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Loading...Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Cat or Dog
- Celeste Yarnall
- August 16, 2012
- 1:04 pm
- 61 comments
“When one watches a loved one depart from the shore, another welcomes them on the opposite shore.” –Celeste Yarnall
The loss of a cat or dog can be an agonizing experience. To most animal lovers, our animal companions are every bit as important as members of our human family. People who have suffered the loss of their cats and dogs usually have other family members and/or pets who are also grieving the loss.
The question that most often arises is: Do we wait, or do we adopt a cat or kitten or dog or puppy to help fill this empty void? Certainly a kitten or puppy or an adult cat or dog can be there to help and comfort the grieving. But even more than that, when one is used to loving their pet, it’s very difficult to not have a recipient upon whom to lavish this flow of love because our love doesn’t die when our loved ones do. Adopting a kitten or puppy or adult cat or dog from an animal shelter may be the answer. With so many cats in shelters in desperate need of homes and people to love them, the ideal way to help the grieving process and to prevent their needless death is to bring home one of these babies. These adoptions are beneficial to both the adopter and adoptee.
Communicating With Your Sick or Aging Cat
The decisions that plague us at the end of our pets’ lives are heavy burdens to bear. For instance, is it too late to seek alternative healing therapies when the animal has been through so much? Should we choose euthanasia (a humane death by injection), or permit our animals to endure until the end? If you choose not to euthanize, you’ll want to provide hospice-type care to make sure your cat or dog remains as comfortable as possible.
Ultimately, you and your animal friend need to make these choices together. Now is the most important time for spiritual work: meditation, prayer, and nonverbal communication. You’ll receive guidance when your heart and mind are open. Do what you feel is best, but please make sure you are truly considering your cat’s best interests and not just your own needs or inability to let go. Animals have their own paths and their own spiritual journeys. When the end is near, the best thing you can do for them is to release them. Tell them out loud that it’s okay for them to pass on. This will help you accept it, and it will help them follow the path ahead. Flower essences can be extremely helpful to ease this transition. (See Flower Essences)
Some animal communicators and psychics feel that animals reincarnate in tandem with their human companions and with each other. The closer the interspecies bonding, the more likely and more frequent such reincarnation is to occur. Some even believe the species are interchangeable. Metaphysicians often recommend that you tell your animal companion you understand that they wish to leave this body, and that you will welcome them in their new one, so their spirit may continue its bond with you.
Planning Ahead
Consider making arrangements for your pets in your own will or with your loved ones in the event of your death. There have been many cases where pets have come to tragedy when their people died without leaving instructions for their care.
Read more: Cats, Celestial Musings, Dogs, Guidance, Inspiration, Pets, adopting a pet, Bach flower essences, bereavement, flower essences, healing, Pet Loss, reiki
Celeste Yarnall
Celeste Yarnall, PhD shares musings on a myriad of topics at her Celestial Musings Blog. She is the author of The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care with Jean Hofve, DVM and Natural Dog Care. Celeste is an actress and speaker who frequently does book signings and personal appearances. She and her husband Nazim Artist created the Art of Wellness Collection and are the co-producers of Femme: Women Healing the World. They live in Los Angeles, California with their beloved Tonkinese cats! Join Celeste at her website or on Facebook.
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people are talking
Yep, good point(s).
Sweet! *_*
I loved how it turned out! But, how often can u do this???
Loved this video! Cats are awesome!
thanks.
61 comments
+ add your ownValentina, In the early days there will be little anyone can say that will help. There is a period you have to get through. You can comfort yourself a little that she was at home, and comfortable, and she knew you were close by........... I would not dwell on 'what if'. It was her time and she would have just slipped away...........This way, I can tell you, is rather better than having to decide it is time to call a halt to suffering and call the vet. as you can never be sure whether a few days more will be OK.. But a few days more are for OUR benefit not our beloved pet.
Believe me you will find that although you never cease to miss her the pain will fade.
From a practical point of view you can address your feeling of misery with 5HTP tablets.
With all my sympahty
or expect. I know that. But I can't help to ask: what if I was there 5 minutes earlier? Could have it been possible to do the cardiac massage properly and make her breathe again? Should have I moved her instead of keeping her in the same position? I was afraid to provoke another crisis and worsen her state.
