The most challenging and painful part of a parent’s life is saying goodbye to their cat’s death. As all animals should take the flavor of death, you know very well that one day the time will come to let your cat rest in peace.
When we adopt or purchase a pet, we may not think about their death because they are babies then. But when the sunset years of their life arrive, you must prepare for the time when you must get ready for the farewell of a beloved furry friend.
As our pets become our family members, it is very difficult for us to see their death, but this is an avoidable situation. So, you need to know the death signs of your kitty.
In this article, I will tell you all about a cat’s death, including old cats and kitten’s death signs and after your adorable kitty’s death, how you can move forward, and the spirit o your kitty.
So keep reading.
Table of Contents
The signs of your cat’s death:
A cat that is going to die shows so many signs to their owners and family. The owners must recognize the signs and take the initiative to give some comfort to their dying cats.
Cats are experts in hiding their problems and pains because the wild traits still reside in them.
The stages of dyeing cats:
There are 2 stages of dying cats- are
- Early or pre-active dying: the time when the cat leads to die because of kidney failure or cancer.
- Active dying: at this stage, the cat is at death’s door. This stage lasts for ¾ days, even only for a few hours. The process of bodies shut down.
The signs are below:
- Your cat is sleeping a lot out of his nature:
Usually, mammals love to sleep. This is normal, but if your cat is sleeping more than his habit and the sleeping pattern changes, it is a sign of his death.
- Excessive lethargy:
Most cats are active animals. They try their best to continue their activity till old age. Still, when you show that your cat is lazy and isn’t showing any interest in their surroundings, it is a sign that his energy will be finished.
- Extreme weight loss:
Though weight loss is normal in old cats because, at this stage, the body becomes vulnerable and can’t digest and build protein, so his body is getting weak and has become extremely thin, and you can see the bones clearly.
Cachexia is one kind of weight loss due to cancer. When the body cells demand so much energy rapidly, then the body breaks itself to provide energy which is fatal for the cat. So he can’t survive anymore.
- Disinterest in food and water:
Old cats eat less than kittens and adult cats, but when you see that your cat is eating nothing, he has no interest. But disinterest in food isn’t always a sign of death because maybe your cat has recovered from a disease that took medicines. Some medicines can impair your cat’s taste to take the flavour of food. For this reason, cats may be disinterested in having food.
Suppose your cat is disinterested in drinking water because of sickness. In that case, it is normal, but dying cats also get disinterested in drinking water. So their body will get dehydrated. So, provide comfort to your dying by drinking water with a syringe or squirt bottle. But you should be careful using those. The position of the muzzles should be downward and only a small squirt of water.
- Your cat is not getting up and playing:
Sickness can be a reason for that, but if the situation continues for more than 1 month, your old cat will end his life. Leaving favourite things proves that those things are valueless for the person or animal.
- Your cat is hiding and choosing solitary time:
Hiding is a normal behaviour in some cats. They want to keep them apart for a short while, but if the hiding and solitary time has become extended and the cat is not coming out for a meal, using the litter box, and outings, then it is a sign that he is going towards eternal solitary.
- A drastic change in appearance:
When your cat stops grooming totally and takes a messy and unusual appearance, their eyes become yellowish, coats are pale and without a gloss, and longhaired cats develop matts in the coats- these are the signs of their departure. Cats are self-groomers and keep themself clean. So, disinterest in grooming is a sign of fatality.
- Change using in litter box:
Decreased urination and defecating. The urine colour becomes yellowish and, at the final stage, black tea colour. Bowel movement is also decreased in the last days of a cat.
- Decreased mobility:
It is normal in a cat’s final years of its life, but when it is going to the end days of its life, the decrease becomes a matter of notice. The cats become almost handicapped because of muscle loss and arthritis.
- Behavioural change:
The change will vary from cat to cat among dying cats, but the change will come. Some will become more clingy and affectionate to you because they’re about to be far from you forever.
On the other hand, some cats will become more irritable and withdrawn than he was ever before.
Cognitive dysfunction is similar to dementia in humans. So, you’ll notice your cat becoming more vocal and aggressive at night.
