I think animals sense things. Your lab surely knows that the end is near for his pal. I wouldn't feel the need to present the body to him afterward. Will the vet come to your home to do the euthanasia? That's always been my choice.

That is too hard to think about- I am sorry for you and your lab. I would ask your vet- they have been through this before and have dealt with surviving animal family members.
I am sure the lab knows the cat is ill- they can smell/sense/feel these things.
This is a tough one.

I have two cat stories, with different endings. Take your pick.

My brother had to euthanize his 17 year old cat, Yoda, who was best friends with one of their other cats, Sam. DB brought the body back to the house and showed it to Sam. Then DB went out to bury Yoda, and Sam followed him, watched the burial and then stayed outside, under the tree with the grave, for several hours. That night, Sam showed up in my nephew's bedroom and sat on the changing table, which has a direct view of that tree, and stayed there for about 5 hours. Sam normally avoided that room at night, because Nephew had a night nurse who stayed up all night and Sam was afraid of strangers, so his presence was an oddity.

On the other hand, my older cat Prinny passed away in her sleep last year (she was 22). I tried to show her body to my other cat, Fred, but he just ran away. As far as I can tell, the only change in his behavior that would indicate that he knows something has changed is that he no longer gobbles his canned food, but snacks on it leisurely, indicating that he realizes there's no rival for the food anymore.

We've always brought our late pets body to a lace where the other animals can come and sniff. Some won't come arond but others will and they sniff, do their own version of dog/cat processing and move on. I think that they, like humans, will have their methods of handling the loss of a companion.

When we had to put down our rotty, our schnauzer was a bit out of sorts for a few days, which was weird because he didn't like the rott. But when we lost our cat a few years earlier, he just sniffed his body then went and sat next to my son and went on like nothing was different.

I don't think it would hurt anything to bring your living pets together to be with the deceased on before the final disposition. I'm just so sorry you will be facing this situation. Hugs to you.

We have had "wakes" for all of our family pets who have passed. I don't think you need to show your lab the deceased cat, he will know the cat is gone. Dogs are very sensitive to their human handlers as well as the well being of their surroundings.

After the cat passes, the dog will take notice and may/may not act out. I had three labs at one time and when the oldest was sick, the next oldest (the two had been together for many years before a new pup) started mourning the sickness by licking open a sore on her foot. She continued to lick that sore open for the rest of her life. Whenever she was stressed, that is how she acted out. I just met a woman in the vet's office a few days ago whose lab is doing the same thing.

Sometimes life can really suck.

I am so sorry for your impending loss. Our 15 yo dog (Robbie) died in Feb., and our 7 yo dog (Rio) had never known life without him. We chose to have Robbie cremated, and I swear when I came in with his ashes, Rio either sensed it was him or smelled him. It was so weird! She looked for him for quite awhile, but seems to have adjusted now.

I believe that like humans, animals go through a grieving period. Rio became very clingy and even had a few accidents in the house, which she hasn't done in years. Don't be surprised if your surviving cat exhibits some strange behavior for awhile. Wishing you peace...

I can only add my sympathies for what's coming up, it's such a sad time.

Our dog will be 16 this fall so I'm reading this with interest.

When we lost Skeeter we had her cremated and brought her ashes home in an urn box. PeeWee came over and sniffed the box and laid down on the floor next to the ashes for a long while. She didn't move until I picked up the urn. I know our little dog mourned for her friend for several weeks... looking for her in familiar spots and just acting sad. We just gave PeeWee some extra TLC until she came to terms with her loss.

Oh kitchendetective, I am so, so sorry for you and your family. I have no advice but wanted to let you know I will be thinking of you.

Take care.

I am so sorry for your loss...

I am sorry for your difficult decision, and impending loss. Just know that you will be doing the right thing, which she trusts you to do because she knows she is loved.

