Talk About Your Own Experiences
This was touched upon when talking about how important listening is. Thats remains true, and you should prioritise listening to the bereaved above talking, but it can also benefit those suffering a loss to hear how others got through a similar bereavement.
You should avoid comparing deaths though. Each loss is different and unique. Keep it fairly general and maybe focus on how you coped and what helped. Dont push anything onto them but offering some ideas, or just being an example of how it does get better may be of use.
When Your Cat Dies: Gentle Tips To Heal Your Grieving Heart
Sadie Holloway, a proud cat parent, is a strong advocate for adopting pets from animal shelters and rescue organizations.
Coping with the loss of a beloved cat can be truly devastating, but hopefully this article can help guide you through your grieving process.
What To Say At The Loss Of A Cat
People love cats because of cats’ insistence on earned affection you have to build trust with a cat or they’ll let you know with claws and teeth to stay away. After taking the time to earn the trust of a cat, losing that cat can feel devastating.
- “You made him very happy for the years he was with you.”
- “I know you’ll miss his sweet purring. He was such a loving cat.”
- “There will never be a better cat than he was.”
- “I’ll bet they have an unlimited supply of catnip in Cat Heaven.”
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Consider Rescuing An Abandoned Kitten Or Cat
I had my multi-coloured white and ginger cat, Penny, for eight wonderful years, says long-time cat lover Cynthia Colby. Her death was sudden. She seemed to be losing weight to a point until she appeared too thin, so I took her in to the vets and got the bad news. They suggested an operation, but the next day I got a call during the surgery that she might not make it. I rushed in, and she died in my arms. In my case, whether or not to get another cat was already solved in a way, as I had just rescued a small black kitten. I missed my cat so much, but I found it helpful to foster the new kitten for the local Cat Adoption Team. The month before, I had decided to adopt her myself. After Penny died, I called her my Little Gift from God.
Rescuing a cat who needs a home may be one of the best ways to cope when you miss your cat. Fostering or adopting an abandoned animal may give you a sense of purpose, and may help you look beyond the pain of your present grief.
What To Say When Other Pets Die
People don’t solely bond with cats and dogs as pets. The death of a fish, small pets like guinea pigs and hamsters, and even horses or birds can leave a person feeling sad and needing condolences.
- “Do you want to talk? I know you must be hurting.”
- “What can I do to help you during this trying time?”
- “Can I bring you a meal or some coffee?”
- “I’m sorry – I know how much you loved him.”
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Should I Send A Condolence Card For A Loss Of Pet
It is always appropriate to send a sympathy card to friends and relatives to acknowledge the loss of a beloved pet.
Sending a Condolence Card is an important gesture. It may seem silly or unnecessary, but the person receiving it will certainly get some small measure of comfort.
In todays busy world, hearing about the loss of someones pet probably doesnt affect you the way it would if it were a loved one. People are expected to get on with it without making a fuss. This is very difficult and stressful. Pets that have been in your life for years become members of your family. They are loved just as much and their passing can be equally as devastating and heartbreaking.
A person who has lost a beloved pet may put on a brave face, but inside they are suffering from sadness, grief and pain. In society, there are no formal processes, no funerals, memorials or time off to grieve and come to terms with the loss.
For children, the loss of a pet may be their first devastating experience with death. For an elderly person alone, this loss could mean a lifelong companion is no more.
Your Pet Had The Greatest Life Because Of
When an animal dies, its owner may second-guess everything. Should they have borrowed money to pay for an expensive experimental surgery? If they had chosen a different food to feed their pet, would the pet have lived longer? If the pet had gone to people with more money, would it have had a happier life?
Pull them out of this negative circle of thinking by reminding them of concrete examples of the way they valued their dog. Remind them that they saved it from an overcrowded shelter. Point out that during thunderstorms, theyd sleep in the dog bed with the dog to keep him calm.
Show them Facebook photos of their adventures. Show them that they were the reason their pet had so many amazing days.
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Disruption Felt After A Cat Dies
Overall, pets play an important role as companions. Apart from relaxation cats provide a sense of purpose in addition to being a source of humor and comfort. So its no surprise a recent Animal Medicine Australia survey shows many cat owners spend at least six hours a day with their pet. Consequently, when a cherished cat dies the level of disruption to the pet owners emotional, social and physical routine can be significant enough to cause heartbreaking grief.
