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

When you live with a cat, the time will eventually come to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to your cat is incredibly painful, but it's important to see them off with love until the very end.

If your cat passes away, what should you, as the owner, do? This article will explain in detail cat funerals, cremations, and memorial services.

What to do when your cat passes away

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

It's understandable if you're too sad to do anything, but if your cat passes away at home, the owner should check their body.

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

Gently place your hand on your cat's abdomen or chest, or bring a tissue close to their mouth and nose, to check for the above. If you cannot confirm, contact your regular vet and take your cat there.

Clean your cat's body and prepare for farewell

To prepare for your cat's memorial, clean and lay out their body.

1. Wipe your cat's body

First, wipe your cat's entire body with a towel that has been soaked in hot water and thoroughly wrung out. Gently brush their fur to make it neat and tidy.

Bodily fluids may leak from the mouth, nose, anus, etc., so stuff these areas with cotton balls.

2. Lay out the body

Rigor mortis in cats begins approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours after death. Gently close their eyes and mouth before rigor mortis sets in. If possible, bend their limbs towards their chest, arranging them in a curled position as if they were sleeping.

Prepare a cardboard box or basket to serve as a coffin and lay your cat's body in it. Placing a towel or pet sheet under your cat's body will make it easier to change if bodily fluids leak.

It's also a good idea to include a blanket or cushion that your cat used.

3. Cool the body

Place your cat's body in a cool room out of direct sunlight.

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

Deciding on a funeral and memorial method

If your cat's body is properly cooled, you can keep it at home for about 2 days in summer and 3-4 days in winter.

Though it may be painful, during this period, owners must decide how to honor their cat.

Cremation? Or burial?

Cat burials are generally done by cremation.

While burial is an option besides cremation, it can only be done on the owner's private property. Furthermore, it can lead to problems such as decomposition odors and disturbance by wild animals, so it's not highly recommended.

You can also request that your local sanitation office dispose of the body, but the remains are often not returned. For a more respectful send-off, cremation is recommended.

Where can I hold a cat funeral?

Cat cremations are carried out by requesting a pet cemetery or a pet funeral service provider.

Searching online will bring up various providers, but their cremation methods differ. Be sure to carefully check the cremation methods and service details.

To ensure you send your cat off without regrets, it's also reassuring to check reviews.

●Communal Cremation

This method involves cremating your cat along with other families' cats and dogs. After cremation, the ashes are not returned, but are interred in a communal grave, etc. The estimated cost is around 10,000 yen.

●Individual Cremation

With individual cremation, after the cremation, the ashes are collected and returned to you in an urn. Services vary by pet cemetery and pet funeral provider, and you can choose whether or not to be present.

If you prefer not to witness the cremation, you can choose a plan where only the ashes are returned. If you wish to be present until the end, you can choose an attended cremation, which includes a farewell ceremony. The estimated cost is between 20,000 and 50,000 yen.

●Mobile Cremation

There is also a mobile cremation method where a mobile cremation vehicle comes to your home to perform the cremation. The advantage is that there is no burden of travel, and you can spend time at home comfortably. The estimated cost is around 10,000 to 20,000 yen.

Where to place the remains?

After your cat's cremation and the return of their ashes, you can proceed with memorial services. Once the ashes are returned, you have time to carefully consider how you wish to honor them.

If you place the urn at home, even if it's not a dedicated cat altar, you can keep it near your family and offer flowers or treats.

You can also place the urn in a grave or columbarium at a pet cemetery. Some offer memorial services, so check their websites.

In addition to graves and altars, you can also create memorial goods such as cremation jewelry, fur cases, or plush toys to honor your cat. This allows you to feel your beloved cat's presence close by.

Is it necessary to notify the local government office?

Even if your cat passes away, there is no need to report it to the public health center or other authorities. Only dog owners are required to report deaths for rabies prevention management.

If you have pet insurance, you should proceed with cancellation procedures.

Overcoming pet loss

Many people experience pet loss when they lose their beloved cat. Tears often don't stop, and they may experience both mental and physical discomfort.

Overcoming pet loss takes time. While everyone's way of coping is different, if you're struggling, try to remember the story of the "Rainbow Bridge."

It is said that when pets die, they go to the foot of the Rainbow Bridge. This is said to be a place where the souls of cats and dogs stop before going to heaven.

There, they live happily, warmly, and comfortably, eating delicious food, with no worries, and playing joyfully with friends. And they wait for the day when they will reunite with their owners. Eventually, when their owners arrive at the Rainbow Bridge, they cross it together. They will never be separated again.

Thinking that your deceased cat is living happily at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge and that you will meet again someday can provide a new perspective to move forward.

Summary

When your cat passes away, you might be too sad to do anything.

However, knowing how to lay out your cat's body and methods of memorialization will allow you to properly say goodbye. It's a difficult thing to do, but try to convey your gratitude and love to your cat.

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