Our cats are part of our family, and we love their imperious looks and playful bops with a paw, not to mention their deep throaty purrs. But sooner or later, the time will come for you to part, and often this time can take us by surprise since cats are good at hiding their pain.
Although it can be so difficult to see your cat suffering in any capacity, keeping an eye out for these symptoms can help you recognize when your cat needs extra care and comfort, and could help to identify an issue early enough to extend her quality of life a bit longer.
Signs Your Cat Could Be Dying
Cats are notoriously good at hiding injuries and illnesses. In the wild, this is a great survival instinct, as showing any sign of weakness makes a cat a potential target for predators and rivals. But with our pet cats, this can present a challenge for us loving caretakers who want to help our kitties through any illness or discomfort. We must watch our cats closely and pay attention to subtle changes that indicate that something is wrong.
Many of the signs that your cat is nearing the end of her life are also common symptoms of illnesses, such as chronic The first step when you notice that something is wrong with your cat is to have her examined by your veterinarian. Between the exam and any diagnostics that are performed, your vet can tell you if your cat has a condition that can be treated or if the prognosis is more grim.
Extreme Weight Loss
is very common in senior cats. Some of this is due to normal muscle loss: as your cat ages, her body becomes less efficient at digesting and building protein, causing her to lose muscle mass. Your cat may be eating well but still lose weight.
Over time, the weight loss may become extreme. Some old or sick cats can become extremely thin, with their ribs, spine, and hip bones protruding under their skin. Cachexia is a particular form of extreme weight loss caused by cancer, in which the rapidly dividing cancer cells demand so much energy that the body breaks down its fat stores and muscle for fuel. Cats with hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease also often experience weight loss.
Extra Hiding
Hiding is the telltale sign of illness in cats, but can be hard to define. Many cats hide a lot normally. Things to watch for include increased hiding, hiding in new places, and not wanting to come out even for routine positive events like mealtimes.
LOWPOWER / ADOBE STOCKNot Eating
If your cat is feeling ill, she may not want to eat. Some medications can also impair your cat’s sense of taste and smell, making her less interested in food. Try warming up her food or adding a small amount of tuna juice to increase its odor and make her more interested in eating.
There are also medications that your veterinarian can prescribe to help encourage your cat to eat. An anti-emetic such as Cerenia can help to combat nausea, and appetite stimulants such as mirtazapine can increase your cat’s desire to eat.
As your cat nears her time of passing, it may not be possible to get her to eat at all.
Not Drinking
Sick cats also often aren’t interested in drinking, which can quickly lead to dehydration. If your cat is still eating, you can increase her liquid intake by feeding canned food and/or adding water to her food. In some cases you may be able to give her water with an oral syringe or a squirt bottle, but this should be done carefully. Aim your cat’s muzzle downward and only squirt a small amount of water into her mouth at a time. Forcing her to drink too much water at a time can cause the water to go down her trachea and into her lungs, causing and even aspiration pneumonia.
Lethargy
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.
Decreased Mobility
Senior cats often have decreased mobility due to muscle loss and pain from or other health challenges. Weakness is often progressive, starting with something small like no longer being able to jump up onto the kitchen counter, but progress to difficulty navigating stairs and even being unable to get in and out of a tall litter box.
You can help your cat by making sure that all of the things she needs are easily accessible. Provide ramps or stepping stones for her to safely get to favorite perches or resting places. If your cat is suffering from arthritis, your veterinarian can prescribe cat-safe pain medications to help her be more comfortable.
Behavioral Changes
Cats can show a wide range of behavioral changes when they are dying. The exact changes will vary from cat-to-cat, but what matters is that her behavior has indeed changed.
Some cats will become more reclusive, and may be cranky and more irritable (this might be due to pain or cognitive dysfunction). Other cats become more friendly and clingy, wanting to always be close to you.
Some cats experience similar to dementia in humans. These cats may wander the house at night and be more vocal than normal. They can also appear confused or get lost in familiar environments.
Your cat may disappear for extended periods of time and skip meals or develop altered sleeping patterns.
Poor Response to Treatments
Many of the diseases that plague senior cats can be controlled with medications and other treatments for a long time. Over time, your cat may require higher doses of medications or stop responding to treatment. This can be a sign that her body is breaking down and no longer able to utilize medications normally.
Poor Temperature Regulation
Senior cats increasingly have trouble regulating their body temperature, and will be more susceptible to heat and cold than healthy adult cats. Even when provided with a warm bed and environment, cats nearing death often have a low body temperature. You may notice that your cat’s limbs feel cool to the touch.
Unkempt Appearance
When cats don’t feel well, they frequently stop grooming themselves. This leads to a greasy, scruffy-looking coat. Long-haired cats may develop mats, particularly on their hind end, underbelly, and behind the ears. Your cat may also have excessive and flaky skin.
If your cat will tolerate it, gentle grooming with a soft brush can help her feel better.
