How to survive the death of a cat: cats die alone
There are many cases where cats left the home where they lived with a person for a long time before their death. This usually happens after the appearance of characteristic symptoms:
- wool loses its shine;
- eyes become dull;
- loss of appetite;
- the animal does not drink water;
- heartbeat is disturbed - the rhythm is slow;
- There is an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth and from the fur.
Against the background of these symptoms, the pet loses weight. The cat's general appearance tells people that he is sick. It doesn't get any easier after a visit to the vet. The animal is left at home to die. But often cats go off in an unknown direction. This does not always happen immediately before death, it can happen in advance. Moreover, owners usually do not find the cat’s body in the surrounding area. Animals hide in secluded places.
There is also plenty of evidence that pets are living out their last days at home. This happens in the case of a quick death or under certain circumstances, for example, when he lives in an apartment, which means he is not able to move freely.
Conflicting evidence makes it difficult to reach a consensus on why pets leave home before they die and whether they actually have premonitions of death.
One hypothesis is that animals are in a state close to depression when they feel unwell. They leave in search of a secluded place so that no one will disturb them. It is unknown whether the animal will die or not, so sometimes cats return after a long absence.
Mr. Cat recommends: methods to help with stress
If your cat is stressed, the first step is to find and, if possible, eliminate the cause. Of course, some factors cannot be corrected, but it is quite possible to alleviate the condition, and the task of a caring owner is to help his pet.
In order to somehow mitigate the situation and neutralize the impact of stress factors, both psychological support methods and drug treatment can be used.
Psychological help
First of all, you need to try to help your pet psychologically. It is impossible for the sake of a cat to return to an old, already sold apartment, much less to revive a deceased owner. However, it is still possible to make the animal’s life easier.
Domestic cats, like people, need manifestations of love; they need to feel not only care, but also warmth and affection. For a pet, such manifestations are tactile contacts with a person. Not all of them like to sit in their arms, but if the animal prefers to spend its time in the arms of a person, then you need to provide it with this pleasure in full. Even those who don’t like to sit on their owner sometimes want to sit next to them and want to be petted.
Pets, of course, are not able to communicate verbally with humans, but it is no coincidence that these animals have a wide range of vocal signals. By making various sounds, they “talk” to a person, and they also need to be spoken to. Precisely with the voice. Of course, they don’t understand words, but they feel intonation perfectly. Therefore, it is necessary to express your love and tenderness for the cat with your voice, talking to it.
Most pets love a treat, and owners should pamper their animals more often if they are under stress. This way you can smooth out the situation and distract from your worries.
During necessary but unpleasant procedures, you need to reassure and support her: both tactilely, so that she feels supported, and with your voice.
Medication methods
If psychological assistance measures are insufficient, then you can try to help the animal with medication. Before giving any medications, your cat should be taken to a veterinarian and examined.
Today there is a large selection of stress relief products available for cats. To rid your animal of emotional problems, you can try various preparations with pheromones (these substances have a calming effect on the animal). They are available in the form of sprays, fumigators, and there are also special collars.
Catnip is sold in pet stores; this herb is also good for fighting negative emotions. It causes a surge of excitement, after which the cat calms down.
In some cases, when your pet's stress and anxiety levels are very high, your veterinarian may prescribe human antidepressants.
To calm and relax your pet, you can try aromatherapy. This method helps both people and animals, whose sense of smell is much better developed.
It is necessary to use essential oils and substances (in aroma lamps or in the form of special sticks) that have a sedative effect (lavender, neroli, ylang-ylang, bergamot, mint, cedar).
To prevent stress, you can use drugs that have a cumulative effect. If you know in advance about a trip to the veterinarian, hairdresser, moving, or other events that cause negative emotions in your pet, then you can prepare the animal by starting to give it sedatives ahead of time. In this case, he will cope with a stressful situation much easier.
