Pet cemeteries provide a “formal” burial arrangement. That
may include the plot, casket, a gravestone or marker with inscription,
or even a burial service. These cemeteries can be expensive, though.
Cremation has become a popular choice particularly for urban pet
owners. It’s typical y less expensive than a cemetery. The pet’s ashes
can be kept in container of your choice in your home, garden, or even
scattered in a memorial ceremony. Ask your vet for a local referral for
a pet cemetery or crematorium service.
Funeral ceremonies, memorials such as planting a tree, or making
a charitable donation in memory of a beloved pet offer wonderful
memorials for the departed cat. Some veterinarians wil make a paw
impression for you, or you may wish to keep a lock of fur. There are no
wrong choices. “Little things like that real y help an owner through the
grieving process,” says Dr. Garrett. A formalized type of memorial can
be particularly helpful to children. “We have to show children that
bereavement is a loving process of remembrance,” says Dr. Sife.
After the death of a cat, some people want another cat right
away while others may never be ready for another pet. Each person
has a different timeframe. But cats seem to have their own timeframe
and often our “next” feline love chooses us. It’s not uncommon for
owners to say that the deceased cat “sent” the new one. If that
happens—rejoice, and enjoy your new friend, not as a replacement
but as a legacy to her memory. After al , other cats need you, and such
unselfish love should not be wasted.
Death is a natural process. It wil come despite our best efforts to
delay the inevitable. But it does not have to be scary, or painful, or bad
—dying can, in fact, be a beautiful, loving experience for both you and
your cat. “We are the best memorials that we can create for our pets,”
says Dr. Sife. “If we can make our lives better because of them, that is
a wonderful tribute.”
Comfort Zone
Memorializing your cat can be a comfort to you and tribute to her life.
Memorials can be expensive purchases, such as a grave marker, or
something as simple as creating a scrapbook ful of memories. There
is no right or wrong way, and creative remembrances that are
individual to your cat wil mean the most.
Write a letter or poem to your cat. Tributes can be posted at
Rainbow Bridge or other sites. She can even be honored in a
“virtual” pet cemetery.
Donate money in your pet’s honor to a worthy animal
organization.
If your friend is grieving, send a note of sympathy. Hal mark
launched its Pet Love Greetings line in 1995 that includes
sympathy cards, and other cards are also available. You could
purchase a blank card with a cat il ustration on the front and
send a personal note.
Commission a portrait from an animal artist
Inscribe a headstone, grave marker, or other keepsake with
your cat’s name. Pet memorial slate stepping stones, custom
engraves slate and glassware for pet memorials, and photos of
your special cat can be made into wal plaques.
Make a paw print impression. Kits are available that include
molding clay that’s baked in the oven.
Caskets, boxes, urns and containers for cremation remains are
another option. You may wish to save the pet’s tag, lock of fur,
toy, or cremated ashes.
Golden Moments: Midgie’s Legacy
Five-year-old Midgie came to live with Wendy Braun of Albany, New
York, ten years ago. The frightened black and white cat lost her owner
and needed a new home. It took a little over a month to bring the
beautiful cat out of her shel , and then Midgie claimed Wendy as her
special person.
When chronic medical problems required Wendy to be
hospitalized, Midgie refused to move from the door until she returned.
Wendy says it made an important difference in her wel being. “I
believe Midgie was sent to me,” she says, and as each year passed,
the bond between the two became stronger.
Then last April, Midgie began wheezing, and the veterinarian
diagnosed asthma. “I told myself medication would take care of her.
But something told me she didn’t have a whole lot longer to live,” says
Wendy.
Wendy’s brother recommended she put the cat to sleep, and get a
healthy cat that needed a home. “But she was my best friend,” says
Wendy. The cat had been there for Wendy during her own il nesses,
the death of close friends, and an extremely traumatic separation and
divorce. Their deep love and special relationship made the thought of
losing Midgie even more difficult. “It was the first time in my whole life
that I cried,” says Wendy. She was determined to support her friend
during this time of need.
Midgie fought being medicated, so Wendy devised creative
schedules and a treatment box that the cat readily accepted. Wendy
also learned to value the affection they shared during crises as much
as the love felt during the peaceful times. “That’s a hard lesson to
learn when you’re frightened,” says Wendy.
Eventual y the cat stopped fighting and relaxed. “It was a whole
different love. She literal y put herself in my hands,” says Wendy, stil
moved to tears at the memory. Knowing the end was near, Wendy
asked her veterinarian what to expect. “I had never seen an animal
die, and Midgie didn’t need me being hysterical,” says Wendy. “She
needed to draw on the love that I had for her rather than my fear.”
