For the love of fluffy

I have a Japanese friend here who doesn't really like her sister-in-law. My friend is about 50 and her sister-in-law, I believe is in her late 50's or 60's. Her sister-in-law is unmarried and has no children. But she does have two cats, or should I say had two cats until recently. One of the cats recently died. We were chatting about random stuff when the who subject of cat and sister-in-law came up so I asked her loads of questions.

Apparently she had a funeral for the cat. She had the cat cremated and put into an urn. Before I talk more about the cat funeral, I need to explain about some Japanese customs or the rest of this won't make sense. Japanese funerals, for people, are very elaborate and costly. But they are also very beautiful and every thing they do has some sort of religious meaning. Most Japanese aren't too extemely religious and some say they're only religious for holidays, weddings, funerals, including their own. I can relate to this as I consider myself a holiday Christian and only really show up for church or celebrate how I'm supposed to on those special days. Anyway, I'm veering from my point...

At Japanese funerals they have a very large picture of the deceased and there are big wreaths of flowers placed around the alter and picture. People give an offering of money and incense. Though it is more common now to have funerals held at funeral homes, in the old days they used to do everything at home. The remains are placed in a cemetary (sometimes at the home, but more often not) but I think they are place in a monument and not actually buried. I've never heard of anyone actually being buried here. I'm not sure whether cremation is just that for religious reasons or for practical reasons of they have no space to have large cemetary plots.

Mouring lasts 49 days and there are very specific things you need to do on certain days. Certain anniversaries should be recognized too, something like the first year after the person is deceased, 5th year... and so on, I don't quite remember. At almost every home I've ever been to here, there is an alter dedicated for the family's deceased. Everyday offering of flowers, food and incense are given to pay respect. Okay, I think that's about it...

So back to the cat lady, she had a full-fledged funeral for her cat. Over-sized picture of the cat, draped in ribbon. People sent huge wreaths of flowers to her (am not sure about money) because she always gives money to her co-workers/friends when they have funerals, wedding, babies, ect... Since she has no kids her cats are a huge thing and people have taken it more seriously. She's looking for a pet cemetary to take the ashes to currently, but hasn't found one yet. She gives offerings of incense and food in honor of the cat everyday since. Strange yea?

All this got me curious as to what people do in the good ole USA. I know we have several animals buried in our back yard, but we've never had anything fancy, not even a make believe service for the animal or anything. I don't even remember seeing the animal in the hole as that whole process was very secretive so it wouldn't be tramatic I guess.. (Have a five year old kiss grandpa in the casket, but somehow Oreo's funeral is more tramatic? Hmm. Must speak to my mom. ) I look it up online and found pet funeral services to be on the rise. It's really quite impressive the kind of stuff that they have out there for pets. I understand it, but I know I would probably never spend that kind of money on a pet, I think..

I also found few surveys about pet owners and their pets. Think it explains why more or less people would do things like this.

Fifty-eight percent of all American households have at least one pet in the house.
There are more than 61 million dogs in US households today.

– American Veterinary Medical Association

More than half of all pet owners stated they would want their pet instead of another person with them if they were stranded on a desert island.

– American Animal Hospital Association

Percentage of pet owners who…
refer to themselves as their pet’s “mom” or “dad”– 84
greet their pet first when they return home – 72
greet their spouse or significant other first – 13
greet their children first – 7
include their pet in holiday celebrations – 86
hang a Christmas stocking for their pet – 64
say they are willing to go into debt to provide care for their pet – 74
say they will spend $1,000 or more to save their pet in a life-threatening situation – 73
have sung to or danced with their pet – 65
celebrate their pet’s birthday – 63
have cooked or baked for their pet – 54
include their pets in family or holiday portraits – 51
have taken time off work to tend to a sick pet – 51
have given their pet a wrapped present – 43
have taken their pet to work – 44
have more pictures of their pets than of their spouse or significant other – 39
allow their dog to sleep in their bed – 36
talk to their pets on a phone or answering machine when they’re away from home – 33
have held a funeral after their pet’s death – 19
carry a pet’s picture in their wallet – 17
say they feel closest to their pet when exchanging kisses – 11

– From a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) among pet owners in Canada and the United States.


Percentage of pet owners who consider vaccinations and routine care critical to their pet’s quality of life – 92
Amount spent by pet owners on veterinary care in…
1991 – $6.9 billion
2002 – $11 billion
Number of vets in the United States who perform surgery on pet fish – about 20
Cost of fish surgery–$350 to $1,000
Number of vets in the United States who specialize in pet dentistry – about 60
Cost of dog or cat root canal–$600 to $800
Cost of dog or cat orthodontics–$2,800 and up
Average amount spent annually by pet owners on pet expenses–$1,266
Typical breakdown:
$156 Routine vet visits
$289 Specialized vet visits
$187 Food
$45 vitamin supplements, worm medications
Eight out of ten owners purchased at least one gift for their dogs in 2000
Percentage of pet owners who…
say their pets make their family or home life healthier, either emotionally or physically–84
say that playing with or confiding in their pet relaxes, calms and helps them cope better with life and the associated stresses of our fast-paced society when they are stressed or worried–70
Average amount spent on food, toys and treats annually–$750

– From a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA)