5 Ways To Help Your Pet Get Through the Grieving Process
Mommy why duz it have to get cold outside? Why duzn’t da sun always shine? Why don’t all kitties have a home? Mommy, why do our furiends have to die? And why duz me feel so sad when they do?
Oh Dezi you sure are full of questions today aren’t ya’? Honey, I don’t know why our friends have to die. I mean, I know that death is part of life, and the Bible says that it’s appointed unto man but once to die. (Hebrews 9:27) And that means all creatures who live on this planet, including our friends baby. Sometimes they just get old and their body gets tired and just can’t go on. And sometimes they get sick and there is no cure for what they have. And sometimes as awful as it is there are accidents that take our friends way before their time. Us humans have control over a lot of things, but only God controls life and death. God allows us all a chance to live and find happiness like we have with each other; until the day He calls us back to heaven. Our friends in heaven are no longer sick or old or in pain. As much as we loved them and wanted them to be a part of our lives forever, they are in a far better place now. The sads we are left with are called grief honey.
Grief comes in stages and no one can escape going through them. For humans the five stages of grief are:
- 1. Denial
- 2. Anger
- 3. Bargaining
- 4. Depression
- 5. Acceptance
But animals grieve as well and we, your care takers should be sensitive to that. When an animal bonds with another animal or human, they grieve the loss of that animal or human. Grief in animals can be harder to spot because often the changes are subtle and can range in severity. Some of those changes are:
- 1. Appetite (eating less or not at all)
- 2. Becoming more or less vocal
- 3. Appear lost or confused
- 4. Wandering in an attempt to find their lost companion
- 5. Change in sleep patterns (sleeping more or less)
- 6. Spending more time with a toy or item used/favorited by their lost companion (clothing, blanket, bedding, etc.)
- 7. Becoming more clingy to remaining household members
- 8. Acting Out
These are just a few symptoms of grief in animals. As humans we must pick up on these subtle changes and do what we can to help you get through the grieving process. A few ways we can help are:
- 1. Let survivors view the body of their lost loved one. ( funerals are for the living. A last chance to say goodbye and accept the finality of a loved ones’ passing.)
- 2. Spend extra quality time with the surviving pet(s). Grooming, longer walks and more playtime are just a few ways to spend that extra time.
- 3. Maintain your routine as closely as possible.
- 4. Maintain discipline for those pets that act out.
- 5. Depending on the severity of grief, adding a new animal to the household might be more stressful. Know your pets, you will be the best judge of when it’s time to bring home a new furry friend.
Although you can’t speed up the grieving process, remember that cat’s shouldn’t go without food for more than 24 hours before it starts affecting their health. And if this process drags on, a trip to the vet might be called for to make sure there’s nothing physically wrong. Animals, just like humans will get through it. God has given us all the capacity to love, accept loss and love again. And also remember your anipals pick up on their humans’ emotions.
Fank you mommy fur takin’ da time to explain what meez sads are and how to help us anipals get fru it. Me hopes this will help meez furiends too. We have lost so many furiends this year and it’s still January. Me wants it to stop, but at least now me knows dat they are goin’ to a better place and dat me can get over da sads. Weez joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da Pet Parade and tomorrow weez’ll be sharin’ meez Carwood Derby entry fur Cat Scouts. Weez changin’ da day we share our adoptable furiends so stay tuned.
Do you know any other ways to help you or your pets get through the grieving process?
Till da next time…………………………………….Be Blest!!!
Service Cats U.S. 