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If there is no
danger of infection then this is a personal
choice. Some owners say that the surviving cats do
not search for a companion, having seen the body.
Others say that any veterinary smells on the body
disturbed their other cats. They may sniff around
the body, lick him and maybe try to wake him up
before concluding that their friend has gone. We
cannot know what cats understand by death, but
they probably have some awareness that a dead
animal does not return to life. If there is no
danger of infection and you believe that it will
help your other cats come to terms with the loss
of a companion, then by all means allow them to
see and smell the body.
Some owners notice
their surviving cats taking on behavior patterns
of the missing cat. There is nothing supernatural
about this - certain privileges and places once
accorded to the missing cat are now up for grabs.
This means the prime spot on the bed or being
allowed to eat in a certain place. In all
likelihood, the deceased cat defended these rights
during its lifetime (maybe simply by staring down
its companions) and the survivors see these
behaviors as being part of the hierarchy.
How Do I Dispose of the
Body?
There are several
options for disposal of your cat's mortal remains
following death. In the case of a terminal illness
or old age when euthanasia is not sudden or where
death is expected, owners are encouraged to think
about the disposal of the body in advance. These
depend on where you live and on how much you wish
to spend.
Only in cases where the body poses a
serious risk to human health (e.g. rabies, should
it ever enter UK) will you be denied permission to
deal with his remains as you wish. Unless your cat
died of a contagious disease such as rabies, you
are free to bury him, cremate him or leave him
with the vet for incineration. Or, you may wish to
"keep" him through taxidermy,
freeze-drying, resin preservation (plasticisation)
or cloning (at present tissue is banked for future
cloning). The decision depends on where you live,
local laws and how much you wish to spend.
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