Cats Die Alone
Feeling the approach of death, cats tend to get away from people. When this is not possible, they hide in a secluded place.
There are symptoms by which you can determine the imminent death of a cat:
- loss of appetite, refusal of food and water;
- shortness of breath and difficulty breathing;
- slow heartbeat and low blood pressure;
- a decrease in temperature and the presence of an unpleasant odor.
These are warning signs, especially if your cat is over 10 years old. If you discover their presence, contact your veterinarian - perhaps the animal is simply experiencing an exacerbation of a chronic disease. In hopeless cases, the doctor may suggest euthanizing the animal. If this option is unacceptable, surround the cat with care and create conditions for a calm death.
Video: signs that a cat is dying
Remember, cats suffer in silence. Just because they don't complain loudly doesn't mean they aren't in pain.
Cats never voice their pain, but that doesn't mean they don't suffer.
Alarming symptoms of approaching death
Unfortunately, weak, sick or premature pets die during the first days of life or are already born dead.
In this case, it is impossible to help, since there is no point in fighting natural selection. But a kitten more than 2-3 weeks old needs a veterinarian if the following symptoms are present:
- high or low body temperature (37–39 ⁰C is considered normal);
- refusal to eat;
- vomiting or diarrhea;
- weight loss;
- sneezing, difficulty breathing, cough;
- discharge from the nose and eyes;
- bleeding;
- injuries.
Burying your pet correctly
After the death of a cat, owners are faced with the question: how and where to bury their pet? The option of “throwing it into the garbage chute” will not work; it is inhumane and prohibited by the Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the collection, disposal and destruction of biological waste.
So, you can bury a dead animal:
- at a pet cemetery;
The best way to bury pets is a specialized cemetery
- through cremation;
- independently in the forest or on your own site.
There are catastrophically few specialized burial places for pets. They are, as a rule, only in large cities. The services of companies involved in burying pets are very expensive. But then you won’t have to worry about anything: they will allocate a place, dig a grave, and erect a monument. If the company provides cremation services, bury the urn with the ashes in a cemetery.
For cremation, it is enough to contact a veterinary clinic. As a rule, more or less large clinics have everything necessary for this. The service is not cheap (3-5 thousand rubles), but the most acceptable from an environmental point of view.
If you lack finances and time, you can bury the cat yourself in the forest or at the dacha. But we must remember that the Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the collection, disposal and destruction of biological waste prohibit burying domestic animals near populated areas, in water protection, forest park and protected areas. As corpses decompose, they poison groundwater and soil. In addition, a pet that dies from an infectious disease can cause an epidemic among people and animals.
If you decide to bury your pet yourself:
- Choose a secluded place where fruit trees will not grow and children will not play.
- Dig a hole at least two meters deep.
- To prevent the release of toxins hazardous to health during the decomposition of a corpse, pour bleach or another chlorine-containing disinfectant containing at least 25% active chlorine at the bottom of the pit at the rate of 2 kg per 1 m2.
- Sprinkle the pet's corpse with the same disinfectant.
- Place the animal in a box or coffin and bury it.
- Place a mound at least 1 m high above the grave.
If your pet dies from a viral disease, contact your veterinarian. Most likely, experts will advise disinfecting the premises.
How to help a dying kitten?
All you can do for a newly born kitten is to provide it with warmth and enough food. If the cat cannot feed it, then you need to buy a special mixture from the veterinary store. It is ideal when you manage to throw a baby to another cat that has recently given birth. Cow's milk is not digested by your pet's stomach
, but in extreme cases, goat's, diluted half with water, will do. While you are looking for nutritious food, give your baby warm boiled water from a pipette or syringe without a needle. This will prevent dehydration.
Never pick up a kitten without first washing them with soap. Otherwise, there is a high risk of contracting an infection.
