Expressing sympathy with a pet memorial

Q: Our adult daughter has an elderly cat, Oscar, who is nearing the end of his life. Since Oscar is her first pet, we want to memorialize him in a special way. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Start by writing a note on a pet sympathy card, sharing your favorite memories of Oscar.

Here are some additional ideas:

• If you have pictures of Oscar or your daughter and Oscar together, frame one or make a collage of several of them.

• Place a photo, collar, ID tag and a favorite toy in a shadow box.

• Get Oscar’s paw print or nose print, and have it designed into a piece of jewelry. Give your daughter a charm bracelet so she can attach Oscar’s many colorful rabies tags to it.

• If your daughter plans to cremate Oscar’s body after he dies, look online for an urn, a pendant or another piece of jewelry to hold his cremains.

• Make a donation in Oscar’s memory to the shelter or rescue where your daughter adopted him. Consider donating to a veterinary school or the Morris Animal Foundation, which sponsors research to improve the health of cats.

• Research local pet bereavement support groups and offer to accompany your daughter to her first meeting.

However you honor your daughter’s close relationship with her cat, your loving support will warm her heart.

Editor’s Note: Here are additional ways to celebrate the life of your cat or dog with a personalized pet memorial. 

Lee Pickett, V.M.D. practices companion animal medicine. Contact her at askdrlee@insurefigo.com.