After my cat Molly died, the apartment felt empty. My motivation to get out of bed in the morning was gone.
The outpouring of condolences from Facebook was the hardest to deal with. So many people loved my cat even though they only knew her from my posts.
After I left the vet, I sat in my car and cried. What had I done? Sooty trusted me, yet it was me who signed the form euthanase her.
How Old Was Grumpy Cat When She Died
Grumpy Cat, Whose Frown Made the Internet Smile, Dies After Infection. Grumpy Cat, whose seemingly unamused facial expressions shot her to viral fame in 2012, has died at the age of seven, her owners have said. Grumpy Cat, real name Tardar Sauce, died following complications from a urinary tract infection on Tuesday in Arizona.
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+ Beautiful Loss Of Pet Quotes
Whether youre searching for the right words of condolences to offer to a friend or family member who is grieving a pet or to comfort yourself as you mourn the loss of a beloved pet, youve come to the right place.
Weve assembled the ultimate list of over 50+ beautiful loss of pet quotes that you can use in a condolence message or sympathy card, or on a memorial for your pet.
We have organized our collection of quotes by type of pet loss:
We hope that these quotes bring you or your loved one comfort as you mourn the loss of a faithful companion. Pet grief is real and you are not alone in your grief.
Supportive Things To Say To Someone Who Lost A Pet
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To many people, pets are so much more than just animal companions. Theyre a member of your family. Pets are who you turn to when you need comfort or soothing after a hard day in the world. When youre grieving the loss of a pet, it may feel like theres no safe space for you to retreat to inside your home.
Not everyone understands the pain someone can experience when their beloved pet dies. After all, its just an animal that you cant have a conversation with. But in some ways, that lack of verbal communication makes the loss even harder. Creating a bond with a living creature that transcends the need for language is really special and rare.
If youre struggling with the best way to express sympathy for someone who has lost their pet, here are some suggestions for the best things you can say so they know they have your support.
Post-planning tip: If you are dealing with the loss of a human loved one, we have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one’s family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.
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Our Cat Was Just Run Over By A Car What Should I Tell My Children
When a pet dies, be honest, accurate, and brief, advises McNamee. Parents tend to use euphemisms such as “passed away” or “went to sleep” to describe death. For a young child, words like these may end up creating confusion or even extreme fear about going to bed at night, McNamee says.
“Don’t feel as though you have to give them a lot of information,” says McNamee. “Tell them what happened, then see what comes from them, such as their feelings and ideas about how to handle the death.”
Kimberly A. Cardeccia, MA, LPC, NCC, author of Healing Your Heart When Your Animal Friend is Gone: A Children’s Pet Bereavement Workbook, says it is best to tell your children about the death right away. Then allow your children to ask questions. “Recognize that if they ask for details, they’re asking for comfort,” she says. “Spare them any details that would traumatize them or create a horrible picture in their minds. Make it sound as peaceful as you can.”
How To Support A Friend Whose Cat Is Dying
There isn’t a huge amount of difference from comforting a friend over the loss of a cat than for the loss of a human family member. As you are likely aware, most of us consider our cats as family members.
When a human is terminally ill or has died, people often make the mistake of saying, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.” While that may offer some small degree of comfort, it is rarely acted on by the recipient who may be hesitant to come out and ask for specific ways of helping.
In the case of a pet that is dying, you could couch your offers specifically to meet your friend’s needs:
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Feel Free To Ask Questions If You Have Questions To Ask
If the grieving person isnt offering many details, dont push. If theyre open to speaking, and youre genuinely interested, then its okay to ask some questions or inquire about details. You dont want to pry, but at the same time it could help the grieving to discuss what they went through and not keep it all bottled up.
Example: If you knew the animal was sick, perhaps you want to ask about the illness. To lighten the mood, you can ask about the funniest or naughtiest thing the pet ever did to help the grieving recall happy memories.
Coping With The Loss Of A Cat Can Be Devastating
Coping with the pain of your cat dying can be one of the most difficult things you’ll face. But with patience and gentle self-care, there are things that you and your family can do to ease the pain and grief of losing your cat.
Cats can be incredibly affectionate, loving, and loyal. They remind us to be playful and adventurous. They remind us to live in the moment and to love unconditionally. In many ways, our cat friends help us to be better human beings. That’s why it can hurt so much when your cat dies, leaving you with an empty space in your life.
