There are some losses that change a home without making a sound. The water bowl stays full. The sunny spot on the floor stays warm. The familiar weight that used to settle at the end of the bed simply doesn’t arrive. When a cat dies, grief often feels private—quiet, constant, and surprisingly disorienting. Writing an obituary can be a gentle way to give that love somewhere to go. It turns “I miss you” into a story that can be shared, saved, reread, and held.
A cat obituary doesn’t need to sound like a newspaper notice. It can be simple and factual. It can be tender and lyrical. It can even be warmly humorous, because many cats live their whole lives as tiny comedians with strong opinions. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is recognition: this life mattered, and the bond mattered, and the details deserve to be remembered.
If you’re also moving through practical decisions—whether you chose burial, cremation, or you’re still deciding what comes next—know that writing can sit alongside those steps. Many families find it easier to choose memorial options after they’ve put words to who their cat really was. As pet memorial traditions grow, families are also looking for ways to share tributes online, connect with friends who loved their cat, and keep a sense of closeness through rituals at home.
What a cat obituary is really for
At its heart, an obituary is a “life notice,” but for pets it’s also a bridge between private grief and shared support. It gives people a way to show up for you without guessing what to say. It also helps you keep the memory specific—because grief can blur details, and writing pulls them back into focus: the crooked whisker, the chirp at birds, the insistence on drinking from your glass instead of their own.
A cat obituary can be posted on social media, shared by text, printed for a small gathering, or placed on a memorial page. It can also be written only for your household, tucked into a journal, or saved with photos. If you’re in the raw early days, Funeral.com’s guide on grieving the loss of a cat can help you name what this “quiet grief” often feels like and why it can hit so hard.
The essential elements most cat obituaries include
Most cat obituaries work because they balance a few practical facts with the real heart of the relationship. You can include as much—or as little—as feels right.
Name, age, and “how we knew them”
Start with your cat’s name and a quick identifier. If you don’t know their exact age, it’s okay to estimate or say “approximately.” If they were a rescue, you can honor that truth without turning the obituary into paperwork.
You might mention their coat color, breed (if known), or the way they moved through the house. One sentence is enough to help readers instantly picture them.
Personality, quirks, and the routines that made your days feel like yours
This is where a cat obituary becomes uniquely cat-shaped. Dogs often get described in big, obvious ways—“loyal,” “joyful,” “goofy.” Cats are frequently described through patterns: the exact chair they claimed, the time they woke you, the way they supervised showers, the rules they enforced.
If you’re stuck, think about these questions: What did your cat do that no other cat did? What did they always do? What did they hate? What did they love so much it felt like a ritual?
The people and pets who loved them
It’s common to list immediate family members—especially if you’re posting publicly and people may want to send condolences. If there are surviving pets, you can name them too, especially if that relationship was central. (If you’re noticing your surviving cat behaving differently, Funeral.com’s guide on helping a surviving cat cope may feel relevant in the days ahead.)
The goodbye and what comes next
Some people share a brief note about the death: “after a brief illness,” “peacefully at home,” or “surrounded by family.” Others prefer privacy. Either is okay.
If you want, you can also include where people can honor your cat: donate to a shelter, share a photo, light a candle, or leave a message on a memorial page.
Choosing the right tone: simple, tender, or gently funny
A helpful rule: write the obituary in the voice you would use if you were telling a friend about your cat on a normal day. Not a “perfect grief” voice—your voice.
A simple, factual tone works well when you feel emotionally flooded and just need something steady. A tender tone fits when you want to name the depth of the bond. A humorous tone can be incredibly healing when your cat had a strong personality and you want the obituary to sound like them—because love includes laughter, even when your chest hurts.
If you want more guidance on writing out loud what you’re carrying inside, Funeral.com’s article on how to write a pet eulogy is a supportive companion—especially if you plan to read your words at a small gathering.
Cat obituary examples in different styles
Below are short examples you can adapt. Feel free to borrow phrasing and replace details until it feels true.
Example: simple and heartfelt
Miso, a beloved orange tabby, died on December 3, 2025, at the age of 14. Adopted in 2011, he grew into the kind of cat who made a home feel calm—always nearby, always watching, always quietly present.
Miso loved window sun, slow blinks, and drinking water only if it was poured fresh. He was happiest when someone was working at the table, because that meant there was a lap available the moment he decided it was time. He is survived by his people, who loved him completely, and by the routines he made feel like family.
If you’d like to honor Miso, share a favorite photo, memory, or the small ways your own pets make your life better.
Example: warmly humorous (the “she had rules” version)
Pickle died on December 10, 2025, and the house is still adjusting to the fact that no one is enforcing bedtime. Pickle was a small gray cat with enormous opinions, most of them about food, door positions, and the unacceptable speed at which humans are expected to respond.
She loved crinkle sounds, hated closed bathroom doors, and believed every cardboard box belonged to her by law. Pickle supervised the household for 12 years with strict dedication and occasional headbutts.
She is survived by her family, who miss her constant commentary more than they ever expected. In Pickle’s honor, please open a window, sit in a sunbeam for five minutes, and remember that being loved by a cat is one of life’s greatest privileges.
