She was back with me by 12.00 and back home by 12.30 in a wooden cat like this...
http://www.pcsonline.org.uk/cat-tributes/sleeping-cat2 (this is the actual company we used - Minty's colour is slightly lighter than this picture).
I had to go to work not long after I got home, but had time to put Minty with the other four.
Just tomorrow and Sunday to work before 6 days off - i'm going to need it. I've not cleared Minty's area, including food and water bowls. Her litter trays are clean but I don't have the heart to get rid of them yet. Her chair is untouched too. She has a used pillow on it that I won't move yet.
The vet was great with me this morning when handing Minty back before the cremation. She's a great vet.
All that's needed now is to write the thank you cards (with stickers of the pictures of my cats stuck inside) to the vets, crematorium and the animal company who assisted us with the planning and travel to/from the crematorium) thanking them fro my cats for all the care they had and from me for aall the care, respect and dignity they received.
I'm going to be lost for a long while but amongst all the sadness are the good memories that I will treasure forever, along with all of their fur that I kept (shaved a bit off of each before cremation), all the collars, pictures and all the other bits and pieces. They will always be a massive part of my life.
Thanks to everyone here for all the advice and support over the last few years - you were sensible voices in all the insanity and despair.
I shall continue to pop in and look around.