When Is It Time To Put Your Cat To Sleep

How Are Cat Sleep Habits Different From Humans

Whereas most humans are active during the day and obtain the majority of their sleep at night, recent studies suggest that cats follow a 24-hour cycle with two peaks in activity: one at dawn and one at dusk. Researchers theorize this bimodal pattern may have evolved because cats hunt both birds and rodents, with birds being more active in the daytime and rodents being more active at night.

Studies have found that in addition to the peaks in activity at dusk and dawn, some cats are primarily awake during the day, and some are primarily awake at night. The vast differences observed between cats may reflect individual adaptations of each cat according to their particular prey. Household cats may also adapt their activity patterns around mealtimes, exposure to daylight, access to the outdoors, and other cats. Cats who spend more time with their owners are more likely to adapt their activity patterns accordingly.

How Long Do Cats Sleep

On average, throughout a 24-hour period, cats sleep for about 79 out of every 104 minutes. Unlike humans, who tend to sleep in one long time period at night, cats have a polyphasic sleep schedule that is marked by multiple shorter bouts of sleep across both day and night. In general, cats tend to be more active at night and sleep more during the day. Male and female cats do not appear to need different amounts of sleep.

Untreatable Aggression Or Behavioral Disease

Sometimes, despite pet parents’ best efforts, dogs and cats can develop behavioral problems that put them, other pets and/or people in danger. Your vet may recommend humane euthanasia for safety and human health reasons. Behavioral issues in themselves are never a reason to euthanize a pet, but in cases where they cannot be corrected despite all your efforts to help, and they pose a threat to other pets or people, your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist is the best person to consult at this time. These cases are often especially emotionally difficult.

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How Does The Veterinarian Prepare

The veterinarian will arrive at your home at the agreed upon time and examine your pet. Based on your pets condition, the veterinarian will choose the best medications and process to perform the euthanasia.

Once the veterinarian determines the best plan, they will talk you through it and give you the time that you need to ask any questions.

Together, you will choose the best location to perform the procedure.

How Much Does It Cost To Euthanize A Cat Or Dog

During the emotional experience of losing a pet, the last thing anyone wants to think about is the cost. But the reality is that putting your dog or cat down will cost you something.

The cost of euthanasia varies widely depending on the size of your pet, your location, the services provided and the hospital where the procedure is performed.

Your local animal shelter may be able to perform the procedure for as little as $100. At a full-service veterinary hospital, a euthanasia procedure may cost $500 or more, but this includes additional services like returning your pets ashes to you in a special wooden box.

In-home hospice and euthanasia services can cost $400 to $1,000, and sometimes more, but the veterinarian will come to your home so that your pet does not have to go through the stress of travel.

There is no right or wrong decision, and it comes down to how much you are able or willing to spend.

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What To Look Out For

When you visit the vet, you’ll hear them talking about your pet’s ‘quality of life’. This is a term they use to understand how much they are now able to enjoy their lives without pain or suffering.

Signs that your cat is in pain and may no longer have a good quality of life can include:

• not eating or drinking
• not wanting to go outside
• refusing to come in from the garden
• change in toilet habits or incontinence

Euthanizing A Cat Or Dog In Your Own Home

Instead of taking a stressful car ride and sitting in a waiting room at the veterinary office, you can have your cat or dog euthanized at home in comfortable surroundings.

In-home pet euthanasia provides a quiet, private way to give your pet and family the time and space to say a dignified goodbye, says Dr. Dale Krier DVM, CHPV of Creature Comforts mobile veterinary services in Sherman, Connecticut.

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Cat Sleeping In Fetal Position

This pose helps a cat to retain body heat. Check the temperature of the cat and its surroundings while it is awake.

If the cat has a safe temperature, consider whether it could be injured. The purpose of the fetal position may be to protect parts of the anatomy. In the fetal position, a cat cannot be touched on the paws or belly.

When your cat wakes up, check how well it moves. If the cat refuses to allow you to touch its paws, injury or discomfort is a possibility. This could be something minor, such as dry and cracked paw pads.