- Insufficient response to treatment:
Sometimes cat’s body doesn’t respond to treatment and medications because a long-term treatment makes his body unresponsive. It is not a sign of death. But suppose your cat doesn’t have such a problem, and he is not responding to treatment and medications. In that case, that means his body is breaking down, and he is not able to respond and receive treatment and medications.
- Seizures:
Seizures may have many reasons, such as metabolic problems. It lasts 10 minutes. In other cases, the vet can treat it with medications, but it is a death sign-then there is no cure for it.
Now the signs of active dying time:
I have told you before that the signs of a cat’s death are divided by 2. Some signs are before ⅔ months from his death, and some are from before a few hours. So, the active dying signs are-
- Abnormal breathing:
When your cat’s breathing becomes shallow, irregular, noisy, and sometimes rapid and sometimes slow, at this time, panting also occurs in cats because the heart is not working properly and going to be shut down.
- The body temperature is dropping:
Touch your cat, and you’ll be astonished that your kitty’s body has become colder, which is abnormal in living animals.
- Gum colour:
The natural gum colour is pink, but when your cat is about to die, the gum colour will be changed and become bluish-grey because the kitty is facing breathing difficulties and trying to breathe with an open mouth.
- Irregular heartbeat:
The is going be a failure of your dying cat and beating irregularly. If you keep your ears on the chest of your cat, then you’ll hear an irregular heartbeat.
- Odour:
Try to smell your cat from very near. You’ll smell an unpleasant odour from your cat because the toxin is building there.
- Change in coat colour:
All animals’ body colour is changed during the dying time. So, cats are not different. Before some days of your cat, you’ll see that your cat’s coat is usually faded, and a yellowish colour appears.
How to check if your cat is dying:
You know the signs of your cat’s death, but you must know the checking process of your cat’s death. So, know the process step by step:
Step-1: Watching the signs:
I have already told you the signs of your cat’s death. Now you check the heartbeat. You’ll count that the heart is beating slower than its normal beat rate. The normal is 140-220 beats per minute (BPM); sometimes, it stops for a few seconds and starts again.
Step-2: Checking the breathing:
Now you check the breathing of your cat. A healthy cat breath 20-30 times per minute, but when you check your dying cat’s breathing, it will be more rapid than the normal breathing rate because of the lack of oxygen, and it may be it is lower than the normal rate, and the breathing has become shallow and irregular. Go near your cat and try to hear the breathing.
Step: 3: Checking the body temperature:
Now check the cat’s body temperature with the thermometer. If you have an ear thermometer, then use it, or if you have a digital rectal thermometer, insert about 1 inch of the cat’s rectum and wait for the beep. In case you don’t have a thermometer, take your cat’s paws. If it is cooler than normal, it is a sign that the heart is losing its activity.
Step: 4: Monitor the cat’s eating and drinking:
If a cat is about to die, he must eat and drink very little, and the output is also very little. The urine and stool colour are also changed.
Step: 5: Observe your cat’s activity and behaviour:
The activity and behaviour changed in every dying animal. So, you’ll see the death signs in your cat.
Step: 6: At last, take your cat to the veterinarian:
If you take him to the vet in time and the proper treatment is given, your cat may survive. For example- the chronic kidney disease symptoms and death symptoms resemble. So, if the signs are because of chronic kidney disease, your cat may survive for years.
Cancer, lower urinary tract disease, and diabetes are potentially curable diseases, and some signs resemble death.
Give your cat the last treat and be prepared for his farewell:
Consult your vet about the end-lifecare of your kitty:
When you have become sure that there is no cure for your cat and the vet or medical science can’t do anything, then try to make comfortable the final days of your cat’s. The vet only can reduce the pain of your cat. Depending on the symptoms of your cat’s pain, the vet will prescribe medications, feeding and drinking equipment, and a bandage if the cat has any wounds or saliva.
You can keep your cat at home for the end care:
Watching a beloved pet die is devastating and painful for any pet owner. So, allowing your cat to die at home on their own time is a good option. Some cats can be panicked by the atmosphere of the vet’s office. So the cat can become upset.
