1. I called the vet

I didn’t know what I was supposed to say.

So I just said:

“My cat died at home. What do I need to do next?”

That was enough.

I asked about bringing her in, cremation, and what I should do with her body while I waited.

2. I stopped trying to remember everything

The vet gave me information, but I knew I wasn’t taking all of it in.

So I wrote down only three things:

• Where she needed to go
• When I needed to take her
• What decisions I had to make today

Everything else could wait.

3. I wrapped her gently and kept her somewhere cool

This was the part I wasn’t prepared for.

I had to move her body while I was still trying to understand that she was gone.

I used a clean towel and took my time.

If your pet is heavy, please ask someone to help you. And if you have to wait before taking them to the vet or an aftercare provider, ask the professional you speak with how to care for their body in the meantime.

4. I chose the aftercare I could handle

For me, that meant asking about cremation.

There were choices I hadn’t thought about before that day.

I didn’t try to make the “perfect” decision.

I just asked questions until I understood what would happen next.

5. Before she left, I saved a few small things

This is the one step I’m glad I remembered.

Some families also ask for a paw print or keep a name tag. I didn’t need to know what I would eventually do with any of it.

I just didn’t want to realize later that I wished I had saved something.

6. I left everything else alone

Her bowl was still there.

Her bed was still there.

I didn’t pack anything away.

I didn’t choose a memorial.

I didn’t try to work out how I was supposed to live without her.