The article “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” covers the proper method of burying a cat and what you can do to properly dispose of a cat.
The answer to the question “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” is not very simple.
How long does it take for a cat to decompose?
The skeletonization and decomposition of the cat body depend upon several factors like weather, percentage of fat, predators, and the place where the dead body is buried, but how long does it take for a cat to decompose? It takes six to 15 years.
Why do you need to bury your cat?
It is not easy to bury your cat because he is a part of your family. Some people may get emotional and refuse to bury the corpse of their beloved cat. These people need to understand that soon after two or more days, the body will start to decompose and putrefaction will produce a smell that will start irritating the people in the family.
You also need to prevent the smell of the decaying body to spread all over the house. Local animal control agencies can help you with this matter also. You can also contact your local vet to know how to prevent the smell from spreading.
Stages of decay of a cat
Here are three stages of the decay of the body of the animal:
1-Fresh stage
It is the first stage of the decay of the body and you will not see much of the changes in the body of the cat.
2-Bloat stage
This stage shows a clear change in the body of the cat. You can see visible changes in the body of the cat. You can see bloating in the body.
3-Active decay stage
In this stage the smell becomes noticeable and there is deflation in the body of the cat or kitten. After this, there is an advanced decay stage.
In this stage, The decayed flesh is off from the body of the cat.
The next inactive decay is dry, in this stage finally, the flesh is off from the bones and you can only see a small amount of dried flesh on the bones. In this stage, the skeleton remains and after that the bones decomposition isolated. This stage is easily recognizable.
In an experiment, the decomposition of the pig body is observed to understand the decomposition of the cat body and other animals.
Now after briefly answering the question “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” we will move further.
How long does it take for a dead cat to start smelling?
It takes 1 to 3 days to start smelling but it also depends on how long it takes for a cat to decompose? If your dog or cat dies in your home the body will start decaying in your home. It will start smelling called organic odorant compound molecules. Initially, the odor is mild but it will become strong over time.
How to store your cat before burying it?
Sometimes you can just realize what to do with your cat’s corpse or maybe it is not the right time to bury the cat in your backyard.
You need to store the cat before burying it in the ground. You need to store it in a cool place, maybe a freezer or refrigerator.
If you don’t have a refrigerator you can place the corpse in a place cooler than room temperature.
You need to store the dead body at 4 degrees celsius and you need to decide within two days what to do with the body of the cat.
If you have the body of a large dog you need to bury it fast because the rigor mortis sets in and the body will become stiff and will be difficult to move from one place to the other.
You need to keep in mind the answer to the question “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” before storing the dead body.
How to bury your cat?
You have two options when it comes to burying your cat. The first one is to bury your cat in the backyard, most people find it suitable because they want their pets to be close to them even after death.
The second option is the pet cemetery. You can bury your pet in the cemetery.
Most people go for the first option but it is not considered a good practice because of the following reasons:
- If you decide to move your house you can’t see your pet again in a while.
- If you are on rent and have a shared backyard, you can’t do it because it is illegal to dump dead bodies in your backyard and maybe you are fined for it.
- If an animal manages to dig the hole and feed on the dead body then it can spread diseases to other animals also.
After reading the above-mentioned facts you need to go for the second option which is the pet cemetery. If you still want to bury the pet following is the procedure for correcting burying your cat.
You need to bury the dead body raped in a blanket at least one meter deep in the ground. You need to fill the hole with soil and put something heavy on the hole so that other animals cannot dig the hole and find the dead body.
One thing you should keep in mind while burying the dead body is to position the body before the rigor mortis sets in. You can’t leave the pet outstretched and you can’t do the positioning part after the rigor mortis sets in.
Cremation
Cremation can be done in two ways. The first way is by doing it individually. In this method, the ashes of your pet will be given to you so whatever you want it to do, you can do with the ashes. Most people fill it in a vase and store it forever.
