Signs a cat is dying of old age: what to look for

There is no single sign. A cat near the end of its life usually shows several changes together: it stops eating and drinking, hides, stops grooming, loses weight and muscle, feels cool to the touch, becomes too weak to jump or walk steadily, and its breathing changes. The difficulty is that every one of those signs can also come from an illness that can be treated, so the first step is a vet visit, not a conclusion.

Old age is not a cause of death in itself. Old cats die of diseases that become more common with age, such as kidney disease, cancer and heart disease, and some of those can be managed for months or years. That is why it matters to find out which one you are dealing with.

What are the signs of a cat dying of old age?

These are the changes owners most often notice in the final weeks and days. One on its own means little. Several together, getting worse, mean more.

• Not eating or drinking. Interest in food fades, then stops. Favorite treats are refused. See why an old cat stops eating for the other causes.
• Hiding. Under the bed, in a closet, or somewhere the cat has never slept before. A few cats do the opposite and will not leave your side. More on hiding in older cats.
• No grooming. The coat turns greasy, matted or dull, and the cat may smell different.
• Weight and muscle loss. The spine, hips and shoulder blades become easy to feel under the fur.
• Low body temperature. Ears and paws feel cool, and the cat seeks out warm spots or cannot seem to get warm.
• Changes in breathing. Faster, shallower or more effortful breathing, or slow and irregular breathing close to the end.
• Weakness. Wobbly walking, no more jumping, trouble standing, sleeping in one place all day.
• Litter box changes. Accidents because the box is too far or too hard to climb into, or very little urine and stool because nothing is going in.

Owners also describe a cat that seems to have withdrawn: dull or sunken eyes, no interest in people, other pets or the window it always watched from.

How to tell if your cat is dying of old age or sick with something treatable

Usually you cannot tell at home, and a vet cannot tell by looking either. Cats hide illness by instinct, so by the time the signs are obvious the problem has often been building for a while. That does not mean it is beyond help.

An exam with blood and urine tests is how a vet sorts these out. Hyperthyroidism in older cats is a good example: a thin, unkempt, restless cat can look like it is fading, and many improve a great deal once the condition is treated.

If the answer turns out to be a disease that cannot be treated, or one that has stopped responding, you will at least be making decisions on facts. The same signs in a cat with a known illness are covered in more detail in our guide to kidney disease in cats and when to euthanize.

What the last days can look like

In the final days most cats sleep almost all the time and are hard to rouse. They stop eating, then stop drinking. They stay in one spot, may not get up for the litter box, feel cool, and may not respond to your voice or touch. Breathing can become slow and irregular, with long pauses.

Some cats are quiet through this. Others are restless, cry out, breathe with visible effort or have seizures. There is no way to know in advance which it will be, and no reliable timetable. Your vet can tell you what to expect for your cat's particular illness.

Comfort care at home

While you are working with your vet, these things help a frail cat stay comfortable.

• A warm, soft bed in a quiet place that is easy to reach. If you add a heat source, make sure the cat can move away from it.
• Food, water and a low-sided litter box within a few steps of the bed.
• Small amounts of warmed, strong-smelling food. Offer it, but do not force food or water into the mouth, because it can end up in the lungs.
• Gentle brushing, and a damp cloth for the face and rear end when the cat can no longer keep clean.
• Calm. Let the cat choose whether it wants company.

Give only the medication your vet has prescribed for this cat. Human painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and aspirin can seriously harm or kill a cat and must not be given unless a vet has specifically directed it.

Ask your vet about palliative or hospice care. Pain relief, anti-nausea medication and fluids can make the remaining time much more comfortable. Which of them suit your cat, and at what dose, is the vet's decision.

Natural death or euthanasia?

Many owners hope their cat will die peacefully in its sleep. It does happen, but it is not what usually happens. A natural death from illness often takes days, and it can involve nausea, dehydration, pain or a struggle to breathe that the cat has no way to tell you about.

Euthanasia, performed by a veterinarian, ends that in a few minutes, with sedation first. It is not the only acceptable choice. Some owners choose hospice care at home with their vet's support. But waiting for nature to take its course without pain relief and a plan agreed with a vet is not the kinder option. Euthanasia is only ever carried out by a veterinarian, and it is never something to attempt yourself.

If you are unsure whether it is time, a quality-of-life scale for senior cats gives you something more concrete than a feeling to bring to your vet. If the procedure itself is what worries you, read what happens during pet euthanasia, step by step.

If your cat does die at home, here is what to do when a pet dies at home. And when you need it, there is a guide to coping with the loss of a pet.

When to call a vet today

Do not wait and watch if you see any of these. Call your vet or an emergency clinic now.

• Your cat has not eaten anything for 24 hours. Cats that stop eating can develop a serious liver problem quickly.
• Open-mouth breathing, panting, or breathing with visible effort.
• Straining in the litter box with little or no urine coming out, especially in a male cat. A blocked bladder is life-threatening.
• Collapse, being unable to stand, or back legs that suddenly stop working.
• A seizure.
• Crying out, or pain you cannot settle.
• Repeated vomiting.
• Gums that are pale, white, blue or gray.

This applies even if you believe your cat is dying. An emergency vet can relieve suffering at any hour, and can tell you whether what you are seeing is the end or something that can still be treated.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot tell you whether your cat is dying. The signs described here overlap with many treatable conditions, and only a veterinarian who has examined your cat can say what is causing them and what the outlook is. Decisions about treatment, comfort care and euthanasia for your cat should be made with your veterinarian.