Grieving Our Cat Through Art

Our cat died. Our second pet in less than one year. Not to mention we are still grieving the loss of our great grandmother and my Mom. It truly is more than two little hearts should have to bare. When we found our sweet Bela today, there were lots of tears but no questions. They have stopped asking questions. Grief has become part of our their routine and that made me cry for different reasons.

A few hours after we found Bela, after dinner and baths, we sat down at our dining room table to write letters and to draw. Research shows, that young children benefit greatly from expressing themselves through drawing and writing and it has always been a pertinent way for my children to work through their grief.

Drawing, talking. Talking, drawing. Both of my children really benefit form expressing their hurt and pain with artistic expression. It always gives them the opportunity to share their feelings with me verbally, to share their hurts and to ask questions. I think the most potent comment tonight was from Lu, who said, “It’s ok Mom, Bela is with grandma and Bernie (our dog) now.”

Tomorrow we will put their pictures in the box and take them to the vet to be cremated with Bela. Another step to saying goodbye to someone else they have loved for their brief lifetimes.

Now I just need to put my own heart back together, again. Bela spent 15+ years of my life with me. She was a funny creature, aloof, finicky but always right in the middle of whatever you needed. She loved fresh water and deli chicken. She was adopted from a shelter in Virginia. There was a note on her cage that read, “Scratches, not good with children” and her name was Tink. I saved her and loved her. I am thankful for all the days she was part of my life. May she rest in peace on the other side of the rainbow bridge.