Example: tender and poetic (the “quiet companion” version)
Luna died on December 16, 2025, leaving behind the kind of silence that only a cat can create—because the love was never loud, but it was everywhere. Luna’s gift was steadiness. She appeared when tears came. She stayed when the world felt heavy. She taught her family what comfort looks like without words.
Luna loved warm blankets, nighttime hallway patrols, and placing one paw on a wrist as if to say, “I’m here.” She was cherished beyond measure, and she will be remembered in every quiet moment that feels like safety.
If you’d like to honor Luna, speak her name out loud once, the way you would if she were still padding into the room.
Templates you can copy and customize
These templates are designed to be filled in quickly, without needing to “write like a writer.” Keep what you like, delete what you don’t.
Template: simple obituary (easy to post)
[Cat’s Name] died on [date] at the age of [age/approximate age]. [He/She/They] was loved deeply by [names/family] and brought comfort, companionship, and routine to our home.
[Cat’s Name] was known for [quirk 1], [quirk 2], and [favorite routine]. We will miss [one specific detail] every day.
If you’d like to honor [Cat’s Name], [invitation: share a memory / donate / light a candle / post a photo].
Template: personality-forward (for cats with “a brand”)
[Cat’s Name] (also known as [nickname]) died on [date]. [He/She/They] spent [number] years running this household with a mix of [adjective] charm and [adjective] authority.
Favorite things included [thing 1], [thing 2], and [thing 3]. Least favorite things included [thing 1] and [thing 2], and [Cat’s Name] made that very clear.
[Cat’s Name] is survived by [people/pets]. We’ll be missing [signature habit] forever—and laughing about it, too.
Template: tender “thank you” style (good for grief-heavy days)
We said goodbye to [Cat’s Name] on [date]. [He/She/They] was [age] and was loved for [number] years.
[Cat’s Name] gave us [what they gave you: comfort, laughter, steadiness, companionship]. We’ll remember [one memory], [one routine], and the way [he/she/they] made our home feel like a safe place.
If you’re reading this, please hold your own loved ones close today. And if you knew [Cat’s Name], thank you for loving [him/her/them] too.
Where to publish or share your cat’s obituary
Some families want a public place where friends can leave condolences. Others prefer a smaller circle. Both are valid choices—especially when grief feels tender.
You can share a cat obituary on social media with a favorite photo, in a group chat, or as an email to family. If you want a dedicated space that feels more like a guestbook than a post, pet memorial pages are another option. Ever Loved, for example, offers online pet memorial pages where people can share messages and photos.
If you’re sharing publicly, consider adding one gentle line that tells people how to respond. Many friends want to be kind, but don’t know how—your obituary can give them a clear path: “Share a memory,” “Post a photo,” or “Tell us the funniest thing you remember about her.”
When an obituary connects to memorial choices
Writing and planning often overlap. Once you’ve named what made your cat them, you may find you want a physical memorial that matches that story: something small, something visible, something you can hold.
That’s where options like pet urns, pet urns for ashes, and pet cremation urns can feel less like “shopping” and more like choosing a resting place that fits your cat’s spirit. Funeral.com’s Pet Urns for Ashes guide walks through size, materials, and personalization in a calm, practical way. If you’re specifically looking for cat-focused designs, the Pet Urns for Cats collection gathers styles that reflect feline details and home-friendly memorials.
Some families prefer keepsake urns—a small portion for a bedside shelf, while the rest is placed elsewhere. Funeral.com’s Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection is designed for exactly that kind of sharing and closeness. And if your cat had a look you want reflected in a memorial, Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes includes sculptural options that feel like a tribute you can display.
For people who want something more portable, cremation jewelry—including cremation necklaces—can be a private anchor on hard days. Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry collection and Cremation Necklaces collection are designed for families who want to keep a small portion close in a way that feels discreet and meaningful.
If your mind is also circling practical questions like what to do with ashes, keeping ashes at home, or even water burial, it may help to know you don’t have to decide everything immediately. Funeral.com’s guide to water burial ceremonies explains what families typically do and what to consider.
And if cost is part of the stress (it is for many families), you’re not alone in wanting a clear picture of how much does cremation cost. Funeral.com’s guide, How Much Does Cremation Cost?, breaks down common price ranges and what tends to change the total.
A note on why these choices are becoming more common
Families today are increasingly looking for flexible, personal memorials—both for people and for pets. In the U.S., cremation continues to rise as a choice for human disposition; National Funeral Directors Association publishes trend and statistics pages that are widely referenced across the funeral profession. Cremation Association of North America also publishes annual cremation statistics used across the industry to track these shifts.
Pet ownership itself remains widespread, and American Pet Products Association publishes ongoing research and publicly shared statistics related to pet industry trends—one reason more families are seeking meaningful ways to honor pets as true family members.
The Story You’ll Keep
Your cat’s obituary doesn’t have to carry the whole weight of your grief. It only has to carry the truth: that a small life filled a large space in your days. Start with one detail you don’t want to lose—the way they greeted you, the way they slept, the way they made you laugh—and let that lead you forward, one sentence at a time.
