Autopsy
This topic is hardly ever discussed in literature meant for cat breeders and fanciers and only very little information can be found on the internet.
This is surprising at the least, especially once you start realizing the importance of it.
We like to assume that everybody is fully aware of the importance of post-mortem research on prematurely deceased purebred cats, but all too often ignorance and emotions turn out to be the deciding factors when deciding what will happen to the lifeless body of a beloved pet.

Passed away without warning
When a cat suddenly dies, it’s only logical that at first, there is no room for reason. A much loved companion has passed away, we’ve lost our dearest little friend, a hole is left in our daily routine, the kids are upset and the other cats are restless. An event like this has a huge impact and that isn’t strange; our cats form an integral part of our lives.
After the initial range of emotions, the first impulse will likely be to try to hold on to part of that; you’ll likely look up pictures, speak about your loss with your loved ones and preferably give your cat a beautiful funeral in your backyard, a special sanctuary at the animal cemetery or a specially crafted urn for the ashes. Nothing is too much for our beloved animal. But when questions about the cause of death are answered by a vet, our minds are easily put to rest – we are convinced that there is nothing more we can do about it at this stage.

When a purebred cat dies prematurely
When we acquire a purebred cat, we do so mainly because we have fallen in love with its unique temperament or looks. These traits are predictable, because a purebred cat belongs to a family of cats, that all share a certain genetic makeup. Within this blueprint, the predisposition for certain inherited diseases and genetic defects is also included. The closer cats are related, the more resemblance their genetic makeup will show.
If a purebred cat suddenly passes away, the impact of this loss on his immediate surroundings will obviously be just as big as when it would have been a moggie from a farm.
However, when a purebred cat dies, this possibly doesn’t only impact the family that it lived with, but it may also have implications for the animals that are closely related, including kittens that have yet to be born. This is especially the case, when the cat died of an affliction or defect which it (likely) inherited from another cat and for which the blueprint is in its DNA.
If this is the case, this means other cats are at risk of dying of the same causes.

The responsibilities that follow as a result of the passing of a purebred cat.
By determining the cause of death of our purebred cat, we can possibly save other cats’ lives or at least prevent them from suffering unnecessarily.
If it turns out that a condition and/or death resulted from an infection and/or contagious disease (for which the cat possibly had an inherited predisposition to develop it faster, as can be the case with f.i. FIP) it’s often easy to track down which cats the animal has been in contact with, so the owners can be warned and animals that stand a chance of being infected can be isolated, examined and (if needed) treated by a vet.
If the condition and/or death was the result of an inherited predisposition, malfunction or defect, than the decision can be made to discontinue the use of the animal’s parents for breeding and other close relatives can be examined or even specifically tested for the defect.
This is particularly important if those close relatives are used for breeding purposes.
By noticing a problem in time and by taking accurate measures, further spreading of a defect can be prevented.
The findings that a veterinarian has established while the cat was still alive are often not specific enough; in most cases the vet will make an estimation of the suspected cause of death, often without direct evidence being present. A cat may also die of the side effects of another condition, which has stayed hidden.
The veterinarian might have had an accurate insight into the symptoms then, in most cases he won’t have been able to see inside the cat, he might not have had the right equipment at his disposal or not have had the ability to investigate at cellular level. This means a veterinarian may feel sure about the cause of death, there is no way he can actually be sure.

The necessity for autopsy thus doesn’t only apply to breeding cats or cats that happen to live with breeders, it applies to all purebred cats that have passed away prematurely or under suspicious circumstances.
It follows that it is advisory for breeders to include a clause in the contract used for kittens, as well as cats that are rehomed, which obliges the buyer to contact the breeder as soon as the animal passes away, as well as obliges him to have an autopsy performed on the cat (usually at the expense of the breeder). This will ensure that the buyer is informed about his responsibilities and that the breeder is at all times as much aware as possible of the possible genetic problems within his breeding stock. A clause like this will not be held against you as a breeder;
it shows how responsible you are about the health and wellbeing of your cats and your breed.

Performance of the autopsy
An autopsy cannot be performed by a regular veterinarian, but needs to be done by a specialized pathologist. Apart from the fact that, in general, a regular veterinary practice or clinic won’t have the time to perform an autopsy, they often also don’t have the required means at their disposal.
The objective of an autopsy is first to establish the cause of death, second to evaluate the medical actions performed before death occurred. This way the diagnosis, made during life, can be verified and the effects of medical interference assessed.
It follows from the above, that a veterinarian might have his own best interest in mind when he discourages an autopsy; for his actions are being put under that microscope.
This is why you should never be put off by a vet who claims to be sure of the cause of death.
In most cases however, the veterinarian will be glad to refer you if you request this.
A referral from a veterinarian is needed in the Netherlands to have an autopsy performed. Dutch veterinarians will fill out a special form for this, on which they can describe the anamneses and previous treatment (like certain antibiotics that have been administered).In other countries there might be other rules so check your local veterinarian for details.

During autopsy, the pathologist will examine the internal organs of the animal, but he will also take samples of these organs. These samples will be cultured and/or investigated at a later stage, which causes the results to become available as long as two to three weeks later.
There are two techniques that can be used to perform an autopsy on an animal, between which you may choose.
The first technique is the so-called cosmetic autopsy, which leaves the animal intact as much as possible and after which you can receive your pet’s remains back, as long as no infectious conditions are identified (to reduce the risk of spreading the infection). Downside to this method is that the brain and spinal marrow can’t be examined. Possibly this will obstruct some examinations which may turn out to be necessary to enable the examiners to draw an accurate conclusion as to the cause of death.
The other technique is the “regular” autopsy, during which the animal is taken apart and examined completely. Although this method is recommended, the remains may not be taken home afterwards.
You should make results of the autopsy available to everyone who owns a cat that is related to yours, if relevant, and also to the registry in which your cat is registered.

My cat just died – what should I do now?
In the Netherlands, sending deceased animals by mail is strictly prohibited, so the best solution is to take your animal to the pathologist yourself. Different rules may apply in other countries.
Give the pathologist’s lab a heads up to let them know you’re bringing your cat’s remains in. In some areas ambulance services might be available for this. In many cases however, it will not be possible to bring the cat in immediately after its passing.
It is very important to know how the cat should be stored until the moment it is going to be transported. This is not, as commonly assumed, in the freezer. During the process of freezing, cells are destroyed and viruses and bacteria may be killed, which could impair the examinations and lead to an inability to (accurately) determine the cause of death.
Preferably, you put your cat in the (cooling part of) the fridge (again, not the freezer!) in a sealed plastic bag (to prevent cross contamination and to prevent leaking fluids from spreading). If this idea is highly unpleasant to you, you could also ask your vet if he has facilities for this, and whether you may make use of those. It should be clear that transport has to be arranged as soon as possible though, to limit the amount of decay at the time of arrival at the pathologist.

Conclusion
Even though the decision to have an autopsy done on your deceased cat likely isn’t the easiest one to make from an emotional perspective, we, as owners of purebred cats, have to be aware of the responsibilities that come with keeping these animals as our pets.
Autopsy is an effective tool to protect other individuals of the breed from the destiny your own cat already had to face. This way, a lot of suffering (by the cats) and heartache (with the owners) can be prevented.
It could also offer some peace of mind, as it may clear up any feelings of guilt the owner might have.

Ultimately, autopsy isn’t just a way to show your love for your own cat, but also for your fellow humans as well as the breed as a whole.



© Stichting Blauwe Rus - Russian Blue Foundation