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.

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 it. 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.

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 it loved, consider burying your cat in its bed. If you don’t need to use a container, you can always just wrap your cat in a towel prior to burial.

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.

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.

Gloves A spade or shovel Rope to tie around the box or container

Make sure to tie the box closed with rope after placing the cat in it.

Remember, if you notice any cables, stop digging immediately. Fill in your hole and look for another place to bury your pet.

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.

If you’re planting something in the ground, make sure to surround the base of the plant with something heavy. This will keep predators away.

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.