Coping with Your Cats Passing

It can be a devastating thing to lose a beloved pet. This can be made worse at times by not being prepared, such as with the sudden death of being hit by a car. Other times, it can be made worse if youre forced to make the decision to have your cat put to sleep in order to avoid a more painful death.

However your cat passes, youll need to deal with it emotionally so that you can move on. It may seem like youll never be able to do this, but it will get easier with time. Fortunately, there are some things you can do that will help you cope with your cats passing.

First, bury your cat in a place that wont be disturbed. This might be your back yard if you own your home, or it may be a pet cemetery. Just as with our human family members, the closure you receive from burying your cat will greatly assist in the grieving process.

Second, create a scrapbook or keepsake box with pictures and mementos of your cat. You can keep her collar, food and water dishes, leash, and favorite toys as a lasting reminder of your beloved companion. You may also want to put a picture of the two of you together on your wall or in your wallet.

Third, if you live alone and find yourself suddenly very lonely without your pet, you may want to consider getting a new cat. Avoid getting a cat thats the exact breed, and avoid naming it the same name as your deceased cat. Doing this is unhealthy, and will actually hinder the grieving process.

In addition, children will often take the passing of your family cat much harder than you will. The younger the child, the harder it is for them to understand why the cat is no longer there. Even older children will have a hard time dealing with the fact that the cat is gone.

Children will benefit from the above guidelines as well, but they may need additional help in coping with the cats passing. Youll need to help them by talking to them openly about death. Help them understand your religions views on death, and how they apply to your cat. For example, you may tell the children that the cat is now in heaven, with a never-ending supply of cat nip and sunny spots to lie in.

Although it may be difficult, try not to allow your own grief to prevent you from discussing the cats passing with your children. Allowing your children to discuss their feelings openly will help them deal with the death and youll be surprised how much it helps you as well.

If your attachment or that of your children is great enough, you may have more trouble dealing with your cats passing than the average person. This is especially true if your cat has seen you through some of the worst times of your life. For many people, their cat isnt just a pet, but a life companion.

In these cases, it may be helpful to get additional help in coping with your cats passing in the form of therapy. Grief counseling is great for adults who are having trouble dealing with the loss of a companion, and play therapy can help children express their feelings. In time, youll be able to cope with the death and move on to healthy relationships with new pets.