My cat was unresponsive, eyes open, not breathing. Was he dead?

What a horrible thing to come home to, I'm very sorry! Some cats can die sooner than 15 or 16, it all depends on their health. It could be that TC had a serious illness, such as cancer, that she didn't show any outward signs of, and that's what caused her to pass away. When cats pass away, the muscle that help close the eyes and mouth relax, so that's why her eyes and mouth are open, it doesn't mean she suffered. Honestly, without seeing her in person, I can't tell you if she did suffer or not, but I recommend taking her into the vet in the morning. The vet can do a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) that may give the cause of death, and give both you and your boys peace of mind. If you do plan on doing that, I recommend placing her in a bag, and possibly keeping her in the garage overnight. If it's very cold where you are, the cold temperature of the garage will slow down the decomposition process. Again, I'm sorry for your loss :-(

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear about this young cat! When an animal is hit by a car sometimes there are injuries you can't see from the outside. They can bleed internally, herniate organs from the belly in to the chest, get contusions (bruising) of the lung or air can get trapped outside of the lungs (pneumothorax), rupture their bladders, brain trauma. Cats can also breath heavily when they are in shock. Sadly there is nothing that you can do alone. He needs a Vet to listen to his lungs and evaluate him for internal bleeding and shock. Just keep him warms and comfortable if you can't get him anywhere I wish you both the best!

Hi, it sounds like Cricket has either suffered a severe injury or been in contact with a toxic substance. I would recommend to have him seen by the closest vet to you to evaluate if there is something that can be done to help him or if it is kinder to prevent him from suffering any longer. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that this is happening! Yes, necropsy's include a full exam off all tissues including the brain. Any abnormal tissue is sent for biopsy. I would have it done at a lab like Antech or Idexx or at a Veterinary School. It is very likely that he is brain dead if his pupils are dilated and he isn't breathing on his own. I hope this helps!

Hello. Just tell your vet exactly what you have written. I understood your concerns immediately, & so will he. The most important thing is to listen very carefully to the heart to make sure there are no irregularities or murmurs, but I will tell you, sometimes when I pick up my sleeping cat, it is like picking up a limp rag as he too takes a few moments to waken. I think this is an indication of how safe & comfortable a cat is with their surroundings, that there is no need to be on guard every second. But once your vet has examined Beau, you can relax about his sleeping habits. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so very sorry for your loss. It sounds like your cat was very ill and really took a turn for the worse suddenly. It is really quite hard to say whether or not it was too late on this one. Cats are very stoic creatures and sometimes it is not easy to pick up on signs of illness or these signs may not be easily noticed. If it was FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), cats with this disease can become sick very quickly and typically will not make it past a week after diagnosis. The presence of a tumor can have vague signs but can end rapidly depending on what time of tumor so it can be hard to say for sure. It sounds like you did everything you could for him at the time. Sometimes things do worsen and progress rapidly despite all efforts. You certainly did the right thing to bring him into a veterinarian. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

First off, I'm so sorry Choko died! It sounds like you were seeing agonal breathing, which can occur right before death. It's a sign the body is not receiving the oxygen it needs, and is indicative of cardiac arrest. More than likely, his heart rate was pretty slow at first so that it was hard to detect, and then Choko entered his final stages of life before passing away. This can happen in animals as they pass away, and I've personally seen it myself. It can be upsetting to see, but it is considering a natural behavior if that makes sense. It doesn't mean he died twice, so you don't have to worry about that. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss, please accept my condolences.