Cat Behavior 101,  Cats

It’s National Pet Memorial Day — Life After Loss

If you love cats, sharing makes us purrrr :-)

This post is in honor of my cat Coco who died last year on September 14th.

Today is National Pet Memorial Day designated by http://iaopc.com/ The International Association Of Pet Cemeteries. I’ll be visiting my local pet cemetery today for a special blessing of the animals ceremony.

Coco-Rainbow bridge-pet-memorial-Day-cat

Over the past year, I’ve often walked past her grave on our property in a sunny spot by an old barn. Sometimes Merlin, her brother joins me. A sadness clouds his eyes when we stop and pay our respects.

cat-grieving-grave-merlin

We know her physical form has transformed and we miss her, but every time during every season, I’m reassured that there is life after loss.

One of the reasons I found grieving her easier than previous losses was the quality of the grieving process and how she died. I believe ritual is an important part of grieving and I wasn’t afraid to feel my feelings. All of them.

The pain of grieving isn’t bottomless. It ebbs and flows and I found solace from fellow cat lovers. I found journaling helpful and I blogged about the time leading up to her death. In this updated and edited post Kitty Heaven Can Wait, I share advice on preparing emotionally and practically for your cat’s euthanasia including the importance of spouses or partners being in agreement.

Please note: The following links from a very old defunct blog are dead. However, I will try to find them from my archive and repost.

http://blog.laylamorganwilde.com/2010/09/10/cat-saturday-kitty-heaven-can-wait.aspx

In this post, Sweet Sorrow: Death Takes A Holiday I explain how I made the decision for euthanasia and how cats are our spiritual teachers. Ironically, the single rose blooming in the garden is blooming again right on schedule.

http://blog.laylamorganwilde.com/2010/09/13/sweet-sorrow-when-death-takes-a-holiday-2.aspx

In this post, the decision is made.

http://blog.laylamorganwilde.com/2010/09/15/rest-in-peace.aspx

All the details in this post.

http://blog.laylamorganwilde.com/2010/09/17/cat-saturday–end-of-an-era.aspx

Since National Pet Memorial Day coincides with the anniversary of 9/11, I’d like to pay tribute to all the rescue dogs and pets who died on that day in the after math of the attack. When I think of 9/11, I think the twin towers but I also think of the Statue of Liberty. This was my post last year with an unusual shot of Lady Liberty.http://blog.laylamorganwilde.com/2010/09/10/freedom-and-911.aspx

7 Comments

  • Milo and Alfie

    The mom speaks:

    I understand. I still grieve for my beloved heart cat Henry (1985 ~2004) ~ a beautiful lilac point siamese, we shared almost 20 years together. The grief comes and goes in intensity and these days I am more easily able to recall happy times together.
    I still have his ashes in a beautiful casket in my study ~ I can’t part with them. When I move house, beloved Henry comes with me. I’ve moved several times since his death ~ and could never have left him behind.
    When I eventually die ~ our ashes will be scattered together, for ever.
    ((((hugs))))

    Jan x

  • Cheysuli

    We had no idea there was such a day–and we honor your tribute to the pets who have gone before. Loss is loss and to make a comparison will only diminish the loss for each. Purrs.

  • Brian

    I didn’t know there was such a day, but all those thought are very important. Thanks for putting it together so nicely. Here’s to hero critters everywhere, every day!

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