Of cremains and purchasing pet urns...

So, as instructed by the vet tech at the E-vet, I called the pet crematory this afternoon to see if Diva's cremains were ready to be picked up. I was hoping they would be, as I just want her back home with us, but they won't be ready until Monday at the earliest. Turns out their pick up schedule is such that they only pick up from vets' offices and clinics every 2-3 days and their last pick-up was on Wednesday morning so the next won't be until tomorrow morning...

I also found out she'll be coming home in a temporary plastic urn the crematory provides. No plastic bag in a cardboard box at least. So she'll have a temporary home that's somewhat acceptable to both of us until we can find something more suited to her without paying the exorbitant prices likely to be found at the crematory...

So where to buy from? I've gotten a suggestion for ashestoashes.com from a Facebook friend--looking at their site, they've got some nice stuff there, including jewelry, which is intriguing to me. Prices aren't terrible, either. I'm remembering that some folks who lost pets in the past who wrote about it here on LJ got their urns for their pets at a reasonable price off of eBay. If you're reading, folks, do you happen to remember from whom you purchased? If so, please let me know!

I'm trying to avoid the financial debacle we went through when Smudge crossed the Bridge. We allowed ourselves to be pressured into buying an urn from the vet's vendor right after was put to sleep and spend an arm and a leg on what ended up being an incredibly nice walnut box with a Tuxedo cat that looked like Smudge on the top of it and a space in the front of the box for a 4"x6" picture. J's still probably got the paperwork for that somewhere--if I recall correctly it cost us over $150 for said box!! Not bad for a final resting place, I guess, but I know that's really inflated price for a pet urn.

So, folks who are sadly in the know about purchasing pet urns, any suggestions on where to purchase one for Diva would be greatly appreciated!!

Today at the Cat Clinic...

Had to go to the cat clinic today to pick up food for Jazz kitty. Dr. B wasn't in yet, but Veronica the tech was, so we chatted for a few minutes before she rang me up.

She told me Diva did very, very well while she was boarded with her siblings last week. Very affectionate and cooperated well with her daily treatments. She was very shocked to hear of our terrible news, she was doing that well with them while she was there. Told me how very sorry she was for J and I, knowing how hard it is to let a pet go.

Here's what floored me: right before I left she told me that I was one of the most devoted cat moms she's ever encountered in her nine years of working with Dr. B and that most cat owners in my situation gave up on their cats way earlier in the treatment game than I did with Diva. I about burst into tears right there!! Had to compose myself in the car before I left for home...

I knew I was crazy, extra devoted cat mama, especially with my girls (Diva, Smudge, Jazz, (and Maddie when I lived with her before Starter Husband left and took her with him)), but hearing what Veronica said really told me A LOT. She didn't have to say that to me, but she did. And it made everything I've gone through with all my girls worth it. It told me I've always done right by them. And that made my heart break for the ones I've lost and sing for the one I still have. :)