Midgie died at home, in Wendy’s arms, and felt her friend’s love
until the end.
Dealing with the aftermath was difficult because other people didn’t
understand or support her feelings. Wendy chose to honor the cat’s
memory, despite what others thought. She took three days off from
work, sought out grief counselors, posted to Internet message boards
to talk about her loss, and slowly the pain grew less as she began to
dwel more on happy memories.
A box with a picture of a tuxedo cat that looks like Midgie holds
her ashes, and has a place of honor in Wendy’s office. The
medication box the has become a planter memorial to the cat, and
Wendy is making a scrapbook to hold pictures, a lock of her fur, and
special favorite toys, like a feather Midgie loved.
“Cats bond with us at a level that most human beings don’t get to.”
Wendy knows that Midgie wil always be a part of her heart. “I miss her
quiet steadfast, peaceful mature nature. Even though it’s sad she’s
gone, I’ve learned to enjoy her legacy,” says Wendy. Midgie taught
Wendy how to grieve, and then heal without giving up on love. “You
can love in death as wel as life.”
PART TWO: A-to-Z HEALTH CONCERNS
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints. It’s caused by
inflammation and degradation of the cartilage that results in
increasing pain that interferes with mobility. Unlike dogs, cats with
arthriti
s often show few if any symptoms until the condition has
become severe, says Kathleen Linn, DVM, an orthopedic surgeon at
the University of Wisconsin (now at Western Col ege of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada). She attributes that to
the cat’s lighter weight and athleticism. “Cats are very good at
protecting things that hurt. They can have terrible arthritis on X-rays
and you’d never know.”
Because of their habit of hiding infirmities, cats are less likely
to be diagnosed with arthritis—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t
suffering, says Dr. Little. You just have to look for the condition. “I see
a lot of cats with arthritis,” she says. “In the past it was attributed to
getting old, when in reality Kitty may not want to go down three flights
of stairs to get to his litter box because his hips hurt. We have to start
realizing there may actual y be a medical reason that can be treated,
instead of just blaming it on old age.” Recent surveys suggest up to 75
percent of senior cats suffer from some degree of arthritis.
Morris Animal Foundation has funded a pilot study at the
University of Montreal to look at both the behavior and anatomy of cats
to diagnose the disease. Dr. Eric Troncy, professor at the University
of Montreal says MRI is much more sensitive in showing structural
changes in the limbs of cats, which can help veterinarians identify joint
disease. In animals with the disease, the normal cartilage cushion in
the joint breaks down, and the bones rub against each other, but the
resulting damage may not be visible on traditional X-rays.
Cats with arthritis walk differently and put more weight on their
unaffected limbs. The researchers wil develop a pain scale and a
quality-of-life scale with gait analysis and telemetered locomotor
activity monitors. This is the first study designed to validate both the
objective and subjective pain of feline arthritis, and may lead to more
effective diagnosis and treatment.
Senior Symptoms
Cats rarely vocalize from pain. “They’re very stoic creatures,” says Dr.
Linn. “Owners frequently don’t think their animals are in pain until
they’re having a real y tough time getting around.”
Overal reduction in activity, sleeping a lot, and simply not
moving at al , especial y in the morning. Movement warms up the
joints and mobility often improves later in the day.
Reluctance to jump up onto, or off of the couch, the bed, or the
countertop, or use the stairs.
Failure to groom
Limping or holding up a paw or leg
Specialized tissue cal ed cartilage cushions the ends of the
bones that form joints, and al ows the bones to move freely against
each other. A joint capsule encases the cartilage and contains a fluid-
producing membrane that lubricates and maintains cartilage health.
The natural motion of the joint pumps this synovial fluid where it’s
needed.
Injury to the cartilage from trauma, such as broken bones,
predisposes the cat to arthritis as he ages. Damage and inflammation
develop when the bones fit imperfectly in the joint and erode the
cartilage when they rub together. Damaged cartilage releases
inflammation-causing enzymes, which interferes with elasticity, and
the ability of the joint capsule to nourish and repair itself. The resulting
pain causes cats to stop moving, and that causes even more damage
when loss of motion reduces the distribution of the synovial fluid.
Loose or torn tendons are more common in dogs but can also
occur in cats. Tendons and ligaments normal y hold the bones in
place, and tears cause joint instability that leads to arthritis. For
example, a torn anterior cruciate ligament can cause knee instability
that eventual y results in arthritis.
