Cats That Go Over the Rainbow Bridge

allat

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I'm a personthat never had a pet of any type before - just last May, my son couldn't keep his cat ( he had got her from a Shelter) - he's not home much, and she was alone a lot. Besides this, he only fed her 2x a day - ea. time 1/4 cup dry food - (and he complained she seemed to be angry and anti-social all the time!) Anywhoose, I asked for her, as I had met her 1 time before, and she was a poor little sweetie.

So, I've been entertained by her - cats are better than a tv set. She seemed very wary and stand-offish - it's only now that she's coming out of her shell. Anyway, I've been observing her, and just now, getting to know cat habits. I give her a lot of loving vibes and she responds somewhat - but still keeps to herself. the sound of a platic bag, sends her running. I suppose some traumatic thing happened to her early on.

One of the things that worries me is, from the beginning is, I dread the time when she leaves her earthly garment, and goes over the Rainbow Bridge.

What do I do with the Garment?

May I ask, and excuse me if I bring back unhappy memories for you, all, but what has been your experience when your beloved "critters" go to the Elsewhere?
 

cocoalily

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One of my kittens recently passed over...ihe had the misfortune of dying in the winter and not having a proper grave since the ground was frozen.
Once your little girl leaves if the ground is thawed you can bury her or have her body cremated and placed in an urn so part of her can be with you forever or scatter the ashes someplace.
 

glitch

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If you want to you can go to the "crossing the bridge" forums, and all our stories are on there! Mine is under "My baby boy lost his fight with FIP"
 

emchelle

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Our oldest cat, Beeper, journeyed over the Bridge almost three months ago. As best we can figure, she was at least 18 years old.

The day she died, my younger siblings found her lying outside in the sun. We think she had a stroke, and so we brought her inside and laid her on the couch. She was largely unresponsive but breathing steadily. For the next several hours we circled around her, petting her, talking to her. Her breathing grew slower and she continued to rest peacefully, right up until the end. She stretched out one last time and was gone. Logically, I know that it was likely one last muscle spasm, but it almost seemed like she was saying, Okay guys, I'm going for one last walk. I'll see you later...

As for her body, we placed her in an wooden box, old and weathered like she was, then buried her in the woods she loved next to our other departed furbabies.
 

marysmith

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Most of the time they are taken to the vet because they get sick and the vet gives you little hints that the time is near. Then the vet handles the rest.
 

mia's mommy

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Well I believe like with any loved one the best thing you can do is enjoy every moment you have with them. Take all the pictures and videos you can. I had dogs all during my childhood and have pictures of only a few of them, but the memories are still in my heart. As long as you keep giving your cat a wonderful home and all the love you have you'll know she's happy. Besides God loves or else he wouldn't have made them so magical. Loss is tough but love is forever.
 

blast-off-girl

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I sometimes think about this too because my Buster is getting older
However, when the time comes, I will definitely bury him in a pet cemetery. I'm not too keen on cremation because Judaism is against that. I couldn't bury him in the backyard, since I tend to live at rental properties. I know cemeteries are expensive but I am willing to pay, so I can visit him at all times without worrying about moving.
 

pookie-poo

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When my soul mate kitty, Spooky, died, I buried her in the garden in my back yard. In retrospect, I truly wish I would have had her cremated, because I feel like I can never leave this home. If I had gone with cremation, I would be able to take her with me anywhere, and I would be able to be buried myself with her ashes.
 

isabel

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I've gone with cremation ever since I found out it was available for animals. I store the ashes in nice urns and I can take them with me wherever I move.

Some might find this morbid, but I also bought a small keepsake urn necklace and I wear it around my neck with a tiny bit of the ashes of my pets that have passed on. It makes me feel better to always have them close to me.
 

ouraugustlove

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My mother has lived in the same place ever since I was born. And every little (or big) animal that passed away is buried next to the tree I planted when I was young. I was an animal lover since I was a kid so you can imagine all the little broken bird eggs and baby birds that are buried next to the tree. ): But my mom also feels like now she can never move. Her oldest cat Terror (18 years) is buried out there along with her fav Bear. And she lives in a trailer park so it's really difficult. She knows that as soon as she moves they will put in a bigger trailer. Which means chopping down our tree and laying cement over our animal friends. So I believe unless you are absolutely positive your going to live in your house forever, get your fuzzy friends cremated.

<3
samantha
 

glitch

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No way, I would so use a pet cemetary! If it would have been available at the time I buried Glitch there!! I didn't find out about the one near me until like 4 hours after I dug the hole and buried him! Which I did myself I might add. I would definatly pay to never have to do that again. It was dig, cry, dig, cry, dig, check to make sure he's okay, dig some more!!
That way if I ever moved I wouldn't have to worry about digging him up to take him with me!!
 

ryn

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Timotei and Usva were both cremated and are placed in wooden urns in my home. If someday I settle down in a house for good, I think I'll find a nice tree in the yard and bury the ashes there to nurture the tree. That's where I'd like to rest eventually too.
 

jennyr

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I have usually buried my beloved ones in the garden, but you have to be sure that they will not be disturbed if you move. Because I knew I would be moving soon, when he died in 2000 I had my Juniper cremated and his ashes were placed in a large ceramic pot under a juniper bush, which I have brought with me to France. My Napoleon was buried here and I have made a memorial garden around his grave.
 

booktigger

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All but one of mine have gone at the vets, the first two were brought back to be buried, but we dont have a lot of space, so unable to do that with any of the others, and I can't get my head round cremating them, so I leave mine at the vets, it is their memories that count more to me, than their remains - I dont even want a funeral for myself!! Ginger went on the street, and he was buried on my parent's allotment, as he spent most of his life in that area.
 

callista

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It's always been my philosophy that the body doesn't matter near as much as the memories. As long as there's some dignity to it, I'm OK with it; but if I didn't have the stories of my two RB kitties to remember, I'd truly have lost them. My two cats are under two years old; but when they go, I'll make up a photo album and a swatch of fur to remember them by. I move too often to have a permanent grave anywhere; so I'll probably just let the vet take care of the body.

Maybe I'm unsentimental; but that's the way I am about humans, too. The memories are important; the spirit isn't in the body anymore, so it's more like a sentimental leftover thing than any real representation of the person who used to use it. When I die, I'll donate my body to medical science--there's a note in my wallet about it, and my mom knows. Hopefully that doesn't happen for a while yet--like my cats, I'm young.

I hope that didn't come across as unfeeling, or anything; but the point is that you needn't do anything very special for the body, if you have your memories with you.
 

theimp98

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Originally Posted by Callista

It's always been my philosophy that the body doesn't matter near as much as the memories. As long as there's some dignity to it,
yep. The last one that i had that crossed. I wrapped in towel, with a couple of her toys. put her is small box and buried her near where she used to watch the birds.

But i really dont think it matters, I am sure i will see her again some day when its time.
 
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allat

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Thanks , everyone, for your help.

I'm thinking I'm a nut, for worrying about it, instead of enjoying the gift of the Present.

Happy New Year, everyone!
 
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