Losing a cat is like losing a close member of the family because we all see our pets as family.
In their last days, you will want to make your cat feel as comfortable as possible, but you must also accept your cat’s boundaries.
Keep in mind that showering your pet with too much attention in their final days may cause stress, speeding up the process of death.
You can comfort a dying cat by ensuring a quiet, relaxing environment without other pets and loud noises. Also, if your cat has stopped eating, provide treats to motivate them to regain energy and of course, stay alive.
In today’s article, I will teach you how to comfort a dying cat and how to prepare for the worst, so let’s begin.
Is it Time to Say Goodbye?
Cats can hide their injuries and pain very well.
In the wild, cats die alone, and not showing any signs of weakness prevents them from becoming a potential target for rivals and predators.
However, this can present a challenge for pet owners who want to help their pet cats through any discomfort.
You must watch your cat closely and take notes of any subtle changes that indicate that your cat is sick. The first step when you detect that there’s something wrong with your cat is to have them examined by a veterinarian.
If you suspect they’re dying, watch for the next signs.
Your Cat is Losing Weight
As cats age, their body becomes less capable of digesting and building protein, and hence they start losing muscle mass.
So, weight loss is common in older cats.
As time goes by, the weight loss can become extreme. Old cats can become super thin, with their spine, ribs, and hip bones becoming visible on their bodies.
Sick cats with chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and cancer experience extreme weight loss as well.
They’re Hiding More Than Usual
Hiding is a normal thing in cats. However, extra hiding, hiding in new areas, and not wanting to come out even for mealtimes can be signs of a sick or dying cat.
They’re Refusing Food and Water
Sick cats refuse food, but note that some medications can affect their sense of taste and smell, making them less interested in food.
In this case, try making your cat’s food more appealing by adding a small amount of tuna juice and warming up their meals that will encourage your cat to eat.
Some vets prescribe medications to help motivate cats to eat, so when you’re at the vet, make sure to ask for appetite stimulants.
As for water, if they’re not hydrating at all, they can quickly become dehydrated and die. If your kitten is still eating, you can increase their liquid by adding water to their food and/or feeding it canned food.
They Seem Lethargic
As cats near the end of their life, they become less active.
If yours is dying, they will sleep more and more. Moreover, they can be weaker when they’re awake and show signs of depression.
Your Cat Isn’t Moving Much
Older cats usually have decreased mobility because of their muscle loss, pain from arthritis, or other health issues.
Weakness usually starts with small things such as cats no longer being able to jump up onto counters and progress into difficulty walking stairs and even being unable to hop in and out of a tall litter box.
If you notice reduced mobility in your pet, you can provide stepping stones or ramps for them to safely get to their favorite resting spots.
If your cat is dealing with arthritis, your vet can prescribe pet-safe pain medications to help them with discomfort.
Changes in Their Behavior
Dying cats can display a wide range of behavioral changes which can vary from cat to cat. However, what matters is that their behavior is indeed different.
Some cats will become more irritable, cranky, and reclusive, while others will quickly turn into the friendliest felines.
Moreover, cats with cognitive dysfunction which is similar to dementia in people can wander around the home at night and meow more than usual. They can also get lost or look confused in familiar areas.
Depending on the cat’s condition, they can disappear for long periods, skip meals, and develop new sleeping patterns.
Treatments Aren’t Working
Poor response to treatment can also be a sign of a dying cat.
Most illnesses common in older cats can be managed with medications and various treatments for a long period.
However, over time they may need higher doses of medications or stop responding to their treatments as their body is no longer able to use medications normally.
Poor Temperature Regulation
Just like older people, older cats have trouble regulating their own temperature and hence become more sensitive to heat and cold than healthy adult cats.
Cats near death usually have a low body temperature even when residing in a warm environment. You can also notice that their limbs feel cool to the touch.
They Stop Grooming Themselves
Sick and dying cats usually stop grooming themselves which leads to a greasy coat. Furthermore, long-haired cats can develop mats, especially on their underbelly, hind end, and behind the ears.
Some cats can also have flaky skin and excessive dandruff. Some cats in this state can feel better if you gently groom them with a soft brush, while others don’t allow it. So, determine how your cat feels about this and act accordingly.
Abnormal Odor
Senior cats can develop a bizarre body smell due to the breakdown of tissues as well as the buildup of toxins in the body.
Moreover, the type of smell can differ depending on the underlying conditions in a dying cat.
For instance, pets with diabetic ketoacidosis can develop a sickly sweet smell, while those in kidney failure can have a breath that smells like ammonia.
Abnormal Breathing
As cats age, the muscles and nerves that control their lungs deteriorate and hence cause abnormal breathing.
You can notice your dying cat breathing fast and very slow at random. They can even stop breathing for a short time and then start back up again.
