What To Do When Your Cat Passes Away

The passing of a beloved feline companion is something every cat owner will experience at some point. When the inevitable does come to pass, it can be difficult to process in the moment. Yet there are steps we can all take to better handle this sad time when it happens. From how to prepare the body of your pet to how best to honour their memory, here is what to do when your cat dies.

The First Steps

How you decide what to do when your cat dies depends on where they are when they pass on. If you are at the vets when they pass away, then your vet will be able to give you the support and guidance you need. However, if your cat dies at home, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, check to see that your cat has actually passed on. In some cases, they may still be breathing softly and lying still and just appear to have died. Keep the area calm and quiet and contact the vet if you feel your cat is in any distress.
2. Contact any friends or family members for support at this time. Make sure they are understanding and sympathetic. Remember, our pets are family and it is your right to grieve at this time.
3. Place towels or blankets under your cat’s body. Once they have passed, they may release waste from their body. This is a natural process, so make sure to put a small towel or some plastic under their rear end.
4. If you have any other pets in the home, allow them to sniff the body of their late companion. This will allow them to process what has happened, otherwise, they will continue to wonder about their missing friend.
5. If you plan on transporting the body of your cat, do so before rigor mortis sets in. Tuck your cat’s legs into their body, as allowing them to remain outstretched makes the body difficult to move.
6. Remove anything the cat is wearing such as collars, before wrapping them up in a blanket or towel. If transport is not immediately available, then keep the body somewhere cool.

Burial or Cremation

Now that you have prepared your pet’s body, the next step is to decide what to do with the body. Some people prefer to lay their pet to rest in their garden or backyard, but this may not be feasible if space is limited. Cremation is another popular option, and you can either arrange it yourself or through your vet. Once your pet has been cremated and you have received their ashes back, you can choose to remember them in any number of ways: from spreading their ashes in their favourite spot in the garden, to turning their ashes into jewellery. How you wish to honour the memory of your beloved pet is up to you.

Tendring Pet Cremation

Here at Tendring Pet Cremation we understand that losing a cat is painful, and we offer you our full care and support throughout this difficult process. At our private crematorium, you will be given the space to say goodbye to your loved one however you wish. We also offer a range of caskets, urns and other memorial objects for you to remember your beloved friend in.

For more information on our cat cremation services, speak with our caring team today.