Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Going away to die

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/8/2008


Question
Why do cats remove themselves when going to die?  With all the love and caring you give them it's seems like the worst thing.  I would think they would want to be with the one's who loved them most.

Answer
Maggie,

Yes, you would think that would be true...but it's not because cats do not have any reasoning ability.

And they also do not 'go off to die' because cats do not have any concept of death. If they have pain, they try to get away from it. And if they are ill, they want to be alone in a quiet place. If they die from what is causing the pain or from an illness, that is what gives the impression that they 'went off to die'.

If you recently lost a pet, I'm very sorry. If you are asking 'just because' then I hope I answered your question.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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