Strong abdominal movements and open-mouth breathing indicate a difficulty to get oxygen into the body and require immediate medical attention.
Seizures
Your dying cat can experience seizures due to many different things such as brain issues or metabolic issues caused by diseases.
If they experience long seizures (over 10 minutes) or cluster seizures (one after the other), seek immediate medical attention.
See more: My cat is dying how long will it take?
How to Comfort a Cat Near Death: 10 Useful Tips
Nothing I can say can help you accept the inevitable loss of your beloved feline, so I will leave those words for last. Meanwhile, let’s learn how to make your pet as loved and comfortable as possible in their final days.
Ensure a Comfortable Environment
When your feline is approaching their death, it’s very important to ensure they’re as comfortable as possible in their own space.
They will need a quiet and relaxing environment, so if you have other pets, you may need to separate them from your cat at times.
I highly suggest moving your cat’s rest bed to a part of your home that isn’t as noisy and crowded. Keep in mind that moving their place to a completely different room is a big change.
Therefore, you should adjust your habits as well as those of your family members to decrease the noise and activity around your feline.
Moreover, let your cat sleep wherever they want. They can pick a spot that will give them the peace they need. If possible play soft, low music to make your kitten feel even more comfortable.
For instance, you can play different sounds of birds or running water.
Keep Your Cat Warm
Old and dying cats usually struggle to rest as comfortably as they used to, so make sure your sick cat has extra blankets and bedding for additional padding that will keep them warm and comfortable.
Cats can develop sores if they’re lying in one position for too long, therefore additional bedding is necessary to keep your cat comfortable.
Moreover, older cats can soil their bedding because of the physical inability to walk to their litterbox or bladder control issues. So, you should select something easy to clean such as towels and blankets.
I know that foam bedding is more comfortable, but it’s also harder to clean.
Lastly, check their bedding regularly for signs of soiling like dampness, and clean as often as necessary.
Adjust the Lighting
You can make your cat’s environment even more pleasant by adjusting the lighting whenever necessary.
For instance, open your window shades or blinds during the day so they can absorb natural light and provide soft lighting when the sun goes down.
When you leave for bed, leave a dimmed light on for your pet. They may feel better with a low light than with no light at all.
Place Their Food and Water Nearby
Place necessities such as food and water bowls, litter box, and favorite toys nearby.
As cats approach death, they can have difficulties getting up and walking as normal. So, the distance they used to walk to get to their litterbox and food can be too far for them now.
To decrease their discomfort with eating, drinking, and using the litterbox, place all of these things in short proximity to their resting area.
If your kitten still has trouble accessing their food, water, and litter box on their own, you can either buy a sling or make a sling out of a blanket or towel, to help them get around.
Prepare Tasty Food
With young cats, pet owners tend to be restrictive when it comes to food in concern for their health. However, in their final days, cats could use more food than usual.
Therefore, spoil your kitten with some tuna flakes. Moreover, pour tuna juice on top of their food to make it more appealing.
I highly encourage preparing tasty food for your pet not only when they’re older, but throughout their whole life as they definitely deserve the effort.
So, go ahead and cook meat-based foods such as turkey, chicken, or another type of food your kitten used to enjoy.
Just make sure their cooked food doesn’t contain onions and/or onion powder since they’re toxic to cats.
Gourmet cat food is another option you can provide for your feline. Whichever foods you give them, make sure they have a strong smell.
Many cats in their final days usually don’t have a big appetite, but providing aromatic food can motivate them to eat.
Make Their Eating Easier
Older cats not only lose their appetite but also have a hard time chewing up their food properly. So, you must ensure their food is easier to consume.
For instance, if you feed your kitten dry food, you can make it chewable by soaking it in water. Or mashing it.
Instead of mashing dry food, I prefer grinding it up in a blender. Moreover, if you’re feeding your pet baby food, you can mix it with water to make it extra soft.
Also, don’t forget to warm up their food so it’s more appealing.
If you’re not certain about the type of food your pet can consume in their final days, talk with your vet and see what they suggest.
Provide Fresh Water At All Times
Many cats in their final stages of life lose their interest in water.
Additionally, their body’s ‘thirst’ signal might malfunction, so they won’t even know that they need to hydrate themselves.
In this case, you should take care of their hydration. Moreover, cats prefer lukewarm water over cold, so make sure they have a bowl of lukewarm water nearby.
If they can’t drink water on their own, you will have to assist by carefully supporting their head upright.
If they refuse to drink water, you can use a medicine dropper to ensure they’re well-hydrated.
Just place the medicine dropper next to their back teeth on the inside of their cheek while supporting their head. The moment they open their mouth, gently squeeze the water down their throat.
