Digging up buried cat three days later

[Ozzie9523]

Sorry to keep posting but this is the only place I can find to talk about this. I am struggling so much after our beloved cat was killed on the road Saturday night 💔 My husband buried him wrapped up in bin bags Sunday night and ever since I keep picturing him and wishing we’d given him a proper burial. I was in shock and not thinking straight. I’ve made him a box and filled it with his old bed, a top of mine, one of his toys and a card from me to rebury him in. Hubby just tried to dig a much bigger hole for it and was struggling, he has now got angry saying I’m ‘going over the top’ and should leave him be. I also want to get a fur clipping. I’m thinking his body will be pretty much the same as it’s only been a few days but guess I could be mistaken, I probably won’t look at him, I just want to get a clipping and bury him properly. Is this a bad idea? 💔💔💔

I would be very worried his body would have been broken and distorted by the weight of the soil placed over him. Sorry for such a graphic mental image, but it's the first thing that came into my mind.

I would have advised not todo it in case it was grim opening the bag. But I'm so glad it worked out and you got those moments with him. My cat was PTS and it was planned and I still spent hours with him (paid for vet to do it at home). It makes a difference.

I hope you find a lovely plant. ❤️

Please please never bury clothes (likely plastic) or toys or anything non biodegradable - they are all toxic and not the best way to remember your pet.

You raised a six year old thread to tell people not to bury plastic

What value does your comment bring, to yourself, or to anyone? Try getting some hobbies. The sun is shining, get out of your basement and start living your life instead of moaning and complaining. You’ll be happier.

You're the one who dug up an ancient thread dude.

Top level irony.

Im so sorry to the OP is they are still around though, how awful for them having to read your nonsense on such a sensitive thread.

I hope you followed your instinct! It would give you closure. I’m so glad you did ! I just buried my 17 year old male tabby in my garden, who died peacefully in his sleep at home suddenly with no warning, illness or suffering . I tried to bury him on the day he died, for some reason believing I was supposed to do it immediately. But the first day I could not bring myself to cover his perfect body with sand. It was getting dark so I brought him back into the house from half finished grave to protect from predators taking his body, where his mother still alive slept next to him, I think she also needed to acknowledge his passing . Buried him the next afternoon in beautiful sunlight with my kids a more beautiful experience but somehow it still pained me afterwards that I was not ready and did not sit with him for longer admiring his form that I would never see again. The painful part was that his body had not yet started decomposing! and I couldn’t bear the thought of giving it to the earth yet , disintegrating from his perfect form , I needed that physical confirmation.
The third night, (last night!) the need to see him again completely took over me and despite all the self criticism , fear of disturbing his grave , possibly seeing him in a state of decay , and being called crazy, I carefully opened the grave again just to look at him talk to him feel his beautiful paws again. I could not move him he looked so peaceful at rest and I think his skin had started becoming ‘sticky’ so I did not want to disturb his body or resting place . But somehow seeing him one last time left me feeling more at peace , accepting , and with closure , though the loss still hurts I feel more able to move on & not feel cut up in torment. I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had simply blocked out the time needed to get over the shock, grieve and accept, to feel ready, instead of rushing to bury him on the first day! The third day is perfectly fine and suitable still early enough , I now know ! The external pressures and should do’s are guilty impositions . Thank goodness we can still hear our own intuitions listen to our own inner compass and answer our own personal needs for our own processing through the noise. I’m glad your husband joined and supported you through honouring your need for closure and honouring your cat companion in a more beautiful way. We have become too separated from death and natural return to earth in natural , healthy timing , being close with the body to thank the being for their life is a necessary step and helps a lot in processing and giving time to honour the trauma of loss , grief and letting go.
(I found this post by googling is it crazy to dig up your cat if you didn’t feel ready).
I’m glad you didn’t listen to the naysayers !
5 years later. I relate!

I'm glad you did it op. It was the right thing and it would have haunted you if you hadn't. Five stars for your husband as I bet the ground is hard to dig right now. So sorry for the loss of your cat under such shocking circumstances xxx

It was 6 and a half years ago