Helping parents with loss of cat

[Fruitflylady]

My parent’s beautiful, friendly cat had to be put to sleep this morning. Unfortunately my parents are away but I’ll be at their house this weekend. Is there anything I can do in the house to make their homecoming less painful for them?

Could you have a trip to a garden centre to buy a shrub in their memory? Obviously only if that's their sort of thing. Maybe you could take charge of meals for the weekend so they don't have to think too much (but can join in with prep if they want the distraction). Or perhaps they'd do better with going out and taking their minds off it? I think it depends a bit on what your parents are like and how they cope with sadness.

I think you might be better to ask them how they’d like you to proceed really. Do they know about their cat?

I’m sure some people would prefer to come home and not see any sad reminders like beds and bowls, etc. But for me, I’d find it even more sad to have all traces of my precious kitty removed like they were never there. I think living alongside the sad reminders for a while can help us to feel our feelings and process our grief and move towards acceptance.

Oh no I am so sorry OP. Was it a sudden thing or did they know he/she might not have long ?
Either way i would buy some lovely flowers for the table when they get back, throw away any unused food , give any full packs of food to the food bank , and clear away dear cat’s dishes. You might also want to take the cat’s bed away, but your parents might prefer it to still be there.

Sorry I've misinterpreted and thought you meant they'd be returning and spending the weekend with you, ignore me!

@CaraMiaMonCher this is very true, I think we won’t clear anything away as I think it would be worse to find nothing left of hers in the house. When our gerbil died I found it slightly cathartic to clean her cage out.
But maybe we’ll clean and tidy a bit and leave the bowl and her bed in place.

@CharlesChickens they knew she was poorly. She’d been in and out of the vets fur a while (untreatable tumour) but he advised them to continue with their long-held holiday plans. When they left I’m sure they would have said a special farewell just in case of this eventuality. It’s still so sad though 😥

@founddreampet Pets don't generally come home from the morgue with or without tags you spammer.

I'm sorry OP for their loss. I'd maybe empty and wash out bowls & litter tray if there is one but leave them in situ.