Our Cat Died

[Micro469]

At 12:45 A.M. Christmas Day, Toby, the Matriarch of our three cat family, died of natural causes. She was deaf, and sufferred from arthritus and had difficulty climbing stairs and furniture. Two days ago she lay down beside the stereo cabinet and couldn't move. She stopped eating and drinking. She drew her last breath at 12:45 in the morning with the whole family present.
Now... How do I get rid of a dead cat in a subdivision in a town where it is illegall to bury a cat in your back yard?

[Spadinator]

Sorry for your loss........

[Gage]

<snip>
Now... How do I get rid of a dead cat in a subdivision in a town where it is illegall to bury a cat in your back yard?

Bury it under the roses in the front yard.

[Kevin A]

John, so sorry to hear of your loss.
If it were me, I'd be burying Toby the cat in the yard. I lost my dog just over a year ago, she's resting out back looking over the yard she spent 15 years exploring in.

[Jst83]

We took Scott's dog to his mother's and buried amonst an entire litter of dogs and cats that had roamed the land before her. Of course she lives in the country so you can do that. Sorry for your loss. I know the boys and I love our cat. Scott...not so much.

---mrs jst83

[asianflava]

I'd bury it in the yard. If you would have guilt in doing so, you can call animal control and they should pick it up.

[lcurrie]

Sorry for your loss.

Like others on the board, i would bury Toby in the yard or the yard of a family member that you visit.

About 12 years ago my pet parrot died and i took him to my folks house and buried him near one of their bird feeders. I still think of him ever time i sit on their patio and watch the birds.

If none of these options work one of your local vets probably does cremations. You could have him cremated and spread his ashes.

Take care,

Lynn

[Outlaw]

Sorry to hear about your loss of a family pet. Bury your cat in the yard where is belongs regardless of the ordinance. You can be descrete about it.

[b.bodemer]

Our dogs and cats are all part of our families.................I am sorry for your loss.

Sincerely,
Barb

[Chaotica]

My daughter's guinea pig died during the night. Sucks to start Christmas day like this. We buried him a little while ago in the yard.

[Jiminsav]

Sorry for your Tabby loss..
I've buried some cats outside under the eaves of the house, and I've also cremated 2 cats that had special places in my heart, but under no circumstance, don't call animal control, they do mass cremations.

[Ira]

Sorry about your loss.

[Laredo]

I grieve with you.

Two of my seven are well into their teens.
We have a runty red oak tree in our back yard where we have buried two cats and a puppy -- none of them lived with us, but all were run over in front of our house -- and when the time comes I am sure I'll find a way to lay these kitties to rest.

Animal control here has been cited for taking large quantities of gassed animals to the landfill, so there's no way I'm calling them.

[Kevin A]

Laredo just inspired another idea. Unless there is also an ordinance against planting a tree, you might consider planting one, They make a pretty good grave marker for a family pet. Either that or a flower garden.

[Micro469]

I just got to tell you all that I'm not really sentimental when it comes to the end of life for animals. I did contact a vet on Christmas Eve to see if he would put it to sleep because "she", Toby, wasn't doing so good. When I found out they wanted $90.00 for an examination,$90.00 for the euthanasia, and $20.00 for the cremation, I said thank-you and hung up the phone. I figured I'd call my regular vet on Wed. when he reopened and bring her in to be put down. But she died soon after and now I'm stuck with the body. I gues I could bury it in the back yard, but the ground is a little hard. Besides, my wife gets the "Kreebles" when I tell her The best place is in the flowerbeds.....(She's the gardiner"). We discussed this over Christmas dinner----nice topic eh?, and the kids want to take her down to the local river and bury her beside it. Last thing I want is a fine for burying a dead animal on Gov. land. I told them I would take it to work and drop it off at a vet to be disposed of on Wednesday.
They seemed O.K. with that...... I hope the dumpster gets emptied soon......

On a more serious point , watching Toby die brought back vivid memories that I'd rather forget. Animals and people aren't really that different when their time comes to pass. My Dad died of cancer in 2004, and I was there when he went. As I was watching Toby gasping out her last breaths. I was instantaniously brought back to my father's deathbed .
The range of emotions I felt as I watched the end was almost unbearable.
But the tears in my eyes weren't for Toby, they were for my Dad.
Stupid Cat!! Sometimes things totally unrelated will set me off. My Dad hated cats. I wonder how he would feel if he knew the death of one would bring him first and foremost in my mind this Christmas. I miss him.