Would you donate your cat’s body to science? I had never given it consideration until today. It is a tough decision. On the one hand, do we have the right to make this sort of decision? A cat cannot provide consent. Alternatively, if you are sure the body will be used well, in a good cause, then cats in the future may benefit.
One difficulty I have is thinking about my cat’s body in some laboratory somewhere being treated with disrespect. What I mean is, mishandled. It is the thought of it that puts me off. Although, I would like to help other cats. It may be difficult to ensure the body is used properly. That uncertainty also puts me off.
Perhaps people who have donated their bodies to science in their Wills are more likely to do the same with their cat. It is a mentality. Personally, I am a bit squeamish about it. We give instructions for these things when we are alive with emotions. Logically it does not matter what happens to a body so it makes sense if it is used productively. However, the emotions take over and logic goes out the window.
I am not sure I could trust anyone to treat my cat’s body decently. For that reason I am not in favour of donating my cat’s body to science.
If you want to do it, the person to ask is your veterinarian. I can’t be sure but some euthanized shelter cats probably end up in a laboratory for scientific purposes. This makes me think that where there is a high shelter kill rate, I’d be surprised if there was demand for the bodies of cats owned by individuals. The supply is plentiful.
Do you have an opinion on this rarely discussed topic? I would expect that most cat guardians will not have given it much thought but perhaps they should.
My cat is terminally ill. I may have him euthanized tomorrow if he makes it through the night. The vet thinks he either has cancer or FI? . It just occured to me today that perhaps his body could be helpful for studying his disease, or whatever. I will ask the vet about this.
Good for you Suzanne. My love to your cat. It made me sad to read your comment. Thanks for commenting.
As much as I love all cats I couldn’t bear the thought of donating our cats bodies to science, they aren’t able to give their consent to this like a person is, so it would feel wrong.
I remember many years ago one of our late mother’s cats went in for x rays under anaesthetic as she was having fits, they found an inoperable brain tumour and phoned to say should they put her to sleep without waking her up.
Our poor mother had the horrors thinking they might use her cat while alive instead, in an experiment, so Babz and I went to collect her body and we buried her at home. Maybe this stuck in my mind. I would say to anyone donating their cat’s body, make sure he/she was dead first!
We don’t believe in hanging on to the ashes either, they are not ours to keep. Our late cats ashes are scattered in the Garden of Remembrance at the Pet Crematorium as are our human loved ones ashes in the People’s garden of Remembrance.
We can think of them as free, not trapped in an urn and we will be scattered and fly free also, both of us and Walt and Jo too when our turns come.
I am a bit like you on this one. It is about consent as well. If we can’t get consent we shouldn’t do it but perhaps we are anthropomorphizing cats a bit.
Anthropomorphizing or not, it’s still not right. Yes we have to consent on their behalf for things for their own good and I don’t even like doing that. It feels wrong to have the power over another living creature and be able to make decisions for them, whether good or bad. Look at declawing, no cat would consent to that. I don’t suppose they would consent to neutering either come to that. We have taken them from their wild independent lives and forced our will on them, they are no longer free spirits and that makes me sad and there’s nothing I can do about it except do my best to help all cats in any way I can.
Ofcourse, I would donate if it would help save other cats.
I know that it is a sensitive subject for many who feel that their cat’s body would be mishandled.
I have witnessed many human autopsies where donor organs were procured. The bodies were always treated with respect.
As hard as it may seem to accept, our beloved cats no longer reside in their bodies.
They have gone “beyond”.
That’s one of the reasons that I will never understand why people would keep body ashes of their cats. They’re not there. I don’t understand the thinking. Maybe, it’s just wishful…
I totally agree with you and your response is pragmatic and sensible. I just have this emotional illogicality associated with the process. The same happens with the ashes. I like to have them with me. They’re in living room in a casket.
If I was assured that my cat’s body would be used to further research into the specific cause of their death from say cancer or kidney disease, then I would have no qualms about donating their body. Perhaps that’s because I wouldn’t object to my body being used by medical science after my death.
Dee, I feel the same way as you. For me once we’re dead our bodies are just empty vessels. The real “essence” of who we were lives on in the hearts and memories of those who loved us. The same goes for my cats.
I agree with what you say in the 2nd para. I guess I am being selfish in not wanted for emotional reasons to donate my cat’s body to science.