Where Do Cats Go When They Die? Pet Owners' Guide To Their Beloved Cat

Deepthi Reddy
Feb 20, 2023 By Deepthi Reddy
Originally Published on Oct 12, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit
Young cat jumping in a meadow
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 7.8 Min

Cats are playful, emotional, and perfect pets one can afford easily and requires very little maintenance.

Cats, the only mammals that don't taste sweetness, have increased lifespan when tamed indoors. They are fantastic pets to whom you and your family get connected emotionally in no time.

A cat is the only domesticated pet that belongs to the Felidae family, scientific name Felis catus. Cats have been kept as pet animals for thousands of years to control the rodent population.

The Egyptians are known to be the first people to have domesticated cats. A cat has excellent night vision with a flexible body, sharp teeth, and typical meowing, purring sounds.

It can be a housecat, farm cat, or feral cat, and every cat likes to roam in an open space. Whether indoor or outdoor, cats should be given proper space to roam around freely.

Indoor cats have less risk when compared to outdoor cats. Outdoor cat's life may be at risk because of disease exposure, the possibility of accidents, risk from neighbors dog, etc.

Cat is a long-living animal when compared to other pet animals like dogs. The average lifespan of cats in the wild is just 2-5 years, whereas house cats have an extended lifespan of 13-17 years.

According to the studies of Banfield pet hospital, the average lifespan of these house cats increased from the year 2002 - 2012. So, this shows that they are happy with humans. The lifespan of any pet cat or dog depends entirely on the food we provide and the care we take.

Cats have proved to be more affordable and demand less maintenance than dogs. It is a perfect indoor companion which adjusts well, keeps pests at bay, and shouts less when compared to a dog. It is perfectly suitable for apartment culture. Cats proved to positively affect human mental health, as they help combat loneliness and depression.

Cats are carnivores and depend primarily on meat. There are plenty of food options available for house cats.

Cat's food should consist of a good amount of protein and essential amino acids compared to dogs. The owner should maintain proper access and constant communication with the vet regarding timely vaccinations in avoiding health complications and other medical emergencies.

Let us explore how a cat behaves while death is approaching, where do cats go when they die, and how to take care of the ill cat.

So, if you want to explore more interesting facts, refer to where do birds go at night and where do ducks sleep on Kidadl.

Where do cats' souls go when they die?

Some people believe that cats go to heaven after their death.

Most owners of this sneaky and snuggly pet may wonder where cats go when they die? Where do we all go after we die? Does our soul reach some unexplorable paths?

Does heaven actually exist? Does the soul of cats even have the ability to travel into another world? Do we all know when death is approaching us?

Well, scientists claim that most people can guess when death is near. In a similar manner, even pets might guess before they die. Some contradictory statements also suggest that cats don't know what death is all about.

The body may perish, but the soul never loses its value. What is left after the death of an individual or a creature is just a soul. The soul gives true identity in the afterlife.

When owners emotionally connect to the pet or their cat, they would constantly think about where the deceased cat might go. According to the Bible, the soul of the deceased can neither go to heaven nor hell.

It does not imply that the soul just vanished. Their spirit is allowed to stay in the holy place of Jerusalem. In this context, we may form an opinion that there is an afterlife for the deceased animal.

When a pet cat dies suddenly, some grieving owners out of love believe that their companion has reached the path of heaven. This emotional assurance helps them to lessen the pain and suffering.

Death is the afterlife phase where our cautiousness leaves the body and spirit travels to the god. It's the natural tendency of humans to miss the pet animal when it passes away.

They sometimes become unstable out of love, grief, pain and start believing that their dead pet cat will come back to meet them. But is this practically possible?

Death is permanent, and nothing can change it. Love has the power to reach the loved one in some way or another, even after death.

Though the dead cats may not come back after death, they will feel and sense their owners' pain. Humans or owners who are pretty sensitive and share a powerful bond with their cats may experience and believe that the holy spirit is roaming around. As in this isolated world, some people have only pets as their companions.

