Cat Death Symptoms

An animal companion can be a great source of love throughout the years. Animal lives, unfortunately, are not as long as humans' are. Losing a cat can be just as painful as losing a member of the family. There are signs to watch for so you can determine your cat’s time of death and be there to comfort it. Comforting your animal through its dying process can help ease grief and make your animal more comfortable. You can speak to your animal gently and keep it calm during its last breaths.

  1. Eating and Drinking

    • One of the earliest signs of a cat dying is loss of interest in food. Do not force your cat to eat or drink if he does not want to. You can try giving your pet a little moist cat food or squirt a little water into his mouth if you think that will make him feel better and give him some comfort. Despite not eating and drinking, you cat will still be releasing urine and feces. At this point, the urine will take on a darker color than usual.

    Body Temperature

    • As your cat’s heartbeat slows, her body temperature will also decrease. As a result, she may lose feeling in her limbs and become unable to walk steadily. Covering the cat with a favorite or familiar blanket may make her be comfortable as her body begins to shut down. You may notice during this quiet time with your pet that she will begin to sleep more. The cat will become restless from time to time when she wakes up for a time. You may also notice that at this time your animal companion will actively look for one spot to lie down in. The cat is making herself comfortable with the dying process by preparing a safe spot to die.

    Labored Breathing

    • Your cat’s breathing is rapid and shallow, or it will become slow and heavy. As time goes on the gaps between breaths will become further apart. Sometimes the lapses will be up to a minute. The cat may reposition himself to accommodate breathing difficulties and make breathing a little easier.