While the loss of a pet can be a difficult experience, one bereaved New York pet owner chose an unconventional way to memorialize her dead cat forever. The woman took to social media to share that she froze her dead pet, sparking an internet debate about whether her actions were understandable or simply unsettling.
The pet owner posted an Instagram video with the words, “Unbox my dead cat with me” written across. The clip showed her opening a package and unwrapping a stuffed black cat. “Perfectly preserved,” the description read. The woman tearfully hugged the stuffed animal and then stroked its fur. She then placed the stuffed animal on a shelf in her house and planted a kiss on its head.
In the video’s accompanying caption, the grieving woman explained her reasons for keeping her dead pet. She wrote, “When you love something that much, you don’t bury it. You preserve it. Forever iconic. Forever fuzzy. And yes, he’s freeze-dried. No, I’m not sorry.”
In a subsequent post, the New York woman warned others not to judge and compared the stuffing process with cremation. She wrote, “Judging me while you have a box of ashes? Your grief turned to ashes. Mine stayed whole. Both are love. Both are loss.”
She further shed light on the process, stating that her cat was preserved by the Animal Family Pet Preservation, and has been living with the preserved animal for a year.
“It brings me peace and not pain. He’s not creepy. He’s honored. And no, he’s not going in the trash when I die, he’s in my will,” the grieving pet owner penned.
Social media users had mixed reactions about the woman’s unconventional approach. One netizen who found it concerning wrote, “Personally, I think this is sick and twisted.” Another person shared a similar sentiment. “Omg….. that’s sick and creepy.” This observer chimed in, “Honey, that’s not okay. Please go to therapy.”
On the other hand, some users appeared to understand the cat owner. A social media user remarked, “I’m happy for you that this comforts you so nice.” Another person condemned those who judged her, but didn’t see anything wrong with taxidermy. “People are fine with hunting and killing animals while putting them as a trophy, but are upset when you honor your pet,” they wrote.
While netizens are divided on whether her actions were proper or not, it is worth noting that the woman preserving her pet is legal. According to FindLaw, it is legal to stuff dead pets, so long as the pet was legally obtained and is not a migratory bird.
