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The Art of Dying – Drs Peter and Elizabeth Fenwick

Danny Penman's cat, Buffy, was old blind and epileptic, and had been ill on and off for months.

She was the most wonderful little creature I've ever come across.  She adopted me when I was in London and I loved her to bits.

One night I was meditating, when something very strange happened,. Halfway through, I felt myself doing that whole 'long dark tunnel' thing. It has never happened before. I was with Bella [Danny's partner] and we had Buffy between us. She started off limping like she does and became sleeker and faster and then became pale like a ghost. She began to fly away from us toward the light. We were both bathed in the most beautiful and intense light, and Buffy flew to meet it. For some really bizarre reason my arms flung themselves upwards, toppling me over onto the bed.

Just outside the bedroom door in the 'real world,' Buffy was becoming agitated and started to cry. Shortly after, she became desperately sick and we had to take her to the vet's. We had her put to sleep. She died in my arms. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but I couldn't watch her suffer any more.

That night I couldn't sleep and heard her tapping on the litter tray . Nothing else makes that sound. I heard her cleaning her coat this morning (but that was less clear). It's all been a very strange and upsetting experience.