GIVING HELP
What makes a person decide to give up their time to help those grieving the loss of a beloved pet? One volunteer was looking for something worthwhile to do after being made redundant in 2017 and came across the Cats Protection’s Paws to Listen service.
“I have been through the awful experience of losing a much-loved cat a few times myself and wanted to be there to help others in a similar situation,” said Susan Anthony, from London.The 68-year-old former stockbroker is now retired and continues to give up her time to help those in need.
“After many years working in the City — which can be a greedy and cruel environment — I thought about retraining as a counsellor, but in all honesty, I have always preferred animals to humans,” said Susan, who has a cat and a horse.“When I came across Paws to Listen, I realised volunteering for the service was the perfect solution: a way for me to change course and give something back. It can be upsetting hearing people who are in distress, but knowing that I can help just by being there and listening in an understanding way is very rewarding.”
COPING WITH THE LOSS OF A CAT
● Contact a charity’s bereavement service or a specialist counsellor.
● Remember everyone’s grief is different; there is no one way you should be feeling.
● Acknowledge that it’s OK to grieve after a cat’s death.
● Talk to friends and family and share how you’re feeling.
● A ritual, for instance a funeral or sprinkling of ashes, to celebrate your pet may be comforting.
● Making a memory box with photos and special toys, or putting some pictures up in a corner of a room, can help with loss.
● A surviving pet may be experiencing grief too so keep a close eye on them.
● Look after yourself — grief can be exhausting. If you feel you are really not coping and your grief is complex, prolonged, or combined with other factors, then consult a GP for additional support.