The second service is free in which the ashes are properly disposed of. You need not worry about the remains and your local vet or the local animal welfare agency do it for you.
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is very costly, not everyone can afford it. But most of the owners want to remember the existence of their pets so they do it.
Taxidermy of their pets gives them the relief that this beloved creature existed in this world.
Common questions related to how long does it take for a cat to decompose
1-What can you do with the dead body at home?
The local animal welfare organization can do a free-of-cost or a low-cost service of disposing of the corpse of your pet animal.
If they do not offer the service you can contact your local vet. To see if he offers such a service to you in this regard.
Keeping in view how long it takes for a cat to decompose? What you can do with the body during this period.
2-Is it better to bury or to cremate a cat?
Nowadays cremating a pet is the ideal choice then burying it. It is not that you can’t arrange a memorial for it when you decided to cremate your pet. Some companies offer cremation of pets. They can arrange a memorial for you. If they fail to do it you can contact your local vet and see if he or she can arrange a memorial of your pet.
3-How long you can keep a dead cat in your house?
Rigor mortis sets in from 3 to 4 hours onwards the death of your pet and completes around 12 hours. If the body becomes stiff it is difficult to keep the dead body in the house sooner or later the decaying matter will produce a smell. It also depends upon how long does it take for a cat to decompose? You can keep the dead body as long as you don’t find a palace to bury the dead body.
3-How long does it take for a dead cat to stop smelling?
You need not worry about the dead body of the cat if you preserve it in the freezer. But if the cat is dead on your property and you don’t know that it will probably start to decay and produce a smell in the environment.
The odor may remain in the house for days, weeks, or even months depending upon the condition of the house and the weather. The smell only leaves the house when the flesh is off and only the bones remain.
The answer to the question also depends on how long does it take for the cat to decompose.
4-Can you put the dead cat in the garbage?
When you want to bury your loved one then the garbage is not the first place you want to do it. But believe me, some people still do it because there are not any laws against it.
The second reason could be that most people do not afford a burial or pet cemetery so they are left with no choice other than to put it in the garbage.
You can do it by knowing how long it takes for the cat to decompose in the garbage. in a humane way by placing your pet’s dead body in a box and label it. You need to inform the garbage man. This is the proper way to dispose of it in the garbage.
People will judge you but it comes down to your resources when you deal with the burying of your beloved cat.
Conclusion
In this article “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” We cover the stages of body decomposition and the types and the proper ways to decompose a cat.
Feel free to ask anything about “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” in the comment section below.
FAQ; How long does it take for a cat to decompose?
Frequently asked questions of “How long does it take for a cat to decompose?” are:
Is it OK to bury a cat in your garden?
You can bury it in the garden as long as your vet says that there is no potential risk to other animals and you own the land so that no one can find you.
Should I bury my cat in a plastic bag?
You can bury the dead body in a plastic bag if you are planning to bury it in the garden. You just need to put the plastic bag in the metal box and bury it deep in the garden.
What is the best way to bury a cat?
The best way to bury the dead body is to bury it in soil three feet deep and place a slab on it so that no one can have access to it.
Is it humane to let a cat die naturally?
No, it is not humane to let the pet die in your house instead of visiting a vet for proper euthanasia. You are not bringing comfort to the little dying soul.
Why do cats hide to die?
Cats have a habit of dying in solitude. In the wild when a cat realizes he is dying, he knows that he is more vulnerable to predators so he hides.
Do cats know when they are going to die?
Yes, cats become aware when they are dying. They show signs of weakness, change in body temperature, and odor. They are well-observing creatures.
References
https://yardblogger.com/how-long-can-you-keep-a-dead-cat-before-burial/
https://www.cats.org.uk/media/2000/cp_-_after_death.pdf
https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/grieving-over-a-pet/final-care-pets-body/
https://drjustinelee.com/let-pet-die-home-dr-justine-lee/
https://australian.museum/learn/science/stages-of-decomposition/