It's very common for the horses and goats to stand with one of their group that is sick and dying, but once the animal is dead, they'll distance themselves from the body. But I have seen an animal hold a "wake". When my Dalamtian Sassy died suddenly. We were packing the car to drive to OKC (I used to ship quite a bit out of there to take advantage of the airport mail facility for overnight packages) and there wasn't time to stop and bury the dog so I put her over on one side of the house until we got back.

It's an hour's drive both ways, and when we returned, our young Bloodhound named Clyde was lying curled up against her. (They had gotten along very well, though I'd never seen them sleeping together.) Yes, she was very cold and getting stiff, but he was lying behind her, with his head draped over her neck. Our other dogs were lying on that side of the house too, but they got up when we went over. Clyde stayed put. The sight of him mourning, and I have no doubt that is what he was doing, just broke my heart. By then it was very dark, and we decided to bury her in the morning, so I left them. I checked on him several times during the night, and he stayed like that until I came out at daybreak. (It was hard to sleep, you know?) At that point, he finally stood up, but he stayed close by while we loaded her up on the garden cart, dug the hole and then laid her in. At that point, he finally walked off. He never moped over her grave, although being a Bloodhound I know he could still smell her; I guess he had said his goodbyes, and that was enough. I have never seen an animal stay with a body like that since.

Well, not counting a slightly psychotic Pyrenees we used to have that would kill gophers and then tenderly carry them around for a couple of days, placing them between her paws when she lay down, licking them, fiercely protecting them from the other dogs. Some people might interpret that as remorse, but I think she mistook them for a puppy, at least until they started to smell. She never ate them, just finally abandoned them. (and then the other LGD would eat them)

If you're going to bring the cat home for burial anyway, yes, I'd let the dog pay it's last respects.

oh I'm so terribly sorry for all of you. I honestly don't see how you could go wrong by giving your lab a chance to say goodbye. If he doesn't respond, no harm done. But if he does, I suspect it may warm your heart a little, and give you a lovely last memory...

Just a quick story...

The night before my friends' golden retriever died, the cat who always kept her distance from him snuggled up around his face and slept with him. They thought it was cute, but didn't think much more of it. In the morning, he was gone. They realized that the cat could sense what was happening before they did.

Animals are amazing. I'm so sorry for your loss. :(

I have never heard of this but have to say it just makes so much sense. We don't really *know* what the thought process is for an animal but why not give them the chance to sniff, view, - whatever - if you are bringing your cat home anyway. My sympathies to you - our pets are so very dear.

So sorry to hear about your kitty. :( I've been going through the same heartache this month. We put our dog to sleep 10 days ago. A friend told me to have our other dog in the room while the euthanizia was taking place. Afterwards we brought the dog over so he could sniff. Then we let him see the vet carry the dog out of our house. I don't know if it registered with him, these two dog were never close. He has handeled it all very well (a lot better than I did that's for sure) but I cannot tell what he's thinking. He may be wondering when his brother is coming back. His brother was sleeping all day long towards the end so he didn't look any different after he had passed, so I wouldn't be surprised if my other dog is confused. It's all so sureal.

The important thing is to maintain the same routine after the cat is gone so the remaining animal(s) has less stress to deal with. Our vet advised us not to change his food, buy new dog beds, or move things around. The pet left behind may wonder if s/he's next to be taken out of the home forever, their insecurity is fragile at this stage. My dog is doing very well but I can tell he's still looking for his brother because of how he glances over at the corner where he used to sleep. The vet said it could take a couple months before he stops looking.

"They realized that the cat could sense what was happening before they did. "

When it isn't a sudden death, changes at the cellular level begin before the body finally stops breathing. If you've been with someone who is terminal in the hour or two before they die, there's a strong, sweetish smell that permeates the air. (Especially if they experience a cold, clammy sweat) If I can smell it, I know an animal can.

That's probably what the Nursing Home cat in RI is sensing when it goes and hangs out with a dying patient. It could be argued that being a carnivore, the cat's instincts are guiding it to wait nearby in order to take advantage of what might potentially become an easy meal, but obviously Oscar in RI, and your friend's cat don't plan on dinner.

