The grave should be at least 1.25 metres deep and the site should be three metres away from water sources, cables and pipes where possible. Often people plant a bush or tree over the spot or even place a pot or slab over the site to mark it and to prevent other animals from digging in that area.
Burying your cat deep within the ground can help to prevent other creatures from discovering your cat. You should bury your cat 3 feet deep in heavy soils and 2 feet deep in lighter soils. Plan the space you want to bury your cat so you do not create a hole that is too small.
You can choose to take your cat back home to bury, perhaps in a favourite spot in the garden, or you can opt for a pet cemetery. If you decide on a burial at home, you will need to check with your local authority that this is permissible.
You may wish to overly spoil your pet with his or her favorite food or toy if he or she feels up to it. Other pet owners may elect to snuggle with their pets and take a final nap together before meeting with the veterinarian for the euthanasia.
write a goodbye letter and bury it with them. write a poem or short story talking about your life with them. share your loss with others who have been through it. become a volunteer and help others through their pet loss.
Because cats rely primarily on body language to communicate to one another, they must be attuned to biological and behavioral changes in the other animals around them. This includes detecting weakness or changes in body temperature and odor. They are also intuitive in that they often know when they are about to die.
This will be the final few minutes you get to share with your companion before saying goodbye, so do not be afraid to take the time you need. You can help hold your pet or cradle them in your arms at the time of euthanasia.
Choosing to stay with your pet during euthanasia is best because it alleviates their stress. Having you present reduces the anxiety and fear they may experience at the end of life. The process of dying can trigger anxiety in a pet. Having their loved one near relieves some of their discomfort.
Not all cats are as sensitive to signs of the end of life, but they all may have some sense of when the end is coming.
People may want to say goodbye to your pet and offer their condolences to you. You can treat a pet funeral just like a human's and include readings, poems, music, flowers, and grave markers for your departed furry friend. Whether you choose to hold a pet funeral before or after a home burial is up to you.
Here are some examples of what not to say when a pet dies: "Don't cry." Crying is part of the grieving process for many people. "It's just a [dog/cat/etc.]." A comment like this that downplays the loss is mean and thoughtless. You don't know what the pet meant to that person.
Thank you so much for coming here today to help me say goodbye to my pet Lovey. I am lucky to have such supportive people in my life. Not one of you has scoffed at this celebration or questioned why I would go to such trouble for “just a cat.” Instead, you have all surrounded me with love as I grieve.
The Rainbow Bridge (as beautifully encapsulated in a poem of the same name - see below) is a mythological place to which cats (and other pets) go upon their death, eventually to be reunited with their carers.
Be aware that rigor mortis, the stiffening of the joints, typically begins within 10 minutes to three hours after death and can last as long as 72 hours.
Plan to bury your cat as soon as possible.
You want to bury your cat before the body starts to decompose. Ideally, bury your cat within the day it died or the day afterward. A prompt burial is especially important in warmer months. Unfortunately, if a cat dies in the winter a prompt burial is not always possible.
I am not a big fan of wrapping deceased pets in a plastic bag. This will only slow the natural decaying process. Instead, I prefer wrapping the pet in a small blanket, sheet or towel before gently lowering it into the pre-dug hole. You should think about if and how you want to mark your pet's grave.
The majority of U.S. households own pets, and although the laws of most states prohibit burying pets in human cemeteries, funeral directors exercise discretion when it comes to placing personal objects – such as the cremated remains of a much-loved pet — in people's coffins.
Individual cremation: this option is more personal and will usually have the option to have your cat's ashes returned to you. In an individual cremation, a pet may be cremated in the crematory on its own or commonly on an individual tray with other pets on individual trays.
It may take a minute or two for the heart to stop. The doctor will listen carefully to your pet's heart to ensure it has stopped before pronouncing him or her gone. After that, there is no danger of your pet waking up. This is a very common fear for pet owners.
Remember the days of joy and happiness and what you shared with them. Your pet knows that you shared many emotions with them through the years, and it is their wish to say good-bye and thank you for the years of loving care you gave them.
In recent years, feline ages and life-stages have been redefined, cats are considered to be elderly once they reach 11 years with senior cats defined as those aged between 11-14 years and super-senior cats 15 years and upwards.
Can cats sense emotions? Cats can sense how people are feeling, so your cat actually can tell when you're sad. “Cats can definitely sense when you are sad because they are highly attuned to your normal behaviors and moods, and if there is a change, they sense it,” Dr. Wooten told The Dodo.
There is also a rainbow that spans over the meadow, which pets can use to cross over to the other side. On the other side of the rainbow bridge, pets are reunited with their owners who have also passed away. This belief offers comfort to many pet owners who are grieving the loss of their beloved animal companion.