Do cats understand death?

A feline rooftop vigil.     Cleo, who was one of our elderly feline residents, passed away in her sleep yesterday.   Although she was in her late teens, she hadn’t been ill and had been pottering around as usual earlier in the day.   Cleo ate a lunchtime pouch and  settled down in a chair for a nap.   That was it, she never woke up.   Cleo had never been any trouble in her life, she wasn’t mischievous and was always waiting at the back, never wanting to push herself forward.   It’s a good way to go.    What is strange is that soon afterwards all her cat friends and relatives gathered round the shed where she was lying.   Her daughters and grandaughters maintained a vigil for several hours, some in the shed close to her body, others outside and even on the roof.    I’ve seen cats do this before and I’m convinced they understand the passing of a friend.   Goodbye Cleo, a charming, quiet, unassuming little cat who will be sadly missed.