The Beautiful Paws Thread

Miroslav

emma - sorry you are going through it yourself. I will think of those ideas. I'm sure their are many, and I will do as many as I think will be good.

fc - I didn't think about tissues, but I should have. I'll get some ready.

thanks

Miroslav

YorkiePud wrote: »

Oh I am so sorry for your loss ... what a lucky cat to have had such a loving and caring owner ... it sounds like you truly deserved to have the wonderful relationship you had ... *S*

Well there are no hard and fast rules for grieving for a pet ... they affect us so much though when we lose them, but think of all the good times, the fun times ... they far outweigh the hard times, times of illness and then losing them ...

You may get another pet, you may not ... I think why deprive another pet of the love you gave to your special friend ... but of course, other people may not feel the same and may not feel able to go through the "hard bit" again, which I understand.

I always have my pets cremated at the local place. They work with my vets (although they are miles apart!) so I phone my vets, they phone the place (it's called Elysian Fields and is in the middle of the country - a lovely area) and without fail, they let me go through straightaway.

I would caution though, anyone thinking they will drive themselves there ... going there you may be okay, but coming home you probably wouldn't be fit to drive, so what a great thing that you are being taken and brought home!

Now's the time to decide if you would like anything to "go with" your little girl ... a favourite blanket maybe? Or a soft toy? Or perhaps you just want her cremating on her own.
Perhaps maybe take a blanket to wrap her in for the journey if you want to hold her in your arms?

You are usually given as much time as you want to say goodbye to your friend ... there is no rushing in and out and the staff are wonderful ... they know just what we're going through, so take AS LONG AS YOU NEED. That is most important ...

Usually when I have said my goodbyes, I end up spending a while longer before something inside me just clicks and it feels right to hand them over.

If you are going to have a casket, start thinking now what you would like engraved on it. They usually do a little brass plaque for the top of it and ask you what you want putting on there.
You don't just need to have your little girl's name on it ... you could have a simple inscription too.
My most loyal dog had a plaque saying, "Todd, my best friend" ... but of course, once you are there, your mind may go a bit blank so I would say have a little think now before you go.

I'm sorry if it seems like I am throwing all kinds of info at you ... but there have been times when, afterwards, I have thought oooohhh, I wish I'd asked for such and such an inscription.

There may be some nice gardens there you can have a walk round while you wait ... just to pass the time.
I can truly say though, to be able to bring their ashes home with you does help you feel less bereft ... it isn't as though you've taken them somewhere and left them if you know what I mean, you get something to bring home ...it might sounds strange but it does help me.

As FC said, decide if you want to have her collar ... personally, you would think I had a kennel and cattery here if you saw all the collars and leads hung up that belonged to the pets I've had over the years, but it helped me to see them and now it makes me smile when I pass them ... some people find that helps them, but obviously, for others it may be too much.

Just have five minutes, think what feels right for you and your little one, then do exactly that.
This is your very special goodbye ... you may want to cut a tiny bit of her fur to put in a locket or keep in a little box with a photo of her ... I know a lot of people do that *S*
Basically, if it feels right, do it ...

Take very good care ... we'll all be thinking of you today. The one thing that binds people together is knowing we have all gone through the same and understand what it is like.

!!{hugs}}

In the 14.5 years I have had my cats, i've not spent more than 10 nights away from them. I could never leave them, as they always needed me.

I already have 4 more cats. Her sisters and brother. They will need more love now, although it will be hard giving them more than they have already had!

The animal service sound good. It's an all in fee or £150 for the cremation, casket, driving to/from and someone being with you the whole time. I've no idea if that is good/bad, but i'm 'happy' to pay it for her sendoff.

She's in a box. In one of my towels. I want her to go in the towel. My smells will be on it, the house smell will be on it. I'm not sure we get an inscription, but we'll know who it is.

I want the ashes, so she's home with us. When I went to bed I looked up and said goodnight to her, incase she was watching and I said good morning, although to be honest, a couple of hours broken sleep is all I got.

I'd like her collar back. A bit of fur? Maybe. I have so many photos and a few short videos. I'm so scared i'll lose them or they'll go wrong.

YorkiePud_3

Hi again ...

That's a lovely idea about the towel .. as you say it will have all the familiar smells of home on it that she recognises. One of my dogs was taken there in one of my old jumpers that he used to pilfer off the clothes airer to sleep on!!

