I think just to ease your questions of "is the cat even dead" you may want to go back and check. If you do bury the poor cat you really have to dig down close to three feet. Is there a local ACO that can pick the cat up? I've picked up ones around here as our ACO is a good for nothing one. The local vets take care of burial for the cats. So sad, but I'd go make sure the cat isn't injured first. Bring a large trash bag with you (I know the cat isn't trash, but a box is too awful to try burying if that's what you'll do. Awful seeing that huh? *sigh* Jan