Becoming familiar with the signs your cat is dying can help you make an ill or older pet more comfortable at the end of their life. When a cat is too sick to survive and recover, the signs they are actively dying can sometimes be very subtle. Recognizing them is an essential part of caring for your pet.
Signs a Cat Is Dying
Many medical symptoms indicate a cat is near death. The exact signs a cat display depends on which illness they have. However, there are some basic symptoms all cats experience as their bodies begin to shut down.
- Lowered heart rate: A cat's heart rate will slow as they are dying.
- Lowered respiration: Cats often struggle to breathe when they are near the end.
- Drop in body temperature: The body becomes cool to the touch.
- Anorexia: Cats will stop eating and drinking when death is imminent.
- Foul odor: You may notice a bad smell as a cat's condition becomes fatal.
- Incontinence: The body muscles relax, and a cat will lose control of their bladder.
Lowered Heart Rate
Depending on their age and what they're doing, the average cat's heart beats 140 to 220 beats per minute. As a cat's heart weakens and the animal is closer to dying, their heart rate drops dramatically to just a fraction of its normal rate. Near the end, there are longer pauses between each beat, and the pattern becomes very irregular until the heart stops.
Lowered Respiration
A healthy cat takes an average of 20 to 30 breaths per minute. As the heart weakens, it's no longer able to pump the lungs efficiently. This means less oxygen is available in the bloodstream.
Initially, your cat will experience rapid, labored breathing, but as further organ failure occurs, respiration weakens and slows. Near the end, breaths are fewer and farther between until the animal is finally too weak to go on and stops breathing altogether.
You might also see agonal breathing. These are breaths that look like sudden spasms as your cat passes away. By the time agonal breathing occurs, the heart has often stopped, and your pet will no longer be conscious.
Drop in Body Temperature
As a cat's organs begin to fail, the body also cools, particularly the extremities. A healthy cat typically feels warm when you touch them because their average temperature runs between 100.0 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. In comparison, a person's average temperature is approximately 98.6 degrees.
Once the cat's temperature reaches 98 degrees or lower, you can feel their temperature is lower just by resting your hand on them.
Anorexia
It's not unusual for cats to go through periods where they won't eat when there's a prolonged illness involved. Dietary allergies can also play a role in poor appetite. Disinterest in food is a sign your cat needs help, not necessarily a sign your cat is dying. You'll want to rule out underlying and treatable health disorders first.
However, nearly all cats will stop eating and drinking when death is imminent. The cat will begin to look wasted due to lack of nutrition. Lack of fluids leads to dehydration. You'll notice this by the lack of elasticity in the skin, a sunken look to the eyes, and the darker color and lower output of urine.
Foul Odor
For several types of feline medical conditions, toxins begin building up in the bloodstream. Your cat's breath and body start to smell bad as a result. The longer the condition progresses, the worse the odor becomes.
Incontinence
As the body prepares to shut down, the muscles relax to the point where the cat no longer has any control over their eliminations. The muscles that control the bladder and sphincter relax, and the cat has involuntary movements. This is likely to happen immediately before or soon after the cat passes away.
Choosing Euthanasia for a Dying Cat
If your cat is exhibiting signs of being near death, you may want to consider talking to your vet about euthanasia. This can be the more humane choice in cases where there is significant pain and suffering involved.
If you choose to put your pet to sleep, your vet will give them an injection that will slow their heart to a stop. This takes only seconds and is not a painful procedure. You will usually be given the opportunity to stay with your cat throughout the process if you wish.
Euthanasia can put an end to a pet's suffering as well as shorten the emotional distress you feel. In some areas, you may even be able to request a house-call euthanasia service.
Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy
Watching your cat die can be upsetting and disheartening. By understanding and coming to terms with the dying process, you can make decisions based on what is best for your pet rather than your emotions. It's natural to feel a profound sense of loss after your cat's death, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to grieve. Someday the grief will ease, and you may decide it's time to bring a new cat into your life.
