Would you freeze dry your cat?

When your cat passes away, what would you do

  • bury

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • cremate

    Votes: 9 37.5%
  • freeze dry

    Votes: 15 62.5%

  • Total voters
    24

mgilbert32

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I just recently lost my cat. I was wondering if anyone ever freeze dried cat. If so what was experience. If not willing what would you do?
 

Kat0121

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I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope you're doing OK. 


I actually stumbled across an article about that subject. I'll post a link here. http://abcnews.go.com/US/grieving-pet-owners-opt-stuffing-freezing-drying-deceased/story?id=16022869

It's really not that different than taxidermy. I can understand why someone would want to do this and I can understand why someone would NOT want to do this. I personally would not. For me, it wouldn't make me feel any better. Having my pet's lifeless body around the house would be like slowly pulling off the band aid. Yeah, I could see him/her and give them a pat on the head but without the interaction, seeing the look in their eyes and doing all the silly, funny crazy things they do all day, it would just prolong the agony. 

There's actually someone not far from me here in Florida that does that very thing

http://www.perpetualpet.net/
 

Draco

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I would cremate.. as, currently, I have no place to bury. my family has always cremated their pets.. but they never take home the ashes.. I probably won't either. Whatever the vet does, she does.

I would never, ever stuff/freeze my pet. I guess I can see why people would do it, but it would hurt me more to see my baby every day frozen forever, and eventually, they don't last. 
 

rubysmama

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No, I couldn't freeze dry my cat.  Instead of bringing me comfort, it would be a painful reminder of my loss.

I absolutely dread the day I have to make that decision, but I'm hoping there is still a pet cemetery around here, so any of my pets could be buried.
 

denice

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I wouldn't freeze dry or stuff a pet.  To me it seems a little creepy, I think because it is something that is normally done by either museums for an exhibit or game hunter.  I couldn't do that with a beloved pet.

Now I would cremate because I am back to renting an apartment.  If I still owned my own home I would bury and use some type of perennial as a marker.  I have read that California requires cremation and then people can bury the ashes. 
 

miagi's_mommy

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I lost my best feline friend, Tiger in February. I could not freeze dry him and I don't think I'd want to... I had him cremated and got his ashes back. His urn with his ashes is on my entertainment center in my room.
I also have some of his ashes in a locket my best friend bought me.
 

Kat0121

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I wouldn't freeze dry or stuff a pet.  To me it seems a little creepy, I think because it is something that is normally done by either museums for an exhibit or game hunter.  I couldn't do that with a beloved pet.

Now I would cremate because I am back to renting an apartment.  If I still owned my own home I would bury and use some type of perennial as a marker.  I have read that California requires cremation and then people can bury the ashes. 
I'd go with cremation as well. I opted for cremation over burial when my DH passed away and I want the same thing for myself. he never expressed a preference either way so I went with cremation because you never know where life will take you. If I had him buried here and ended up moving, I'd have to leave him behind or go to the trouble and expense of having everything moved and reburied. I got a nice urn that I know he'd like and I can take it with me wherever I go. My DD will have an impressive urn collection one day between him, me, the 3 cats and the dog. 
 

muffy

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Originally Posted by Draco  I could never, ever stuff/freeze my pet. I guess I can see why people would do it, but it would hurt me more to see my baby every day frozen forever, and eventually, they don't last. 
I totally agree. I could not stand to see any of my cats frozen or stuffed. It would be a constant reminder that they are dead. I think it is morbid.

I have always gone with cremation and I don't ask for their ashes. When Baxter died they made a mistake and saved his ashes for me. It's been 3 years and they are sitting down stairs and I don't know what to do with them. Every time I see them I cry.
 

denice

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I totally agree. I could not stand to see any of my cats frozen or stuffed. It would be a constant reminder that they are dead. I think it is morbid.

I have always gone with cremation and I don't ask for their ashes. When Baxter died they made a mistake and saved his ashes for me. It's been 3 years and they are sitting down stairs and I don't know what to do with them. Every time I see them I cry.
We have a mobile vet here who's entire practice is home euthanasia.  For cremation people have the choice as far as return of ashes.  Her family owns property in the country and she takes the ashes that aren't returned out to their property and spreads them in a meadow.
 
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mgilbert32

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Would any of you purchase coffin if you bury?
 

kookycats

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I would never do that. I remember we had a neighbor who said her daughter freeze-dried her cat. I thought it was kind of creepy and still feel like that. Our Rainbow kitties have been cremated --- and we are doing the same thing for ourselves when the time comes.
 

mazie

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I had my Missy (my dog) creamated a year and a half ago, when she passed. I have her urn at home on a table with an artist's drawing of her next to the urn. I am glad I had her cremated, I can walk by and kiss her urn anytime of the day and glance at her beautiful face. Good choice for me.
 

red top rescue

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NO, I would not freeze-dry my cat any more than I would freeze dry any other family member.  My cat's soul is free, and his body was returned to the earth, from which it was made.  But that is my own choice, and you are free to make your own choice as well.
 

micknsnicks2mom

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i always cremate (and have their cremated remains in wooden boxes, which i've chosen specifically for each of them), when my cats have crossed the rainbow bridge. when i eventually die, i'll either have them buried (in their individual boxes) in my coffin with me or cremated (again) with my remains.

i would never (ever) have any of my cats freeze dried. just my personal feeling, is that it's disrespectful to their memory. instead, i might commission a painting or a sculpture of my beloved cat.
 
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nansiludie

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The title did catch me by surprise. I have cremated a cat, very long ago, I didn't pick up the ashes. I do have a small burial area in my backyard for all passed on pets. With crosses over the them. I would not freeze-dry them or anything like that. For me, from dust to dust, one way or another but not by freeze-drying. I would actually be quite disturbed by it. The thought has not ever crossed my mind. When in others homes with taxidermied wild animals, I'm a bit disturbed by that, but it not my place to say anything.
 

miagi's_mommy

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Would any of you purchase coffin if you bury?
Most people do.... but here it's illegal to bury an animal in the city. And it was winter when I had to put Tiger down to health issues that were sudden. He was very ill and the vet confirmed he was dying.


I consider his urn his coffin.. his ashes are in it and I decorated it myself and put his collars on top of it and his favorite toy.
 
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mani

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Would any of you purchase coffin if you bury?
I have my dear Wei Wei buried in my garden.  I just wrapped her up in her favourite blanket, which was pure wool so it will decompose.  I planted a Frangipani over her and keep that little plot of garden in her honour.  I can look at the garden and think, my girl helped to make that.
 

nurseangel

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I'm very sorry for your loss. I've seen freeze dried cats in anatomy class and I would never consider this option myself.   We bury our pets next to the rock garden in the back yard.  It's pretty there.  We don't buy coffins, though I do have a statue of an angel marking the area.  But ultimately it is your decision and I would recommend doing what makes you feel the most comfortable.  What you feel in your heart that you want to do.  
 

jcat

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Would any of you purchase coffin if you bury?
I have my dear Wei Wei buried in my garden.  I just wrapped her up in her favourite blanket, which was pure wool so it will decompose.  I planted a Frangipani over her and keep that little plot of garden in her honour.  I can look at the garden and think, my girl helped to make that. :heart4:
We did the same with Jamie, that is, wrapped him in a blanket and buried him in the backyard. My husband planted a little willow tree in the spot a couple of months later, and I put a figure of a sleeping cat on the grave.

Having a pet stuffed and freeze dried would be too much of a reminder of death to me.Memories of the pet's life should take precedence, IMO.
 
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