Things You Shouldn't Say to Someone Whose Cat Just Died

Losing a pet is like losing a family member to some, and although it's an animal, a beloved pet is a true member of the family. People who aren't animal lovers might consider a cat just an object or a disposable possession, but those who love animals and have included them as members of their family are distraught when they die. It's the loss of a living creature that had real feelings and a genuine personality, and it's a loss that is felt deep within the heart.

I recall when my cat of seven years died, and I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. She died accidentally when she climbed beneath the hood of my car, and I was devastated - especially since I felt I was to blame. Well meaning friends and family members tried their best to console me, but a few others I knew were cold and truly harsh. There are things that shouldn't be said to someone whose cat just died, and some of these things were said to me. They were words that hurt to the core.

Don't Say She Won't Be in Heaven

After my beloved feline died, a cousin informed me very bluntly that our animals are on Earth for companionship, and she said my cat that had just died wouldn't be in Heaven. I realize people have varying beliefs regarding pets and Heaven, but I thought this was a terrible thing to say to someone whose cat had just died. I didn't ask my cousin for that bit of callous information she so willingly offered, and it certainly didn't make me feel any better.

It's best not to share religious beliefs regarding animals with someone whose cat has just died. Although I didn't agree with what my cousin said, her comment made me feel worse than ever. What was she trying to prove? It was clear that speaking out about what she believed in was more important than my feelings. I could have cared less what she thought, but she gained some sort of pleasure by telling me.

If you don't believe in an afterlife, and if you believe that pets and people are nothing more than meaningless piles of flesh and bone, you're entitled to believe what you want, but don't judge my beliefs by telling me I'm wrong. Don't make the mistake of making fun of what I believe in. You won't make me feel any better, and if your goal is to create doubt in my mind, you'll be wasting your time. We're all responsible for our own beliefs, and if I want to believe my cat will be in Heaven, than that's my choice.

Don't Say You Can Get Another One

Cats can't be replaced like broken toys, and when a cat has just died, telling someone they can get another cat is a heartless thing to say. Each pet has a special personality, and they're as unique as human beings. A replacement didn't exist, and when my cat died I didn't want another cat. It took many months for the pain to subside after my cat died, and to this day I miss her dearly. I've had other cats, and they're all unique. They can never be replaced.

Don't Say It Was Just an Animal

When a cat has just died, one of the worst things someone can say is that it was just a cat. It was a living, breathing creation of God, and it wasn't just anything. It was a life, and all life is important. To have someone say my four-legged family member was just a cat would have been a terrible slap in the face. My cat meant a great deal to me, and I loved her very much. She was a beautiful animal that was capable of feeling love and returning love, and she wasn't just a cat.

Don't Say She Was Old

No matter how old a kitty is, when that animal dies it's a devastating loss, and mentioning the cat's age isn't comforting. My feline that died was only seven, but if she had been twenty it wouldn't have mattered. I would have missed her just as much, and being old wouldn't have made her death any less upsetting.

Don't Say You Won't Have to Worry About Fur

When someone loses a cat they dearly loved, hearing someone say that cat fur will no longer be a problem isn't comforting in the least. When my cat died I would have vacuumed daily if I could have brought her back. I would have loved to find her fur on the carpets and furniture, and as time passed, her fur gradually disappeared until I couldn't find a single strand.