{"id":2520,"date":"2025-05-28T00:58:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T00:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mypetsies.com\/blog\/?p=2520"},"modified":"2025-06-11T17:13:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:13:05","slug":"5-creative-ways-to-cope-with-pet-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mypetsies.com\/blog\/guest-blog\/5-creative-ways-to-cope-with-pet-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Creative Ways to Cope with Pet Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After my beloved soulmate cat Squiggles passed away, I was completely shattered. I didn\u2019t know how to get through my days without her by my side. And even though I\u2019m a therapist\u2014and have been doing talk therapy for over a decade\u2014I didn\u2019t really want to talk about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Losing a pet, especially one who\u2019s been with you for years, is one of the most painful experiences you can go through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets don\u2019t just impact your daily routine, they shape how you live our life. They make you a better person, and they become part of who you are. So when they\u2019re gone, it\u2019s normal to feel completely lost and devastated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no right or wrong way to grieve a profound loss like this. For me, talking didn\u2019t quite feel like enough. Instead, I was drawn to creativity as a way to honor Squiggles and survive my hardest moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the bond you form with a pet is unlike any other, healing often means stepping outside the box. It means trying things that don\u2019t always look like \u201cgrief work,\u201d but absolutely are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone grieves in their own way. Some of these ideas may speak to you. I invite you to use what helps, and leave the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five creative ways to cope after losing your beloved pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Spend time creating an altar to honor your pet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An altar<\/a> is a sacred space to honor someone you love. It doesn\u2019t have to be big or elaborate. You can put up a shelf, or use an area in your house that your pet loved. Place a photo of your pet, a candle, their collar, their toys, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also add flowers, crystals, a written note, or any signs you come across that remind you of them. Turn it into a sacred place to feel connected to them, let yourself cry if you need to, and let it evolve over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Hold something that reminds you of your pet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you hold a pet, happy chemicals like dopamine and serotonin are released in your brain. Which is why losing a pet is so hard – you don\u2019t have them there to hold in your toughest moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you can hold a special item that reminds you of your pet as a way to find a bit of comfort once they\u2019re gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can try holding a leash or their favorite toy. Or you can get something extra special, like a custom plush animal of your pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petsies and Budsies<\/a> have a few options for this – you can get an exact replica of your pet, or even draw your pet out and they\u2019ll create a plush of your drawing, which is what I did. This is a great way to \u201chold\u201d and connect with your pet\u2019s spirit when you miss them the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Write a Poem About Your Pet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poetry is one of the most powerful ways you can process your emotions while grieving. And guess what? You don\u2019t have to be a \u201cwriter,\u201d to write a poem. Anyone can do it, including you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can start with a short haiku, which uses the format 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Squiggly Wiggly girl<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I miss holding you so much<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The love of my life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of my grief after Squiggles died, I illustrated a poem about her, called It\u2019s All The Same Forest.<\/a> I let memories and feelings guide me as I drew the images that now make up the story. It took almost 2 years to complete, but was one of the most powerful ways I processed my grief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the back of the book is a guided poetry exercise to help you write a poem about your own pet, whenever you\u2019re ready. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Start a Memory Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardening connects us back to nature and the circle of life. Plus, spending time in nature is grounding so when you spend time in the garden to connect back to your pet, you\u2019re also regulating your nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety, and finding a sense of calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you associate your pet with a certain color, plant some flowers with that color (I planted pink roses for Squiggles because that is the color that reminds me of her). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also sprinkle their remains in the garden if you\u2019d like, knowing that their spirit lives on all around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Create a Jar of Love<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The love you share with your pet never goes away, even after they die. In my pet loss community, The Furever Forest<\/a>, we create Jars of Love as a way for you to continuously express that love, forever. And to ensure no memory with your pet is ever forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with an empty jar, some markers and paper. Spend some time writing down memories of your pet or messages you want to send them, and add them to the jar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also place little belongings or photos, and add an electric tea light as a reminder that their light is still with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do whatever feels right as you decorate your jar, and keep adding to it whenever you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some final thoughts on healing grief creatively<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no timeline for grief, and there\u2019s no right or wrong way to cope. I have found that when you do something creative, it helps you process your grief in new ways, and also connects you back to the love you have for your pet. Which is healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And remember, even the smallest act, like putting a photo on a shelf, holding a plush of your pet, or writing one line about them, can open the door to something deeper.
And if you\u2019re looking for more ways to heal and honor your pet, join my community, The Furever Forest<\/a> for guided support, memory prompts, and a creative community of grieving pet parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paige Rechtman, LMHC, is a licensed therapist and the creator of\u00a0Furever Forest<\/a><\/em>, an online healing hub supporting people grieving the loss of a soulmate pet. She\u2019s also the author and illustrator of\u00a0It\u2019s All the Same Forest<\/em>, a poem she wrote during the first year after her soulmate cat passed away. She brings creativity, compassion, and connection into the grieving process, offering ways to heal that go beyond words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After my beloved soulmate cat Squiggles passed away, I was completely shattered. I didn\u2019t know how to get through my days without her by my side. And even though I\u2019m a therapist\u2014and have been doing talk therapy for over a decade\u2014I didn\u2019t really want to talk about it. 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