Over time, it is inevitable to love your cat as if it were a human being. Do you want to know how to better cope with its loss?
In many cases, a pet becomes one more member of the family. The relationship with animals is different from that with humans, but that does not mean that you cannot create especially strong bonds with the pet that can accompany you for several years of your life.
This is especially important in the case of children, who have spent a good part of their childhood or adolescence living with a pet. They learn values and responsibilities from them and lessons that can be beneficial for them in the future when they enter adulthood.
The same applies to older people, especially if they live alone. In this case, their pet becomes their flatmate and someone as important to them, if not more so, than another human being. That is why anything that happens to them is important, whether it is an illness or, above all, their death. Related Article: My Cat Pees Where He Shouldn’t
How long does a cat live?
Some pets can live as long as a person, but others cannot. In this case, it is more than likely that their owner will survive the death of the animal, which can affect them emotionally. This is what happens with dogs and cats, animals that are only a few years old.
From the age of 10, they are sedentary
A domestic cat lives many more years than a stray cat, which usually does not survive beyond the age of five. Away from the dangers of the street, fed and cared for by their owners, they are usually guaranteed a life span that easily exceeds a decade. Therefore, the care and diet given to the pet are essential.
However, their growth is most peculiar, because it is in the first years of a cat’s life, until it is three years old, when the greatest aging occurs. At that time, they would reach 25 years of age as an adult. From then on, each feline year would be the equivalent of four years for a human being.
Preparing for your death
Knowing all this, those who have a cat as a pet must be aware that it is very likely that the animal will not reach 20 years of age. It will be inevitable to become fond of it, but it is highly advisable not to lose sight of the fact that its death will occur before ours.
In most cases, we will be aware that their death is near because their illnesses will become more and more serious or we will notice that they are depressed and have no desire to play. After their tenth birthday, it is common for cats to lead a more sedentary life. It is then that they must receive special care and pampering from their caregiver, returning the affection received in previous years.
How to deal with the death of cats?
In most cases, we can tell that our cat’s death is imminent by looking at the symptoms mentioned above. That is why we must try to comfort the animal to the extent of our needs and accept the idea that it will soon die.
We can hold a funeral for you
The death of a pet affects all members of the family, but especially children. With children, special care must be taken when dealing with the death of a pet. It may be the first time they are faced with a death close at hand, so it is necessary to talk to them, explain what is happening, and answer their questions.
It is best to have a talk beforehand when we see that the cat is very weak and its death is near so that they can say goodbye to the animal. Talk to them about how death is part of the cycle of life and that both are linked. You should tell them that it is normal to feel sad about the loss of a loved one, even to cry.
Replacing the deceased cat
The death of an animal or a loved one requires a certain amount of time to grieve. Depending on the individual, it may last more or less, but what you should not do is look for a replacement immediately.
Exchanging your deceased cat for a new one quickly won’t make you feel better, and it can even be counterproductive. Even though the two cats may look alike, you may end up rejecting the second one as a mere replacement.