32 Comments

  1. I founded a baby kitten infront of my house two days
    ago(29/10/2021)…but it died yesterday morning(30/10/2021)
    i reqllt tooked a great care of it…but i couldn’t save it’s life…a big attack camed into my house and killed that kitten infront of my eyes…i firstly thought that it was his mother/father…but Alas!it wasn’t….it killed by friend….i am totally brokened now….
    30 october will remembered by me as a dark day of my life….
    i need a help….
    my question is how longer time may it take to decompose a kitten body?my kitten was very tiny…he was so tiny that he couldn’t open his eyes also…
    if someone experienced can help me…please give answer…
    My facebook profile name-Akmar Anjum Haque….
    you can also text me there

    1. Hello akmar,
      First of all sorry to hear about your loss.

      Coming to your question, as its mentioned earlier in article that decomposing period varies on various parameters and it is hard to tell any specific time-frame.

      Thanks

      1. I have been digging in my garden, and then realized that this was an area where a pet cat was buried from my childhood approximately 42 years ago!
        After this length of time, would you expect there to be any visible remains such as bones?

        1. Oh wow, that’s quite a surprising discovery! I can imagine it must have brought back some nostalgic memories from your childhood. As for your question, after 42 years, it’s possible that there may still be visible remains such as bones. However, the extent to which any remains are still present can depend on various factors such as the type of soil, the depth of the burial, and any external factors that may have affected the burial site over the years.

          If the soil is acidic, it can accelerate the decomposition process, potentially leaving no visible remains. On the other hand, if the soil is dry and arid, it may preserve the remains for a longer period of time. The depth of the burial can also play a role, as deeper burials may provide more protection from external factors such as animals or weather.

          Ultimately, it’s difficult to say for sure without examining the specific circumstances of the burial. However, regardless of what you may find, I hope you can approach the situation with a sense of curiosity and respect for the life that was once there.

  2. My cat, Baby May, dyed in my arms tonight it was so sad I just broke my heart I had over 15 years and she was 15 years old I could talk to her she acted like she knew exactly what I said she was just me and her I’m just going to miss her so much I am Richard and your pink little belly again my husband made a little tiny box and painted it white and I put her little tiny bed in it and put a little silk pink and blanket over it and had her wrapped and her pink blanket and put it across on her and a little flower and I’m going to decorate the little box a little bit in the morning and write her name on it and her birthday and then she passed I’m taking you to my daughter’s because she’ll be living there for a long time so I just really I’m hurting so bad

  3. Hie my cat was missing from saturday night 27.11.2021 she was my small world she was my bestfriend i miss her so much and i found her on 2.12.2021 thursday she was dead it was 5th days i found her and when i saw her body her eyes lips was missing and she has a hole in her thigh so wanted to know that when did she died after how many days these sign occur. And on thursday she was not smelling but on friday when we buried her she was smelling so after how many these sign occur plz help me to know.

    1. Hello Guncha,

      First ok all sorry to hear about your loss and hope you are doing well.
      Regarding your question, its hard to predict exact time but from what you described, your cat is already decaying and decaying starts usually 2-5 days after death.

      Thank you

  4. Hello, I lost my cat a couple of days ago and buried her in my front yard. I would like to keep her skull but i don’t have the heart to remove it myself right now so i thought I’d let nature help me out. I’m planning on checking on her body every few months or so, but if you could help me determine a timeframe for when you think a skull could be retrieved that would be helpful.

    The soil is a bit damp and I’m in a warm place, it’s winter right now and our lowest temperatures don’t go below 10° C. In the summer we get to ~40°C. I’m guessing this will help decompose her body faster, but i wouldn’t want to wait too long and have the bones potentially damaged. Any wild guess is helpful, thanks a lot in advance.

    1. Hello,

      First of all sorry for your loss.

      Regarding your query, as mentioned in the article, decomposition depends on a broad number of factors but still, I have to take any wild guess then I would suggest you check every 6 months.