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What To Say When Someone Dies: A Guide To The Best Words Of Comfort
It can be extremely difficult to know what to say when someone dies. Understandably we want to say the right thing. That means something comforting, helpful, and that doesnt cause any more upset or hurt.
But what exactly are the right words, or the best thing to say when someone has died?
As we dont like to discuss death it means our reaction to it is often awkward. We find dealing with loss hard, especially when we are trying to comfort someone.
Add to that the fact there is no formula or exact science to loss. The way each individual grieves is different. And what they want or need most from friends and family will differ too.
So what we write or say when someone dies should take into account the bereaved, the circumstances of their loss, the type of person they are, and so forth.
There are some tried and tested things you can say that should be of help and comfort though, regardless of the situation.
Follow the examples and guide here to help you find the ideal way to comfort someone who has experienced a loss.
For further reading on how to support someone grieving we asked 25 grief and loss professionals for their best advice, which had some fantastic tips and ideas.
Caring Condolence Messages For Loss Of Dog
For many people, a dog is as loved as a family member. For children, they are friends to play with. For the elderly, a dog is often their only companion. The loss of a dog is devastating and heartbreaking. Putting down a sick or old dog is even more painful and the trauma can last a long time.
It is difficult to find the right words to say when someone you know has lost a beloved dog. Dont stress you are sure to find some meaningful words to offer in our list below. Copy them into a pet sympathy card or attach it to a small gift. They will bring comfort to the recipient.
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What Are Some Things You Should Never Say To Someone Who Has Lost A Pet
The best-intentioned among us can easily say the wrong thing to a person who is grieving, increasing their suffering. We all want to say something that makes it better, and so our worst impulses in these circumstances often come from a place of wanting to help.
You don’t need to remind them that it’s a pet and they aren’t expected to live as long as a human. Every pet owner already understands that, said Kevin Cook, founder of Love of Paws.
Do not try to minimize the loss, offered Dr. Simon. Suggesting it was only a dog, or that the bereaved can always get a new puppy is not helpful suggests that they were disposable in some way, she explained.
Never say, ‘Will you get another cat/dog/other species?’ This is highly insensitive and completely devalues the relationship that the person had with their pet. To them, their pet is completely irreplaceable, suggested Andrew.
Sally Collins, founder of Sympathy Message Ideas, a website designed to help people struggling with what to say to those who are grieving, provided this list of things one should never say to a grieving pet parent:
- At least they lived a full life. As we all know, a full life is never long enough.
- They are in a better place. This may be hurtful to a pet guardian who felt that the best place for their pet was beside them.
- Time heals. Working through grief has no specific timetable.
What To Say When Someone Dies
If you just want some examples of comforting words to say when someone dies then these short messages are ideal.
- I am so sorry to hear of your loss
- I can be there to talk if you need me. Please dont hesitate to ask/call
- I know no words can ease your pain but please know Im thinking of you. Im so terribly sorry
- I wish there was more I could do. All I can say is how sorry I am
- I was so sorry to hear of ______s passing. They were a special person and will be sorely missed
- I cant imagine how difficult this must be. I just wanted to offer my condolences and let you know I can be there for you if you need me
- I will miss ______ terribly. They had such an amazing spirit. All my love to you
- No matter the time or place we will be there for you. You are in our thoughts and prayers, always
- I was deeply affected when I heard of your loss. Please reach out if you are struggling
- We were so shocked to hear of ______s passing. We will do all we can to help you get through this
For a more in depth guide of what to say, how to say it and why, as well as what to avoid saying, then keep reading.
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When Is It Time To Get Another Pet
Respect the grieving process. Don’t jump too quickly into getting another pet. And when you do, make it a family decision.
How quickly this occurs, or whether it occurs at all, is unique to each family. As a guideline, McNamee suggests waiting at least six months. For the child who is eager to get another pet right away, you can explain that your family needs to wait a while to allow time to say goodbye to your pet and to make sure everyone is ready to get a new one.
In the meantime, you can help your child anticipate the arrival of a new pet by starting the research process – thinking about the breed of dog you might want, the place to get it, and possible names. At the same time, your child can get more closure about their pet’s death by helping to decide whether to keep the old pet’s possessions or to buy new ones.