You may think that your cat is safer in a vet’s office, but who knows if your cat wants to stay home for the final time? So, keeping your cat at home for a peaceful death will be better.
You also can keep frequent contact with your vet if you don’t want any particular treatment method. This can set up a perfect treatment method of treatment that your cat needs.
Provide your cat with a soft and warm bed:
Every dying animal needs a soft and cozy place to die as animals don’t move at their death time. So, he’ll spend time on the bed.
Provide an extra soft blanket for his comfort. Make sure that the bed is clean, and your cat must have a litterbox problem at that time. So embed towels on the bed so you can easily and quickly change those.
Try your best so that your cat can eliminate very comfortably:
Some cats become too weak to go to the litter box. Cats must have the little box issue during the end time. So, if your cat cannot use the litterbox, then it is better for you to carry your cat to the litterbox every 1 and a half and 2 hours gap.
You also can get a sling for your cat for a more comfortable elimination of your cat. Talk to your vet about it.
You should monitor the pain level of your cat:
Cats are experts at hiding their pain. They don’t exhibit their pain more, but you must observe and understand the pain level of your cat as they can’t tell you about their pain.
There are some signs of pain that you’ll see in your cat:
- The cat is being more reclusive than his usual behaviour.
- Breathing difficulty is seen in your cat.
- The cat is not willing to move.
- The eating and drinking amount is very much less and almost not eating and drinking.
You can choose Euthanasia for your adorable kitty:
The method is becoming very popular among pet owners. Though Euthanasia is never an easy task. If your cat is suffering from extreme pain, then you can choose the artificial method to relieve your cat from the pain of death.
Consult your vet about when to choose the artificial death method of Euthanasia. Euthanasia means an easier and more comfortable death.
What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia is a method of dying by injections. It will take 20 to 30 minutes to die your cat after injecting. The vets use a mild sedative instead of using Euthanasia.
Pentobarbital is used in euthanasia agents. Barbiturates are used as anesthesia in surgery and operations. When the dose is over, then it is called Euthanasia. After injecting the Barbiturates, the cats become calm, and their feeling becomes unconscious. Their heartbeat stops the body becomes dead gradually.
The eyes remain open, and your cat may urinate or defecate at that time. Euthanasia may not work for every cat. So, the recommendation of your vet is a must.
How to make sure that your cat is dead?
Sometimes even Euthanasia can’t ensure that your cat is dead or not. So, you need to examine the body. The examination process is as follows-
Check the signs of life:
- Call your cat by his name:
When you call your cat with a high-pitched sound for food, even if your cat sleeps, he’ll wake up and run to eat. So, call like that. If your cat doesn’t respond, then it is dead or so sick that near death.
To make sure, you can weave the food in front of your cat. If he is dead, he won’t look at the food.
- Look at the breathing:
When animals breathe, the chest and belly go up and down. So, look at the chest and belly. If they aren’t going up and down, the cat is dead.
You also keep a mirror in front of your cat’s nose; if the mirror fogs up due to breathing, then the cat is alive, or if not, then the cat is not breathing and not alive.
- Check the cat’s eyes:
When an animal dies, his eyes remain open. So, look at his eyes; it is not alive if he is not blinking. You also can touch your cat’s eyeball by wearing disposable gloves. Do it gently. If the cat is alive, it’ll blink; if not, it won’t blink, and the pupil will feel soft instead of firm.
The pupil will become fixed and larger than the usual size.
- Check for the artery:
Keep your 2 fingers on your cat’s femoral artery, which is situated inside the cat’s artery, near his grain. Put some pressure on your fingers and wait for 15 seconds. An alive cat’s artery must have a pulse.
When you’re checking the pulse, please use a time clock to count the pulse number. Then multiply the number by 4. Then you’ll get the beats per minute.
The normal beats should be 140 to 220 per minute. Wait for few times and do the method again to be sure.
- Check your cat’s body if it has become stiff:
Though stiffness comes after 3 hours of the animal’s death, so you can’t understand it quickly. Take your take in your hands. If it is feeling stiff, then the cat is dead. Use gloves during checking.