      Thank You

    2. Thank you for asking that question. I’ve lost several of my outdoor cats that I looked after, they were feral, but over the years they act like any house cat would. They depend on me for their needs and I love everyone of them. I lost Toni this morning and I’m almost 100 % certain my neighbor poisoned him and 3 others have not shown up in a few days, so I am assuming he killed them too. All because some cat killed a wild bird, so the neighbor is pissed and all the sudden my cats are missing and one dead…I wanted some of his bones..I am Native American and his bones will be with me forever as a necklace, or even just placed in a small box. But I don’t want to dig him up to check on him, I would rather just do it once. I live in texas and of course it is hot down here….I will check on him in 6 months. I hope my cat killing neighbor has bad luck come his way. People shouldn’t mess with mother nature and her animals, that is just twisted….he will get

  5. I just lost my Chester he was 14 yrs old, male cat. He had what they called Aortic Thromboembolism (blood clot) it paralyzed his hind legs he was in terriable pain, I never heard him cry like he did. It sounded like someone was killing him, I miss my baby boy so much. He passed Jan. 18,2022…

    1. Our Glady Girl had a similar encounter which lead to her being put to sleep.. the vet told us that it was “Saddle Thrombus” also a blood clot that stopped the blood to her hind legs. She has been buried in our back yard now for 9 months and now has her sister beside her.. our Lil Chickenball a rescued pigeon died last night and we are devastated:( but now they can rest side by side… sorry for your loss 💔

  6. (sorry for my english)
    Hi, thanks for this useful post, I was searching on Google and directed to your good site.
    Honestly, I have a serious big problem!!!
    our cat went to very closed space of our attic with the poison of its neighbors and died there!
    We do not have access to the cat’s body and it is not clear exactly where its body is!
    The first days smelled too bad, but now a week has passed since the cat died,
    But now we face a bigger problem! Pouring and coming fly larvae through the seams of the ceiling into the room!
    Question (Given the humid and dark environment of the attic in a rainy city) :
    1- How long (several days – several weeks) does the cat’s corpse decompose and How long fly larvae come?
    2- brath in air of cat’s corpse decompose and living with larva Is it dangerous for health?
    Please guide me and reply as soon as possible
    Thanks & Regards

    1. The answer to your first question would be – If your cat died in a humid spot, it’ll not take more than a week or two for it to decompose and start getting covered in larvae.

      Secondly, you will not be able to bear the stench of the cat’s corpse. Once it starts forming larvae, it’ll become more unhygienic and will give birth to various harmful viruses and bacteria. Once you find the body, make sure to get rid of it before it starts decomposing.

  7. It was really hard to see his little grave outside but I go outside and see him and tell him how much I miss his little face. my cat I grew up with a ginger cat called peanut had to be put to sleep due to a disease on the 27th of December 2021. It was either give him a few more months with medication or let him go free. I was a complete emotional mess knowing that it came to the point were he was in pain but it was too late to do anything.

    I cry a lot over how much I miss him but I hope he’s resting easy now….
    I can’t wait to get his proper memorial stone…. 🙁

    Peanut I miss you so much 🙁
    The house isn’t the same without you

  8. Hi Abigail. My dearest cat Tigresa died 3/22/22. It was a car 🙁

    She was a Tortoise Shell cat. She was very affectionate and loving. I made her a wooden box and buried her in my backyard in NYC. She weighed about 14lbs. How long do you think until she decomposes? What if I remove her from the box and put her in a wrapped blanket an bury her? Please advise.

    Henry

    1. Sorry to hear this. But yes it is better to bury your cat before she starts decomposing. Decomposing starts taking place in few days or after few weeks, depending on the weather.

  9. Hello,

    Thank you for the informative article and resources.
    I adopted 2 fur brothers almost 20 years ago and they have been wonderful additions to my life. They bless me in ways I cannot even imagine 🙂

    Unfortunately one of them had to be put down about 8 years ago due to kidney failure and I buried him in my backyard. Now I’d like to respectfully work in that area of the yard and I don’t know where to begin. If you have any advice or tips on how to do this (both physically and emotionally) please let me know.

    Thank you!

    1. I can understand that this situation is emotionally draining you out. However, your cat’s body does not exist anymore. All you’ll see is its leftover bones and nails.
      Gently remove them from the ground if you are very much emotionally surcharged and then continue with your work.

  10. hello,
    my childhood cat passed early april of 2016. we buried her in a shoebox in the back yard the next morning. we live in WI, and sadly we are moving. i just want to know if you think she would be decomposed enough to safely dig up and move with us… i just cant think about leaving her here without breaking down.

  11. This has been haunting me for months. Perhaps you have some insight.

    We left for the weekend over Christmas (gone 72 hours… Ya know Lots food/water boxes never been an issue, but clearly will never do it again ) . Cats had plenty of food/water. When we returned the 9yr old no documented health issues had passed.

    By my guess she was gone probably 24 hours. She was full rigor.

    Clearly the whole situation was hard and I’ve kicked myself countless times.

