Losing a beloved pet is one of the saddest events many people experience and saying goodbye is extremely difficult.
Now, a leading feline therapist and cat groomer has shared five tips on how to ensure you and your cat have the best goodbye possible.
Holistic feline therapist Katie Gwilt, who runs Liverpool-based company The Kat Lady, works with many elderly and sick cats.
Additionally, she cared for two of her own cats as they breathed their last.
And the feline expert wants to help make your pampered cat’s final journey as smooth and serene as possible.
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is an extremely difficult experience for many people. Now a cat expert has shared her advice on how to deal with loss (file image)
She said: “Sometimes we don’t get any warning when accidents happen and other times we spend time looking after and providing respite care for the cats in our lives.”
Either way, saying goodbye is equally difficult. So how do we deal with this type of loss?
‘Does it affect other animals in our care?
‘When we bring an animal into our home and into our lives, we subscribe to the good, the bad, and everything in between.
‘As a living being like us, eventually this life will end and hopefully we can be there to provide the necessary care when needed.
‘We can support our animals in times of suffering and pain in the same way we would support our human loved ones.
“Our veterinarians can help us with any necessary medication to alleviate ailments as needed and we can surround them with love and gratitude.”
Here, FEMAIL shares Katie’s tips for saying goodbye to her beloved cat…
Among the tips shared by cat expert Katie Gwilt is to take care of yourself and the other animals in your home (file image)
1. Take care of yourself: your cat will benefit
As we go through the process of saying goodbye, we need to make sure we take care of ourselves as well.
Grief affects us all differently and some may even see a physical illness manifesting in our body.
Cats are very sensitive creatures and are aware of our physical and emotional health, so keeping us well will also help support them.
2. Get help
Whether it’s from your caring veterinarian or even an animal healer like me, reach out and ask for help.
It can be difficult to explain to children what is happening and this is where animal healers and holistic therapists can help provide support and perspective.
When a household animal suddenly disappears, it can cause concern among other animals, wondering where their companion is now (file image)
3. Take care of the other animals in your home
Other animals also suffer, although not in the same way as humans. They feel love like we do but they don’t have the concept of looking back the same way we do.
They live much more in the present, so they wonder where their partner is now instead of worrying about where they will go in the future.
4. Stay with your pet
In that final moment of saying goodbye it can be very difficult, but please steal and keep your cat.
Your cat looks to you for support and comfort, and will go away much calmer with your reassuring words and hugs when the time comes.
When losing a pet, it can be helpful to think about the good times, according to holistic feline therapist Katie Gwilt (file image)
5. Think about the good times
Meditation and healing can help you remember all the lovely moments you shared with your feline companion and focus on him in the present as all he needs you to be.
Helping you relax a little can also help calm your cat, as he is very sensitive to our moods and feelings.
Holistic therapists like myself can also offer healing and support to the cat with sensory enrichment and nutrition.