Hello,
I lost my cat yesterday very suddenly and without warning. I am searching for any info or answers that someone might be able to provide me with.
My "Shadow" was a healthy 10 year old indoor cat. When I left for work yesterday morning she was fine! When I returned from work I found her lying on the floor drowl coming from her mouth, eyes glazed and starring straight ahead, body totally limp and she was gasping for breath (she would take a very loud breath only once every 5 or so seconds)
I immediatly picked her up and rushed her to the vets (only a few minutes away) but by the time I went to hand her to the vets she took her last breath.
I am devistated by this, and am hoping someone might be able to shed some light on this. I am hoping and praying my baby wasnt home suffering all day waiting for me to get home.
Any info. will be greatly appreciated.
thank you,
-Linda
*~*~*~*~*~ In loving memory of my baby girl "Shadow"~*~*~*~
Sudden Death in my Cat???
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Lindacarroll
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:17 am
- Location: Maryland
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Oh dear...I am so sorry for your loss, Linda. You must be so heartbroken. Are there any plants around that Shadow could have gotten into, or household cleaning products? Can your Vet perform some tests to determine what happened?
Rest in peace, Shadow....
Rest in peace, Shadow....
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Lindacarroll
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:17 am
- Location: Maryland
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Thank you for your condolense.
No I had no plants or chemicals around where she was. As for the vet knowing, whelp when I rushed her yesterday to the vets, it was to an emergeny place that I had never been to. Once she died, I just wanted to get out of there and go home with her and hold her for a while. Then we burried her. So I guess I will never really know what happened. I was just grasping at straws thinking someone here might have an answer.
I miss her.....
No I had no plants or chemicals around where she was. As for the vet knowing, whelp when I rushed her yesterday to the vets, it was to an emergeny place that I had never been to. Once she died, I just wanted to get out of there and go home with her and hold her for a while. Then we burried her. So I guess I will never really know what happened. I was just grasping at straws thinking someone here might have an answer.
I miss her.....
-Linda
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Linda, I'm so sorry for your loss, how tragic.
There could be several causes to sudden death....poisons and toxins, heart-worm infection, uncontrolled seizures, choking or strangulation, blunt trauma, or thromboembolism (blood clot), to name a few. Unfortunately, without a necropsy, it is near impossible to guess. Only based on your post, and how you found her, it sounds like it was sudden and that she didn't suffer.
My heart goes out to you. Safe and gentle journey, sweet Shadow...
(((HUGS)))
There could be several causes to sudden death....poisons and toxins, heart-worm infection, uncontrolled seizures, choking or strangulation, blunt trauma, or thromboembolism (blood clot), to name a few. Unfortunately, without a necropsy, it is near impossible to guess. Only based on your post, and how you found her, it sounds like it was sudden and that she didn't suffer.
My heart goes out to you. Safe and gentle journey, sweet Shadow...
(((HUGS)))
..........Traci
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
this is one of lifes lousy puzzles...it hapopens to the nicest people and to the nicest pets...sometimes for no apparante reason something goes wrong in the biody....routine coronary attack,,, Blood clot to the brain, Vagal nerve interfereience...any number of things and there is, often , no way to find out what its cause was....it is more amazing that animals and people don't have these occurances more often with all the millions of things that take place in the bodies...its just a shame that it happens and all the autopsies, necropsies etc will never give you a good answer...A good frienbd of mine just retired aftere 45 years as a human pathologist and he says sometimes you jus5t don;t know....and in your case there was probably nothing you could have done to prevent it....its a shame and we all know how you feel but if there is a good side, your cat did not go through a lengthy disease process.....sorry
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Phoebe's human
- Posts: 248
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:09 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Linda,
I'm so sorry about the sudden loss of your dear Shadow.
My cat who had been with me since early kittenhood died unexpectedly a year ago at almost 13 years of age, and it was a very difficult time. One of the hardest parts was that no one except another cat lover could begin to understand how I was feeling!
I wish I could have been with my cat as she died but it didn't work out that way. She died without me at the vet's, while she was waiting to have a feeding tube put in. She had a liver tumor, they think. I didn't have an autopsy done, though.
What matters is that it wasn't your fault. Your dear kitty had some very bad luck. You have my sympathy.
