13 Simple Ways To Comfort A Dying Cat
Cats can be very emotional creatures, especially when it comes to their own mortality.
When a cat passes away, the whole house becomes eerily quiet and empty.
This is why it’s so important for you to know how to comfort your dying feline friend, especially if you’re caring for them at home alone.
Here are some tips on how best to comfort a dying cat:
Make Their Environment Safe and Relaxing
- Keep them in a quiet and not dark room.
- Keep all forms of stress away from a dying cat environment.
- Make sure they can get up and down easily.
- Make sure they are not too hot or cold (and you will need to keep an eye on this).
- Provide water for them to drink, but do not leave their bowls out all night (they may drink too much at first).
Treat Them To Their Favorite Foods
You can make your cat’s favorite foods and treats to help him feel better.
This is something that you should try, but it may not work for some cats.
If the cat is already very sick, then there is no point in trying this method of comfort because it will be too weak to eat anything anyway.
However, if they are feeling better and able to eat some food again then giving them their favorite treats or meals might be all right!
Just make sure that you don’t feed them more than usual because it could cause an upset stomach or other health problems later on down the road when they get older and need more care from humans who love these animals as well!
Read more: 11 Common Signs Your Cat Is Dying Of Old Age.
Stroke them gently
Stroke them gently. If you have a cat, it’s likely that they are used to being stroked.
This can be comforting and soothing for your pet.
You could also use a soft towel or blanket to stroke their fur if they’re not too aggressive about allowing you the privilege of touching them!
Place them in a warm and comfortable spot
Place them in a warm, comfortable spot. Dying cats are often frightened by their circumstances and the noise of their surroundings.
A quiet room with no distractions will help them relax and feel safe enough to go into sleep mode.
Keep the room not too dark and quiet. If possible, turn off any lights or other noises that might frighten your cat during this time of transition between life and death.
This will help prevent anxiety-related behaviors such as scratching at doors or walls (which can lead to infections).
Place them on a soft blanket or pillow—this helps make them feel more secure by providing support for their body during bedtime cuddles!
Although it may seem like overkill at first glance… but trust me: I know how hard it is just knowing how much comfort those little feet need after two weeks without any proper food intake despite having plenty of water available around us all along.
Clean Them Gently
- Use a damp cloth to wipe their face.
- If they are very sick, use a damp cloth to wipe their ears.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe their paws.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe their tail (if it’s short or long).
- If you can get them into the water, wetting them down will help comfort them because it feels like being hugged by someone who cares about you!
Make sure they have fresh, clean water and food.
- Make sure they have fresh, clean water and food.
- If you’re not sure what they like, ask the vet.
- If your cat is not eating or drinking, it may be in pain.
Speak softly to them and pet them
You can speak softly to them, and pet them gently.
You may be surprised at how much this will comfort your cat!
If you have a cat that doesn’t want to be petted, don’t force it—you’ll only end up making things worse for both of you.
Persistent petting is often painful for a dying animal, so choose your words carefully when talking to them about what is happening in their body.
Let them sleep in your bed if they want to
If your cat is dying and you want to comfort him, the first step should be letting him sleep in your bed.
They might not want to if they’re used to sleeping on their own or in a different part of the house.
But sometimes it can be helpful for them to get some cuddling time with another human being—not just any old human being.
But someone who cares about them deeply enough that it doesn’t matter where they are sleeping at night.
If this doesn’t work out for whatever reason (maybe he doesn’t like sleeping next to strangers).
Feel free to let him sleep wherever he wants: on top of your couch cushions; on top of whatever soft surface there happens upon; or beside/underneath any furniture within reach (so long as it is not directly touching anything).
It’s up for interpretation—you’ll have plenty of options depending on where your cat decides he wants his own personal space!
Bring them a favorite toy or blanket
- Bring them something they like to play with.
- Bring them a blanket or toy that smells like you.
- Bring them a stuffed animal that reminds them of their favorite person or place.
Give them love, safety, and lots of fun until they pass
- Give them love, safety, and lots of fun until they pass.
- Let them know you love them.
- Let them know they are safe.
- Play with them! If you don’t have time to play with your cat right now, at least give him or her one last game of fetch that lasts for at least 15 minutes (or until they’ve had enough!)
- Letting your cat know that he or she is loved is important—and it can help heal any lingering feelings of grief as well as provide comfort later on when things get more difficult in terms of caregiving responsibilities and daily life routines (which may include feeding).
- This can also be done by giving treats or petting if possible; however, these moments should not be used as rewards for something else such as doing tricks for example because this can be seen as bribery rather than genuine affection which may cause further damage over time if not dealt with appropriately first before moving forward into other areas such.
Do not disturb them during their time of mourning
It is important to understand that cats do not grieve in the same way we do.
They may not want to be disturbed and will likely try to avoid you if you go near them, but it’s important not to force them into anything they don’t want.
Let them grieve over their loss in peace, without trying to make them feel better by distracting or entertaining themselves.
This can cause stress for both parties involved, so try making sure there are no distractions around when they’re grieving so that everyone gets along better!
Sing to them or play music
Music can be a form of comfort for your dying cat. Playing their favorite song or singing along is a great way to relax, express yourself and feel better.
If they are not into music, try playing some relaxing sounds like rain on a tin roof or waves crashing on the beach—or even just white noise!
Music has been shown to help with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other conditions associated with losing someone close (such as grief).
It’s also been shown that listening to music helps people with dementia feel less stressed out by their condition.
However, this does depend on what kind of music you’re playing for them so make sure this is appropriate before trying it out!
Leave them alone if they want to be left alone
If a cat is dying, it is important to let them be. Cats need space and time to grieve and adjust to their new reality.
They may not want to be touched or held until they are ready for that kind of contact.
If your cat is ready for additional affection before you leave him/her alone, give them whatever comfort you can in whatever way works best for both of you.
Petting, stroking with gentle hands (or with a soft brush), offering food treats from hand-held dishes, or even through elevated platforms like cat tree houses.
Sing songs from your heart as loud as possible so that he/she can hear every lyric; play with toys he enjoys but isn’t used enough yet (like balls).
Read more: 9 Most Common Traumatized Cat Symptoms.
Ways to get over the loss of your cat
Here are some common ways to help you get over the loss of your cat:
- Grieve in your own way – allow yourself to feel the full spectrum of emotions that come with the loss of a loved one.
- Spend time with your other pets – they may provide some comfort and distraction during this difficult time.
- Connect with your veterinarian – discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your cat’s health after its death.
- Create a memorial – decorate your cat’s favorite spot with their favorite toys, treats, and bedding in remembrance of them.
- Consider a cat rescue – there are many wonderful cats in need of a loving home, and adopting one may provide you with some comfort and companionship.
- Connect with online communities – like Catster, where you can share your experiences and connect with others who are also coping with the loss of a cat.
- Seek professional help – if you find that you are struggling to cope with the loss of your cat.
Conclusion
The end is always difficult. It may be easier to say goodbye if you know that someone else will take care of your beloved cat when you’re gone.
This way, there’s less stress on both sides of the equation and everyone gets what they want.
We hope this list helped make things a little bit easier for those who are already struggling with their feline friends’ passing or how best to comfort them in their time of mourning.