Our beloved cat has died: we bury our pet correctly
Many owners, not knowing how to cope with the death of a cat, try to bury the animal closer to their home: under the balcony or in the yard. But this is a violation of the law, today for such actions you can get a fine of up to 5 thousand rubles. Many people think that the body of a pet is small, and therefore will not cause harm to the environment or other people. But this misconception sometimes comes at a cost, because before death the pet could have been a carrier of the infection, and after death the corpse began to represent hazardous biological waste.
If, during burial in the ground in an area not intended for this, someone witnesses what is happening, they can file a complaint. Then you will have to pay a fine. Moreover, even an appeal in court will not help to avoid punishment. Owners need to consider alternative burial methods:
- cremation: the most humane method, permitted by law, the remains in this case do not pose a danger to others;
- collection points for animal corpses in veterinary organizations: disposal is carried out without the participation of the owner, this method is not suitable for everyone, since the reception of corpses occurs without special ceremonies, it is better for overly sensitive people with weak nerves not to be present, for owners who love their pets very much, this the option should also not be considered;
- sending the corpse to veterinary and health care plants, where biological remains are processed into meat and bone meal.
When a cat dies, some owners consider burying it in the traditional way - in the ground. But this is possible provided that there is a pet cemetery in the city.
Experiences associated with the death of a pet
When a person is forced to bury a pet, it is difficult to cope with. After the death of a cat, his owner experiences a whole range of feelings and problems, starting with denial of what is happening, disbelief in what happened, right up to depression. The death of a cat is especially difficult for lonely people, pensioners or those who have suffered a lot in life and therefore cannot bear the death of an animal. In order not to miss the moment of transition from a state of mild apathy to a destructive feeling of self-destruction, you need to notice the characteristic symptoms in time.
Hallucinations or wild imagination
When a person lives for a long time with a cat under the same roof or experiences strong love for him (and often both factors play a role), he cannot immediately accept the death of a pet. After the loss of a cat, memory and consciousness can create images; a person thinks that he hears the sound of the animal’s paws, its meowing. It seems as if the cat has returned home; out of the corner of his eye there is some movement in the room. But this is just a game of the imagination, creating images that a person wants to see again. This is how the consequences of stress manifest themselves against the background of the death of a pet.
Anger at the whole world or universal injustice
People who have a strong love for their pet can experience its loss in the same way as the death of a relative - hard. At the same time, at the stage of grief that follows the denial of death, such a person may feel anger. He will blame everyone around him, from the veterinarian to his friends.
People who are at fault (from the griever's point of view) may be attacked. Against this background, relationships with loved ones often deteriorate, unless they have enough wisdom to understand that this is a protective reaction of the body in a stressful situation. You need to wait it out, not contact the person for now, or try to communicate and support. The person is angry with everyone because he cannot yet take responsibility for the death of the pet.
Accepting Guilt
When the owner of a deceased cat stops blaming others, he notices that he should be held accountable. A feeling of guilt immediately arises, but there is an even greater danger here. If your beloved cat has died, you need to find out the reason. Sometimes a person blames himself regardless of the situation. He tries to find mistakes in his behavior and actions, and to remember if there were any signs of illness that went unnoticed.
It is quite difficult to get out of this state on your own. We need someone who can support and console the grieving person, explain that no one is to blame for the death of the animal, you just need to accept this fact and move on.
Deep depression
When a person feels guilty, he is still fighting with himself. Much more dangerous is the condition in which the owner of a deceased pet (kitten or adult cat) gives up. He may experience despair or a feeling of deep depression. This is incipient depression, and it can develop hidden, even for the most grieving person. As a result, others cannot notice changes in a person’s behavior in time to provide help and save.
With depression, negative emotions do not find a way out; they remain sealed at the bottom of the soul. However, over time there will be a discharge. Feelings will spill out, a person will not be able to survive pain of such magnitude. The consequences can be dire. As a rule, unexperienced guilt also plays a role here.
What might the child's reaction be?
Each person reacts differently to different events, and a child is no exception. His behavior will depend on two factors:
- degree of attachment to a pet;
- emotionality.
