Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: getting comfortable with the thought of death

Most of us, at some point, have thought about death. Sometimes it can be a dark question filled with fear; the uncertainty of its timing, the chilling anticipation of pain, and most of all, the black ignorance of what happens after we die can make any person uneasy. However, it can also be framed as a genuinely curious and scientific question. This is how Caitlin Doughty, a (highly humorous) mortician and funeral director approaches the topic, which is quite evident with the catchy and intriguing title: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?

As a huge cat lover, this immediately struck my interest. Understandably, they are animals, but eating eyeballs seems a bit excessive, not to mention unfathomable when one thinks of their cute little furry faces.

Doughty answers several questions, ranging from the reasonable (can someone donate blood after they die?) to the eccentric (can I preserve my dead body in amber like a prehistoric insect?)

Well, will they? The answer in short is: probably yes. Given your dead body is out for enough time, cats do after all share a part of their DNA with lions. To get the detailed answer, you are encouraged to read the book.

Written with the purpose of answering questions children have about death and dead bodies, it is an equally informative and amusing book to read as an adult. Doughty answers several questions, ranging from the reasonable (can someone donate blood after they die?) to the eccentric (can I preserve my dead body in amber like a prehistoric insect?).

Doughty is quite a famous mortician, giving talks all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on the wonders of death. Her book contains 35 questions exclusively asked by children, as she said that when it came to the Q&A sessions, “Young people were braver and often more perceptive than the adults”, which can certainly be felt while reading the book. Caitlin Doughty also hosts a YouTube series called ‘Ask A Mortician’, which discusses a bunch of other intriguing questions.

We can’t make death fun, but we can make learning about it fun. Death is science and history, art and literature. It bridges every culture and unites the whole of humanity!

Caitlin Doughty

To me, this book felt like a truly refreshing experience on a topic that most communities consider taboo. There are so many questions which come up in our mind but asking them is often discouraged.

The author’s endeavour to openly discuss death is of great significance, as it challenges traditional beliefs and encourages people to recognize the brevity and vulnerability of life. By breaking the taboo surrounding death, Doughty aims to raise awareness and foster mindfulness. “We can’t make death fun, but we can make learning about it fun. Death is science and history, art and literature. It bridges every culture and unites the whole of humanity!”, she says.

In Western society, death has been relegated to a topic to avoid discussing or altering, perpetuating societal norms that discourage open interest in this vital subject. Since it is an eventuality that everyone faces in life, this book approaches that question with such bluntness and normality that it is reassuring. Written with humour and candour in a simple language, it is definitely a great read for children and an amusing one for adults.

In an interview with New Day Northwest, Doughty said: “By the time we are 8 or 9 we know we are going to die, and that is a harsh realisation. We give a lot of credit to a child’s sexual awakening and adolescence, but not enough to their death awakening, and all of the genuine fears that come with that.”

This statement explains very well why I appreciated this book so much, and the beautiful artwork by Dianné Ruz at the beginning of every chapter was a refreshing addition. It has been a while since I have read a book with artwork in it, and I firmly believe that some good art can enhance the quality of a book so much, be it for adults or children.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enhance their non-fiction arsenal!

4/5 stars