- Check the cat’s mouth also:
Dead animals’ mouth (tongue and gum) becomes very pale, different from their usual colour, pink. If you press the gum gently, you won’t feel any capillary refill. The sign is for death or dying very soon.
How much time does it take for a cat’s death?
It depends on the body and health condition of your cat. Sometimes it will take only some days and sometimes several months. Maybe your cat will die after ¾ taking the last sip of water and after 7 days of taking their last food.
Stop eating and drinking, and make sure that your cat is about to leave you forever.
The rest responsibilities:
- Call the vet:
After you have made sure that your cat left you forever, your first and foremost duty is to call the vet for the final examination of the dead body of your cat.
The vet will examine the body and tell you why the cat died. If you have other pets, the experience will help you save them. If your dead cat has any contagious disease, you need to save your other pets and family members.
- Take care of your cat’s remains:
The first and foremost is to save your cat’s body in a cool and dry place until you decide whether to bury your cat or cremate it. Keeping the dead body will save your family and the environment from the fear of congestion or hazard.
Wrap the dead body in a plastic bag and store it on the concrete floor because it is very cool. If you have euthanized your cat, then the vet will store it properly.
- Take the decision between bury or cremation:
If your cat dies because of any contagious disease, then it is better to cremate your cat so that the virus will be destroyed from its root. Ask your vet about the options for cremation in your area.
If you decide to bury it, you can easily go to the pet cemetery. If your local law allows you, try to bury your cat in the home ground. Otherwise, go to the cemetery and never bury in a public place.
- Separate your cat’s belongings:
After controlling yourself from the grief of your cat’s death, you must separate your cat’s food and water bowl, litter box, and toys. Maybe your dead cat had any potential virus or disease that is contagious. So, separating his belongings will keep other pets and your family members safe. If you have children at your house, then don’t let them touch those.
Dying of an old cat and tips:
Well, death is an eternal truth and the final destination of all living. It can come at any stage of life but what about old cats? The reasons for the death of old cats and other cats are not the same.
As cats get older, they get nearer to death. Old age is for petting diseases, it is normal, but there are other signs that prove that your cat is going to die. If you can identify the tale tell signs of your old cat’s death, you’ll be able to take the right initiative.
Let’s see the signs.
The signs of an old cat’s death:
- Descending eyesight or hearing:
Animals can’t see and hear in old age, just like in their childhood or young age. You’ll notice that your old cat isn’t responding to you when you’re calling him and also facing difficulties seeing things. So, if your old cat is facing problems, you must consult your vet.
- Sleeping habit changes in old age:
It is a very common problem among old-age animals that can’t sleep like before. Melatonin is a hormone that helps animals sleep and wake up. So, when the discharge of the Melatonin hormone decreases in old age, animals can’t sleep at night or more or less beyond their habit.
So, if you notice that your cat is not sleeping well or can’t get asleep for a long time and sleeping at an awkward time, then the sunset years of his life have arrived.
- Vocalization:
Some cats are vocal by birth, but some are very calm and quiet. If your cat is a vocal cat breed like Siamese or Sphynx cats, you can’t understand whether it is a death sign. But if your cat has been a quiet cat his whole life, but now he is vocalizing a lot, then it must be a sign of his insecurity that he is passing his end time.
- Extreme weakness:
Your old cat will become extremely weak before some months of his death, as if he is getting difficulty even walking. That means your cat’s body energy is about to end.
- Abnormal fluctuations of body temperature:
There is an ideal body temperature for every animal. The cat’s ideal body temperature is 37-38 degree Celsius. So, if you often notice that your old cat’s body is getting colder than it should, it is a sign of departure.
So, measure your cat’ body temperature when you feel that the body is colder. Use a digital rector thermometer or ear thermometer to measure the temperature.
You also can feel their paws to understand their body temperature.
- Choosing loneliness:
It is a common sign of all dying cats, not only the old cats. Very social, cuddly, and clingy cats also become solitaire before their death and in old age. They’ll avoid even their most beloved person in the family. The behaviour indicates that the cat is going to leave everything behind him.
- Rough appearance and smell:
A dying animal’s appearance changes for sure. You’ll see their eyes and skin colour have been changing drastically. You’ll see that your beautiful eye-soothing cat has become very weak; its eyes are not curious and glittering like before and become pale and lifeless, and its coats are not glossy and look rough.
