Shocking: Woman Freeze-Dries Her Dead Pet Cat and Displays It on a Shelf
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Losing a pet feels like losing a piece of the heart. The loss leaves a void that feels impossible to fill. But for Meghan Riley, a body piercer from New York, the farewell never truly came. Instead, she found a way to keep her cat close-by having him freeze-dried and preserved.
Riley shared her unusual choice in a now-viral Instagram video titled “Unbox My Dead Cat With Me.” In the clip, she is seen carefully unwrapping a package to reveal her black cat, perfectly preserved. Fighting back tears, she hugs the animal, strokes its fur, and later places it lovingly on a shelf at home. Before ending the video, she kisses the cat’s head.
Her caption left no room for apologies: “When you love something that much, you don’t bury it. You preserve it. Forever iconic. Forever fuzzy. And yes, he’s freeze-dried. No, I’m not sorry."
Internet Divided
The video has already crossed 20 million views, but reactions are split. Many called the act disturbing. Comments like, “Personally, I think this is sick and twisted." Another wrote, “How on Earth can someone do this. You can’t see your dead pet as a trophy placed in your closet. This is so disturbing. Let them rest in peace too."
“This is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen on Instagram," someone else said.“As much as this is disturbing, some people cope this way. They have to see and feel them. And that’s ok. I’m sure with time she will learn to let go slowly, and he will then be out up on the wall/etc. Time heals the broken heart," read another comment.
In a follow-up post, Riley hit back at critics, comparing her choice to people who keep their pets’ ashes. “Judging me while you have a box of ashes? Your grief turned to ashes. Mine stayed whole. Both are love. Both are loss."
Riley later revealed more about the process, explaining that her cat was preserved by Animal Family Pet Preservation . She has kept him in her home for over a year and insists the choice has brought her comfort rather than discomfort.
“It brings me peace and not pain. He’s not creepy. He’s honoured. And no, he’s not going in the trash when I die, he’s in my will. If you’ve never had a bond this deep with an animal, be grateful. But don’t judge what you don’t understand," Riley said.
Riley shared her unusual choice in a now-viral Instagram video titled “Unbox My Dead Cat With Me.” In the clip, she is seen carefully unwrapping a package to reveal her black cat, perfectly preserved. Fighting back tears, she hugs the animal, strokes its fur, and later places it lovingly on a shelf at home. Before ending the video, she kisses the cat’s head.
Her caption left no room for apologies: “When you love something that much, you don’t bury it. You preserve it. Forever iconic. Forever fuzzy. And yes, he’s freeze-dried. No, I’m not sorry."
Woman Freeze-Dries Dead Pet Cat and Keeps It on a Shelf: Internet Shocked
Internet Divided
The video has already crossed 20 million views, but reactions are split. Many called the act disturbing. Comments like, “Personally, I think this is sick and twisted." Another wrote, “How on Earth can someone do this. You can’t see your dead pet as a trophy placed in your closet. This is so disturbing. Let them rest in peace too."“This is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen on Instagram," someone else said.“As much as this is disturbing, some people cope this way. They have to see and feel them. And that’s ok. I’m sure with time she will learn to let go slowly, and he will then be out up on the wall/etc. Time heals the broken heart," read another comment.
While many criticised her, some users appeared to understand Riley’s decision.
In a follow-up post, Riley hit back at critics, comparing her choice to people who keep their pets’ ashes. “Judging me while you have a box of ashes? Your grief turned to ashes. Mine stayed whole. Both are love. Both are loss."
Riley later revealed more about the process, explaining that her cat was preserved by Animal Family Pet Preservation . She has kept him in her home for over a year and insists the choice has brought her comfort rather than discomfort.
“It brings me peace and not pain. He’s not creepy. He’s honoured. And no, he’s not going in the trash when I die, he’s in my will. If you’ve never had a bond this deep with an animal, be grateful. But don’t judge what you don’t understand," Riley said.
Legal but Unsettling for Many
Despite the backlash, Riley’s decision is fully legal. According to FindLaw, U.S. pet owners can preserve or stuff their animals as long as the pet was legally owned and not a protected species such as migratory birds.Next Story