    But what’s really haunting me is when we cleaned up my daughter said the side she was laying on was “covered with white stuff”

    I couldn’t bring myself to look. We just bagged her and took her in for cremation.

    Any idea what the white stuff could have been? I wondered if it maybe had to do with her bladder releasing and laying in a puddle.

    1. I’m sorry for your loss and for the traumatic experience you and your family went through. It’s understandable that you are still feeling the effects of this difficult situation.

      Regarding the white substance that your daughter mentioned, it’s possible that it could have been related to the release of bodily fluids from your cat after death. This can sometimes happen as a result of the natural process of decomposition.

      It’s important to note that I am not a veterinarian or medical professional, so I cannot say for certain what the substance was. However, if you have any concerns or lingering questions about the substance, I would recommend reaching out to a veterinarian or animal control agency for more information. They may be able to provide you with additional guidance and support.

      Take care and I hope that you are able to find some comfort and peace as you process this difficult experience.

  12. Thank you for your information. My cat was rescue, she was only 8 months. I had her for two months, so heartbroken. I buried her in my garden, it’s cold night time around 0 degrees and warmer during the day. I want to plant flowers on her grave when spring comes.

    1. I’m sorry for your loss. Losing a pet can be very difficult and it’s understandable that you want to memorialize your rescue cat by planting flowers on her grave.

      Regarding decomposition, it’s important to keep in mind that the process can vary based on a number of factors, such as the location of the burial site, the type of soil, and the climate conditions. In cold conditions like the ones you described, decomposition can be slowed down, but it will still occur over time.

      Take care and I hope that you find comfort and peace during this difficult time.

      1. Hi, my baby passed away in my arms last week due to health condition (heart failure, flooded lung, partial paralysis & respiratory issue). He was almost 4 years old but pretty small & at his last stage of life, he became so skinny. I chose to buried him but the depth is not that deep maybe around 1 foot. Will it decomposes alright and will it still give odours due to shallow depth? I believe its a acidic soil but near to the rock and have plenty roots (trees & plants).

        1. I’m truly sorry to hear about the loss of your baby. Losing a loved one, especially a little one, can be incredibly difficult and heartbreaking. Please accept my deepest condolences.

          Regarding your question about the burial, I understand your concerns about the depth and potential decomposition issues. While I’m not an expert in this field, I can provide some general information that might help.

          When it comes to burial, deeper depths are usually recommended to ensure proper decomposition and minimize any potential odors. Shallow burials may not provide enough depth for the natural decomposition process to occur effectively. Additionally, factors such as soil composition, temperature, and moisture levels can influence decomposition as well.

          Considering the factors you mentioned, such as acidic soil, proximity to rocks, and the presence of trees and plants with plenty of roots, it’s possible that the decomposition process could be influenced by these environmental conditions. However, it’s challenging to determine the exact outcome without a thorough understanding of the specific soil composition and environmental factors in your area.

          To address your concerns and ensure a respectful resting place for your beloved baby, I would suggest consulting with a local expert, such as a veterinarian or a professional in the field of burial and pet aftercare. They would have more specialized knowledge and can provide guidance based on the specific conditions in your area.

          Once again, I want to express my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. It’s important to remember that grieving is a personal journey, and everyone copes in their own way. If you feel the need to talk or share more about your experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

          Wishing you strength and healing during this difficult time.

          1. Thank you for your prompt informative reply. I hope it will be alright based on the temperature, condition & location despite the depth.

            Thank you so much for you kind words, really appreciate it. I’m still trying to accept the reality & pull myself together. It’s so hard as I kept calling & looking for him, hopefully things will get better very soon. Our bond was incredible as he is my emotional support and the one keep me going, due to his condition making him super clingy, dependant but really sweet and spoiled little bubba.

            Thank you again for being for understanding & kind xx

  13. I had a cat buried slightly under the soil like 3 years back and was wondering if it’s at a good stage to dig up and take his bones. it was under a patch of clovers still present afterwards in the woods, we usually have snow for 1-2 months and a high temperature of 80-100 f for around 3 months with an average of 50-70 f the rest of the time and he was about 20lbs and healthy for his size, but I don’t remember how he was positioned when we buried him. If you don’t think Hes good to take his bones yet, how long until then?

    1. I’m sorry for your loss. However, it is not advisable to dig up your cat’s remains for the purpose of taking its bones. It is important to let the remains rest in peace and allow nature to take its course. Additionally, it is illegal to disturb human or animal remains in many areas without proper authorization. Please consider honoring your cat’s memory in other ways that do not involve disturbing their remains.

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