If you find no obvious physical problem, it could be feeling vulnerable due to an illness. The fetal position helps a cat feel protected. The cat feels confident that it will not be disturbed as all delicate anatomy is protected.

Is It Important To Decide Where My Cat Should Sleep

In most cases, there really is no right or wrong answer to the question of, Where should my cat sleep at night? If your vet says its okay for your pet to sleep with you, theres no reason to change what youre doing. On the other hand, if your cat is disrupting your sleep in any way, its a good idea to get your pet a cat bed and put it in another part of your home.

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What Happens When A Cat Is Put To Sleep

The process of putting a cat to sleep is straightforward. It involves a vet giving your cat a large overdose of an anaesthetic agent that will simply cause the cat to lose consciousness and pass away very rapidly. This is usually given by intravenous injection using a vein in the front leg.

Unconsciousness and death usually occur within seconds of the injection being administered. Sometimes, as the cat loses consciousness, he will take a deep breath or gasp and exhale loudly. Occasionally there may be some involuntary twitching for a few moments after death has occurred, but this isn’t a sign of life.

Euthanasia carried out in this way is quick, controlled, stress-free and painless. If the vet sees that a cat is very nervous, a sedative may be administered to calm your cat down prior to euthanasia, to ensure that his final moments are completely free of any stress.

Should I Be There Or Not

Many people want to be with their cat during the final moments, but some will prefer to remember different memories and periods of their life. Were all different, so theres no right or wrong way to approach having your cat put to sleep only the way thats right for you. The process of euthanasia will be exactly the same as just as peaceful whether youre there or not so dont feel under pressure to attend if you feel you might be overwhelmed by emotion.

If you decide you would like to attend, it is best for your cat if only one or two family members are with you. Cats are very sensitive to their owners emotions and they may get stressed or anxious if there are lots of emotional people around them. If possible, arrange for other members of the family to say goodbye at home, or in small groups.

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Will They Need Sedation

Most cats wont need sedation before euthanasia. If your cat normally gets upset visiting the vets, your vet can prescribe something to help calm them before and during their visit. Although euthanasia is painless, some cats may not be comfortable being gently held for the injection. This tends to be more common in old, arthritic cats, or cats with serious illness, such as breathing difficulties. In these cases, your vet may administer an appropriate sedative to help them relax. Some vets also prefer to do this in every case, to pre-empt any problems. This sedation takes effect gradually over about ten minutes and puts cats into a light sleep. You will normally be able to hold or cuddle them during this time. But once they are sedated they may not be aware of your presence.

If you feel you would rather your cat was sedated prior to euthanasia, speak to your vet as they will be keen to accommodate your wishes to do what they can to make the process as peaceful as possible.

Before You Start Training Your Cat To Sleep Through The Night Rule Out Any Medical Conditions

While cats are naturally most active in the evenings and early mornings, some cats also have trouble sleeping at night due to emotional or physical problems.

Infection, disease, and pain can modify normal patterns of sleep and activity in cats. Rule out any medical issues by taking your cat to the vet for a comprehensive health check.

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Cat Sleeping With Eyes Open

Cats appearing to sleep with one eye open is a common occurrence. Your cat is genuinely sleeping. Cats have a transparent third eyelid that closes.

The purpose of this is so a cat can stayalert. The cats peripheral vision will still capture potential threats.Equally, the cat can react faster upon waking up. The cat was not in a deepsleep and will thus not be groggy.

Sick cats often sleep with their eyes open. Cats with urinary infections will want to make a rapid trip to the litter box. Cats that struggle for breath will be concerned about falling asleep too deeply. Keeping the eyes open ensures the sleep never gets further than a light nap.

If your cat adopts a variety of sleeping positions, its likely to be fine. One sleeping position at all times can suggest that a cat is sick.

Cognitive Dysfunction In Older Cats

Age-related deterioration in brain function can result in behavioural changes, such as confusion, poor memory, and altered sleep patterns. The sleep/wake cycle signs include frequent waking during the night, increased siestas during daylight hours, and increased night vocalisation. It is estimated to affect more than 50% of cats over the age of 15 years.