Still, the scent is a natural attractant for a carnivore, which would explain why a cat that didn't particularly like a dog (or a human patient) would be drawn to them as they are dying.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oscar the furry little Grim Reaper

Oh, KitchenDetective, I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I had to have my rottie girl euthanized in January after a long bout with cancer. I was devastated even though I had plenty of time to prepare.. and it's only very recently that my other dog has settled into the loss.

I wanted to share my experiences because like you, my other dog is a lab and a rescue. I think those two things affect how a pet will respond-- labs are so incredibly social and sensitive to their "pack". My situation was compounded a bit by the fact that Beau, my lab, is very old and deaf. I had no idea how much Grace had assisted him in interacting with his world. They both always greeted me at the door-- but without Grace, Beau doesn't know when I arrive. He doesn't know when I call him for dinner or to go out. While in the old days he used to follow me around the house and be bonded to me, when I adopted Grace, they were much more bonded to each other. The good news is that now, 6 months later, he has become more focused and sensitive to my movements again and we are learning to work together despite the fact that he is deaf.

Some of the things I did to help us both get past the grieving was to change some of our routines. Beau was my first dog and we were very well bonded but when Grace came into the picture the two of them were attached at the hip-- not that I was on the outside or unbonded but they definitely had thier own bond. I have spent a lot of time bonding with him again but in new ways (partially because he is now 16-17 yo). He won't go near where they used to sleep (they slept side by side) so I have taken that as a sign that he needed to change things up. I feed him at different times now and in a different spot.. our play is different.. and we walk, relax and bond differently and, of course, more frequently.

I didnt share Grace's ashes with Beau-- it was clear to him that she was sick and he knew when she was gone. I don't know if it would have helped.. others in my life have been urging me to adopt another dog or a cat but I just don't have the heart for that right now. Beau is very old for a lab and I know my next loss will be even harder for me to handle. I question myself sometimes..because I DO think he'd do much better with another animal in the house. I don't know if that is an option for you, but it is something to consider. All I can say to you is to read your dog.. and to do what feels right for you, your family and him.

My heartfelt hugs to you. I know this is a very hard time for you. I know nothing will make it better for you but I hope you find comfort in knowing there are others who understand your pain.

We've had house guests, so I have not been able to respond to all of your wonderful emotional support, which I desperately need right now, until this morning. This is the first time in our almost twenty-eight year marriage that we've had only one dog and one cat. At one point, we had six dogs and three cats. The vet used to come here to do vaccinations and exams--maybe because our gang would have clogged up his entire waiting room. Now that we're a smaller population, we go to him. We had to have him euthanize my late, beloved, slightly sociopathic keeshond three years ago (splenic sarcoma). I brought the remains home in a burial box for the other animals to see. The torty, who was like his little wife, climbed into the box and put both her forepaws on his chest as though she was trying to revive him. After a few minutes, she climbed out. All the other animals adjusted more easily than she. They are all gone now, too. For several months, every night, she wandered up and down our gallery yowling. She went up the stairs to the gameroom, where we had watched t.v. each night when the dog was ill, and howled on the landing. We used to carry him up there to be with us when he became too ill to walk up there and I think she was trying to make him reappear. Anyway, now the vet says she has liver disease, so we're just going to see how long she seems comfortable enough. He gave her six months to a year a year ago, but DH has her on huge amounts of food and she isn't manifesting pain so much as insatiable hunger. We'll just have to see. She still cuddles at night, but not as long or as consistently, so I don't think she's in misery, but I'm sure the hunger is oppressive. She and our lab are closer than they they were when the other animals were still alive. They often nap together and act like they're hatching plots. He has had his share of ailments and she manifests concern, sniffing and cuddling. You've helped me decide. I will have a wake, when the time comes. I'm hoping I know when that is. I see a definite change in her personality, like she is detaching.