Negation. If your child was not an eyewitness to the tragedy, then such a first reaction to the news of the death of a pet is very likely. A defense mechanism kicks in: while denying the fact, hope remains. The child needs some time to understand and accept what happened. Usually the denial stage lasts a few minutes. At this time, parents should not continue to insist, just being nearby is enough.
Anger. Most often, an outburst of anger can occur after denial. The child has already accepted the information and is now trying to emotionally discharge. Perhaps he will try to look for those to blame for what happened and scold them. For example, the driver of a car under whose wheels a beloved dog died. What should parents do at this moment? It’s not worth denying the guilt of someone who actually became a participant in the tragedy, but it’s also not worth developing this topic. It is best to agree with the child's accusations, but at the same time try to calm him down. To do this, you can report the remorse of the participant in the accident; that everything happened unexpectedly for all parties.
Read more: Suicide: signs, causes and types
Fear. After hearing about the death of a pet, children may experience fear for a long time. It will be connected with the fact that life can end unexpectedly and you can lose a loved one without even having time to say goodbye to him. Most likely, the child will not admit it. You can guess this by his behavior. For example, your son or daughter could previously fall asleep calmly after reading a fairy tale, but now they ask you to lie down with them. Or they started hugging and kissing you more often than usual, asking when you would come home from the store. Your child experiences fear of loss, which is associated with the death of a pet.
Your actions:
- Do not deny your child affection. The gentle touch of mom and dad will help the baby feel safe.
- Talk about the fact that death is a natural phenomenon; sooner or later all living things go through this state; that it is not possible for a person to foresee this moment, but one should not darken one’s life by waiting for sad news.
Depression. Older children are susceptible to this condition after the death of a pet. Depression is caused by fear of loss
It is important to recognize your offspring’s condition in time and help him
What is worth paying attention to: the child has ceased to be interested in what was previously important to him; began to spend time alone more often; he is not happy with what used to delight him
How to help your child cope with this condition:
- More attention. Involve them in household chores, walk together more often.
- Intimate talk. Be the first to tell us about your feelings about the death of your beloved animal.
- Remind that life is not only about sorrows and losses, but also about joy and the acquisition of new things. The happiness is that we don’t know when and what will happen.
Read more: Parents’ influence on a child’s success in the future
Guilt. Sometimes it happens that a child begins to blame himself for what happened, even if this is not true. The phrase “if I had gone for a walk with Rex” suggests that your child allows for a different scenario, provided that he should have done something differently. You can overcome hidden feelings of guilt by talking about the fact that it is impossible to foresee everything in this life.
Symptoms of loss
People who experience the death of a cat feel so bad that their psycho-emotional state affects their physical state. At the same time, you can simultaneously experience pain in the soul, a feeling of guilt, experience other sensations, and also suffer from a disorder of the nervous system, respiratory system, and other pathological conditions. To understand whether a set of symptoms is related to a serious illness or is one of the consequences of stress, you need to learn more about them.
Physiological symptoms
A person who has experienced the death of a beloved cat cannot always quickly come to terms with the loss. Against the background of deep grief, signs appear:
- chest tightness;
- pain in the heart (occurs even in the absence of pathologies of the cardiovascular system);
- spasm in the throat, feeling of a stuck lump;
- headache;
- abdominal discomfort.
Behavioral features
After saying goodbye to your cat, it’s difficult to immediately return to your old life. At first, the person experiences the loss at home, but later tries to return to work, do his usual things, but he is not very good at it. Symptoms that can be noticed at this stage:
- attention disorder;
- absent look;
- problems with concentration, the person cannot concentrate;
- absent-mindedness;
- illogical actions, which are due to the factors listed above, the sequence of actions is often disrupted if a person is busy with his thoughts, deep within himself.
Cognitive
In severe cases, when the pet owner is completely immersed in his grief and cannot get out of this state on his own, the symptoms become more and more alarming:
- memory is impaired, gaps arise;
- thoughts are confused;
- there is a violation of the logical chain, the grieving person expresses himself incomprehensibly;
- a feeling of absence when looking into the eyes.
