Can you tell when your cat is going to die?

[Roseberrry]

He's my first cat, had him since I was a teen and he's nearly 17 now and I'm so anxious about him dying. Never had to experience a pet dying before so it's all new to me.

Basically will I be able to tell when he's on his way out? Is he likely to stay at home or take himself off somewhere when it happens?
He's lost a lot of weight recently but is still happy eating.

I'm not sure what else to ask really, I guess I could just do with reading some of your experiences.

[cozietoesie]

I go upstairs to check on my old boy now and say 'Just going to see if he's still alive.' And nobody demurs these days!

He's still a happy lad though. He started becoming skinny at about 17 but that was 4 years ago.

Has your lad been to the vet recently?

[Roseberrry]

He's not been to the vet in years, never needed to. Do you think I should take him?

[cozietoesie]

I do.

Seniorboy has been vetted regularly since he came to live with me - for his shots if nothing else - and a senior health check is usually a good idea. He's had his teeth looked at (and sorted) and is now on meds for the arthritis that usually comes with advanced years. (Very advanced years in his case.)

You can't prepare yourself for their death I think. My last personal boy seemed to be in the rudest of health and then dropped dead one sunny morning at only 8 years of age. But the loss of a personality is always hard, whether you're anticipating it or not. You just do your best by them.

[DramaAlpaca]

Every cat is different in my experience.

We had two cats all through my childhood. My mum got one a year before I was born & the other a year after, and they lived to 18 & 19. The boy cat had to be pts when he developed kidney problems, but the girl cat died peacefully at home. It was so hard losing them as I'd grown up with them.

My next cat, aged 14 so not that old, just quietly took herself off somewhere one day. We never found her, sadly.

My current old boy is nearly 15 and is definitely getting more frail, he's quite thin and has arthritis, but he's still eating well, going outside and seems to be enjoying life. I don't know how much longer we'll have him, but I'm dreading losing him.

I agree with cozie that a trip to the vet would be a good idea just to see how he's doing.

[kirinm]

Losing weight but still eating well might mean something like hypothyroidism which can be treated and is very common in older cats.

[pterobore]

I would agree with kirinm if he's eating well but losing weight it could be a sign of hypothyroidism and a simple blood test would let you know. Some cats get kidney problems as they get older and again a blood test would let you know if he needs any medication or a change in diet.

[Roseberrry]

I should add that the weight loss coincided with us getting a puppy. Things are starting to settle down now and he is starting to feel heavier. I am still going to get him checked out though...dreading the vets bills!

[DrAmandaBentley]

My youngest cat died last week at the age of 15 exactly. In the past year or so, he'd lost lots of weight, was moving more slowly and had stopped grooming himself almost completely. He was a Maine Coon and his fur coat was a mere shadow of it's former glory.

Saying that it happened suddenly. He was laying down, looked up and cried and then fell to the floor. Although it was expected it felt quite shocking.