How to Bury a Cat

Losing a beloved pet is never easy. Saying goodbye can be incredibly painful. Sometimes, the closure of a burial and funeral can help. If you want to bury your cat, make sure it's legal in your area. Then, choose a burial site, coffin, and grave marker. You will have to place your cat in the coffin, dig a hole, and then decorate the spot. If you have a place to visit your lost pet, you will feel better about saying goodbye.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making Decisions Regarding Burial

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Check whether burying your cat is legal and safe. While it's important to many to give their pet a final resting place, burying an animal is not legal everywhere. Prior to burying your cat, check local regulations. You can call someone at your local courthouse or Department of Natural Resources to see whether it's legal to bury a pet in your backyard. Usually, you cannot bury a cat in a public place like a park.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Refrain from burying a cat near a body of water. This could contaminate the water supply.
- You should also make sure you're not digging into any cables in the ground. Choose an area of your yard that's far away from home. If you encounter any cables while digging your hole, stop digging, refill the hole, and pick a different spot.
- If you're renting, make sure to check with your landlord. Not all landlords will allow people to bury pets in the backyard.
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Choose a burial site. Once you have made sure burying your cat is legal, select a burial site, such as a spot in your yard.^{[2]XResearch source}
- You may want to pick a special or symbolic place to bury your cat. If your cat always hung out near the wildflowers in your yard, for example, this may be a good spot to bury them. If your cat loved to play in the woods, you could bury your cat there.
- However, think about logistics when deciding to bury your cat. You do not want the grave somewhere in the yard where it will frequently be stepped on or disturbed. Choose an area of your yard where you don't usually go. If you have young children, pick a spot where they do not play.
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Select a coffin or container. You want some kind of vessel to place your cat in prior to burial. This is particularly important if your state or area has certain regulations regarding burying pets. You may be required to use a particular type of container due to concerns about contaminating the ground.^{[3]XResearch source}
- You can purchase a coffin for a pet online. If it's important to you to have a formal coffin, this may be the right option for you.
- However, coffins can be expensive. You can also bury your cat in something like a cardboard box. If your cat had a bed they loved, consider burying your cat in their bed.
- If you don't need to use a container, you can always just wrap your cat in a towel prior to burial.
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Settle on a grave marker. There are many things you could use to mark your pet's grave. You can purchase a marker for your pet online, which you can custom create to include your pet's name and other details, such as the date of birth and death. However, if this is out of your budget, there are other options.^{[4]XResearch source}
- You can gather stones and rocks from your backyard and pile them near the grave. If it's important for you to have your cat's name on the grave marker, you can use paint to write the cat's name on a larger rock.
- If your cat loved a particular type of plant, consider placing a plant over your cat's grave. You can also put down something bigger, like a tree.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Beginning the Burial Process

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Plan to bury your cat as soon as possible. You want to bury your cat before the body starts to decompose. Ideally, bury your cat within the day they died or the day afterward. A prompt burial is especially important in warmer months.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Unfortunately, if a cat dies in the winter, a prompt burial is not always possible. The ground may be frozen over. In this case, ask your vet whether you can store your cat's body with them until you're able to bury it.
- You can also wrap your cat in a towel and place it in a Styrofoam container filled with ice. However, you should only use this method if you're storing your cat's body for a few days prior to burial. It will not work for long-term storage.
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Gather the necessary supplies. You will need certain supplies to bury your cat. You can find most of them at a local hardware store if you don't have them on hand in your home. You will need the following:^{[6]XResearch source}
- Gloves
- A spade or shovel
- Rope to tie around the box or container
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Place your cat in the container you chose. Use gloves when handling your cat's body. If you want, you can bury your cat with a few of their favorite items. You can, for example, wrap your cat in their favorite blanket. You can also place your cat's favorite toy in the container with them, or other items the cat liked when alive.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Make sure to tie the box closed with rope after placing the cat in it.
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Dig a hole at least three feet deep. You want to make sure the hole is deep enough that your cat's body will not be targeted by predators. Make sure to dig the hole wide enough that you can place your cat's coffin into the ground.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Remember, if you notice any cables, stop digging immediately. Fill in your hole and look for another place to bury your pet.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Completing the Burial Process

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Have a small memorial if you wish. Many people find a memorial is helpful when burying their cat. Before placing your cat in the ground, you can say a few words, sing a song, or read a poem.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Consider inviting friends and family members over to say goodbye to your pet.
- Young children may find a memorial particularly beneficial. You can encourage them to all collect things that remind them of their lost pet. They can place these things in the hole alongside the cat's coffin.
After saying a few words, gently set your cat's coffin in the ground. Refill the hole with the soil you dug up. Make sure to press the soil down as you place it over the grave. You want the soil to be firmly in place to prevent predators from digging up your cat.^{[10]XResearch source}
Honor a loyal companion's life. "Saying goodbye to our 17-year-old cat Theodore was one of the hardest things we've ever done. He lived a long, happy life as a member of our family. Thanks to this article, we can lay him to rest with the respect he deserves. Knowing we can properly bury him in our yard and visit his grave will help us find closure after this painful loss." - Kevin H.
Provide a peaceful resting place. "We just lost our sweet cat, Lockie, unexpectedly. I'm so grateful we can bring him home and lay him to rest in the garden he loved playing and climbing in. Thanks to the detailed steps here, we can give him a peaceful final resting place to visit and reflect on our wonderful memories together." - Angela C.
Comfort a beloved friend near the end. "My tabby Nellie has been by my side for 20 years. Having to put her down is devastating. This guide gave me the info I needed to prepare a burial spot for her in the backyard. Wrapping her in her favorite blanket with her toys will help give us both comfort as we say goodbye. I'm thankful she can remain close." - Adrienne A.
Learn proper burial techniques. "I didn't know the steps for respectfully burying a cat before reading this. The instructions around choosing a legal site, using a coffin, digging deep enough, and setting up a grave marker have educated me on how to properly lay a cherished pet to rest. This knowledge will help me say goodbye." - Valerie G.
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Set up your grave marker. Do not skip the grave marker. While it may not be important to you as a symbolic gesture, a grave marker prevents the grave from being disturbed. If you purchased a coffin, set it over the grave. If you're using rocks or other materials, pile them over the cat's resting place.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you're planting something in the ground, surround the base of the plant with something heavy. This will keep predators away.
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Decorate the gravesite if you want. Once the marker is up, you may want to decorate the gravesite. You can put up temporary decorations, like flowers and other foliage.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If you have young children, they may want to decorate the grave. You can encourage them to do something like write notes to the cat or draw pictures to leave at the gravesite.

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Tips

If burial is not possible, you can have your cat cremated and scatter the ashes somewhere.
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Check before you scatter the ashes; it might not be legal where you live. However, maybe you can keep the ashes in a box and store them somewhere safe.
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