Causes of psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is now a scourge of society, because... Any problem that surfaces in any way is equated to psychological trauma. This is a very apt term for expressing some kind of dissatisfaction in everyday life. It happens that a person says something banally, and the answer is: “Don’t say that, I’m about to experience psychological trauma.” This is a very common term that has long gone beyond the boundaries of psychology and psychiatry, but even in general beyond the boundaries of some kind of psychological work and norm. This term has become so socially necessary and significant that such a phrase can be heard not only from adults, but also from children during games. After all, children are the first to capture and reflect the trends and needs of society with their unbiased perception.
Psychological trauma usually refers to an effect that has an impact on the psyche and refers to milder effects compared to mental trauma. Mental trauma carries a stressor, which affects the psyche in a certain way, affecting the state of the individual
It cannot be said that the causes of mental and psychological trauma are different; in fact, the boundaries of this topic are very blurred and depend only on the personality itself and its mental structure, since it is the perception of events that is very important, and not always their composition
There is a neurobiological concept of the impact of psychological trauma. This state is a subtype of response - a reaction that is formed in the form of a reactive response to some traumatic situation. Psychological trauma also has its own pathophysiological aspects of manifestation. It is believed that some influence is manifested in stimulating brain activity unnecessarily, which significantly overpowers the body's functioning. Hormonally, psychological trauma is accompanied by a powerful release of catecholamine hormones. Adrenaline and norepinephrine have the most powerful effects. And in general, the vegetative system is strongly activated.
External causes have a variety of manifestations. Psychological trauma also depends on internal factors; these are two key differences between the root causes of psychological trauma.
Psychological traumas are divided into several subgroups, which are divided for ease of classification:
• Situations that ultimately end up resulting in severe physical dysfunction and exhaustion. Especially such psychological traumas are formed as a result of sports exhaustion. Such burnout occurs among professional athletes, because when injured or exhausted, they simply lose their life purpose and are completely unable to cope with the need to continue their life path without sports, only remembering past achievements.
• Situations that are traumatic or catastrophic for life are a very strong cause for psychological trauma, especially if there were also physical injuries or watching someone die. Such situations as an example: plane crashes, accidents, natural disasters. Infectious diseases in susceptible individuals, as well as emergency and any surgery. Situations related to robberies, hooliganism, and malicious actions. Various types of injuries, especially those leaving tangible marks.
It cannot be said that only physical situations significantly affect an individual, leading to psychological trauma. Since the social role is very important, situations that involve social failures, complete failure or significant changes easily lead to psychological trauma. Also psychologically traumatic is the death of relatives and congenial people. Significant factors include loss of ability to work, work changes, various types of loss of means of comfortable living, and debt.
Sudden changes and events do not always cause psychological trauma. Sometimes these are chronic stressors, such as anhedonia, imprisonment, constant protracted conflicts on any side.
Stages of Grief
A person needs to know what to prepare for if a cat dies. Anyone who is very attached to a pet can face enormous difficulties - and feelings arise that cannot be dealt with. You need to understand what happens during the period of grief, then you can take the necessary measures to help the cat’s owner and calm him down.
