Being a cat owner is such a wonderful experience. You have a lovable furry friend that is always by your side making you laugh with their ridiculous antics. Watching them run around and wreak havoc in your house can be equally entertaining and frustrating, but cats make up for it by cuddling up to you in the moments you need them most.
Sometimes, owning and loving a cat can be one of the hardest things you do. Cats grow old just like people do, and that means that the older they get, you’ll have to make some tough decisions.
As your cat gets older, you might start noticing some changes in their behavior. You might start to wonder, are these signs that my cat is dying of old age? Don’t stress too much, because we not only have 8 signs for you to look out for but we also have ways to keep your cat comfortable if his time is coming to an end.
So, what are the signs that a cat is dying of old age?
Signs a Cat is Dying of Old Age
The main signs a cat is dying of old age are lack of appetite, infrequent drinking, changes in behavior, lethargy, and weight loss.
Lack of Appetite
If you start to notice that your older cat is starting to lose interest in eating or just not eating as much as he normally does, it may be a sign that he isn’t feeling too great. Don’t jump straight to assuming that he is getting close to dying, though, as a lack of appetite can mean many different things.
However, when paired with other signs or symptoms listed below, your cat may be letting you know that it is close to his time. If you notice this change in your cat, you should make a vet appointment so you can be sure that you know exactly what is making your cat not want to eat.
Disinterest in Drinking
Another sign of declining health in cats that is similar to a lack of appetite is a disinterest in drinking. Cats need water to survive, just like people. Therefore, if you notice that your furry feline friend isn’t drinking as much as he normally does, you are going to want to take him to the vet.
Change in Behaviors
A big sign that a cat is not feeling good or even possibly reaching the end of his days are changes in behaviors. Some common changes in behavior due to old age include:
- Litter Box Habits. If your cat is starting to pee or suddenly poop around the house when he hasn’t had problems before, it could be a sign he isn’t feeling good. Conversely, your cat might also start going to the litter box every few minutes.
- Sleeping Habits. If you notice that your cat is sleeping in different places than he normally does, or is sleeping at different times of the day, you might want to pay attention and search for other signs of illness.
- Hiding. If it feels like you are searching for a cat more often than you normally have, your cat may be hiding or seeking alone time. If this is unusual for your cat, he might not be feeling too great. Cat’s usually prefer to hide if they are sick or in pain.
Lethargy
Lethargy is another common sign that a cat is dying of old age. A sick cat will be less likely to engage in activities and will be a lot sleepier than a healthy one.
Weight Loss
Occasional shifts in weight, whether they be gains or losses, are normal for all animals. However, if you start to see an unexpected amount of weight loss when it comes to your aging cat, it may be a sign that there is something wrong.
There are plenty of things that can cause a cat to lose weight suddenly such as anxiety, depression, stress, diabetes, and sadly cancer. An aging cat could also see unprecedented weight loss due to a lack of appetite.
Unusual Breathing
Unusual breathing for any animal can signify some serious health conditions popping up, including with cats. While fast breathing is normal for kittens, it could be a sign that your senior cat is dying.
Unusual breathing can include rapid breathing, shallow breathing, ragged breathing, wheezing, and even panting. A cat exhibiting unusual breathing may be suffering from allergies, asthma, pain, trauma, or even an infection. This is a sign of a cat’s health declining and is a very important one that cannot be missed.
If you notice that your cat is having trouble breathing or his breathing sounds weird, no matter how old he is, a visit to the vet needs to be made right away.
Unresponsive to Medical Treatments
When a cat is getting older in life and needing medical treatments to help with any health conditions it might have, there is the chance that it may become unresponsive to medical treatments. Your cat might also start getting mad when you give him or her medicine.
If this is the case, you will notice that your cat no longer seems to be getting better, and his health may even start declining even more.
More Bad Days Than Good Days
Another big thing that people with older cats will notice when their cat may be ready to cross the rainbow bridge is if there are noticeably more bad days than good days. If you start to see that your cat is uncomfortable or in pain more than he is his normal happy self, it may be time to talk to a vet about what options you have.
How to know when to put down a cat dying of old age?
When it seems as though your cat is dying of old age, a lot of emotions can surface. Stress, sadness, and anxiety can all start to swim around in your brain. What are you supposed to do? I know that it can be a really hard decision to make, but the best thing that you can do is discuss what options you have with your vet.
In the meantime, you need to keep your cat as comfortable as you can. Keep them warm and make sure that the home is as quiet and peaceful as possible. If possible, try to move his food, water, and litter box as close to his chosen spot as you can.