So, if your old cat looks like the above description, then it is a sign of death.
- Your cat’s behaviour is also changed:
The cat you are used to seeing all life long has suddenly changed. He has become hostile and aggressive and also doesn’t like family members and other pets. Maybe it’s the animal’s destiny that they make some bad impressions before their farewell.
- Unconsciousness and seizures:
Old cats become senseless some hours after their death. The unconscious and seizures can occur some days after their death. You’ll notice that your cat is resting for long hours and, when you wake up, not caring for its surroundings.
- Not responding to treatments:
Animals’ old bodies don’t respond much to treatments; it is very normal. Before some times of death, the unresponsiveness increased. They’ll become disinterested in medications and treatment also.
When the body doesn’t need any treatment and medication as it will be shut down, don’t respond to treatments and medications.
The other signs of the death of an old cat are- decreased appetite and thirst, lethargy, disinterest in surroundings, disinterest in grooming, and so on.
What can you do for your old dying cat?
First of all, if you notice any death signs in your old furry friend, please call the vet immediately. The vet will determine if the cat is really going to die or not. If it is dying, then you must make an arrangement for his farewell.
Making his last time comfortable, giving him a comfortable bed with enough black pillows, helping him with easy elimination, keeping the house environment calm and quiet, talking to him with a soft and low voice, touching and handling him with care and softness, providing with him his favourite food though they may not eat or drink, always keep a water bowel near him, and monitoring his body temperature are known facts.
Euthanasia for your old cat:
You also can choose Euthanasia to make the departure of your cat easy. If you see that your cat is suffering and feeling so much pain, then the veterinarian may suggest Euthanasia. Though it is not easy, you can apply it with your vet’s recommendation. Many cat parents are choosing the method to relieve their cats from death pain.
Some tips for healing your heart after the death of your cat:
We love our pets so much. In fact, they’re just like our children. So, the death of any pet is very much painful and very much difficult to cope with it.
Cats are especially loveable and affectionate. So, being detached from them is a fatal experience. They always remind us of the moments that we have spent with them. Their sweet vocalizing, greeting us from the doorstep, playing, cuddling, and demanding love and food-all are almost impossible to forget.
But life is an ongoing process. You have to forget your grieves to move forward and bounce back. So, what to do?
I am giving you some tips to heal the wounds of the loss of your lovely furry friend:
- Acknowledge your pain:
You can’t be silly losing your cat. Accept the reality though it is beyond heartbreaking. Losing our cat’s love and companionship. So, don’t hesitate to cry openly and express your sorrow and wound for your cat. Don’t bear the burden in your mind.
- Surround yourself with understanding people:
If it is possible, surround yourself with some pet-lover people, and if anyone of them has already lost his pet, then it is the best for you. People who don’t love pets won’t understand your pain and maybe gossip about you.
Sharing your sorrow with the same people will help you to keep the sadness alive and real. So many doctors, psychologists, counsellors, and health professionals can help you sort out the problem. So, if you see that your sorrow is going beyond tolerate, go to a professional who can help you. Don’t get hesitate.
- Guilty feeling is not a bad thing:
Sometimes we think that we haven’t done our best to save our dead cat. The thoughts and guilty feelings are very much natural and normal. In this situation, you should make understand that you tried your best for your dying cat to save him.
When a cat dies by any accident, a fatal illness, or gets euthanized, then it is very natural that his owner feels shame and guilt. Some questions come to the owner’s mind who is feeling guilty- those questions are-
- Why couldn’t I save my kitty?
- If I had not let him go outside?
- If I had understood before that something was going to happen to my cat?
So, stop feeling guilty and remember the happy moments that you spent with your loveable kitty.
Try to come out of the grief gradually:
You had some daily affairs with your cat, such as going for a walk and calling him for food. Maybe you have forgotten that your cat is no longer with you. So, try to adjust to the new situation and get used to getting free from the daily routine of your cat.
- Make a list of your favourite things about your cat:
It is very difficult to make a list of the favourite things of your cat, but it’ll help you to accept the sorrow of your beloved cat. Write them down in past tense so that they can go.
