Do Cats Prefer To Die Alone? Know The Answer Here

The death of a pet is not an easy topic to discuss. In 12-15 years, the house cat becomes a part of the family and a dear to our lives.

But it is inevitable to see the cat’s loss due to the natural process or terminal illness.

If you have ever lost your pet cat, you may have noticed that the cat had reduced interactions to an absolute minimum or left the house entirely.

So, it is a common phenomenon in the cat world during the last stages of life. We often hear the cat owners asking whether cats prefer dying alone.

Although the scenario may look like it, the misconception is not always the case.

In this article, we are going to understand the reason behind this behavior. We will also tell you how to realize that the cat has reached near its end and how you can take proper care of the dying cat.

Do Cats Prefer To Die Alone?

 

If you ever owned a cat and lost it to old age or a terminal disease, you may have noticed that they tend to stay clear of everyone in the house.

It might give the impression that cats probably prefer to die alone. However, we can say for sure that cats do not favor dying alone.

They do so for a variety of reasons. When they are about to die, they are at their most vulnerable condition, and they want to spend as much time as possible in peace.

In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind this particular behavior and learn how you can take care of the cat in a better way.

Why Do Cats Stay Away While They Are Dying?

We can not divide the cats into categories depending on a particular situation. So, it is hard to say how a cat will behave when it is nearing its end.

It is a morbid topic to discuss, but you can take care of the cat in a better way if you know that it is time for the cat.

Cats are lucky in the way that they do not understand their death clearly. They feel vulnerable during their ends, but cats don’t realize what death is.

Several changes in their behaviors will indicate that the cat has reached that phase. Here are some of the clues that will help you in deciphering the condition:

• Changes in their innate behaviors
• Hiding becomes frequent
• Change in their eating habits
• Uneven grooming
• Seizure or other symptoms

These are signs that you can be concerning. You have to have a clear idea about the cat’s age, which can help you in deciding the phase of the cat.

Now that you know what to observe lets us focus on the fact that they prefer a peaceful situation while dying.

The first instinct that makes the cat hide in a secluded part of the house is fear. Although they do not understand the concept of death, they feel vulnerable when they come close to the end.

Their bodies stop responding normally, and it becomes frightening for them. They consider themselves to be easy targets because of their animalistic instincts.

This behavior is similar to the time when a mother cat is giving birth. They become extremely weak to defend their kittens but hide their vulnerabilities in general.

They try to hide their kittens under their belly to protect them from harm because that is the best they can do.

This type of hiding nature is responsible for its distance from you. Even after taking care of them for the entirety of their lives, these instincts kick in.

We can not blame the cats individually for this behavior. All we can do is keep an eye open for these kinds of traits and make the time easier for your beloved feline.

Tips For Caring For A Dying Cat:

Observing the cat’s behavior will let you know about their mental and physical state during these difficult times.

If you are careful about the cat, you can do several things to make the passage peaceful and comfortable. You can do the following in this regard:

1. If your cat is suffering from some kind of physical pain, you can take the cat to a veterinarian for a check-up. A simple method to understand this discomfort is by picking the cat up and gently rubbing the all over the body. If they react to touching a particular location, the cat likely has some internal pain there. The vet can prescribe painkillers for the cat, which can reduce the pain.
2. You have to make their surroundings as comfortable as possible. You can keep the litter box, food bowl, water bowl near to its resting place so that it does not need to travel a lot for the necessities. However, you can make sure that the water and food bowl as far as possible. The resting place might need some modifications as well. You can arrange a small heating bed for the cat to make the resting location comfortable.
3. You have to make sure that the cat does not have a stressful house situation. If there is a particular thing that bothers the cat, you can ensure that it does not feel affected.
4. You can also make self-grooming simpler by trimming the areas which need the most attention. One of those places could be the anus region. It will help the cat in conserving their energy to take better care of themselves.
5. Diapers can also be a good alternative for old cats. Sometimes, demented cats struggle with using litter boxes. Diapers will mitigate the situation significantly.
6. Wet food will be a better alternative when the cats grow old because it simplifies the process. If you plan to feed dry food, then make sure that you grind it and make a paste with some water.

Conclusion:

The last few years in the life of a cat become significantly more difficult for them. Their animalistic instincts kick in to steer them away for us.

It is wrong to assume that cats will leave your side when it is nearing its end. It can even grow to be needier during the last few months.

No matter what, the cat will need all your attention and love when it is going through the final few stages.

It is hard to lose your beloved pet, but you can make the last few months as comfortable as possible.

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Related Reading:

1. Why does my cat hate being held? Know the answer here
2. This is how cats choose who to sleep with.
3. How long can your cat go missing?