Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?
Caitlin Doughty
17 min
7 Key Points
4.4 RateWhat's inside?
Explore the intriguing world of death, as a mortician answers your most curious questions about what happens to our bodies when we die.
You'll learn
1. What happens to us when we kick the bucket?2. How have folks handled death and burials throughout history?3. What's the deal with embalming and cremation?4. What's true and what's bogus about death?5. What does a mortician actually do?6. Are some burial methods better for the planet?Key points
01What happens to your pets when you're gone?
Let's talk about something we usually avoid: death. It's a bit spooky, a bit mysterious, and a lot uncomfortable. But Caitlin Doughty, in her book, encourages us to face this fear head-on, using a mix of humor, science, and a whole lot of curiosity. One of her key points? Keep an eye on your pets, especially when it comes to the big D. Sounds weird, right? But stick with me, because her explanation is both intriguing and a tad creepy. Take cats, for example. We all know they're pretty self-sufficient, able to survive in all sorts of situations. Now, imagine if a cat's owner were to kick the bucket unexpectedly, leaving the cat alone with the body. Eventually, the cat would start munching on the body, not out of spite, but out of necessity. It's survival, pure and simple. The soft bits, like the eyes, lips, and tongue, would probably be the first to go. And dogs, despite being man's best friend, would do the same if left alone with their deceased owner. It's not a reflection of the dog's character or its bond with the owner, but a basic survival instinct. The dog might try to wake the owner at first, even getting upset when there's no response. But hunger would eventually lead the dog to eat the body. These scenarios might sound a bit gruesome, but they're a stark reminder of the realities of death and the survival instincts of animals. They also underline the importance of making plans for your pets in case you shuffle off this mortal coil, to make sure they're taken care of and don't end up in such a desperate situation. Doughty's book is chock-full of similar insights, answering all sorts of questions about death and dying. Her goal? To take the mystery out of death and help us come to terms with this unavoidable part of life. Whether you're wondering about the nitty-gritty of dying in space or the chances of a corpse sitting up after death, her book is a treasure trove of information that's both enlightening and oddly comforting.
02What if someone dies in space?
Let's dive into a rather eerie topic - kicking the bucket in space. So far, the few unfortunate souls who've met their end in the cosmos did so due to some catastrophic mishaps, not because of natural causes. But what if someone did? Let's paint a picture. Imagine an astronaut, just doing their thing, fixing up their spaceship during a spacewalk. Out of nowhere, a teeny-weeny meteorite rips through their spacesuit. They've got about ten seconds to patch it up before the zero air pressure in space causes their body fluids to evaporate and their blood to bubble up. Sounds like a scene from a horror movie, right? But don't worry, they'd probably pass out before feeling any pain. Now, here's the real kicker - what happens to the body? One option is to let it float around in space, forever. It's kind of like a sea burial, but instead of the deep blue, it's the infinite black. But this brings up a whole new set of questions. Could the body, teeming with bacteria and microbes, crash land on some far-off planet and kickstart new life? Sounds like a sci-fi plot, but in the wild world of space, we can't rule it out. The other option is to bring the body back home. This means storing it in the chilliest part of the spaceship, right next to the trash and leftover food, to slow down the rotting process. Not exactly a five-star funeral, but it's the best we can do given the circumstances. NASA's even teamed up with a Swedish company to create a gadget called 'Body Back'. This nifty device freezes the body, chops it up, and then grinds it into dust. It could be a game-changer for long-haul trips, like a mission to Mars. So, there you have it. Dying in space is a tricky business, with a lot of unknowns. The actual dying part is probably quick and painless, but dealing with the body afterwards is a whole other can of worms. Whether we let it drift in space or bring it back to Earth, the truth is, dying in space is a grim reality future space explorers need to brace themselves for.
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03What happens inside us after we die?
04Are buried bodies a hidden danger?
05How do different cultures say goodbye to the dead?
06What happens when a conjoined twin dies?
07Conclusion
About Caitlin Doughty
Caitlin Doughty is an American mortician, author, and YouTube personality. She advocates for death acceptance and the reform of the Western funeral industry. Doughty is also the founder of The Order of the Good Death, a group of professionals in the funeral industry who promote healthier attitudes towards death.