- The planet takes care of your other pets:
Suppose you have other pets, then they are also grieving for your dead cat. So, don’t forget to take care of them as you have other pets, so your responsibilities and love should be equal to all pets you have.
Try to know the actual reason for your cat’s death so that you can be careful with other pets and save them. Take good care of your cat so that you can accept the grief of the dead cat.
- Become busy with your profession:
Being busy with work is the best way to forget sorrow and depression. If you are in a 09-05 job, then you have no other way to go to the office. Because the company or employer won’t give you much time to grieve for your cat- it is reality.
If you are self-employed or a big business person, then it is essential that you go back to your work. Or if you’re a student, a housewife, or a retired person, then do your own work. Students must give concentration on their studies, housewives must do their daily work, or if you are a retired person, then go on a trip. That’ll make you happy.
- What about replacing another cat?
If you already have other cats, then you don’t need to do it. If you don’t have one, then you can think about adopting another cat, but it is not an easy task. The new cat is not your old cat.
The relationship and bonding that you’ve made with your cat for many years, how can you do the same with the new cat in a short time?
You never feel the same love and affection that you felt for your dead one. So, you can do it but be careful that you can replace your new cat; otherwise, your new cat will be deprived of your love and care and will be sad.
What is the right time to adopt a new cat?
Well, never bring a new cat just to replace your old one. When you feel that you are ready to accept, love, and take care of the new cat in your life, then adopt it so that you can love again.
‘No heaven will not ever Heaven be Unless my cats will be there to welcome me’- a proverb.
Will your cat’s soul come to see you?
I can tell you responsibility, and many cat owners who have lost their cats shared their experiences that their cats come to them after death. Many people won’t believe anything until they see or feel themself, but the visit of my dead pet is an incident that is very near to my heart.
If you see or feel the signs below, then your dead cat must visit you. It is not an unusual thing.
- You’ll hear their caller or bell:
If your cat is weird, with any neck bell or a caller on their belly area, then you’ll hear the sound when your dead cat comes to you.
- You’ll heat their purr:
You must hear the purring of your loveable kitty. Purring is just like vibration. So, when your dead cat purrs, then it will definitely make a vibration in your brain, and you’ll hear it. Many cat owners shared their experience of the purring of their dead cat.
- You’ll hear their meowing:
Some people will say that it is just a hallucination, but not actually. When we love someone a lot, then our souls come to the person to see him.
You must recognize the meowing of your kitty. So, when it comes to you, then it’ll meow to make you aware of its presence.
- You feel them near while sleeping:
If your cat is used to sleeping in your bed, then the feeling will be stronger for you. When your cat sleeps on your bed, you know the feeling. So, after his death, if you feel the same and wake up, then the cat is making you conscious of their presence.
- You’ll get their smell:
You must know how was the smell of your cat. So, if you can smell him again, then it proves that the cat is near to you.
- You’ll see him suddenly:
One of my friends shared his experience with me about her dead cat. When the cat was alive, she was used to opening slightly the door to my friend’s bedroom and gi to downstairs every night.
After the cat died, my friend often saw that the bedroom door was slightly opened and a shadow of her kitty was going downstairs. She had an experience several times.
- You’ll feel the happy moments with your cat vividly:
Your dead cat sends you happy memories. So, when you remember those moments vividly, then it is sure that your kitty is around you.
- You may hear the sounds that your cat made when alive:
You will hear the scratching, eating, and walking sounds of your cat, which you may not have noticed when he was alive.
- You’ll see his name written somewhere:
When your dead cat sends you a signal to remember him, you’ll see his name written anywhere without any reason.
- You’ll get a new cat in an unusual way:
When your old cat has gone leaving you forever, he wants that you be happy in your life by adopting another cat. So, if a cat comes into your life, whether you want it or not, after your beloved cat’s death, then understand that your dead cat is sending your signals that you adopt a second cat because he knows what it means to have a cat around you.
It is not necessary that every dead cat comes to see their owners. Sometimes they only send signals to their owners to let them know that they’re always with them after even death.
