I’ve always heard that cats will wander off when it is time to die, never to be seen or heard from again. Have you found this to be true?

I ask because my first cat died two years ago on the dining room floor while I was petting her. My second cat was found dead in the driveway today, and I get to go bury him after work. He wasn’t run over or anything—just dead.  The vet told us 6 years ago he only had about 3 months to live due to a heart condition, but he made it much longer, so he had a good life.

So is it common for cats to hang around when they die?

I recently got a puppy, so maybe she will be the wandering off type when her time comes.

I’ve had cats for years, and have several now (strays tend to show up at my house and take up residence).  I had a cat of 18 years die a couple of years ago, but it was due to tumors, and was an indoor cat.  A second cat (also of 18 years) died last summer.  I did notice that towards the end, she tried to find a hiding place to pass away, but was too debilitated to get very far.  I am also aware of outdoor cats owned by others that did in fact just leave, never to return.

The one thing I’ve learned about cats is that, unlike dogs, they will usually mask any bad health or pain until the end.  By the time the owner learns of a serious condition, it’s probably too late.

like people I think all cats are different .... most all the cats we ever had usually passed at the house or had to be put down at the very end .... the few the died on there own usually started as barn cats and had a little more feral in them ... the last tom we had from the barn litter was emaciated and ready to be put down and the day before we were going take him in he walked away never to return ...

As I was digging a hole in the yard to bury Carl in, I was wondering what you typically do with a dead cat. It would seem ruthless to throw it in a dumpster, and digging holes deep enough to prevent racoons from digging up the remains sucks (as I can now attest to twice).

Can you burn a dead cat? Does it smell as bad as burning humans? What are some other free ways of disposing of a dead pet? Are there illegal methods?

Homeskillet’s stoop?

As in, burning it on Mumpower’s stoop?

In a paper bag also filled with poo.

thats a good idea, actually.

just edit this thread, first.

If mine had gone off last week I wouldn’t be in the hole for his cremation.

And, its true about how they hide illnesses. I had no clue he was sick until the night he died.

My ex-cat was apparently run over awhile back and barely survived.  She had severe internal injuries and such.  She had crawled under the deck to die as her body was shutting down.  Fortunately, my ex-dog was alerted by the scent and let us know something was up by whimpering and scratching at the deck. 
Maybe they crawl off with a sudden injury more so than an illness?

When her kidneys were shutting down, my indoor cat crawled into the farthest corner under a bed and wouldn’t come out for anything.  I took her to a vet who very kindly put her down and a friend’s son buried her on their farm in a field of flowers.

I usually just toss mine into the woods. Circle of life and all.

Awesome thread, willcy—

i dont know where the cute cat thread went, so i thought i’d lighten up the mood about dead cats with a video of a wacky cat drinking from (and dunking is head in) a faucet (not farrah)