After each feeding, gently wipe the kitten's genitals with a damp cotton pad. They do this to stimulate bowel movements. The pet does not yet know how to relieve itself on its own, and it needs help. After the process is completed, urine and feces are removed with a damp cloth, and the fur is wiped dry.
If you are worried that you will not be able to cope with your responsibilities, then it is better to look for a special shelter where such animals are accepted. Professionals know better how to handle newborn babies. Therefore, these kittens have a great chance of survival.
If, despite your efforts, your pet dies, remember that you did everything possible to save it. It is important to understand that a newborn baby definitely needs a mother.
, which cannot be replaced even by round-the-clock human care. After the death of a kitten, it is better to bury it in a beautiful place outside the city or in the private sector, unless this is prohibited by law.
VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Administration
Unfortunately, there is a high mortality rate among small kittens compared to other young pets. Most often, this attack occurs in newborn kittens (cases of kitten death a day after birth are not uncommon). Especially often, a kitten born from an unvaccinated cat dies. The weak immunity of a small kitten is not able to withstand deadly viral diseases (only in isolated cases is it possible to save the baby).
On the other hand, the kitten may die from injuries that are incompatible with life.
In any case, what to do when the little kitten can no longer be returned?
Where can the owner turn for help in order to see off the kitten on its last journey with dignity? The veterinary center VetKlinik-Msk has its own crematorium for animals.
24-hour ritual veterinary care
goes to the house to pick up a deceased kitten in order to take it for cremation or autopsy with an expert opinion (at the owner’s request, for example, to establish the cause of death in order to avoid a repeat case when there are other animals in the house).
How to survive the death of a cat
The death of a beloved pet is always a grief and a tragedy. The first reaction of an orphaned owner to stress may be stupor, tears and apathy. The realization of the loss comes later. To fill the resulting spiritual emptiness, distract yourself - take on the worries associated with the funeral, because someone will have to do this anyway. Report your cat's death to those who care.
Don't dwell on your loss. Even though you won’t be able to completely forget your beloved pet, try to think positively:
- think about the fact that your cat was surrounded by affection and care during his life; he died not under a fence on the street, but in front of you;
- remember the cheerful, kind moments of life together;
- collect things that remind you of him and put them in a distant corner, but don’t throw them away - perhaps over time you will want to make a new friend.
Hide toys and other things belonging to the cat.
Don’t hold back, cry, tears bring relief. Talk to someone who cares about your loss. And if there is no way to speak out “in a clear voice,” consult a psychologist. There is nothing shameful in this; on the contrary, few people have the courage to admit their weaknesses and turn to a specialist.
If your cat's death occurred after a long, painful illness, try to rejoice at her arrival - she put an end to the animal's suffering.
There is a legend that cats don't die. They go to the rainbow.
Don't get depressed about the death of your beloved animals - they go "to the rainbow"
Keep yourself busy. Come up with an activity, a hobby that will distract you from sad thoughts. Become a volunteer at a shelter for homeless animals, although you can’t help your pet in any way, but you can do a lot for others. Place a few poor souls in good hands, help cure a dog or cat.
Helping the shelter will be useful for both you and the animals suffering from lack of attention.
It is difficult to get rid of the guilt when having to resort to euthanasia. Convince yourself that by saving your cat from suffering, you have done a good deed. It’s normal to sacrifice your feelings and give up your desires for the sake of others.
According to psychologists, the pain after the loss of a loved one subsides after one year. Don’t let sad thoughts drive you into depression during this time. Distract yourself: at work, immerse yourself in business, at home, keep yourself occupied with something new.
And don’t forget that you have a family, shared grief should unite people, help each other.
Support from loved ones can help you cope with loss
How to tell your child
It is more difficult to explain the death of a pet to a child, especially a child of 2–3 years old, when the feelings are deep and strong. The death of a cat can be a reason to talk about death with older children.
