Losing a pet is always hard, but understanding the process can make things a bit easier. Here are 12 facts you may not know about cat death (and animal death in general):
1. Cats die with their eyes open.
It takes active muscle control to close the eyes. (The same is true of humans.)
2. Many cats “hide” when they are sick.
This is a defensive mechanism to prevent predators from spotting them in a vulnerable state.
3. Many cat owners think that when a cat goes off to “die,” it is a peaceful death.
That is often not the case. Many cats will suffer for hours or even days before they die.
4. When humans die, the sense of sight is the first to go and hearing is the last.
The same is thought to be true for dogs and cats.
5. Many cats will continue to breathe and have muscle movements after their heart has stopped.
6. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest cat on record was a domestic longhair named Spike.
Until 2001, when he passed away at the ripe old age of 31 (that’s 140 in human years, but who’s counting?), Spike was still happily chasing spiders and enjoying life. Spike lived in Dorset, England with his owner, an aromatherapist named Mo Elkington. (Another British cat was recorded to be 34 years old when they died in 1957, but it was not documented by Guinness.)
7. Cats do not suffer from myocardial infarction (heart attack) as people do.
In cats, the term is typically used to either define a collapsing episode (more accurately termed as syncope or loss of consciousness) or to describe sudden death of an animal in terms that people can understand.
8. Humans are not the only species to bury their dead.
Both chimpanzees and elephants have been observed covering the bodies of deceased members of their groups. Scientists have observed elephants gently touching the skulls and tusks of other elephants long after the bodies have decomposed.
9. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt believed that animals and people shared the afterlife.
This resulted in humans being buried with their animals. Beloved cats were frequently mummified and placed into tombs with their owners.
10. Cats get almost every disease that humans get, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
11. Many people choose to bury their beloved cats in the backyard or garden.
While this may bring great comfort, it may also be against the law. In many areas, government regulations prohibit this practice. Find out what is permitted in your area before you bury your cat.
12. Some cats will mourn the loss of a companion animal.
However, many cats don’t mourn at all or seek any closure from seeing a deceased companion.
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You can read more on the euthanasia procedure in our Saying Goodbye section. This will help take you through the process of making your euthanasia appointment, coming into the vet clinic, what happens when your pet is euthanased, as well as how you can prepare for home euthanasia.
Immediately following your pet’s euthanasia, usually several things will happen, depending on whether it took place at home or in the vet clinic. Firstly, you will hopefully have been prepared for the possibility of your pet voiding urine or faeces as it passes away. This is very common and why it’s important to place a towel or blanket under your pet before the procedure takes place.
Following euthanasia, your veterinarian or veterinary nurse or technician will help to gently clean your pet if necessary, and remove any intravenous cannula that was placed. Then, depending on whether you are burying your pet at home, having your pet cremated or are still undecided, a few different things may happen.
- If you have decided to bury your pet at home your vet will help you to place its body in a blanket or casket (if you are going to use one). It’s best not to bury your pet in any non-biodegradable material. If you don’t already have the burial place prepared (see Aftercare) it’s best to gently move your pet into a curled position, as if it were sleeping. When rigor mortis sets in after a few hours, your pet’s body will stiffen and it can make burial more labour-intensive if your pet is lying on their side.
- If your pet is being cremated, then again there are several options for what happens next. If you are taking your pet’s body directly to the crematorium yourself, then it’s best to curl them gently into a resting position and wrap them in a blanket, making sure that your car seat or boot is lined with an impervious material in case of any leakage of body fluid.
- If your veterinary practice is arranging cremation for you then they will keep - or bring your pet’s body back to, in the case of a home euthanasia, or a natural death at home - then at the veterinary practice. Your pet’s body is usually picked up by the crematorium and brought to the facility in their own transport. Pick-up timing will vary, depending on the arrangement that your practice has with the crematorium. Don’t be afraid to ask if you would like to know.
Most pets’ bodies are placed into cold storage while awaiting collection, as with people. This is usually a freezer facility, to stop any body decomposition. If you have not decided at the time of euthanasia or your pet’s death how you would like to take care of your pet’s body, they will usually be stored in this cold facility until you decide.