They say she was safe and warm, and not alone, as we were in the house with her. They say seeing your pets die is much worse than finding them asleep forever. But still, I wish I stayed in the bathroom all the time, to be with her when she was leaving, and touch her, and talk to her for the very last time, not only 10 minutes earlier. I can't go over the fact that I should have been with her in that moment. I miss you too much my sister. I only hope you knew how much we loved you. We shared many beautiful years, you slept on my bed, and delighted us with your purrs. That will never be erased. I love you, forever.
Please give me some advice to feel better. What are the strongest medicines to fight stress, anxiety, despair, and insomnia?
These comments both give me strenght and make me cry. Please give me some advice to feel better. What are the strongest medicines to fight stress, anxiety, despair, and insomnia?
My beloved cat passed away last Tuesday/Wednesday, at about 4 am. Everything changed. I am devasted. I can't breathe nor sleep. Medicines do nothing. I keep thinking and crying.
What I regret the most is that she died without me on her side: she was warm in her blanket, in her wicker basket, in the bathroom, with the heater near her. I stepped in to check her every 10 minutes, she was stable and tranquil. At about 4 am, I entered the bathroom and saw her static, with her head limp, her eyes wide open and veiled. I had a sussult, kneeled down, and touched her. She didn't move, her eyes still freezed. I touched her chest and felt no beat. I put my face in front of her nose and felt no breathe. I tried to do the cardiac massage: I can't do it properly, and it was too late. First I thought (and hoped) she was in a coma, but I was simply in denial. I started crying, instantly woke up my mother, and called the vet, then rushed to the vet with the car. She only could confirm that she was gone.
I just lost my baby on Jan 07. Brought him to the vet for dental cleaning and they found a large tumor in his lower jaw that was too large to remove. Was also told he had only days left before I would lose him. I made the choice of putting him down. He could hardly eat ,I thought it was because of his teeth needing to come out. Turns out the tumor was pushing his tongue upwards making it hard for him to eat and drink.The vet said they could put a tube in his neck so I could feed him if I wanted to take him home for his remaining days along with meds to keep him comfortable. I would have loved those extra days, but I couldn't bear to watch him struggle anymore. I wanted to die myself, wasn't ready to live without him. I knew he had to leave, though I accepted it somewhat I gave up on everything. Stopped taking my meds taking care of my other cat was torture because it made Simba's absense more apparent. I had him cremated and I have him again somewhat. Doing better, but it still hard. I just remind myself that we will be reunited in heaven one day. Until then I have 14 years of memories and lots of pictures of him to help me get by. Daddy loves and misses you my precious poos.
I posted on Facebook a short letter I wrote to my then-15 year old daughter about how to say goodbye to a friend. I hope it beings you comfort, too. The letter is at: http://on.fb.me/PZbfDC
You can sometimes push on the dead cat or dog and bring it back. I did do this twice. The only 2 times I tried it it worked. It was long enough to tell the older cat bye. And to give her permission to move on and the other time it was with a kitten that my Grand son had rolled over in his sleep. The older cat died 3 hours later and the kitten is still alive to my knowledge. My oldest daughter was very upset I brought Smokey back. But I wasn't there after my baby had open heart surgery, Thank God or I know I'd have pushed on her to my horror and her insides would have flew everywhere! But my baby died like Smokey and the greatest comfort to me is knowing she is awaiting me now in heaven with Smokey!
So hard when the decision rests with you when they linger on, so much easier, but no less painful, when they go peacefully on their own. Unfortunately that doesn't often happen!
One of the hardest things to know is when euthanasia is needed. As a holistic cat behaviorist I teach clients how to communicate with cats on a non-verbal level. My cat Merlin taught a lesson in animal communication today at www.catwisdom101.com
interesting article, thanks for sharing :)
Kathy L.--I wanted to say--please don't feel guilty. Even if you are obsessively watching your pet (which would drive them nuts!) you may not be able to tell until it's too late. Because it's in their genes. In the wild, any kind of cat or wolf (or anything else) goes to great lengths to hide illness or injury=weakness. Exhibiting weakness in the wild makes one a victim. So Anna was just following her genetic imperative and you DIDN'T miss some sign. You sound like a very loving "mother" of your pride and pack.
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