| Stages | Features of behavior, experienced feelings |
| Negation | When a person is not ready to face reality, his body creates barriers to reduce the impact of a stressful situation, this happens when a beloved pet dies and its owner cannot survive it. If the news heard reaches consciousness, the pain will be too intense |
| Anger, resentment, malice | Anger is a consequence of a person’s powerlessness in the face of a disaster; it is a reaction that occurs when the cat’s owner already understands what happened, the stage of denial has passed, and the time has come to search for the cause of death. |
| Guilt | When those around them were already blamed for what had happened, common sense prevailed, and they all moved from the category of accused to the category of sympathizers and supporters. At this stage, the person begins to believe that he is to blame. Finds many reasons for this, usually they are far-fetched |
| Depression | Despair, emptiness, lack of outlet for pain - all these factors create fertile ground for the development of depression. A severe emotional state can be a consequence of a lack of support, unlived guilt, daily difficult thoughts, feelings also affect |
| Acceptance of tragedy | This stage does not begin soon after your beloved cat has died. Acceptance becomes possible when a person’s worldview changes, he understands that the cat’s death does not depend on him, it was inevitable, all that remains is to accept what happened. The onset of this stage largely depends on the support of loved ones, the forbearance of the grieving person - whether he is ready to forgive himself |
| Recovery | The owner of a deceased cat moves to the stage when he is ready to say goodbye to his pet, open a new page in life, and perhaps get another pet. |
| Reorganization of everyday life, way of life | If a person cannot say goodbye to the past, the cat’s accessories and toys should be removed. As long as they are in sight, it will not be possible to completely get rid of difficult memories and enter a new life. |
Take care of yourself
During periods when you are experiencing particularly intense sadness, it is important not to forget about your mental and physical health. Yes, it will be difficult, so the easiest way is to make a list with the items you need to keep track of daily:
- take a shower;
- have breakfast, lunch and dinner regularly;
- do light exercise;
- Go for a walk at least ten minutes a day.
Think about everything you do regularly and try to continue doing it. Don't forget to praise yourself for small changes - if you were able to calmly look at photos of your pet or didn't cry at the memory, make a mental note and be happy about it.
How to tell a child how to help him
When talking to children, it is important to tell the truth about the death of an animal. There is no need to go into detail about euthanasia (if any), accident, injury, or other cause of death that may have caused the cat's death. It is enough to simply and clearly explain what death is, where a pet goes after death (half-truths are fine here, one can say about the existence of some kind of “cat heaven”). When a child knows that a pet is happy in a new place after death, he perceives his departure more calmly.
You cannot tell an outright lie, for example, that the animal ran away from home, was sent to the village to live with his grandmother, etc. The child will wait for the cat to return, and when he accidentally finds out the truth, this will traumatize him, but there will also be distrust in relation to parents.
How to cope with pain and survive loss on your own
The most difficult way is to try to live through the pain of loss without the support of loved ones. This happens if a person is lonely in life, he has no one except a four-legged friend, and also in cases where relatives do not understand such a passion for animals, grief after their death. But there are several ways to help a grieving person cope with their feelings.
What to do
When a beloved animal dies, with which a person lived for many years in the same house, cared for, fed, treated, played, then simply continue to exist in the same conditions, but without a four-legged friend it is difficult. You can find volunteers, as well as organizations that help homeless animals, to join them as a volunteer. This will make you feel useful.
In addition, in such places you can accidentally find a new pet for yourself if you are ready to take on responsibility again.
When there is no support
Overcoming the bitterness of loss after the death of a pet is also possible. To do this you need to find like-minded people. The easiest way is special forums where those who are indifferent or aggressive towards pets are not allowed. Different people communicate on the forum. Among them are those who experienced the death of a pet who died of old age, as well as people whose tragic incident claimed the life of a pet (accident, theft, etc.).
Euthanasia of an animal
In what cases can euthanasia be recommended (a procedure that results in deep medicated sleep, after which the animal dies):
- advanced age, due to which many functions of the body are disrupted and organs fail;
- injuries incompatible with life, while the cat experiences severe pain.
Euthanasia allows the animal to die more peacefully, avoiding severe suffering. The procedure is carried out with the approval of the pet's owner, which leaves an imprint on his future life due to a strong sense of guilt. In this case, it is important to understand that the dying cat is in great pain. And in the end, he won't survive anyway. The inaction of the cat's owner will only lead to his life being extended by several hours/days (no one can accurately predict). But the animal will spend this period of time in terrible pain. For this reason, you need to come to terms with the fact that the cat will die because of the decision of its owner, and in his arms.
Cat mysticism
Cats represent different meanings in different cultures. They can carry a positive and negative symbol. Regardless of cultural characteristics, these animals are often attributed magical properties and associated with mysticism and witchcraft. Some of the legends:
- in Egypt there was a patroness of cats - the goddess Bast, she was distinguished from other sacred creatures by her body structure (human torso, cat's head);
- the Greek goddess Diana, according to legend, took the form of a cat;
- the Scandinavian goddess of love Freya was carried by cats harnessed to a chariot;
- The cat in ancient Rome was a symbol of freedom and personified independence.