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Reward Your Cat For Joining You In Bed

Try Fresh Sheets Or You

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Cat Sleeping With Another Cat

Cats often sleep alone, even if they share a home. This is due to the territorial nature of cats. A bed, or favored hiding spot, will be claimed by a rival feline.

Exceptions to this rule may include siblings or cats that grew up together. These cats will forge a bond that is not broken in adulthood. Co-sleeping is relatively common, though.

If your cat starts sleeping with a fellow cat, watch its behavior while awake. Co-sleeping suggests that the cat is unwell. It is asking another cat to watch over it while dozing.

A cat will only do this if very unwell. The cat understands that it will relinquish all dominant status by asking another cat for help. In most instances, the cat would prefer to sleep with an owner.

Co-sleeping does occur in sick cats,though. Even felines that appear to fight all day may sleep together for thecommon good.

When Should A Pet Be Put To Sleep

It’s probably the most difficult decision you’ll make in your pet’s life should you put your ailing pet to sleep? A little preparation and emotional support can help you make the right choice and cope with your decision.

Euthanasia is a method of humanely and quietly inducing the death of a pet. While euthanasia can help end your pet’s pain and suffering, deciding when your pet is ready to be put to sleep may be one of the hardest decisions you will make.

Sometimes a sudden illness, accident, or other pet health emergency requires your previously healthy pet to be put to sleep without warning. At other times, you will sense and your vet may be able to confirm that the end of your pet’s life is near.

“Start looking at the good days and the bad days. When the bad days are starting to outnumber the good days, you probably need to start discussing with your veterinarian,” says Susan Nelson, DVM, assistant professor of clinical sciences at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

McArthur Hafen Jr., PhD, mental health therapist at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, believes that it is a good idea to learn about the likely course of your pet’s life, including its expected life span and common maladies, early on. “Becoming familiar and educated with the life course of the person’s particular companion animal would be a helpful step,” Hafen says.

When You Know It’s Time

Saying Goodbye to Your Pet

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Changes In Appearance And Smell

Cats are meticulous groomers and love to spend time doing it. When they are approaching the end of life, they lose the energy to groom and begin to look messy and unkempt. They will also develop a detectable unpleasant odour due to toxins building up as their organs stop properly working. The smell gets worse over time since they dont have a way to eliminate the toxins.

How To Start The Process

Euthanizing gives a peaceful end to your cat such techniques are described to reduce pain and to release stress. Being a concerned cat owner, it could be one of the difficult decisions to make. The only reasonable thought that may help euthanize the cat is that you cannot see your beloved pet suffering. It could be awful to see your darling pet reaching to the end of the road painfully.

The Internet has become flooded with techniques by which you can end up your pets life easier. Whereas articles might be well-meaning, they can also be misleading. Its all your responsibility to act reasonably in this matter. Preparing your mind for all this before taking any action is wise. Give your cat some valuable and loving last moments. Spend some petting and comforting time with it. Take a little more to decide the best suitable method for euthanasia but decide sensibly. Decide such a technique you are sure that you can handle well.

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More Bad Days Than Good Days

One simple measure that you can use to help you decide when to put down a dog or cat is to determine whether your pet is having more good days or bad days. If your pet is down but still happy overall, then it’s probably not time. If your pet has lost their zest for life, their appetite or doesn’t enjoy any of the things they used to, then it’s time to either enlist veterinary intervention or discuss end-of-life care.

If you’re struggling to tell whether it’s the right time or what constitutes a good day or bad day, consider using a quality of life scoring chart like the one from Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice.

Obesity / Lack Ofvitamins

Obesity is a very likely reason why your cat sleeps a lot. Apartfrom overfeeding, obesity in cats may also be caused by an imbalanced diet andlack of exercise. An average cat should be fed three to four small meals daily.Feed him a lean, protein-rich diet.

Some cats that are left alone for most of the day with all thefood they can eat are more likely to become overweight. If you have to leavefor long periods, make use of feeders with portion control so your cat doesntovereat. If your pet is an indoor cat, find ways to give him plenty ofexercise. This might require leash training your cat or providing him with interactive toys.

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