09/06/2020
Sad but helpful 😿
This Top Tip Tuesday we offer advice on managing grief at the loss of a cat.
When our cat dies we undoubtedly experience grief. How we express that grief is a product of numerous considerations. As grief is a very personal thing it is extremely hard to know whether what we are experiencing when we lose our cats is normal. Here are a few examples of symptoms.
Physical signs
• Shock
• Crying, lump in throat
• Shortness of breath, tightness in chest
• Nausea, loss of appetite/ increased appetite
• Exhaustion, dizziness, aches and pains
• Disturbed sleep/ inability to sleep
Emotional signs
• Sadness, anger, depression
• Guilt, anxiety, irritability
• Relief, loneliness, helplessness
Intellectual signs
• Confusion, lack of concentration, hallucinations
• Need to talk about the loss, need to rationalise the loss
• Preoccupation with death and the after-life
Social signs
• Withdrawal from contact with others
• Rejection of help from others
Here are a few tips to help you to recover:
• Accept that grief is perfectly normal
• Accept help from family and friends. Don’t take to heart anything that is said by someone who doesn’t understand owner/pet relationships
• Talk to someone, there are professional bereavement counsellors who are there to help you
• Make a scrapbook or have a photo enlarged and framed; creating a memento can be a comfort
• Look after yourself whilst you are grieving
• Allow yourself time to mourn but try to return to normal routines soon
• Understand that recovering from grief does not mean you forget about your lost cat or you love them any less
• Considering getting another cat is not disrespectful to the memory of the departed. It’s a compliment!
Here are some useful websites:
Cats Protection, Paws to Listen grief support service:
www.cats.org.uk/grief
EASE, Pet Loss Support Services:
www.ease-animals.org.uk
Pet Bereavement Support Service:
www.bluecross.org.uk
The Ralph Site, pet loss support:
www.theralphsite.com