Help Their Health Challenges
If your pet is slowly drifting away that doesn’t mean that their health issues shouldn’t be handled properly.
In fact, not helping your pet with their health challenges could speed up the process and make them feel even more uncomfortable in their last moments.
So, give your best to address their health issues properly. Talk to the vet about your pet’s health issues and learn what you can do to manage them better.
If they have a terminal illness (cancer, chronic kidney disease, etc.) make a plan on how to manage and minimize your pet’s discomfort.
Minimize Their Pain and Discomfort
Dying cats suffering from a terminal illness experience pain. Although there’s not much you can do to save them, you can still do things that will relieve their pain.
Talk to your vet about what type of pain medications you can provide to your cat to achieve pain relief.
However, don’t forget that at this stage, the pain medication isn’t going to magically cure your pet but only make them feel more comfortable.
If they can’t open their mouth, consider using a pill popper to offer the medications.
Just place the pill propper next to their back teeth on the inside of their cheek while supporting their head. When they open their mouth, push on the unit to release the pill down their throat.
Extra tip: You can stimulate swallowing by providing water with a medicine dropper.
Help With Their Elimination Issues
General weakness accompanied by pain and/or disease can make it hard for your pet to use the litterbox in time.
So, if they have difficulties controlling their bladder, you can either ask your vet to prescribe medications to manage the issue.
If your sick cat also has difficulties managing fecal elimination, you might need to step in and help. Check their bedding regularly for signs of wetness and/or soiling.
Gently wipe their genital and rectal area to prevent skin irritation caused by urine or fecal matter.
You can also use cat diapers. They’re usually available in local pet stores. However, if you can’t find any in your local pet stores, you can either buy online or ask your vet for recommendations on cat diapers.
Lastly, ask your vet about the easiest way of putting on a diaper on your feline.
Prepare Yourself for the Worst
If you’re dealing with a dying cat, I can sympathize with you as I’ve already been in your shoes. And I know how hard it is to say goodbye to your best friend.
It’s safe to say that it’s one of the hardest things you will ever have to do in your life. And although every situation is different, preparing yourself for the worst is the best way of providing your cat with the easiest send-off possible and easing your pain.
Keep in mind that the final moments of your cat’s life aren’t about you, so don’t forget to keep their best interest in mind. The following tips can help you navigate through the process.
Discuss Euthanasia With Your Vet
In your cat’s final days, you should try to make their life as comfortable as possible while also preparing yourself for the reality of their eventual death. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.
Therefore, talk to your vet about euthanasia as soon as possible as they can help you handle and organize the process.
I know it’s heartbreaking for you to imagine putting down your best friend. However, euthanasia is actually the most humane way of ending their life.
In the process, your vet would provide an overdose of an anesthetic drug and after a few seconds, they would fall painlessly and peacefully into unconsciousness and eventually stop breathing.
Most pet owners feel guilty or even ashamed about thinking and/or talking about this process. And as a pet owner, I understand why, but I also understand that it’s better than leaving my pet to suffer in their last days.
Set the Date
It’s up to you to decide when is the time to have your pet euthanized.
Ask yourself if you’re keeping your pet alive for yourself or because they’re not ready yet. How you answer that question will help you determine the right time.
If your pet is truly suffering, despite your efforts to make their life comfortable, then it’s probably time to let them go.
Ask your vet for an opinion if you’re not sure. They can help you write down a plan and stick to it. Making important decisions such as this one with strong emotions is very difficult, and having a plan done at a more neutral time can help.
You can also write down your cat’s daily activities and keep track of their well-being. If they’re having more bad days than good ones, it’s probably the right time to start considering euthanasia.
When you pick the right date, contact your vet and schedule the appointment. Some vets agree to perform the process at the owner’s home.
So, ask if they provide this service. If not, schedule the appointment when the clinic is quiet – typically in the early mornings and/or late evenings to make your cat’s final moments as easy as possible.
Make Funeral Arrangements
You can either bury your feline at a pet cemetery or have their remains cremated. I personally think that burying is a better option as it’s a more natural process.
However, I also understand that some pet owners prefer cremation because having the remains of their pets displayed around their homes makes them feel better.
Therefore, pick whatever option you’re most comfortable with. You can ask your vet for recommendations on pet cremation and burial services if you’re not familiar with these things.
Grieving the Loss of Your Beloved Pet
As I already said at the start, losing a pet is one of the most painful experiences you will ever have to go through in your life.
However, grieving the loss is normal. Your pet was a part of your life, so you should take a day off and talk to friends and family or even a therapist.
If you have other pets, spend some more time with them. Let them shower you with unconditional love and help you grieve the loss of your other pet.
If you don’t have other animals around, consider adopting whenever you feel ready to welcome another pet into your home and family.
See more: How To Comfort A Sick Cat
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