A different place in the garden
Last night I fell asleep outside in my favourite spot in the garden. My daughter Peugeot sat watching over me close by. I dreamt all my family was beside me. My human mommy and daddy, my sister, My fur-family and adopted brother, and even my kittens, long since grown up. And when I woke up today, I got the feeling they were all still somewhere very near.

I could go inside my house if I wanted, but I was waiting for my brother Biscuit to find me again. I followed his paw prints along a familiar winding path. Just past where the Rosemary grows; I saw what seemed to be a little window. The garden looked different past there, dark and mysterious, but not at all frightening.

Before going through, I glanced back down the winding path that leads to my house. I saw the laurel hedge where I had napped beside the night before. But instead of only leaves and grass, I saw a cheeky looking black and white cat there. A cheeky cat that looked a lot like me. And then I noticed what a great spot that was. Half shaded, with a little tuft of grass, just right for curling up in. A good place for listening to birds, daydreaming, and sleeping.

Leaving that old, tired black and white cat to sleep on, I pushed past the Rosemary. And just like the curtains to my house windows, the Rosemary swished closed behind me. I immediately saw the paw prints of my brother. They led me to a clearing bathed in gentle sunshine. I could hear birds and frogs around me. Beneath my paws was soft grass. In front of me my adopted brother Biscuit was running towards me. I decided my new home would be a different place in the garden, outside with my boy.

[Saying goodbye to my beloved cat Poppy]

Read about Poppy and Biscuit here

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If you have lost a beloved pet you may like to read Rainbow Bridge - A moving poem of consolation by an anonymous author.

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Ways in which you can memorialise your cat:
Scatter flower seeds in your garden or other place such as a favourite walk
Light a candle on significant anniversaries
Make a book of memories
Put their photo in a beautiful frame
Make a box of memories: Keep special momentos of your time together - this could include their collar, favourite toy, blanket, photos, or other meaningful items
Celebrate their life by giving a home to a rescued animal whose future may be otherwise bleak

Write a letter to your cat telling her how much you valued having her share her life with you. Keep in a special place or bury it in the garden along with a photo of the animal if desired. Plant symbols of remembrance on top, such as poppies, forget-me-nots or rosemary.

The herb rosemary, known for it’s magical and religious uses throughout the years is traditionally used to aid memory. Mourners would throw sprigs of rosemary into graves, a symbol that the dead would not be forgotten. I laid my cat Poppy to rest on sprigs of rosemary.

If your cat had a favourite plant or tree where she liked to sit take a flower or leaf from them and press it between the pages of a book for a keepsake.

External link: Instructions and basic techniques for pressing flowers and foliage - 
http://www.preservedgardens.com/

Volunteer:
Volunteer to work for a cat charity such as the Cats Protection.
There are several ways in which you can help an animal charity:
Foster an animal until they can be found a new home
Take part in fund raising activities
Sponsor cat pens
Help with cat grooming and socialising

Related link: volunteering >>

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Helpful websites:
The Blue Cross, Britain's pet charity, runs the Pet Bereavement Support Service and telephone helpline (0800 096 6606).
It provides advice and counselling through Telephone and Email Befrienders who are trained to deal with pet bereavement problems.
http://www.bluecross.org.uk/

The Animal Samaritans run a pet bereavement service which offers understanding and support for those who have recently lost a beloved pet.
http://www.animalsamaritans.org.uk/

EASE offers a pet bereavement support service.
http://www.ease-animals.org.uk/