Cats communicate with us through body language, facial expressions, sounds and behaviors, such as tail movements, ear positioning, purrs, meows and gentle head nods.
These signals tell us when it's meal time, playtime, turn time, “open the door to this room” time, and “leave me alone” time.
Cat language also helps pet owners recognize when their cats are sick. So, could cats know when their end of life is approaching? And could they tell us somehow?
Key takeaways
- Cats probably don't understand death as a concept, but they experience physical changes when they are sick or uncomfortable.
- Changes in behavior, such as hiding, restlessness, loss of appetite, or increased clinging, often reflect how a cat is physically feeling.
- Cats can also detect illness or emotional changes in other animals and people through scent, body language and changes in household routine.
- Planning ahead with your veterinarian can ensure that your cat's final days are peaceful and free from unnecessary suffering.
Can a cat feel death?
Our feline friends can interpret our body language, vocal tones, certain words and hand gestures.
Their keen eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell, which help them hunt and avoid predators, likely alert them to activity and changes in scent in animals and people who are sick or near death.
Cats also use their vomeronasal organ, a special odor processor that detects pheromones (chemical signals) from other animals, to gather information about their environment. This process is called the Flehmen response.
It is not known or scientifically proven whether cats understand their own death as a concept, as most people do.
However, sick or injured cats experience changes in their physical abilities and comfort level, and they often show changes in activity and behavior that match how they are feeling.
Cats also thrive on routine and may be wary of change. So they probably sense when their parents are scared, stressed, sad, happy or relaxed and can react accordingly.
How do cats behave when they are about to die?
As a cat's illness or injury worsens and the end of its life approaches, its attitude, behaviors and physical abilities may change. Cats can:
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Having diminished or no interest in favorite activities (playing, treats, scratching posts, jumping or climbing on elevated perches, self-grooming)
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Sit in a crouched, tense position with your legs tucked under your body, tail curled, and head tilted down.
Veterinary evaluation is essential, as cats may also exhibit some of these signs when suffering from treatable illnesses.
Making an end-of-life decision for your cat
Families can help make their cat's final days as peaceful as possible by developing an end-of-life plan before an emergency situation arises. If possible, plan ahead with your family and veterinarian well before you need to act.
Your veterinarian can explain the expected course of your cat's condition, offer hospice and palliative care options, describe what may happen if your cat dies naturally, explain the euthanasia process, and discuss aftercare and memorialization choices.
Pet parents often have to decide for themselves when it's time to say goodbye, and veterinarians help guide families in making them aware of quality of life considerations.
The pet's parents and those closest to the cat should agree on when and how to say goodbye, whether through humane euthanasia at home or in a veterinary clinic, or by allowing a natural death. In all cases, the objective is to ensure the comfort of the cat and to avoid any suffering.
Lap of Love's feline quality of life assessments and additional resources can help make these decisions easier.
How to Comfort a Dying Cat
For pet owners, there is never a good day to lose a pet. I hope that, as much as possible, the cats have a good last day, a day of rest, calming voices and loving interactions.
Whether you have chosen euthanasia for your cat in a veterinary clinic or at home, or your cat is experiencing a natural death, try to maintain a calm presence.
Continue to relieve anxiety-related pain and discomfort and provide a calm, relaxing environment that may include:
I encourage pet owners to gently reassure and talk to their cats when sedation is administered before euthanasia, when euthanasia medication is administered, or when a natural death occurs, and for a few minutes afterward.
Hearing may be the last sense to disappear, and many cats seem comforted by familiar voices. Saying words of love and gratitude to their cat can also help pet parents say goodbye and ease any lingering doubts or regrets.
Some pet parents can't stand being present when their cat is euthanized, and that's okay. Sometimes work, travel, bad weather, or transportation issues make it impossible to be there, and that's okay, either. If you want to be there but can't, ask your veterinarian if attending via video (like FaceTime) or speaker phone is an option they offer.
In all circumstances, know that your veterinary team will provide gentle and compassionate care to your cat going through the last moments of life.
Lap of Love's pet loss resources can help pet parents cope with grief and continue to honor their cat's life.
Do cats know when they die? FAQs
Do cats say goodbye before they die?
Cats probably don't say goodbye the way people with life-threatening illnesses consciously do. Late-life cats who are not feeling well may become anxious or agitated and seek more comfort and attention.
Conversely, many sick cats prefer solitude and may hide in unusual places in the house or garden. Some cats seem to move away from familiar spaces, perhaps due to confusion due to illness or age, or because of an instinctive desire to conserve energy and avoid perceived threats.
Well-meaning people may say that your cat will give you “the look” when she's ready to say goodbye. When people talk about this look, they're usually describing a moment when a cat's expression seems intentional, almost as if it's asking permission to leave.
But cats don't have a built-in “I'm ready” signal. What families often notice are physical changes due to the illness, such as muscle loss, pain, dehydration or weakness. These are medical signs, not a goodbye look.
Because cats hide their discomfort so well, by the time their expression changes, they are often already very ill. It's best to talk with your veterinarian and make a plan in advance, rather than waiting until then.
In my experience, waiting for such a moment often means that a cat is already in pain. It's much kinder to talk with your vet and plan how and when you will say goodbye before it gets to that point.
What do cats do when they feel like they are dying?
Cats probably don't understand death as a concept, but like us, their biology is geared toward survival. Harmful or very stressful situations can trigger fear, pain or confusion. Cats may exhibit signs ranging from subtle personality changes to obvious distress, depending on the cause, severity and duration of their illness or injury.
For example, cats of any age can collapse and die suddenly due to heart disease, blood clots, or a serious injury. Senior or geriatric cats with chronic illnesses may experience gradual physical and mental decline over days, weeks, months, or longer.
What happens just before a cat dies?
Cats often stop eating and drinking altogether, have trouble staying warm, breathe with more effort, and have abnormal heart rate and gum color. During euthanasia, cats are first given a sedative to promote comfort and relaxation before the final medication is administered to ensure a peaceful death.
Do cats know if another cat is dying?
Cats appear to be capable of sensing illness, discomfort, and distress in other animals.
In my experiences at Lap of Love during in-home euthanasia visits, I have seen a wide range of responses. Some cats are attentive observers, some stay close to their sick or deceased companion, and still others seem unaware of what has happened.
Cats who lose a human family member or animal companion may experience changes in their routine and experience sadness in the household. Some cats seem to delight in familiar sounds associated with their missing friend, lingering in favorite shared spaces, or waiting impatiently for the missing person or animal.
