A mobile veterinary clinic may be able to come to your home. Animal control services will also pick up deceased pets for a fee. Your pet's passing will not be considered an emergency, so at night, weekends, or holidays, they may not arrive until the next business day.
Bring the body into the vet as soon as possible afterwards. Most vets will allow you to keep your pet there for a couple of days until you decide what you want to do for aftercare, like cremation or burial — but always ask if that's a service they offer, just in case.
If the death is unexpected, most vets will keep the body for you for a couple of days while you decide what you want to do. You can choose to take your cat back home to bury, perhaps in a favourite spot in the garden, or you can opt for a pet cemetery.
Almost all cats tend to wander away from their homes when they are dying.
Physical Symptoms – Certain physical symptoms can also signal that a cat is near the end of their life. Loss of appetite, weight loss, and poor coat condition are all common signs of illness in cats, as well as difficulty breathing or laboured breathing.
Behaviour signs of a cat in pain
Lethargy. Decreased interest in positive things like playing, social interaction and exploring outside. Being withdrawn and hiding away. Appearing lame and experiencing increased sensitivity to touch in specific areas of their body.
As your cat nears the end of her life she will probably be less active. She will sleep more and more and may be weak when she is awake. Some cats may also appear depressed and listless.
Do cats know when another cat is dying? There is no evidence to suggest whether cats are aware that their feline friend is dying, and all cats are different in their behaviour. In some cases, cats seem to understand that the other cat is experiencing pain.
Even cats that constantly fight can grieve the loss of a feuding partner. While no-one will ever know if a cat understands death, they certainly know that a fellow housemate is missing and that something has changed in the house.
In the book, he writes, “Horses, cats, dogs, deer, dolphins, and squirrels—as well as the inanimate creation—will be beneficiaries of Christ's death and resurrection.” It seems that God meant animals to be part of His world—now and in the age to come. Indeed, the Bible does confirm that there are animals in Heaven.
Losing a pet can cause significant heartbreak and grief, as they are often a constant source of companionship, unconditional love, and joy in our lives. Their personalities can be a source of wonder and delight. Thus, when they are gone, the loss can be unbearable.
Between a half hour to three hours after death, the eyelid loses its elasticity, the pupil dilates and there is a distinct change in the cornea, which is normally transparent.
While we may hope that our cats will age gracefully and die a natural death, most cats will ultimately pass from a chronic, debilitating, or terminal illness. Thankfully, we have the option of providing hospice care and euthanasia to help relieve them of pain and suffering.
When a cat gives birth to a stillborn kitten, it's important to leave the kitten in place until their mother realizes that they're dead. Otherwise, your cat may become distressed at removing one of her kittens without knowing they had passed away.
The Rainbow Bridge (as beautifully encapsulated in a poem of the same name - see below) is a mythological place to which cats (and other pets) go upon their death, eventually to be reunited with their carers.
What to Do When One Cat in a Pair Dies. When one cat in a bonded pair dies, monitor your other cat closely. He must eat, drink and use his litter box as usual. If your grieving cat stops eating for more than 24 hours, seek help from his veterinarian.
Cats don't cry tears when they're sad or in pain. But Halls says whether your cat is experiencing emotional or physical pain, they'll exhibit behavioral changes that could include vocal crying. The sound of a cat crying is typically longer in duration and lower in frequency than day-to-day cat chatter.
The average cat lifespan is between 13-17 years. Some lucky felines have been known to live 20 years or more—the world record holder for oldest cat on record, adorably named Creme Puff, lived to be a whopping 38 years old.
Ways to Process Your Grief
Give the popular poem, "The Rainbow Bridge," a good read. Cry if you need to. Surround yourself with other people who knew and loved your cat. Don't be afraid to say you are sad or angry and acknowledge the hurt you are all feeling together.
Signs Of Obvious Distress
Cats are typically very stoic animals, so if your cat suddenly seems to be in distress, it is a cause for concern. Howling, crying, hiding, and otherwise acting in a way that is out of character for your pet should alert you that something may be seriously wrong.
In recent years, feline ages and life-stages have been redefined, cats are considered to be elderly once they reach 11 years with senior cats defined as those aged between 11-14 years and super-senior cats 15 years and upwards.
It is a cat's instinct to hide or mask its pain, making pain difficult to diagnose. No one is in a better position to identify the subtle changes in behavior that may signal pain than human family members.