My cat has just died.?

Question

I am in shock. We had her for almost 19 years. What can I do?

Answer 1

I am genuinely sorry for your loss. Pets are like family and we should greive in the same way. My cat Harvey is very sick and he may well have to be put to sleep tomorrow, so I have great sympathy. I cant bear to think of burying him, but my husband is away, as are my two close friends. I'm finding things extremely difficult at the moment but I've got to be strong.

One of my thoughts was to create something, as a reminder of him. So in the next few days I'm getting all my photos of him and am going to make a collage, put them in a nice frame and hang it up where I can see it. I need to 'do' something.

Allow yourself to cry and grieve, its completely natural. Share your loss with other pet lovers, they understand. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The death of a pet is never an easy time. Whether it is an older animal, who may have been a part of the family longer than most of the furniture and some of the children, or a pet who has been with you for only a few years, the loss can be truly traumatic. And if the end comes through a conscious decision for euthanasia, other emotions become entangled with the basic sense of loss. Once it's over, you may prefer to think that the experience is behind you. Unfortunately, it is not.

There will be a hole in your household and in your life for a while, and for the first part of that "while" the hole may seem huge. There ARE ways to fill the gap. However, the loss itself is not something you can simply ignore, assuming that your world will adjust itself. Instead, you must deal with that something, just as you would deal with the loss of any other good friend. Yes, it is a different kind of relationship, but to behave otherwise is to try and change your attitude in mid-stride. You cannot expect yourself to think of your pet as a friend and then to dismiss those feelings as disposable because THIS friend happened to be an animal. It is NOT silly to miss your pet, and it is NOT overly sentimental to grieve.

Another difference lies in the always complicated idea of "what happens next". Many people, especially older folks, express a very real concern that they won't see their animals in the next life (whatever that may be) because they have been told that animals have no souls. Maybe you, like me, are a little unsure about what exactly " the next life" holds for any of us. However, if having a soul means being able to feel love and trust and gratitude, then aren't some animals better equipped than a lot of humans?

But still, he was pet and not a person, and that makes it more complicated to sort out exactly what you are supposed to do and feel. Although we recognize the individual personalities in pets, that doesn't mean that they are just little people. The relationship you have with your pet is different from any human relationship you may have. We have the responsibility to care for animals and to learn from them. As we domesticated pets, they became dependent upon us for their needs. Part of caring for them, especially in a technologically advanced society, often means deciding when an animal can no longer live a happy life or even a content one.

When an animal is made a pet by a responsible, caring person, he is being given exactly what he needs and wants: his "creature comforts", companionship, and the opportunity to return the favor through loyalty and affection. Dogs, especially, are naturally eager to please the "leader of the pack", and the owner takes on that role. So the dog is never happier than when he knows that he is pleasing that person. When he is too old or too sick to respond in the way HE thinks he should, he can't understand why and feels the anxiety of failure.

Because their natural life-spans are shorter than ours, we usually outlive our pets. However, the life you shared cannot simply be abandoned. Don't deny yourself the thoughts, memories, and feelings that your pet's life deserves. You may decide to fill the hole with another pet. However, you can never replace the special bond you held with the one who is gone.

Answer 3

Aww sorry to hear that. Must be a total shock, they feel like part of you or one of the family after so long don't they? My cat was 10 when he died 2 years ago. He was my childhood pet so I was gutted. My advice is to just grieve for her as much as you need to, don't rush into getting another cat too soon (although whenever you feel ready it can help a lot) Keep her collar in a little box as a reminder and you know you'll never forget her. Trust me it will get easier xx

Answer 4

I know how you feel. My friend lost her cat just after Christmas (she had to decide that she was suffering and was time to let go), She was devastated and buried her in the garden and is to plant a shrub in her memory. At present she keeps flowers on her grave. A few weeks ago she was given a 5month kitten that had been ill treated and is now moving on with her life although of course has by no means forgotten her departed friend and still sheds tears for her. Don't be afraid to mourn. Life does get better again.

Answer 5

Hiya, Oh i feel sooo sorry for you, they become part of your family and to have her for 19years what an achievement. My cat Sweep was 12 when he died of cancer last year. I took him to the pet's crematorium and had him cremated i picked his ashes up the next day, and he is now on my window sill in a beautiful box. If you bury your cat place an outdoor ornament on top of her grave (i have done this 4 times) with other cat's. remember other cat and pet owners know what it is like to lose a pet and we do care. Good Luck to you and your family, i know another cat cant take the place of your cat, but you soon grow to love them just as much. X

Answer 6

I am so sorry. My cat is 11, and I can only imagine how you feel. Bury her somewhere you can visit a lot. Talk to her and thank her for all she did for you. Were you a good cat Mom? If so, get another kitten or 2 when you are ready, and give other cats the benefit of having you as a cat Mom.

Answer 7

Remember all the joy you cat gave you and all the happy years you had together.And all the joy you gave you cat.Your cat lived for almost 19 years.You took very good care of your beloved cat.It's still sad make shrine of your cat.Plant a tree like sombody suggested or a rose bush.Or make a donation to a shelter in your cats name..

Answer 8

Wow..19 is a very long life. You must have taken great care of her. Mourn her and be happy you had all this time together. When you are ready, think about adopting a cat that needs a home.

Answer 9

I'm very sorry to hear that. My cat recently just disappeared one night so i sorta know how you feel. You can start looking for a new cat and if you now only have one (if you did have two) a companion would be a good idea.

Answer 10

Remmeber all the fun times you had with her, like cuddling and petting her as she purrs. I'm so sorry about your kitty. My own cat just died a month ago, because she had cancer. Bury her in a special place, and plant flowers on it. Don't be afraid to cry!