My mother's cat is about to die. We want to weigh the options of burying versus cremating. Please help!?

Question

We love her dearly. She is in a home with 4 other cats. The other 4 cats are mom and 3 of her babies. This one was the only non-member. But she had the heart to be gentle to the 3 babies after they grew up and mom did not want them to get near her after she weaned them. This precious cat took on the 3 young cats under her wing and groomed them and nurtured them as you would not believe.

Now she is dying of lung cancer. She is breathing with labor. We estimate about 2-3 weeks of life in her is remaning.

We are starting to take her photos and videos for the future. But we are also thinking about burying versus cremating her when she leaves us.

I would like to know if people who have buried their pet have remorsed doing that and should have cremated instead so the pet is still "around". Or vice versa. I do not want to feel any more pain and I do not want her to experience the pain that may be associated with cremation.

Please help!

Teary-eyed,

Rizwan

Does it make you feel better that she is cremated and with you or does it feel better if she is buried.

I hate the thought of her rotting away in the ground and being consumed by bugs.

She is not brething with GREAT amount of labor. She has slowed down a lot and is not playful as she used to be. We want to make sure its lung cancer that is slowing her down right now and not something else. If her brething gets worse then we will take her to the vet so she can go to heaven.

We do not want to bury her at my mom's house because its a condominimum and who knows if she moves.

I just want to know if people feel remorse after cremating their pet.

I would be remorseful if we bury her in the backyard and then my mom moves...

Answer 1

There is no pain associated with cremation. The animal is already dead. As for choosing between the two methods, it is really a matter of personal preference. I have had all my pets cremated.

Answer 2

My cat of 15 years died last christmas. I couldn't bare to have him takin away by a stranger to be burned in a mass crematory. So we had a vet come to our home when things got really bad and had him put to sleep for $170. It would have been $175 if we took him to the vet to do it, which doesn't make sense to me. And $200 if we wanted to keep the ashes. Bastards. So we buried him (illegally) in an undisclosed location. The ground was the softest we could find and we used water to soften it, but it still took all day. So be prepared for that.

I only regret burying him be cause we couldn't dig deep enough for rain water not to reach him, and we waited a week to do it and he smelled really bad then. If there was a way to cremate him separate from other animals I would have then if I had the money becuase he really smelled and I didn't want to think of him rotting in he ground.

Answer 3

Cremated

Answer 4

I buried my the 2nd of my 2 Golden Retrievers Last week. Haley died 5/4/06 and Chelsea 4/1/07. I buried them close to a pond that they loved to swim at. It a place I know they loved in life. I would not want to cremate them and keep them in a jar. It's just not my thing, but I am sure I will visit them at the pond and reminisce about thier personalities and the times in my life I endured with them. They trully were good companions.

Answer 5

Both of my grandparents are cremated. When my grandfather died, my mom received the family cat. When she (the cat) died, we cremated her. My mom died last Sept. and I cremated her. It does feel better to have everyone together, even the cat. I would recommend cremation. Some of my animals are buried out at our farm and now we have moved and the farm is up for sale. I can't take those guys with me, but I still have snowball.

Answer 6

I had to have my 14 1/2 year old dog put to sleep last Spring. I had her cremated. Even so, I buried her ashes in my yard right at the spot where she used to love to lie in the sun. I buried just the ashes, no box at all, and marked it. Each time I look at the spot, it makes me smile. I don't need to hold on to her physical remains. She's always in my heart and memory.

Answer 7

That is really touching. I personally would cremate the cat, just so that I could put the ashes in a vase and keep the cat's spirit with me forever. It would always be near to you and to me seems more respectful than a burial. Best of wishes to you!

Answer 8

dear rizwan, it all depends on if u want the cat to be a remomberance... if u get it creamated than u can place the cat in a nice jar and always have her around, but u can do the same thing if u do not plan on ever moving from the house u are in. i baried my rabbit and bird in my back yard and i am about to move in the next two years and i regret barrieing them. so over all it depends on wat your situation is. and the pics and videos will last as a remeborence as well so just think it over and make the best decision for u and your mother. wat ever one u make it will be the right one for you even if at some point u regret it or feel sad, it is just wat happends, feelin sad.

good luck,
tiny1

Answer 9

I'm sorry to hear that. It's always sad to lose a pet. It's disposal of an empty shell that she no longer needs you are talking about. She will still be with you in your heart and in your memories. Do whatever is most convenient with the body, the memories are yours forever.

Answer 10

I'm really sorry about that. I'm sure you are really broken up right now. I think burial is the best. You can go visit your cat in the cemetery. I just couldn't stand to have my cat cremated.