My Cat Passed Away: Everything You Could Know About Pet Loss
In this article, I will be enlightening you on any and every information that you could possibly require regarding this depressing topic.
Impact
One of the hardest things to deal with when you lose a pet is the impact it has on you. You may be so saddened that you don’t wish to attend work. This is actually fine. The loss of a pet could take your mind off what you may need to be concentrating on. It’s absolutely fine to grieve for a deceased pet. The impact can be large, and very hard to deal with. Crying, as I have stated in a previous article, is fine. It can take a very, very long time to stop yourself from grieving, and even then your pet is never really off your mind.
Getting Help
It’s important to get help or speak your feelings when the impact has hit you. A great place to speak with others is a pet loss message board. There you can get the sympathy or advice you seek. Pet loss support websites are abundant.
The Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge is possibly one of the most beautiful and touching stories to exist. It is said to be a place where deceased animals stay, completely healthy, in a meadow paradise. They wait for you until you pass on, and then you and your pet cross the Rainbow Bridge, into heaven, together. The poem goes as follows:
“Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.”
I consider this poem important to remember after your pet is deceased.
Guilt
Sometimes, pets get sick or old and must be euthanized. An extreme feeling of guilt may occur. But, “euthanasia” is from a Greek word meaning “good death.” Do not feel that you were killing your friend, you were serious, truly helping them. Imagine if you were ill or frail and in pain. A quick and painless death was really just putting your pet out of his or her misery. I know how guilt can feel, though. I remember putting my cat to sleep, and right before he died, his eyes got very big. It was almost like he understood what was happening to him. Don’t let something like this get to you! I know that if I hadn’t brought my cat to the vet he’d have been miserable, or have passed on in a more painful way.
What You’ll Feel
You will feel different emotions over losing your friend. Guilt is a major one, but I’ve listed more here.
- Denial: It’s very, very hard to believe you’ve lost a pet. It can be normal to think it never happened, to expect your cat to meow for food or your dog to bark, ready for a walk, each day when they have passed on. You may slightly believe it hasn’t happened and that there must be a way out.
- Anger: You may experience anger if your pet died of, say, an illness. You could be mad at that illness, or anything that happened to your pet to kill him or her. If your pet was hit by a car, you will probably be angry at the driver.
- Regret: If your pet dies, you might regret something. Did somebody tell you something looked wrong with your cat, but you didn’t take him or her for a check-up? Did you regret ever letting your pet outside if they were hit by a car? Regret is a horrible feeling, but you can’t blame yourself. Death is a necessary, but sad, end. Sometimes you can’t help it.
- Depression: After a pet loss you may feel like you’ve lost your energy. You could feel as if everything you’re living for is gone. It’s a horrible, hopeless feeling that’s hard to avoid when a tragedy like losing a pet happens. It’s hard to prevent, too. A great way to make yourself feel a bit better is to remember the great times you had with your pet. Don’t just be mourning your friend’s death. Celebrate his or her life. They surely left paw prints on your heart.
Euthanizing 101
Euthanasia is a tough, tough decision. If your pet is visibly suffering and nothing can be done to help, the sad truth is, it’s time. Some vets will come to your home to euthanize your pet, do so in your car, etc. A place your friend is more comfortable it might just be better than a vet’s office. I recommend staying during the euthanasia. Imagine if you were your pet. Wouldn’t you rather die by your best friend’s side than alone in an office with no one but an unfamiliar vet? Don’t feel guilty if you choose not to stay! It is a very hard thing to watch, so exiting the room is an obvious thing some people would choose to do. Seeing your pet pass on may make it so you do not experience denial, as mentioned further above.
Informing Family About Pet Death
It may be extremely hard to explain to children or other family members about pet loss. Just remember two things: be serious, and show your sorrow. Don’t lie to family, children particularly. Let them know the pet is gone, but not suffering. Let them know you’re extremely sad. Cry with your family. Acting brave isn’t the answer.
Burial or Cremation?
Two good choices to remember your pet are to bury or cremate them.
Burial: You can bury your pet in the city, in your backyard, or in a pet cemetery. A grave can be decorated. Some pet graves out there have a small holes you can send messages through to your pet about how you miss them. It might make you feel better to tell them what’s going on.
Cremation: You can get your pet’s ashes by cremating them. You can scatter the ashes in a place your pet loved, like your cat’s favorite park or around your cat’s favorite tree. You can put them in an urn. That way your pet’s ashes will always be by your side, wherever you may take the ashes.
Saying Goodbye
Even though memories are wonderful, there is always a bittersweet aspect to them. Saying goodbye. I will provide you with some facts that will help you deal with the major “goodbye.”
- UNDERSTANDING: Many who lose pets have trouble understanding why ‘it had to be now,’ and much more. Ask yourself: Why did your cat die? If your cat was old, it was their time. If your cat was sick, remember that fate isn’t nice, and things happen. Try your best to remember that no cat could live forever anytime soon. Your cat will always be a hero in your heart.
- HANDLING THE PAIN: It feels almost impossible to escape the pain of losing a pet. I am not sure how to fully handle this pain, but I can give you tips. Have Fun. Fun times with friends and more can help take your mind off the death of a pet, but you should never fully forget your furry friend. Get a New Cat. Fun with a new cat can remind you of times with your old cat. Again, no one can replace your fuzzy friend! But new cats always help.
- THE LAST WORDS: Before your cat passed on, you told him/her you loved them, right? Remember that your cat heard that, and in heaven, your cat misses you as much as you may miss him or her. Your cat is going through the pain that you are and is waiting for you. Your cat has not forgotten you, and never will.
- THE RAINBOW BRIDGE: As many know, pets don’t go to heaven. They go to Rainbow Bridge. Many websites are about Rainbow Bridge. Look them up to understand more about where your pet is now.
Remember what you have read, and that it’s ok to cry over pet loss but good to take action and understanding, too.
How to Remember Your Persian?
Your cat is getting up there in years. It’s possible that he has an illness, is becoming less active, or simply refuses to eat. Your cat will soon cross what is known as the “Rainbow Bridge,” which is a place just this side of paradise where animals go after they pass away. You would like to remember your cat before he goes away, and the following are some ways you can do so:
A Journal: You can write about your pet and include the following items.
- Whiskers: If you find your cat’s whisker, put it in a journal, and write about it. When did you find it? How old is it?
- Fur: Yes, your cat sheds, of course! Get a piece of fur and put it in your memory journal.
- Pictures: Get pictures of your pet and the Rainbow Bridge. Write about them. What was happening? When did you find them? Did you print them?
- Ashes: You can go someplace and get your cat’s ashes. I heard of a place where you can turn your cat’s ashes into diamonds or something else. If you had it done, write about it.
Graves: Make a grave for your pet’s remains outside, possibly with flowers.
Web Pages: Make a web page for your cat. It can be very special, just for them! Write the address of your cat’s website in your journal.
Memorial: After getting your cat a grave, get some friends and neighbors on a special day and have a memorial. Talk about your memorial in your journal.
Prepare Foods: Prepare special things your cat would eat off your plate, such as chicken, fish, etc. Keep cans or bags of your cat’s favorite treats.
If you have lost a pet, you can remember him/her with your new journal and other keepsakes.
A Conclusion
I hoped this article has helped you. Whether it comforted a loss or prepared you for a new one, I wish you the best of luck in your pet-owning life and sympathy for lost pets. Thanks for reading, and remember…
Your pet is never really gone, they live on and left a legacy in your heart. Keep your heart and undying love for your lost friend strong, and your pet’s spirit will strengthen as well.
