The Cat Mummy by Jacqueline Wilson

Verity is mortified when her boring old cat Mabel goes missing and she finds her dead in her bedroom wardrobe. Having learnt how the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats at school, Verity decides to make Mabel into a cat mummy. Along the way she discovers just how important Mabel was to her but oh, what a smell!

Verity adores her cat, Mabel, and is desperately sad when she dies. Remembering her recent school lessons about the Ancient Egyptians, Verity decides to mummify Mabel and keep her hidden. Verity's dad and grandparents can't bear to talk about death, having lost Verity's mum in childbirth, but when they eventually discover what Verity has done with Mabel, the whole family learns that it's time to talk.