There are better ways to check for life signs . . .

Our oldest cat suffers her 14th birthday this month.  She loves the gel cushion in my computer chair where she curls up and covers her eyes with a paw.  She sleeps like the dead - in fact, the other day, I actually lifted her sleeping head to see if she still lived.  After I held it up for a couple of dreadful seconds, she slitted open an eye and waited for me to put her head back down.  

I did.  Next time, I'll just check for her sides breathing before I lift anything.