My cat Otto is getting pretty old (he is 16) and I have been wondering something. Will you guys help me out?

I called the vet to verify their procedure. I allowed my other cats to say goodbye. I cut a tuft of hair near his tail off and put it in a baggie to remember him by. I put him in a cat carrier and covered it with a large towel so people with live pets could not see him. They took me to a private room allow me to pick out an urn (you could probably buy one online cheaper ) they took his body and sent it to the crematory and they called me to pick up the urn with his remains four days later. I made sure to clean the carrier thoroughly. They will allow you just use a tupperware container if you prefer bury the ashes somewhere like my mom did. She put her dog in the dogs favorite place to lay down in the yard. You could put the urn in your cats favorite window etc. It was very tough and I did find myself clutching the urn when I thought about him and crying. The urn size needed for most cats is no bigger than a larger peanut butter jar (not to upset you but so if you want to be ready to buy one you can) They also have have pet cemeteries in some areas if that interests you. George (my cat's name) is now sitting in the foyer on shelf in my house. I enjoy looking at his picture more but I am glad to have his remains and they can go with me if I move. They do have picture urns that look decorative enough to sit on display around the house. Something neat they did for my friend when she lost her dog they had a necklace and key chain with a tiny snow globe that contained some glitter and tiny amount of the dogs ashes. She like the thought of always having part of the dog with her. Your cat could live even longer I've met a cat that was 22. Take him for regular vet checks. Make sure they do health check blood work ideally every 6 months but at least every year. You may have him around longer. It's good you're asking about this though because I know it was the last thing I want to figure out when I lost my cat.

That is the worst thing about having a pet is to lose them. The joys do far outweigh that pain though. That being said to answer your question, you need not live on a farm to bury your cat. I have a little cat cemetary here at home. We've only cremated the dogs when they died because they were just too big to bury properly. We do still have their ashes. We keep them in a special place in the house. Anyway, I'll give information for both. When we bury a cat, we wrap them in a towel, and make a special box for them. You don't have to do that part, but we did it for the first one and now that's just how we do it whenever we lose a cat. Once the cat's in the box the burial is pretty much the same idea as for people just a smaller and shallower hole. If you prefer burial you may be able to find a pet cemetary in your area. You'd buy a plot, and a marker then you can visit your kitty whenever you want. Cremation for animals is pretty much the same as for people. You can talk with your vet as they will likely know who to talk to when that time comes. Till then, I wouldn't dwell on death. Sure he's old and he's slowed down but that doesn't mean he'll die anytime soon. Enjoy him and his company while you have him. When the time comes just be with him so he's not alone. We always make sure someone is around and that they know it. It seems to help them.

Don't fret yet. Your cat may have a few good years left!

But if you want to be prepared for when the time comes, and I would recommend this so you don't have to deal with it later, talk to your vet ahead of time. I, personally, would recommend cremation. The vets in my area all do business with pet crematoriums. The vet will hold the pet's body and someone from the crematorium will pick it up, perform the cremation, and deliver the ashes (cremains) to your home. You can purchase one of the urns they offer or you can find a container that you really like elsewhere, and it doesn't have to be a container made specifically for ashes. It can be any suitable container that you like (ceramic, wood, carved stone, etc.).

There are many ways to go about this. Losing a pet is one of the hardest things you can go through, it's like losing a family member. There's no certain way of preparing your pet after it's passed away. Knowing this from previous work experience at a vet, people have come in with their pet wrapped in a towel or a box. Usually most veterinarians can cremate your pet.

I have had many cats through my life. It's always hard to lose one because they are a part of our family. You can bury him or have him cremated at the vet's if you chose to. We have buried some in our back yard after a small service held by the family. If you plan on taking him to the vet after he passes, wrap him in a small blanket or a towel. Remember, it's OK to be sad. You are losing a friend. The hurt will ease with time and you will remember the good times. BTW....please don't freak out when you see my screen name. It's just coincidence.

When he starts getting ready to die he will start to stray away...

When my cat died at 16 he stayed close to his litter box and the window. We [the family] kept bringing him close making him most comfortable. pet him and love on him. When he did die we expected it but not so soon. We had planned to take him to the vet that coming friday but he died so sudden on a wen. I remember i was getting ready for work and holding him as much as i can and petting on him. He peed on the bed so i picked him up and carried him to a chair. he died in my arms :(

It was cold outside so we kept the window open a fan on his body and wrapped him in a blanket. We got him cremated a few days later (3 days i think). you can prob fit him in the freezer above your fridge just keep him wrapped up and cold or his body could explode. To get him cremated just call around to the vets...and look in the phone book. it costed like 100$ and we go a box made for him which was another $60. It will be hard but you know when its coming...my cat died in Nov. and i still miss him daily. We have a new cat we have had for about a week, she has filled a lil bit of that hole in my heart but not fully. Its hard to lose an animal...its like family, you never really get over it you just live with it

Any vet can perform the service for you (having him cremated, they pretty much all subscribe to a cremation service). You'll have to pay the fee for it, and extra if you want the ashes back, but they can do it.

You can also take the body to any animal shelter and they'll put it with the other bodies they have for pickup.

I don't live on a far either but my cat Precious got hit by a snow plow and froze to death on the side of the road 2 years ago and I went and got her and burried her in my back yard. I also planted a flower over her because she was my best friend. I'm sorry that your kitty is getting old, I know it hurts so bad to lose a friend. Good luck hun<3

Usually the vet with be able to cremate him or they'll send him off to a place to do it. It usually takes about one or two weeks for the ashes to come back. If you have to put him down, stay with him when they do it, if that's possible. It's comforting to the animal.

When we put my dog down, it was the hardest day of my life. The vet just sent his body to be cremated. We didn't have to sned him anywhere. I'm sorry to hear about your cat. Here's a hug *hug*. I know how you feel, my dog was fifteen and my family had him before I was even born. But, now we have another dog, and I love him :D