What to Do When Your Cat Passes Away: A Detailed Guide to Cat Funerals, Cremation, and Memorial Services

Living with a cat means that one day, the time will eventually come to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to your cat is incredibly painful, but it is important to see them off with love until the very end.

If your cat passes away, what should you do as a pet owner? In this article, we will explain in detail the methods for funerals, cremation, and memorial services for your cat.

What to do when your cat passes away?

When your cat passes away, the first step is to "confirm their death."

You may feel so overwhelmed by grief that you cannot function, but if your cat passes away at home, you should check their body.

• Heartbeat and pulse have stopped
• Breathing has stopped
• Pupils remain dilated and do not react to light
• Body temperature has dropped

Check these signs by gently placing your hand on your cat's abdomen or chest, or by holding a tissue near their nose and mouth. If you are unable to determine, contact your regular veterinary clinic and take them there.

Cleansing the cat's body and preparing for farewell

In preparation for memorial services, cleanse and lay your cat's body to rest.

1. Wiping the cat's body

First, wipe your cat's entire body with a towel soaked in warm water and wrung out well. Gently brush them to tidy up their fur.

Since bodily fluids may leak from the mouth, nose, or anus, plug those areas with small pieces of cotton.

2. Laying the body to rest

Rigor mortis usually begins 30 minutes to 2 hours after death. Gently close your cat's eyes and mouth before it sets in. If possible, fold their limbs toward their chest to arrange them in a curled-up sleeping position.

Prepare a cardboard box or basket to serve as a coffin and lay your cat inside. Placing a towel or pet sheet under your cat makes it easier to clean up if any bodily fluids leak.

It is also nice to include a blanket or cushion that your cat frequently used.

3. Cooling the body

Lay your cat's body to rest in a cool, shaded room.

To prevent decomposition, use ice packs or frozen plastic bottles wrapped in towels to cool their head and abdomen. Pay special attention to cooling the abdominal area, and replace the ice packs as they melt.

Deciding on a funeral and memorial service

Once the body is properly cooled, you can keep your cat at home for about two days in the summer or three to four days in the winter.

Though it may be painful, you will need to decide during this time how to hold a memorial service for your cat.

Cremation or burial?

For cats, cremation is the most common form of funeral service.

While burial is an option, you cannot bury your pet on property you do not own. Additionally, burial is generally discouraged due to potential issues such as odors from decomposition or the body being disturbed by wild animals.

You can also request that your local sanitation office collect the remains, but in many cases, the ashes are not returned. For a proper send-off, we recommend cremation.

Where can I have a cat funeral?

Cat cremation services are provided by pet memorial parks or pet funeral businesses.

You will find many companies online, but their cremation methods vary. Be sure to carefully check their service details.

To ensure you have no regrets when saying goodbye to your cat, it is reassuring to check customer reviews as well.

● Communal Cremation

This method involves cremating your cat together with other families' pets. After cremation, the ashes are not returned but are interred in a communal grave. The average cost is around 10,000 yen.

● Individual Cremation

In individual cremation, the bones are collected after the process, and your cat's ashes are placed in an urn and returned to you. Services vary by facility, and you can often choose whether or not to be present for the process.

If you prefer not to witness the cremation, you can choose a plan where you receive the ashes later. If you want to see them off until the very end, you can choose a cremation service that includes a farewell ritual. The average cost ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 yen.

● Mobile Cremation

There is also a method called mobile cremation, where a specialized van visits your home to perform the cremation. The benefit is that there is no need to travel and you can spend time with your cat in the comfort of your own home. The average cost is around 10,000 to 20,000 yen.

Where should I keep the ashes?

Once you receive the ashes, you can hold a memorial. After the remains become ashes, you have plenty of time to consider how to honor them.

If you keep the urn at home, you can place it near the family—even without a dedicated altar—and offer flowers or treats.

You can also place the urn in a grave or charnel house at a pet memorial park. Some facilities offer memorial services or prayers, so check their websites for more information.

Beyond graves and altars, you can create memorial items such as memorial jewelry, fur keepsakes, or custom stuffed animals. These help you feel your beloved cat is still close by.

Is notification to the government required?

You do not need to notify public health centers or government offices when a cat passes away. Death notification is only required for dogs due to rabies prevention regulations.

However, if you are enrolled in pet insurance, be sure to complete the cancellation process.

Overcoming pet loss

Losing a beloved family cat leads many to suffer from pet loss. It is common to experience endless tears and both mental and physical distress.

Overcoming pet loss takes time. Everyone heals in their own way, but when you are struggling, please try to remember the story of the "Rainbow Bridge."

It is said that when pets pass away, they go to the base of the Rainbow Bridge. It is a place where the souls of cats and dogs visit before moving on to Heaven.

It is a warm, pleasant place where they eat delicious food, have no worries, and play happily with their friends. They are waiting for the day they can reunite with their owners. When the owner finally arrives at the Rainbow Bridge, they cross it together. They will never be separated again.

Thinking that your cat is living happily at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge and that you will see them again one day can be a source of strength to keep moving forward.

Summary

When your cat passes away, you may feel too devastated to handle anything.

However, by knowing how to lay your cat to rest and what memorial options exist, you can see them off properly. It is a very difficult time, but try your best to express your gratitude and love to your cat.

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