Cats' Sixth Sense: Knowing Their End Is Near

Cats have a reputation for being perceptive and understanding many unspoken things. But can they predict death? While there is no scientific proof, there are many anecdotes of cats sensing impending death, whether it's their own or that of a human or another animal.

Cats have a strong sense of smell, with 200 million scent receptors compared to a human's 5 million. It's thought that they can detect chemical changes in the body that occur right before death. They may also be more sensitive to behavioural and biological changes, such as a decrease in body temperature or physical weakness.

Cats have been known to respond to the physical and emotional needs of a person or animal that is passing away. Some cats become more affectionate and choose to spend all their time with their loved ones, while others become more reserved and secluded.

While it's difficult to know how much cats understand the concept of death and their own mortality, they certainly seem to have an awareness of illness and bodily changes.

Cats may understand their body's natural progression

Cats are perceptive and seem to understand many unspoken things. While there is no scientific proof that cats can predict death, there is anecdotal evidence that they may be able to do so.

Cats have a powerful sense of smell, with 200 million scent receptors in their noses compared to a human's 5 million. This means they can detect hormonal changes and differences in their internal bodily processes, including those that occur shortly before death. Cats may, therefore, understand their body's natural progression and have an innate understanding of what their bodily changes mean, including those indicating their final days are approaching.

For example, they might not be able to tell exactly what is wrong with them or what they need to fix it, but they may have grasped a general understanding of what it means when their bodies start to feel a certain way. They are aware when they are feeling ill or that something is different or wrong.

Cats also tend to hide when they are unwell due to their instincts, which tell them they need to conceal any signs of illness so that predators won't know they are sick. So, a cat going into hiding before it passes away may be due to its worsening symptoms, rather than knowing that death is imminent.

Additionally, cats may respond to the physical and emotional needs of a person or animal that is passing away. They can be more sensitive to behavioural and biological changes that occur when death is near, such as a slight decrease in body temperature or a person feeling weaker than normal.

While it is unclear if cats fully understand the concept of death and their own mortality, they do seem to have a sense of their body's natural progression and can detect when something is wrong.

Cats' powerful sense of smell

Cats have a powerful sense of smell, which is their primary way of identifying people and objects. They have 45 to 200 million odour-sensitive cells in their noses, while humans have only 10 million. This gives them a sense of smell that is 9-16 times stronger than that of humans.

The olfactory membrane space in a cat's nose is four times larger than in humans, and the information from the smell receptors is transmitted to the olfactory lobe in the forebrain. Cats also have an additional smelling system called the vomeronasal organ (VNO) or Jacobson's organ, located on the roof of the mouth. This two-pronged smelling system enables cats to communicate effectively through scent, with the VNO playing a crucial role in enhancing the detection of pheromones.

Pheromones are chemical signals produced by animals that can influence the behaviour or biological processes of other individuals of the same species. Cats spread their pheromones through saliva, urine, faeces, and glandular secretions, marking their territory and communicating with other felines. When cats smell something interesting, such as territorial messages from another cat, they exhibit the Flehmen response, where they curl their upper lip to draw in scent molecules and further investigate the smell using the VNO.

The superior sense of smell in cats has drawn attention to their potential in detecting cancer and other diseases in humans. Research suggests that manipulating pheromones can influence feline behaviour, and this knowledge may have important applications in wild felid conservation efforts.

In addition to their sense of smell, cats have evolved other enhanced senses that make them highly efficient predators. They can detect movement in low light, have acute hearing, and their sense of touch is improved by their long whiskers.

Changes in attitude or behaviour

Cats nearing the end of their life may experience changes in attitude or behaviour. They may become more reclusive, less active, or more affectionate. Cats may also become reserved and secluded as they become ill, while others will become more affectionate and choose to spend all their time with their loved ones.

Cats may also move to a quiet place when they are very close to passing. They may eat less, groom themselves less, and behave differently from normal. Some cats may become irritable and growl or hiss when interacting with other animals or humans. They may also seem anxious or restless.

Some cats may also purr more when they are beginning to pass. Most people associate purring with a happy cat, but purring may be used as a form of communication, a sign of hunger, or even a calming mechanism, which could explain the increase in purring during their final days or hours.

Cats may also experience a loss of interest in life-sustaining needs, such as eating, drinking, grooming, or using the litter box. This could be a sign that your cat has accepted its fate or is simply too weak to take care of its basic needs.

Additionally, cats may display otherwise uncharacteristic behaviour due to their illness. Typically playful and energetic cats may exhibit lethargy and disinterest, while usually docile cats may display aggression, especially if they are experiencing pain.

Loss of interest in life-sustaining needs

Loss of appetite is one of the first signs that a cat may be dying. However, many treatable conditions can also cause appetite loss, so it is important to have your cat evaluated by a vet if you notice these symptoms, especially in a younger cat. Cats can go days without eating and, as long as their other symptoms are managed, may still derive enjoyment from life.

Cats with diabetes may also drink excessive amounts of water, urinate more than usual, act sluggish, get urinary tract infections, and have sweet-smelling breath.

If your cat has been eating human food exclusively, be sure to transition your pet over several weeks by mixing together your pet's favourite people food with cat food. Over time, you should be able to change the ratio until your pet is eating only cat food.

If illness is the reason your cat won't eat, work with your veterinarian to design the best plan for you and your pet. This may include a change in food type or consistency; some cats may be enticed to eat by offering canned foods when they are unwell. In more extreme cases, veterinarians may prescribe medicines that act as appetite stimulants or recommend syringe-feeding your cat a liquid diet.

If your cat still won't eat, take the food away and provide fresh food later in the day. If the food is left to harden and become stale, your cat may learn to avoid it in the future.

It is common for cats to move to a quiet place when they are very close to passing. They may eat less, groom themselves less, and behave differently than normal.

Cats will likely lose interest in the things they normally enjoy as their health declines. They may lose the ability to enjoy eating their favourite foods and engaging in their favourite activities. On your cat's good days, spoil them with affection and all their favourite things, but don't try to force engagement if they're not interested or would rather sleep. Continue to pet them and talk to them and let them know you're there for them.

Cats may hide before they pass away

Cats are perceptive creatures that seem to understand many unspoken things. They can sense when their owners are happy or sad and can even come to provide comfort. But do they know when they are going to die?

There is no scientific proof that cats can predict their death, but there is anecdotal evidence that suggests they may be able to. Cats seem to be aware of death, but it is challenging to determine how much they understand the concept and whether they fully comprehend the finality of their passing. While cats do not seem to fear death, they may wish to be free from pain or discomfort.

One common behaviour that has been observed in cats before their death is their tendency to hide. This could be attributed to their instinct to conceal any signs of illness or weakness from potential predators. As their health deteriorates, cats may seek seclusion and prefer to be alone during their final moments. This behaviour is not due to a lack of affection for their owners but rather a natural survival instinct.

Additionally, cats have an incredibly strong sense of smell, with over 200 million scent receptors compared to a human's 5 million. This powerful sense of smell may enable cats to detect hormonal changes and subtle differences in their internal bodily processes, including those that occur shortly before death.

While the scientific community has not reached a definitive conclusion, the available evidence suggests that cats may have some awareness of their impending death, leading them to hide and seek solitude as their time draws near.

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