Losing a pet is one of the most upsetting events we can experience. Take time to allow yourself to mourn, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel you need it. Unfortunately, some people who don’t own animals can be rather unsympathetic at such a time, but grieving over a pet is a very valid emotional process.

To begin healing, you and other members of your family might need to talk to someone who understands. There are people who are trained in this area who are happy to listen and talk to you about your feelings. The Pet Bereavement Support Service can be contacted on 0800 0966606 or via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ceremonies often help us deal with loss and allow you to move on. If it's allowed where you live, you might want to bury your cat's remains or perhaps his collar and a favourite toy mouse. Some owners plant catnip over the spot or perhaps a rose bush.

Others take comfort from assembling a photo album or scrapbook about their cat. Pictures of him as a kitten and an adult enjoying life can evoke happy memories that can dull the sharp pangs of grief. Many people make a memorial donation to their local rescue centre - you will know what feels right to you.

What you can do:

Light a virtual candle

Scrapbook memories

Make a scrapbook to make a memory journal. Fill it with pictures of your pet, notes and memories. Alternatively, you could create a memory box and include his collar, a favourite toy, pedigree certificate, and of course, photos.

Donate

Make a donation to favourite animal charity. If your pet died from a specific disease, you could donate money to a charity like the Feline Advisory Bureau which supports specialist vets who seek to improve the knowledge on feline veterinary health matters, or to a charity which helps people who struggle with huge veterinary bills such as the Tailwaggers Club Trust

Write down your feelings

Put your emotions in writing by composing a poem or story about your pet's life and what made him so special. You might even consider writing a letter to your departed pet, telling him how much you love and miss him.

Create a living memorial

Let your pet's spirit live again by planting a tree, bush, or flowerbed in your garden. Alternatively, attach a small plaque to a flowerpot or vase in your home. Choose something you associate with your pet.

Frame a special photo

Have a photograph you particularly like of your cat enlarged and framed. There are all sorts of creative options for photographs these days. Alternatively, why not commission an artist to paint a draw a portrait from your favourite photograph?