How Should I Dispose of My Cat after It Dies?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

My cat is quite ill, and we are unsure about its remaining days. When it dies, how should we get rid of it? How do we dispose of it after it dies? Shall we also bury it in a white cloth? Some people burn their cat and put the ash into a necklace or a decor heart. Is this permissible?

Answer

Thank you for your question. It is truly a sad thing to lose a cat; they really do become part of the family. I pray you can find solace after it dies or perhaps get a new one. You may consider putting the cat down to end its suffering. See this link: Mercy Killing of Animals to End Their Suffering.

You may bury the cat after it dies, but there is no need to wrap it in a white cloth. You could also deliver the carcass to a local animal shelter; they would know how to take care of it. It is also permissible to burn it. See this link: Can I Burn a Dead Possum to Deter Other Possums from Destroying Crops?

However, it would not be permissible to keep its ashes in a locket because it would be filth and akin to non-Muslim rituals of cremation and saving the ashes. Imitating them is impermissible.

Related: Will My Pet Enter Paradise?

May Allah reward you for all you are going through.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.