Controversy Over Cat Preservation: Woman Freeze-Dries Pet for 'Forever Memories', Watch Viral Video

New York (The Uttam Hindu): A New York woman, Meghan Riley, who works as a body piercer, recently shared a video on Instagram of herself "unboxing" her cat that had been freeze-dried and preserved after death. In the video, Riley is seen tearfully hugging and stroking her cat's fur. She explains in the caption that she chose preservation because "When you love something that much, you don’t bury it. You preserve it."

The video garnered over twenty million views and sparked divided reactions online. Many social media users criticized Riley's choice, calling it "sick and twisted" or "disturbing." However, some users empathized with Riley, acknowledging that people grieve differently. In a follow-up post, Riley defended her decision, stating "Both are love. Both are loss," comparing her preserved cat to others having pet ashes.

Riley's decision to preserve her cat is within the law, as pet owners are allowed to preserve or stuff their animals, provided the pet was legally owned and isn't a migratory bird.