I'm sorry for your grief Mizz but I glad you're readying yourself to deal with it.
I consider that my life started again when I began to engage with things and deal with them. Turns out I was stronger and more capable than I ever knew.
I hope your cat turns up too - sometimes they get themselves trapped in other peoples garages for the weekend or something or they temporarily adopt a new family with lots of yummy food
Hoping for a good outcome
D