When a Pet Dies: Another Definition of Broken Heart

My cat Lily died in my arms last Monday evening.

We were sitting around watching the hockey playoffs on TV, Lily curled up in her little wicker bed on the floor beside me. Suddenly, I heard an unusual, low-pitched “meeeooow” like I’d never heard before, a small cough, two deep sighs, and then nothing. The vet believes that “her heart just gave out”.

Let me tell you a little about my Lily. After my heart attack three years ago, I found out that owning a cat happens to be very good for heart patients. In fact, being a cat owner could actually reduce your risk of another heart attack by nearly one-third, according to a 10-year study by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Institute.

So off we headed to the local animal shelter, where we adopted the world’s cutest, most affectionate, funniest cat.

But how do you say goodbye to these wonderful/annoying little furballs after a death? Whether it’s an elderly or ailing cat whose time has come for that final trip to the vet’s office, or a sudden loss when a cat just disappears into the neighbourhood (or dies in your arms like Lily did), a pet’s death can be an  unspeakable shock.

Find out more at Heart Sisters.