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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/feline near death behaviour/asked Kathleen in UK

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/9/2008


Question
You sent me an incorrect link for the answer to my question today.  You sent me:
www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=1606&qID=4779507.
Doesn't work.
Can you pls send me correct link?  Many thanks.
Question yest. was "Do cats wander away from owners to die on their own?

Answer
Jennifer,

I am not the person who sent you an answer, sorry, so I do not know the circumstances, but I will make a comment to the question in this post.

Cats do not "go off to die"...because they have no concept of death. A cats will try to get away from pain, which is how the term probably came about. If they are sick, they want to be left alone and go somewhere quiet and peaceful to them. If their illness results in death, then "going off to die" is mis-named because of their actions.

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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