Once the box is in the freezer, let yourself fall apart. Weep into a pillow. Wail into a bag of catnip. This is allowed. You’ve lost a furry roommate who judged you silently for years. That deserves a good, ugly cry. Don’t forget to take a photo of their paw prints in flour or a silly selfie of you two, just to remember the dumb, lovely moments.
You might feel the urge to hold a tiny funeral in your backyard at 2 AM. That’s totally okay. Light a candle, play their favorite song (probably "Don’t Stop Believin’" by Journey), and say something stupid like "You were the best hunter of dust bunnies." It’s silly, but it heals.