Where do cats go after they die?
According to the works of saints, in animals the soul is not separated from the body, as in humans. This function is performed by blood. Accordingly, after death, biological fluid falls into the ground and becomes dust. This means that the soul of animals is closer to the material world than the human soul. Orthodoxy says nothing about the incorporeal shell of cats. This is due to the fact that the Holy Scriptures contain information only about the salvation of mankind from the Fall. Another feature of Christianity is that the religion does not divide animals into clean and unclean, as is the case among Jews and Muslims.
New friend, new life
After the sudden death of a cat or in the event of a long-term illness, one result occurs - the animal dies, and the person is left alone with his grief. The deceased pet was unique, inimitable, and therefore managed to win the hearts of all family members. No one can replace him. But a person’s soul suffers, his heart is empty, it is necessary to fill it with something. Hobbies, activities, work, communication with other people are a temporary measure to survive the pain after the death of a pet. None of these activities will fill the corner of the heart where the cat was.
After some time, a person may take one or even two kittens. If he is not ready now, his condition will soon change. This will happen when the decision is made not to look back anymore, the strength to live on will appear. As a rule, such changes occur 3-6 months after the death of the pet.
Question answer
How to prepare for the fact that your cat will die soon?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
The average lifespan of a cat is 15 years; these animals can remain in good health for up to 20 years, but sometimes they die suddenly much earlier. Knowing this, you need to follow the recommendations on how to prepare for the departure of a cat: you need to monitor the condition of the pet, if signs of illness are noticed, you should take it to the hospital, you cannot leave the animal there, it is important that the cat feels the love of a person.
Where can you provide charitable assistance to animals?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
Today there are a large number of organizations that treat and vaccinate homeless animals. They are organized by animal rights activists, volunteers, and entrepreneurs. Moreover, any interested citizen can contribute to helping animals. You should look for charitable foundations within your city, but it is possible to make contributions to all-Russian organizations. Examples of such funds are: “Dobro Together”, “REY”, “Yuna”. There are also organizations that offer to take care of an animal.
How to understand that a child needs help from a psychologist?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Sometimes after the death of a pet it is not possible to continue to live in peace. The pain does not go away, the loneliness is felt as strongly as on the day the cat died. Such manifestations can occur especially acutely in children. The child must be shown to a psychologist if alarming symptoms appear: isolation, detachment, thoughts of death, reluctance to communicate even with loved ones, disturbances of certain body functions (incontinence, frequent urination, frequent blinking).
Is it right to do a planned euthanasia if the animal is sick?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
When a pet is sick and there is no chance of recovery, you will have to euthanize it. This can apply to a kitten and an adult animal, age does not matter, the key is the condition of its body. Before euthanizing a cat, you need to make sure that there is no way to help him; to do this, you should do a series of tests and an examination. This method of death is considered justified, because the person has no choice: the cat will die anyway, if not now due to euthanasia, then in 1-2 days due to developed pathologies.
Is cremation possible for an animal?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
When the owner loses a pet, the first thought, out of habit, arises about burying it in the ground near the house - this is a simple but illegal way. Burying a cat or other pet on land not intended for this purpose may result in administrative penalties. It's easier to follow the laws from the beginning. So, one of the correct methods of burial is cremation.
How to come to terms with the death of a cat and stop crying?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
The death of an animal can be a tragedy for people who live alone. Communication with loved ones helps in this case. But it is important that they show understanding. After all, it’s natural to grieve for those you have loved and lost. If relatives do not support the grieving person, you can find interlocutors on special forums where people who have lost their pets gather. It is important to temporarily remove all things that remind you of the cat. Walking in the fresh air and doing what you love will be beneficial.
