Grieving a Pet

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 As some of you may know, I lost my best friend, Blue to a degenerative disease (that was never identified) a few weeks ago. He was only five years old. I thought I was going to take Blue with me to my first home. I even had thoughts of making him my ESA, but illness befell him out of left field this year, and he was gone within a few months. 

     I felt so many things from anger to sadness to injustice. I had lost my best friend that I thought was supposed to live much longer than he did but he didn’t. It didn’t feel fair or right and now I had a huge hole where he once was. So I thought something that may be helpful for others is to make a list of things that have been helping me cope with his loss. 

Decorating the Grave 

     Something that has helped me heal tremendously is decorating his grave. I personally painted his headstone, planted flowers and put a little incense burner on his grave. The last is important because it serves as something interactive, so when I’m missing him, burning incense is a way to make me feel close to him or put offerings of cat treat to him in. (Those were his favorite ♥️) 

Creating Mementos

Another way I felt helped me, was to create mementos of him. I have a picture of him on my desk, in my living room (along with his collar; I got a special frame here: https://www.chewy.com/pearhead-dog-collar-frame-3-x-45-in/dp/143411?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Pearhead&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQiA15yNBhDTARIsAGnwe0UoJAilzXdFkH22xsP2n_RGRN3QUrAkFVGhAnX_aR8HJJhQJwcDeSYaAgFSEALw_wcB), and a button I created out of his fur (that I got from brushing him when he was still alive. I got the idea from this book: https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Cat-Hair-Cute-Handicrafts/dp/1594745250/ref=asc_df_1594745250/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=343221079596&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17247955614603837726&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013427&hvtargid=pla-436609481661&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=67797265903&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=343221079596&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17247955614603837726&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013427&hvtargid=pla-436609481661 ) All of these things are reminders of how grateful I should be of our short time together. All of the good times where we made one another feel so loved. I especially like the button, because, like the incense burner, it is also interactive, and I can wear it when I am missing him to have that piece of him with me. 

Spending time with other pets

At this point in time we have another cat, that was dumped at our home, so I have spent a lot of time with him as a result of Blue’s passing. I know he is not Blue, and he is not a replacement, but rescuing another pet is one of the best things you can do for your passed pet, and can be a real comfort whilst you are grieving. If this is not an option for you, you could always go to a cat café or foster a kitten or cat that really needed it to get that much needed comfort. I don’t know what I would do if there wasn’t another kitty to pet or feed; I know it would have made things much harder with the absence. 

     So that is how I have been coping with the loss of my pet. It’s so difficult because they are akin to family members but so many people don’t give that loss the same regard. Blue had such a special place in my family and heart, and it was very difficult for me to loose him. I hope these help other grieving pet owners. It may also help you to connect to other pet owners online, so you can talk to someone who knows what your going through. Stay strong everyone. May your pets meet you at the rainbow bridge. 🌈