Physical Symptoms of Cat Death

The death of a pet can be particularly traumatic as pets are most often viewed as being part of the family. If you sense that your cat is ailing, take it to an animal hospital immediately. If you, however, find your cat seemingly deceased, then check for the following physical symptoms for a definitive answer.

  1. Motionless

    • The first, and perhaps most obvious, sign is that the cat will be lying motionless and will not respond to touching. The legs of the cat may also be stiff if the animal has been dead for a longer period of time and rigor mortis has set in.

    Temperature

    • Depending on how long the animal may have been dead, the body temperature of the cat should be either cool or cold to the touch.

    Reflexes

    • Anyone who has spent any length of time around a cat will know how quick their reflexes are; if the cat is dead, you will see absolutely no sign of reflexes. If it is ailing and not deceased, it should still be able to blink, for example, so if you see no signs of eye movement, then it very likely passed away.

    Breathing

    • Check its chest either with your hand or by leaning your ear against its stomach; if you feel no movement, then breathing has stopped.

    Pulse

    • The pulse of a cat will be nonexistent if it is dead. The lower front of the left chest is the best place to check for a pulse in a cat.

    Signs of Life

    • If you notice any signs of life--breathing, a pulse blinking--immediately call a 24-hour vet or animal hospital. In the meantime, try to restore breathing, check their mouth and throat for objects that should not be there, and try to provide comfort as you either drive to the vet or wait for the vet's arrival.