Post Mortem
If your pet died suddenly without the cause being known or a full understanding of your pet’s condition or disease was not reached when they were alive, your vet may discuss a post-mortem with you. A post mortem may or may not reveal the cause of death. Do not feel pressured to have a post-mortem done. Equally if you wish to have this carried out, do not be afraid to bring this up with your vet in advance of the euthanasia procedure. Post-mortems involve opening up the body cavity, and pets are generally not released for burial at home as an aftercare option. Your vet will be able to discuss this fully with you. No pet’s body should undergo a post-mortem without their owner’s full permission.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sam Kovac BVSc (Merit) – Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic
Sometimes a cat will die at home either due to a long-standing medical condition or unexpected causes (trauma, toxicosis, or an acute medical event). We take look at how pet owners can evaluate a cat to determine if it has passed.
If you do think your cat has passed away, I always recommend a consultation with a veterinarian for confirmation.
How to check if a cat has died
| Loss of muscle control | The muscles which control the bowels and bladder loosen which can cause urination and defecation. Sometimes the muscles will twitch for up to ten minutes after death. |
| Eyes | The eyes are open and the pupils remain dilated/large (see image above) and fixed even in response to light.The cornea (the transparent layer forming the front of the eye) begins to lose its transparency around two hours after death.
Corneal reflex refers to the involuntary blinking of the eyelids due to stimulation of the cornea. Use a q tip or cotton bud to gently make contact with the surface of the eye. If there’s no blink reflex, the cat has passed. The eye contains a transparent jelly-like fluid known as intraocular fluid or aqueous humour, which maintains the shape of the eye and nourishes the tissues within the eye. This pressure is known as intraocular pressure (IOP). After death, intraocular pressure drops, and the eyes become sunken. |
| No pulse or heartbeat | The best place to check the cat’s pulse is the femoral artery which is located on the inside of the cat’s hind leg, close to the groin.I find it difficult to find the femoral artery to check the pulse, another which is easier is to feel the heartbeat. To do this, press against the rib cage over the heart. With the cat standing, feel the pulse just behind the elbow. |
| No signs of breathing | Watch for the rise and fall of your cat’s chest to determine if he is breathing or place a mirror in front of the cat’s nose, if it fogs up, the cat is breathing.Note: I tried this with my very much alive cat, the mirror must be extremely close to the nose, and even then, there was not much fogging due to the small size of their nostrils. |
| No response to painful stimuli | Separate the paws and pinch the skin between the toes to see if you get a response. |
| No response to verbal stimuli | Try calling the cat’s name or clap loudly and watch for a response. |
| No response to strong smells | Place an onion or another strong-smelling object under the nose to see if there is a response. |
| Algor mortis | All mammals regulate their body temperature, after death, the cat’s body temperature will drop. In humans, the rate of cooling is approximately 1 C per hour until it reaches ambient (room) temperature. |
| Pallor mortis | The tissues become pale in the absence of oxygenation which can occur 15-30 minutes after death. The gums will appear pale to white. |
| Rigor mortis | Rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles after death and occurs 3-4 hours after death, lasting for 12 hours. |
Frequently asked questions
What do you do if you find a dead cat?
- If the cat is on the road, move to the side of the road if it is safe to do so to prevent further trauma
- Check for a collar and name tag
- Transport to a local veterinary practice or animal shelter who will be able to scan the cat for a microchip
- If it is not possible to transport the cat, leave it in a safe place and knock on doors around the area the cat has been found
- Post on local Facebook pages or community noticeboards with a description of the cat
How long does it take a dead cat to become stiff?
Rigor mortis (stiffness of the muscles) occurs 3-4 hours after death and lasts approximately 12 hours.
Can cats sense their own death?
Cats probably can’t sense their own death but they do know that they feel extremely unwell which is why it is common for them to hide. This instinct is hardwired and serves to evade detection from opportunistic predators. Sometimes a cat will die while hiding which leads pet owners to believe the cat knew he or she was dying.
Can a cat be dead but still breathing?
No, once a cat has died, the heart and respiration stops. If the cat is still breathing, he is still alive. Shock looks remarkably like death and requires emergency care.
What to do with a dead cat at home?
Pet owners have several options, home burial, burial in a pet cemetery or cremation. If you choose to bury a cat at home, check with local councils and landlords (if renting) before you go ahead.
- Dig the hole to a depth of at least 3 feet
- Wrap your cat in the sheet, blanket or towel and place it in the cardboard box and tie the box with rope or strong string
- Place soil over the box and firm down well
- Put a large stone or paver over the area
- Many pet owners choose to decorate the grave with a plant (such as catnip, catmint), a headstone or an ornament