Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
The feelings you’re experiencing are a natural reaction to death. There’s no rush to get over them. You should feel free to feel what you feel.
To process your grief, remember that it’s okay to feel down or to cry when you need to.
Don’t ignore your feelings because bottling them up will only make you feel worse. Talk to your family about it because they probably feel the same way. Sharing memories with them will help you all heal.
Keep your cat’s water bowl or toys around your home for a while so you get used to seeing them without her. If you need to express your feelings, create a collage of pictures of you and your cat, paint a picture, or write a story.
If you need to do something active, share the love you had for her by volunteering at an animal shelter.
Grieving is different for everyone, so there is no perfect solution to make you feel better. But time is really the best healer, and you’ll realise it doesn’t hurt as much as time passes.
One day, you’ll be able to remember your cat positively rather than feeling sad.
This response has been vetted by Lolita Schmalenberg, a psychotherapist for teens and adults at Lifespan Counselling.
Talk it out
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What are some of your favourite memories of your pet?
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What other advice would you give to a friend whose pet has died?
