet will be more lasting, and will keep the memory alive in ways far beyond what stuffing it would do. Along with the odor, if done wrong, there is the constant upkeep to the body, as well as the fact that it will, in time, deteriorate beyond repair. Best to bury it when time comes--respect the cat, and let it rest in peace.

Answer 2

is your son old enough to be able to save up for that procedure?


when a pet dies, it tears us apart. i was recently reminded of this when in both october, and january 1st i had to put my two kittens to sleep (the second one i got because i missed the first one so bad) because of a disease thats rampant in my area, FIP. there are a million options available to owners. you can have them stuffed, which is a sweet way to say goodbye, because then, you have your beloved cat curled up sleeping just like he always was, you can also have a memorial diamond made (which is where the cats ashes would be compressed into a real, sparkling diamond.) you can also go the 'build a bear' route; which is what i wanted to get for my first cat, but was too expensive, as just getting him cremated and the ashes returned in a box would cost over a hundred dollars. but thats just my area, prices may be different in your area. anyway the buid a bear route, is where you get your cat cremated, and the ashes are put in a plastic lined velvet pouch, that you take to say, a build a bear store (or, if you're crafty, you can do it yourself with a stuffed cat that looks similar to the cat does.) build a bear employees deal with this all the time so they're used to it. you build a bear just as you normally would, except they add the ashes into the stuffing, so you have a big cuddly bear to hug and it has your cats remains inside.
another thought is simply burying the cat in the back yard (or whever you can bury it) and creating a little memorial in your home, such as looking for a kitty figurine in local stores, bringing it home, and setting it in a place of prominance. if you really want to go all out with this idea, get the small figurine, a shadow box (sort of a mix between a shelf and a picture frame), along with pictures of your beloved kitty, and perhaps her collar or something small that was important. (when i put my first kitten down, i took his avid microchip collar badge, even though he'd never worn it (too small for a collar yet, both boys died at four months old) and set it on my computer desk, where i spend a good amount of my time.

unfortunatly, nothing will ease the pain except time, and that never helps ease the pain of the recently passed. so while yes, all options are equal and great, depending on what you can afford, just remember that, after a few months, or even years, when you let a new cat into your life, the old one will be easier to let go of. so mourn when she passes, dont rush out to buy a new kitten thinking it will ease the pain, because it wont. i missed my first kitten so much i did this, and broke into tears every time i accidently called the second cat by the first cats name.
but the pain will lessen, eventually.
everyone wants a different way to memorialize their pet. theres a place in california that even takes...the head...off your pet, and puts it on the body of a doll. hows that for creepy? talk to your son about some of these other options. some cost more, some cost less. the problem with having her stuffed, is that while she will still be 'here' it will still hurt, because its like a stuffed ceramic doll. the fur is the same, but thats it. you cant pick her up or hug her.

lots of advice, i know. good luck. the pain of losing a pet is immeasurable.

Answer 3

I'm not sure if a taxidermist is the way to go for a dead pet. I would much more suggest the traditional burial.

Having a pet stuffed would be traumatizing, in and of itself. It's almost like something out of a horror movie. *shivers*

Tell your son that you think that it would be best to have your pet buried, and tell him that getting the cat stuffed isn't going to make it any less difficult. As a matter of fact, it will probably make it more difficult. Tell him to take pictures of her so that he has something to remember her by, and then make sure that he understands the importance of burial as opposed to stuffing.

Answer 4

The stuffing thing is a little creepy to me, plus after years of being stuffed, things start to fall off. If he wants to keep his cat in his heart, cremate his cat and keep the ashes for him,and you can also put some of the ashes underground and plant a tree of his choosing for his cat. He is going to miss the cat regardless of what you do,it takes time to heal.

Answer 5

Let him do it. Its his kitty. Pay for it but make him work it off. Call up a local Taxadermy in your area and see what the costs are. It should only be about $50, its pretty small compaired to a deer. I think that if you deny this to him he WILL hold a grudge against you and you really dont want that. Its just a cat but a much loved cat.

Answer 6

Is he serious? That's morbid.

Tell him that you feel it would be disrespectful to the cat's memory to have her stuffed like some hunting trophy. You wouldn't stuff a human family member, and you shouldn't stuff her either.

Answer 7

Be a real parent and use the cat to explain the facts of life to your child. everything dies........everybody has to do it.
Use your own beleifs......Bible..etc.....to explain.
to many people hid to many facts from their children......we live in a real world.
i told my kids like this after their aunt died.
I took them to the beach....i lived in daytona at the time, after explaining death was the new begining "raised christian" ....i poured a glass of water into the ocean......and told them it was like your soul leaving your body.......the water is now part of something much bigger, so big you can't see just the glass of water anymore......but you know it is out there because you watched me pour it in there.
It was just that easy for me........hope you tell them the truth.......or you might become a stuffed parent in their home one day...lol

Answer 8

Each to his own. What's right for one person may not be right for another.

I personally would have done the same thing with a couple of my cats had I had the opportunity.

If you are so against it, maybe suggest he have the cat cremated and he can keep her ashes.

Answer 9

The cat will die when the time will come, he has to suffer a little, because he have to get used to lose things that he love. You don't have to do all that he wants. Let the cat rest in peace when he'll die.

Answer 10

I guess ur sun likes the idea of having a dead animal in the house, but if the stuffing (thanks giving day) it's not done perfect will stink, the hole house ! How old is ur son....