I'm so sorry about the sudden loss of your dear Shadow.
My cat who had been with me since early kittenhood died unexpectedly a year ago at almost 13 years of age, and it was a very difficult time. One of the hardest parts was that no one except another cat lover could begin to understand how I was feeling!
I wish I could have been with my cat as she died but it didn't work out that way. She died without me at the vet's, while she was waiting to have a feeding tube put in. She had a liver tumor, they think. I didn't have an autopsy done, though.
What matters is that it wasn't your fault. Your dear kitty had some very bad luck. You have my sympathy.
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Guest
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Thank you..... your right, I was very lucky that my sweet girl waiting for me before passing on. Holding her in my arms for those final minutes I hope comforted her.
Of course I am still playing the major head games with myself of the what if's!!! Driving me insane, I am trying hard to focus on the good and stop the guilt thing, but havent been able to yet.
I miss her so much, my house was not the same yesterday and even more so at night. My other cat who really wasnt all that loving before, has been extra loving since my sweet girl left. I am lucky I have him to help fill my huge hole.
May I ask how do others deal with the tourment of the "WHAT IF'S"!!!!! I am a reck.
-Linda
Of course I am still playing the major head games with myself of the what if's!!! Driving me insane, I am trying hard to focus on the good and stop the guilt thing, but havent been able to yet.
I miss her so much, my house was not the same yesterday and even more so at night. My other cat who really wasnt all that loving before, has been extra loving since my sweet girl left. I am lucky I have him to help fill my huge hole.
May I ask how do others deal with the tourment of the "WHAT IF'S"!!!!! I am a reck.
-Linda
Re: Sudden Death in my Cat???
Linda, guilt is a natural component of the grief process, your thoughts and your feelings are valid, but the what-if's can tear you apart if you focus too much or too long on them.
Everyone is different in how they handle guilt or other emotions after a loss. I find that the sooner one can try to put the nightmarish images out of the mind, the sooner one can begin to heal. The last moments are the most difficult because we feel powerless, helpless and have no control, and they remain fresh in our minds for however long we let them.
You are responding naturally by trying to focus on the good times you had with Shadow, those memories will soon replace the sadness, and the pain will seem less severe in time.
Try making a memorial for her, through a special photo album (or photo arrangement on a table or shelf), ...a scrap-book where you can write down your thoughts and memories,...purchase a pet-memorial cat figurine with a base that can be engraved/customized and display it in a special place...focus on a special plant, flower arrangement, tree, or memorial you can place at her place of rest to help you feel she remains near to you, and to help you with closure. Closure does not mean she is any less precious in your heart and memories, but rather it is a closure to the painful feelings and emotions that you are dealing with.
It is ok to cry, to feel angry, sad, lost and to miss her. These are valid emotions during grief. If you can try to focus on a memorial for her, those feelings will soon be replaced with fond memories and your heart will begin to heal. Talk to her and tell her how you feel and how much you so loved her, sometimes talking openly can also be a means of healing the heart.
(((HUGS)))
Everyone is different in how they handle guilt or other emotions after a loss. I find that the sooner one can try to put the nightmarish images out of the mind, the sooner one can begin to heal. The last moments are the most difficult because we feel powerless, helpless and have no control, and they remain fresh in our minds for however long we let them.
You are responding naturally by trying to focus on the good times you had with Shadow, those memories will soon replace the sadness, and the pain will seem less severe in time.
Try making a memorial for her, through a special photo album (or photo arrangement on a table or shelf), ...a scrap-book where you can write down your thoughts and memories,...purchase a pet-memorial cat figurine with a base that can be engraved/customized and display it in a special place...focus on a special plant, flower arrangement, tree, or memorial you can place at her place of rest to help you feel she remains near to you, and to help you with closure. Closure does not mean she is any less precious in your heart and memories, but rather it is a closure to the painful feelings and emotions that you are dealing with.
It is ok to cry, to feel angry, sad, lost and to miss her. These are valid emotions during grief. If you can try to focus on a memorial for her, those feelings will soon be replaced with fond memories and your heart will begin to heal. Talk to her and tell her how you feel and how much you so loved her, sometimes talking openly can also be a means of healing the heart.
(((HUGS)))
..........Traci