And there are scenarios where some cat owners have experiences of their deceased pet cat trying to contact them even after death. It may be their visualization, or it may happen in reality, but one cannot judge the person's feelings. It's a matter of love and a sign of bonding that helps to reach the loved one.

Where do our cats go when they die?

Do you know each creature exhibits specific reactions before saying a final goodbye? So what are the typical behavior of cats before they die, and where do cats go when they die.

It is a first and foremost sign when you try to feed your cat with favorite food and if it refuses or doesn't show interest in eating at all. Before death, cats usually avoid their food altogether. Some cats may experience seizures when nearing death.

Many cats block out or hide from humans when they are sick and prefer to be alone. The exact reason for such behavior is unknown, but cats prefers to spend time in solitude when unwell.

Such a mechanism also helps them to safeguard themselves from active predators. It is advisable to take care of your cat with a veterinarian's assistance. Provide a proper place to rest, an accessible litter box, water, and a soft, cozy place to bid farewell.

The other behavioral changes in cats before dying are an inactive lifestyle, change in the breathing pattern, change in appearance and vision.

The cat continues to breathe and exhibits muscle movement after its death. The ancient Egyptians believed there was an afterlife, so these pet cats were buried with their owners as mummies.

If any of you observe such peculiar tendencies in your cat, try to accept the fact that death is unavoidable, and the time has come for your affectionate friend to leave this world and set out on its journey to heaven.

So, try to provide proper comforts, a preferable place to rest, give attention, love, and care so that the soul leaves the body in peace.

When your friendly cat passes away, it may be buried or cremated. Check with the local officials nearby.

What do most older cats die from?

Red Maine Coon kitten sitting around berries.

When your pet cat becomes old, it may become prone to many age-related diseases that may lead to death after a prolonged illness. Lets us know some diseases to which your pet cat may be prone in old age.

Cancer, also known as lymphoma, is one of the most frequently affected diseases to old-age cats. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is heart disease in cats where they die with a sudden heart attack without any prior symptoms.

Feline heartworm disease is one more cause of the sudden death of these furry pets. In such situations, even the pet animal cannot guess that its death is approaching. Other diseases the older cats are prone to are kidney diseases, arthritis, hyperthyroidism.

There are some situations where cats spend many days suffering when facing diseases like cancer. In such cases, if the veterinarian suggests euthanasia, it is advisable to put your innocent creature to death.

Though it is a painful procedure, there is no other way to put down and pass the pain of your pet cat. Cats are notorious animals who try to hide their illness, and all of a sudden, they just scream and die. This sudden death is very terrible and shocking to its owner.

All the cats require regular medical checkups yearly, once with a veterinarian, but the senior cat requires more attention and medical checkups twice yearly.

How to take care of ill cats?

Do you know cats are excellent at hiding sickness? Everyone needs attention when they fall sick. Ill cats are no exception. They should be given great care and attention.

If the ill cat wants to spend time in an isolated place, respect its feelings and provide a cozy and comfortable bed to keep it warm. Place litter box near to its bed, where it can easily access.

But some cats expect great care and attention when unwell so try to groom your cat. Provide proper well-balanced food so that the cat will recover fast.

On a finished note, talk to your vet about its health conditions and follow his valuable suggestion.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for where do cats go when they die?

Pet owners' guide to their beloved cat, then why not take a look at how to deworm a cat? How to prevent your cat from getting worms or Purrrfect Facts About The Ragamuffin Cat Kids Will Love?

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Written by Deepthi Reddy

Master of Business Administration

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Deepthi ReddyMaster of Business Administration

With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.

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Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

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Nishtha DixitBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha is an experienced SEO writer and editor, with a passion for writing and self-expression. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate major in Literature and Communication and a minor in Political Science from the University of Delhi. Nishtha has completed a certificate master course in English from the British Council and has been appointed as the editor for the bi-monthly magazine of the University of Delhi.

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