How to support a person whose cat has died?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
A friend or girlfriend can help a grieving person accept the pain and get out of a difficult situation. To do this, it is best to avoid standard, template phrases; it is important to be sincere. If the owner of the deceased pet is ready, you can listen to him. Silent support is often enough; you can take on some of the organizational worries when burying a cat.
How to survive the death of a kitten, because he was so cute?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
Losing a small furry animal is just as difficult as losing an adult pet. But there may be a difference in attitude: a kitten is loved from the first days for its incredibly attractive appearance, babies are very cute, and adult cats are dear to the heart, because they live with a person for a very long time, although they can also be very beautiful. In both cases, the pain of loss is great, you need to find a way to survive the death of your beloved cat: for this you should find support (among close people or acquaintances on the forum), you should not stay alone for a long time, it is harder to bear the loss, you need to get out of the house more often walk or work, study. But it is important to live through all the feelings, otherwise they will remain locked inside, and over time there will be a release - an explosion of emotions, which will entail negative consequences.
How to calm down after the death of a cat and reassure your mother?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Animals for older people are an opportunity to give affection and love when children grow up and leave. After the death of a cat, it is difficult to relieve the pain and stop the tears. Elderly parents do not know how to survive the euthanization of a cat, but children can help them - provide support, show understanding, and care. At first, while it’s hard, you need to be with them. Gradually the wound will heal, you can return to your old life.
What to do after the death of a cat?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
You need to call the veterinarian and ask him what to do next, but usually in such cases the doctor suggests cremation. You cannot bury a cat's corpse in the ground in the yard. If one of the neighbors sees, you can get a fine.
When can you get a kitten after the death of a cat?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
No one gives an exact date for the appearance of another pet at home, there simply isn’t one. You should be guided by your own feelings. Most often, the desire to have another cat comes 3-6 months after saying goodbye to your old pet. But sometimes the period of grief stretches for 1 year or longer. In some cases, owners no longer want to have pets at home.
How to cope with the death of a cat and the feeling of guilt towards him after euthanasia?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Euthanasia of an animal is a natural process. You should not feel guilty, because the cat would have died anyway. But such sensations are difficult to live without consequences for yourself, so it is better to do everything possible so that they do not arise again. Charity contributes to this - it becomes possible to help homeless cats. A person helps not only animals from the street, but also pays tribute to a deceased pet, and will feel more like a hero than a killer of a cat through euthanasia.
How to cope with the sudden death of a cat?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
Psychologists give some tips to help cope with loss. First of all, you need to experience all the feelings that arise after the death of an animal. Thanks to this, the desire to continue life will soon appear. At this stage, you can remain alone, but not for long, because you need to feel support in order to regain strength. To survive the sudden death of a cat, you need to save photos and toys, this will allow you to keep it in your memory.
When do you need help from a psychologist?
Not only children, but also adults may need a specialist. For some people, the thought of going to a therapist is immediately repellent due to the negative associations that are, unfortunately, very common these days. The madhouse, the pills, the orderlies have nothing to do with psychotherapists who help people in difficult life situations.
People often neglect the help of a psychologist due to various prejudices
You can understand that you need the help of a psychologist if a person has the following conditions:
- You are haunted by thoughts of death or suicide;
- You may not be able to return to your normal lifestyle after losing your pet for a long time;
- You are unable to find new meaning in life and consider your life completely useless and unnecessary;
- Your behavior is difficult to control and predict. You periodically experience emotional breakdowns, bouts of laughter and crying;
- You have difficulty sleeping, suffer from insomnia;
- You can't control your weight.
It is important to timely track the state of mind with which you feel uncomfortable living.
Tips for pet owners
Sometimes neither loved ones, nor a priest, nor a psychologist can find the key to the heart of a grieving person in order to alleviate his condition. But those who have experienced this - other cat owners - can help. Their advice:
- do not throw away the cat’s things, soon after his death you will want to see photos and toys of your beloved pet;
- do not communicate with those who disparage your feelings for the deceased cat; for many, the death of animals is unimportant;
- don’t get a kitten right away, give yourself time to grieve, because otherwise it will be just an escape from your own feelings.
