Is my cat dying?

Unfortunately as cat owners, at some point, we are faced with the reality that our felines are not forever.

January 24, 2022 by Natasha V. Health

Cats, in particular, can sense when that time is approaching and that is why they tend to isolate themselves in the period leading up to it.

Also, they are animals that know how to hide their pain, diseases, and sufferings very well, as this is their defense mechanism, not allowing their predators to notice any weakness.

What makes it difficult for us to know at first, we only begin to see very subtle changes is that we question ourselves, is my cat dying?

All animals, however, show some telltale signs that their time has come, and recognizing these signs can help you make your cat feel more comfortable as he nears the end.

Personality changes

When a cat is dying, in this situation they will have drastic personality changes.

So if he used to be a happy and fun cat, now it may become a bit more bitter, irritable, angrier, and no longer wants to be petted.

This is probably because he is in pain as a cat in a lot of pain, extremely sensitive, or reacts badly to petting and stimulation and this will make him aggressive at unexpected times, even if he is a super friendly cat.

Another example is the change in personality of cats that are usually very independent, suddenly become tender, want to be accompanied at all times, and need attention. They also cannot eat alone or even only eat if you give them food.

It prefers to be alone and looks for a hiding place

When a cat is dying, you will surely see that he will prefer to be alone.

He will often go into hiding because of his need to rest in a quiet, comfortable place. As mentioned before, it is part of their instinct to hide vulnerability, pain, illness, and more.

A cat being a small and solitary predator can also be prey to larger animals so in a moment of such weakness it will seek a safe place.

This is usually a comfortable, cool, and shady place, such as under the bed, the closets, the basement, the attic, or some high and solitary place.

If your cat usually goes out then his shelter will be under a bush or a parked car.

Spends a lot of time sleeping

This is due to the passage of time, older cats usually sleep more, from 12 to 16 hours a day approximately, but when they wake up they are active, they usually look for games or explore.
In the case of a cat that is dying, they may sleep even more because of lack of energy, but also because of pain, tiredness, and because they are in a moribund state.

They become more leaguer, will refuse to move more than necessary and weakness will be more evident especially in their hind legs.

Changes in physical appearance

Cats are very clean animals that are always grooming themselves and taking care of their appearance, something that a sick cat or a cat that is dying will stop doing.

When a cat is dying, he does not care about its appearance and looks unkempt, which is sending a direct signal that it is too weak and sick to take care of itself.

And because they don't groom themselves, they can also develop bad odors due to the buildup of toxins. Which can be exuded through saliva, feces, pee, and much more.

Low body temperature

The body temperature of a healthy cat is 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.

If a cat is dying, he will have a lower body temperature, because the heart weakens little by little, its paws can also feel colder. For this reason, it also looks for warm places to rest.

His heart rate is low

The heart rate of a healthy cat is between 140 and 200 beats per minute and the respiratory rate is 20-30 per minute.

If his heart is getting weaker, he will take in air with more effort and if his heart rate drops below 140 beats per minute, it means he is sick. To notice his heartbeat, all you have to do is place your hand on his left side and count.

Loss of interest and appetite

It is very common for cats to lose their appetite at this time in their lives.

This happens because their bodies no longer have enough energy to process the same amount of food. And they only get weaker and weaker as the days go by.

If enough time goes by without food, the animal will visibly lose weight and its bones will become more and more evident.

Any animal that stops eating drastically is a sign that something is wrong, so if your cat has not eaten anything for 24 hours, you should be on your guard, especially if he is elderly.

If a cat stops eating and has access to water, it normally takes one to two weeks for it to die. Even if they drink enough water, it could take three to four days without protein.

What to do if my cat is dying?

If you notice any of these worrying signs, contact a veterinarian immediately, who will tell you if there is a disease, if your cat can recover or if unfortunately, it is about to die.

If it is the last one, the veterinarian will be able to guide you in offering appropriate care in his last days.

If a cat is dying, how do I take care of it?

If a cat is dying because of illness or old age, there is not much you can do but accompany your cat in his departure.

• Offer him a comfortable place to rest and accompany him, many pets feel frightened at this time and do not want to be alone.
• Don't pet him too much, give him some space and pet him from time to time, the important thing is that he feels loved and accompanied, so he doesn't feel anxiety or fear.
• If he still has an appetite, give him his favorite treats.

Your cat will appreciate your company at all times.

Now you know the signs of a cat nearing the end of its life and can answer the question if your cat is dying.

It is believed that cats and animals, in general, are not afraid of death, because they do not know what it is, but they see it as a threat because they feel weak and in danger.

As their beloved owner, you should be by your cat's side at times like this even if it hurts, as this allows them to calm down and suffer less during this process.

They have been with us all their lives and this is a favor we can return with love.