Hi all,
My cat died this afternoon and I need some practical advice. After 12 years I am a little stunned.
Firstly, what do I do with the body?
Secondly, I have children and sm not sure how to handle the aftermath. The children were there when the cat died peacefully, they have seen the cat dead, we explained she was happy, just old, its normal. Now I am not sure how to handle it.
Sorry to sound so unattached, its howjust I can get hrough today.
Thanks for your tips.

I'm sorry for your loss. I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet.

It's good that your children have seen the whole event so that if they need to talk about it you won't have to beat about the bush.

Maybe a call to the local vet will give you some answers as to what you do with the body.

Sorry again,

I'm so sorry. Good though that your cat died peacefully of old age- with your family there. Here in NE you are no longer allowed to bury a cat in your garden (officially) and it has to go for cremation. It's quite cheap if it is cremated with others- quite expensive if you want a 'private' cremation.
Your Commune/Gemeinde will give you details, or the vets.

For the kids it is hard - but all part of growing up. The fact your cat died without trauma should really help to mend their little hearts. Do you intend to have another cat, as that could really help. Thinking of you.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

We had ours cremated (the vet organized it), and got the ashes in a nice woden box.

CHF 150 as I recall.

You can also take it to the local animal elimination center (or whatever it's called), think that is more like CHF 20 (or perhaps free, I really don't know).

You can also take it directly to a pet cremation center rather than going through the vet, but since ours was at the vet to be put to sleep (13 years old and painful cancer), we let him organize it.

Tom

First, I'm so very sorry.

Here is a list of Tierkrematorium in Switzerland:

http://www.tierschutzbund-zuerich.ch.../Tierfriedhof/

My guys have been cremated at Schafisheim - they have always been very respectful, treated me with kindness.

My vets have arranged the cremation for me, but you can go direct to the crematorium as well.

Most crematorium have an option of returning the ashes to you - you can pick out an urn if you wish - or to have the ashes scattered in a 'memorial garden'. Whether you choose an urn or not really depends on your plans, whether you wish to keep the ashes or to sprinkle them later as sort of a good-bye ceremony. I have done both; take some time to think about what you wish, don't feel pressured to make decisions right away.

Also, most Gemeinden have a Tierkadaver collection as st2lemans mentions - check your Gemeinde website for the location. This is not a pet-specific crematorium, you will not get the ashes back.

As I don't have children, I'll leave the question of how to discuss the death of a pet to experienced parents. But here is a link that might be helpful on this subject:

http://www.ottawahumane.ca/your-pets/petdeath.cfm

Again, I am so very sorry. Losing a beloved pet is heartbreaking - I hope you and your family can take comfort in the memories of all the good times you shared with your feline friend.

Dear all,
thanks for the kind words, we are really stunned that she died.
I wondered whether to post and ask for help or not, but I am really glad i did. I had no idea you could get the ashes back....not sure what we will do yet. I am sure we will decide tonight/tomorrow.
Now we have to think about the whole death explanation for the children ahhhhh......thanks again.

Your children may come back to you to ask things like, "When is Kitty coming back?" or "When will Kitty wake up?" This is a good opportunity to explain to them the permanence of death (in an age-appropriate manner, of course). Explain it to them in a factual manner, and avoid using the term "sleep" to describe what has happened, as it could be scary to them since they might begin to think that they themselves or Mom and Dad might not wake up some morning. While it is a sad time, this situation presents a good opportunity to introduce them to the concept of death before a family member or family friend passes away.

So sorry for your loss.

Man, as a cat owner (owned by a cat) I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I'm sure, where we are there's actually a place to take cadavers (their wording, not mine) - info. from gemeinde or your vet - if you didn't want the trouble of a cremation.

I would also recommend that you don't replace the cat for a while, if that was a possibility.
The death of a pet. although unfortunate, is a practical way that young children start to learn about dying. It gives them time to properly grieve, and also to realise that it's not just a simple case of replacing, when something (someone) dies.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a beloved pet and family member - and 12 years is a long time - is never easy - I've been there. As already mentioned, your vet can help you with the arrangements for the cremation - you can keep the ashes if you so desire. My vet was absolutely marvellous when I lost my little Susie, and I'm sure yours will be too.

I'm sorry to read this bad news... Cats are so wonderful

Sorry for your loss

we called a tierkrematorium so will take our beloved there tomorrow morning. i am hoping this will help the children understand its not a sleep thing and get some time to say goodbye.
thanks for the help.

Sorry for your lost Hope everything gets sorted out soon.

I don't know how old your children are... but if they are at the picture book age 'Goodbye Mog' by Judith Kerr is a lovely book about the death of a well-loved cat. The family in the story cope by getting a new cat, by the way.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book...98/Goodbye-Mog

Sorry for your loss and Good luck with the next phase.

My kids are 6, 4 and 1. With the oldest when my Grandmother died last Christmas I explained everything very matter of fact and straight, whilst explaining my emotions at the same time.

He has been very understanding and nearly 18 months later (so he was 4.5 then) he will still talk about Nana being dead. It has helps him understand about people and animals getting older and that they don't come back - we remember them in our hearts, with photos and memories.

It's amazing what kids can cope with, depending on their age I would try the same way. It might be hard at first, but its a lesson that we can't avoid as parents forever. I guess it depends how you like to parent and how you also feel about death yourself as to how you will help them understand it over the coming time.

When I was younger and our pets died we would always mark it with a little ceremony and a stone/cross. Maybe if you can't bury the cat, bury a little time-capsule with some memories/drawings/the collar etc inside instead?

Painting some stones and leaving them in the garden/plant pot and sprinkling ashes around?

Best wishes.

(BTW - my cat went walkies last week for 3 days and I was freaking, so I dread to think how I will feel when she dies!)

Thanks for the book reference, I have just ordered it on amazon. I guess it is so difficult because I have dealt badly with the loss of my grandparents 10 years ago and now must learn how to grieve whilst helping the children.
Tomorrow's another day, eh?!

Sorry for your loss. It's a horrible thing to go through.

My other cat died two years ago. On a Sunday night at 3 a.m. (they choose their timing well!!), 15 years old. I called the vet the next morning. Then took the longest walk with her in a box to vet. She was sent somewhere for cremation and to this day her ashes sit in a box on my coffee table. I think it cost 200 francs.

Hope you are feeling a little less stunned today, my dad cried for days and days when his cats, companions of 22 years, died within two weeks of each other. Non-cat (or pet) people tend not to understand and go "but it's just an animal", so I just wanted to say that I do understand very much and am sorry for your loss.