Do cats understand death?

[Deleted account 549]

So here's my main concern with killing myself: I don't want my cat to think that I abandoned him. It breaks my heart to think that he's going to wait for me to come back at some point… The thought of him waiting weeks or months on end is so heartbreaking to me.

Does anyone have any experience with cats recognizing when someone else has passed away? Maybe another cat or person? What was their behavior like? I'm obviously looking for reassurance but hearing the hard truth could also be good for me. So feel free to share your honest opinion

 

[Dayrain]

What do cats think?

This may sound like a stupid question, probably because it is, but does anyone know how cats feel about death? Will my cat understand I’m dead or will he feel confused and abandoned? He’s been abandoned by his old owners once before, and I don’t want him to think I’m leaving him too. Also, Im...

sanctioned-suicide.net

 

[Deleted account 549]

What do cats think?

This may sound like a stupid question, probably because it is, but does anyone know how cats feel about death? Will my cat understand I’m dead or will he feel confused and abandoned? He’s been abandoned by his old owners once before, and I don’t want him to think I’m leaving him too. Also, Im...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Thanks! I think it's worth mentioning that my cat won't be in the same room as me when I CTB. He won't be able to see my body at all

 

[ForgottenAgain]

I think that, if the cat doesn't see you unwell and you suddenly are no longer there, then it can't know you passed away. Similarly to a human. Unless we are told the person died, we will linger onto hope. Happens a lot with people whose family members disappeared.

I know animals can sense pain, maybe if you could show your cat your pain, it would at least know you are unwell. I'm not sure it would think you died when you're gone though.

 

[needthebus]

So here's my main concern with killing myself: I don't want my cat to think that I abandoned him. It breaks my heart to think that he's going to wait for me to come back at some point… The thought of him waiting weeks or months on end is so heartbreaking to me.

Does anyone have any experience with cats recognizing when someone else has passed away? Maybe another cat or person? What was their behavior like? I'm obviously looking for reassurance but hearing the hard truth could also be good for me. So feel free to share your honest opinion

What about waiting until after your cat dies? Do you need end things so badly? You could wait.

 

[avalon_]

They probably think something happened to you while you were out hunting for food.

Cats generally don't get arrached to one single individual in the way dogs do (although we often wish they did), so I wouldn't worry to much.

 

[Deleted account 549]

What about waiting until after your cat dies? Do you need end things so badly? You could wait.

My cat is only 2 years old, and he's well taken care of, so I wouldn't be able to wait until something happened to him :(

They probably think something happened to you while you were out hunting for food.

Cats generally don't get arrached to one single individual in the way dogs do (although we often wish they did), so I wouldn't worry to much.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. My cat and I are very very close, and when I've been in the mental hospital for weeks, he turns very hostile towards the person taking care of him, even if he liked that person before.

This is why I'm so worried about it

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

This is all just my opinion.

I don't think other animals understand that they and everyone will die.

I think non-human animals don't know what Death is

Most non-human animals don't even know that's them in a mirror.

Young human children don't fully understand that Death is inevitable, universal, irrieversible and permanent.

I think even most adult humans don't fully understand that they and all humans will die that everything will die. do they act that way? not imo. especially when someone wants to commit suicide. My question to them is I'm going to die anyway so why should i prolong my suffering? you can't stop Death you can't save a life because we all will die anyway. They don't seem to understand that everyone is going to die anyway no matter what.

Death is the most fundamental truth every human will die.

And that follows the master Law of the Universe the law of Entropy , everything breaks down , everything decays, hot things turn cold , the universe is also dying the Sun will die

I think Death is an abstract concept that can only be taught mainly through language the inevitability, universality , irreversability and permanence of Death .

 

[AbusedInnocent]

This is something that concerns me as well, I love my cat very dearly and would hate to spend my last moments without him but I can't have him see me die, also who's going to take care of him after I'm gone?

I don't think he would really care if I disappeared and never came back, even though he does miss me when I come back home.

 

[Dayrain]

hearing the hard truth

I think no one knows the truth. And maybe it is better for some and maybe for you too? If you knew your cat would understand everything is worse than assuming that it might possibly not?

 

[lharrywheel]

I think no one knows the truth. And maybe it is better for some and maybe for you too? If you knew your cat would understand everything is worse than assuming that it might possibly not?

i think this too.