I have always let my pets go to the one that has passed away to say their goodbye too ... they go up, have a sniff then walk away as though they don't care, but it shows you they realise their pal isn't there any more and I have never had an animal who has pined for one gone, so it seems to have been the right thing to do in my case *S*

I have an area in my bedroom where I have photos of all the pets I have had ... (a proper little gallery!) and it is so comforting to see their pics there, and I talk to them too! A quick hello ... or if I give a toy to my dog I say what would you have thought of this?
It sounds mad, but it isn't ... *S*

That is a really good price ... whew! I paid just over £110 last time (December 2008) and drove myself ... so that is a good price you have been quoted.

I'm sure you will have the little plaque for the top of the casket .. they will probably ask you what you would like inscribed on it and they'll do that for you while you are waiting.

Sometimes they put a few artificial flowers on the top of the casket too (but if you don't like them, you can always pull em off later!) ...

You might be surprised though with your other cats ... they may give you more love, realising how saddened you are ... *S* ... it is amazing how they realise when we are down and upset and they try their best to give us the comfort we need ...

I don't think the clipping of fur is my cup of tea really .. and by the sounds of it, if you have her collar and some photos and videos, it sounds like you are going to have a lovely box of memories ... *S* some people print off a small photo of their pet and stick it on the casket. Personally, I print out big pics and frame em on the wall!!

I truly believe that our animals stay close to us and that sometimes, just sometimes, we get to feel them around us for a fleeting moment ... just as though they are saying, "I'm ok ... I love you and I'll see you again one day."

Got to zoom now, I hope everything goes as you would hope it to and I'll be sending thoughts your way ... take care ...

marshallka

So sorry for you miroslav. You sound such a lovely caring person. Your cat would only want you to carry on caring regardless of having what you have. There is always room and needs in this world for someone like yourself so take your time to grieve. You gave her the best of everything and you should feel comfort in that in time.

My daughters hammy (I know it was only a hammy but to her the world) died recently and she made a jewellery box at Christmas time (a present from someone) and she bedded it out and painted all over it and buried the little darling in it with also a guardian angel which she had bought for me some time ago. We have her buried in the garden with a little handmade cross where my daughter can see outside her bedroom. SHe still cries now. Its so sad.

hethmar

I think you are doing the right thing going to day for the service, you cant find peace in your heart til their body has truly been settled.

Keep her collar and if you are worried about the photos and vids have them copied.

Once the cremation is over - grieve, but you must move on. She is no longer in pain, celebrate her long and happy life, dont mourn those last days forever.

You mustnt sacrifice your life, health and peace of mind - that would be wrong and worthless and not appreciating the happiness she gave you.

Please let us know how things go today. xxx

Mutter_2

Just to add my condolences Miroslav and hope you feel a little better later today.
I bet the other Kitties get even more love this evening.

missstropy

Didnt want to read and run as everyone on here was so nice to me when my 14yr old lab died just after christmas.

Im so sorry for you and sending you hugs.

We have bessies ashes in the living room, I still put the box on the sofa somethimes at night when I miss her she sits in the middle of us daft I know but it makes me feel like shes still here. Am only just getting around to thinking where to put her ashes she loved so many places, it seems mean keeping her couped up in the house all day whe she loved outside. Maybe just keep a bit in the house and take he rest to the places she loved.

hethmar

I often wonder if when I go, there will be my pack of dogs waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge - I do so hope so. How can so much love, so much soul just disappear - it just isnt possible. xxx

YorkiePud_3

hethmar wrote: »

I often wonder if when I go, there will be my pack of dogs waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge - I do so hope so. How can so much love, so much soul just disappear - it just isnt possible. xxx

Listen, if our pets aren't there waiting for us when it's our time, then I ain't going ... !! I'll go to t'other place and get a good suntan ... heaven just won't be heaven without our best friends ... !!

Isn't it weird, I was talking to someone earlier and she said if only she could think that JUST her pets would be there waiting for her when she "went", she would be happy ... I asked why and she said she never liked half her family so doesn't want to bump into them again!! Ha ha!

UKTigerlily

So sorry to hear about your Cat, it sounds like she had a wonderful life & you love her very much. I hope today is as you hope it to be, sad but a comfort I hope x