It’s hard to say which cat breeds are more prone to arthritic
changes because no specific studies have been done. Greater weight
places more stress on the joints, so larger cats such as Maine Coon
cats and those that are overweight tend to have more arthritis. Any cat
can develop it, though, and they become more prone the older they
get.
The most common area affected is the hip, which may
develop as a consequence of dysplasia. This is a
developmental disease in which the hip joints do not fit
correctly. Lightweight and athletic cats often compensate and
may never show problems, but as they age, they’re more likely
to experience discomfort. Elbows, back, and knees also may
develop arthritis. Affected cats typically have trouble keeping
themselves well groomed because it hurts them to stretch and
flex to reach everywhere.
Arthritis usually is diagnosed based on symptoms and X-
rays. Once arthritis is diagnosed, therapy consists of any one
or combination of surgery, physical therapy, medical
management (drugs), weight control, and acupuncture.
Nonsurgical Treatment
James L. Cook, DVM, an orthopedic surgeon at University of
Missouri, recommends a triad approach to the nonsurgical
management of arthritis. This includes weight control, exercise, and
pain relief such as medication, acupuncture or other therapies.
The first thing to realize is that a cure is not possible. Arthritis won’t
symptoms can be lessened. “Our goals are to decrease pain,
increase function, and increase quality of life and slow down
progression,” says Dr. Cook.
Owners have to monitor the cat’s treatment in order to measure
success. Improvements can be subtle, so keep a chart that logs and
compares progress of symptoms, says Dr. Cook. That record helps
the veterinarian decide if a particular therapy is helpful or not, and
adjust the treatment accordingly. Since you live with your cat, and are
more closely attuned to his wel being, your input is vital to helping the
cat maintain quality of life. “The last thing I want to do is change things
that may be working,” says Dr. Cook. You can use a form such as the
Arthritis Report Card to keep track of the cat’s status.
Age-Defying Tips
Arthritis almost always develops as a result of joint injury earlier in life,
so prompt repair or treatment prevents problems later. Once your old
cat has any degree of arthritis, you can slow down the progression
and even reverse some of the signs, says Michael G. Conzemius,
DVM, a veterinary surgeon at Iowa State University.
Keep kitty active. Low-impact exercise is ideal to help keep
joints from stiffening. Entice him with a treat or ribbon lure to
keep him moving.
Keep cats thin. Added weight puts more stress upon joints.
Regular exercise along with a reduced-calorie “senior” diet
helps reduce or control weight.
Weight Control
“Weight loss for cats is important,” says Dr. Linn, and is probably
the most critical aspect of the triad approach. “A lot of cats look like
basketbal s and always have a hard time getting around,” she says.
“Weight loss is almost always the first and most important thing.”
Great care must be taken with reducing diets, though, because a
crash diet in cats can cause life-threatening liver problems cal ed
hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. If the cat is already at a good
weight, he should maintain it, says Dr. Cook. “We give owners the little
Purina body condition score, and tel them we want them somewhere
around a 4 or 5, which is the leaner ideal on that scale.”
Exercise
The second part of the triad is moderate exercise. “It’s better for
them to get up and move around than to just lie around the house al
day,” says Dr. Linn. Dogs are easier to exercise, and swimming is
considered an ideal activity for loosening arthritic joints. Cats, though,
rarely care for water sports and may also be reluctant to walk on a
leash. “Slow walks on a leash is fairly low-impact. It doesn’t bang on
the joints,” says Dr. Linn.
Even old cats can learn new tricks, though. Choose a figure-8 style
harness and get the cat used to the idea first simply by petting him
with the leash and harness. This helps him associate pleasant things
with the equipment and also identifies them with his own comforting
scent. Leave the halter and leash out in the room for him to sniff and
investigate at his leisure. Try to entice him into a chase game with the
end of the leash--if he identifies it with a toy, it won’t seem so scary.
After a day or two, fit the halter on the cat, leave on for a minute,
reward him with a game or treat, and then remove it. Repeat this
exercise several times a day over the next few days, gradual y
increasing the amount of time he wears the halter. Final y, hook on the
leash, pick up the end, and fol ow your cat around the house. Once
he’s used to this, you can begin to guide him with gentle tug-releases
on the leash to keep him moving. A halter and leash al ows your cat to
be safely walked around the house or even in the backyard, which
may inspire him to exercise a bit more to investigate al the new
smel s and sights.
Teaching a reluctant cat to accept the halter and leash takes quite a
bit of patience. A more painless method capitalizes on the cat’s own
instincts. “About the most useful way to get a cat up and moving is to
play,” says Dr. Linn. “Find something she wants that gets her attention