If you decide to euthanize, you do not need to tell your child about it. However, if the topic of euthanasia comes up, you should not shy away from the conversation. Try to explain to the child why this was necessary, tell about the suffering that the cat experienced at the end of its life. Explain to your child in accessible, simple words. Let the death of a beloved animal become for him not a universal tragedy, but a life experience.
Causes of early death of babies
The following factors influence low offspring survival:
- number of children (one kitten dies in half the cases);
- unreasonable interference of the breeder in the birth process;
- low weight;
- prematurity;
- blood group incompatibility;
- genetic characteristics of the breed;
- mother's illness.
Immediately after birth, the kitten needs warmth, since its body thermoregulation mechanisms have not yet developed. Hypothermia (hypothermia) leads to slow heart rate and heart failure
. If the mother cat has died or refuses to accept the babies, then to prevent the kittens from dying, you need to place them near a heat source. This could be a hot water bottle wrapped in a diaper or a heating pad.
To maintain the vitality of the body, babies need energy, which they receive from mother's milk. A weak newborn kitten dies from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in the first 5 days of life if it does not receive enough food. For example, he cannot suck on his own, or stronger brothers prevent him from getting to the nipple.
Improper nutrition of the mother affects the fat content of milk, so it is better to feed the cat with a special balanced food.
Early death of kittens occurs from dehydration (dehydration). From lack of food, overheating or diarrhea, the body loses a large amount of fluid.
Infectious diseases are not uncommon and account for 4% of total mortality in the first days of life. If within 2 hours after birth the kitten did not suck mother's milk, then it did not receive colostrum, and with it, antibodies to protect against pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Until the immune system finally matures, it will not be able to independently fight pathogens of dangerous infections. Even vaccination during this critical period is ineffective
. This is why it is important to ensure your baby has access to the nipple as soon as possible.
Kittens are stillborn or die shortly after birth due to intrauterine developmental anomalies:
- umbilical hernia;
- skeletal disorders;
- deformities;
- fusion of the rectum;
- cleft palate;
- underdevelopment of the kidneys.
In some cases, excessive licking of children by a cat leads to cannibalism, so you need to monitor whether the mother is showing excessive care for the offspring.
Cat mysticism
Cats are known to be natural psychics. They heal, predict weather and earthquakes, and discover new abilities in people. Great importance is also attached to how the cat passed away. It’s one thing if death occurred due to natural causes: old age, illness, accident. And it’s a completely different matter when a cat died suddenly, for no apparent reason. People prone to mysticism see here witchcraft, corruption, overwhelming human emotions and the influence of otherworldly forces.
Since ancient times, cats have been attributed magical properties.
It has been known since ancient times that cats do not die where they live. Anticipating their death, they try to hide away from prying eyes, closer to the other world. Neither scientists nor astrologers can explain this fact.
Legends advise not to harm cats: they will wait for their offenders on the other side, and the retribution will be severe. But the grateful cat will definitely try to drag her loving owner, who managed to sin in earthly life, to heaven.
Video: signs about cats
Signs about the place of death of a cat
It was considered a very bad omen if a cat died at home; it was assumed that in this case the owners would face troubles, illness and even death. In our age of closed doors, when most domestic cats never leave their apartments in their lives, this ominous omen loses its relevance, and the death of a cat brings only sadness to the owners. In addition, now a completely opposite sign has appeared: a cat that dies in the house takes misfortune away from the family. Furry friends protect the peace of their owners: they cleanse the energy of the home, ward off the evil eye, and extinguish negativity directed at the family.
According to legends, after death a cat protects the house from misfortunes
New friend, new life
You shouldn’t “knock things out” and immediately get a new pet after the death of a cat. Before you get a new animal, think about whether you can love it or whether it will be a painful reminder of an old friend?
Don’t try to immediately replace your old attachment with a new one, sort out your feelings
Remember that this will be a completely different animal, with its own character, temperament, and habits. He will need to be raised to accept your family's way of life. This creature requires affection, care, and attention. You need to understand that a new cat is a new friend, and not a “replacement” for a departed one.
