Tell if Your Cat Is Dead

A cat may look like it's sleeping. It can be curled up, looking as though it's taking a nap or stretched out looking lazy, only for it to have died quietly. How can you tell though? There are various signs that can indicate the cat is not asleep but has died, and as upsetting as it may be, knowing these signs can help you to be sure and to begin preparing for the cat's removal or burial.

Steps

 * 1) Call the cat. Use your usual high pitched food call. A sleeping cat will often hear you and start waking up. After all, what cat will miss a chance for food? A dead cat or a very sick cat won't respond.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Obviously, this doesn't apply to deaf cats. Use your usual way of encouraging your deaf cat to prepare for eating food in this case.
 * 3) Look for signs of breathing. Is the cat's chest moving up and down or not? Can you see the cat's stomach move? Hold a mirror up to the cat's nose. If the mirror fogs up, the cat is breathing but if nothing happens, it isn't.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Look at the cat's eyes to see whether they are open. Cats' eyes open after death and the pupils will appear big. Put on disposable gloves before doing this next test. Touch the eyeball very gently with a finger. A dead cat won't blink in reaction. The eyeball will feel soft if the cat has died, not firm like a live eye.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Check the femoral artery. The cat has a femoral artery on the inside of its thigh. If it is pumping, the cat is not dead. If there is no response, this is not good. You can also check the heart on the cat's left side above the elbow and behind it. No beats means no life.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Feel for rigor mortis. This happens about half an hour after death and makes the cat's body go stiff. It will wear off a little a few hours later.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 7) Call the vet. Take your cat to the vet. The vet might be able to tell you why the cat died. If you have other cats, this might be important to prevent the spread of any contagious disease or conditions, possibly causing more deaths.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 8) Bury the cat. Or have the vet dispose of the cat properly. Hold a little ceremony in honor of your beloved feline.[[Image:Tell if Your Cat Is Dead Step 7.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * If you are squeamish about working out whether your cat is dead or not, ask for someone to help you. It can be very upsetting if you're close to the cat.

Warnings

 * Always wash your hands after touching the cat, whatever its living status.