Hi,

We got back from vacation last night, and my 9 1/2 yr old cat was dead. We are absolutely devastated by her loss, and I am tormented by the thought that I could have saved her.

When we found her, she was on her "throne". She was stretched out in a natural pose, as if she were getting ready to groom her paws. She did not look afraid or in pain. She had no urine or feces on her, no vomit. She was just dead.

She had had diabetes, and we gave her shots twice a day, which she didn't mind. She came running for them. She was strong and in good shape, and we thought we could leave for a few days. We are sure it was not her sugar that killed her. We think she died right after we left, as she did not scat in her box, or eat or drink much, if at all.

The only symptom she had was that in the last few weeks/months I noticed that her BMs were really substantial. She was not constipated, as they came out frequently, and they were well-formed, not runny. So, I thought nothing of it.

I called my vet today, and he said an increase in fecal volume was associated with kidney failure. Her brother--my mom's cat--has struggled for years with it, but I knew him and the signs (in a male, at least), so I did not worry about her.

I am tortured by the thought that if I had gotten her checked out before we left she'd be with us today.

Has anyone else had any experience with female cats and kidney disease? Unlike when she was sick with diabetes, there were no personality changes--she seemd healthy and active and alert.

What can kill a cat instantly?

Thanks.

Renee

I'm so sorry for you having to come home to your beautiful cat the way you did...That is so heart breaking...I think with death we all go through the ifs and buts and if only I did this or that...But I think that when that rainbow colour shines down to say you time here is over its over...and there is nothing you can do...

A week before christmas I lost my beloved cat Misty, she was 8 the longest I had had a cat for as I had lost 7 others due to cars, snakes and the unknown....I always made sure she was locked up at night and if she didn't come in I would still be up until she did I recall a few years ago waiting until I finially saw her at 2am and got her inside before I could go to sleep...I was always afraid I would loose her if I didn't lock her up at night. And the thing is it made no different because she was actually inside longer the morning that she was killed before Hubby let the cats out and she still got hit by a car...

((hugs)) and I love this group, they have helped me so much with just words and knowing that they have been through this also and won't judge me or get sick of me saying "I miss my Misty"...

Caroline....

Dear Renee,

I have learned that animals, like humans, can suffer any number of ailments: diabetes, cancer, heart attack, stroke... I don't know why your kitty died, but I would guess there is very little you could have done about it. I know you can't help it, but try not to torture yourself.

When my cat Electra started having bad kidneys, she lost a lot of weight -- that was really the only symptom. When we got her tested for the weight loss, it turned out that she was FIV. We put her on a low protein-high fat diet. ... she did ok for several years. When she finally went into real renal failure, it was heart breaking. She lost a lot of weight quickly, even though she was eating enough. Then she quit eating, became euremic (which smells), quit grooming... we finally had to help her on her way.

Saki was diabetic for several years, and we had to also give her twice daily injections. She did not die of the diabetes, but of liver cancer. It came on so suddenly. Really she seemed normal up til the last couple days before she died. Her only real symptom was she was having these tiny spots of diarrhea -- maybe once a day and quarter sized -- and she got dehydrated. Within a couple of weeks of showing very minor symptoms, she was dead. During those two weeks we did everything we could with vets, and driving her up to the university vet school and etc... but she died anyway...

I do not know why your sweet kitty died. However, I do not think you could have prevented it. You were a loving and attentive parent -- the kind that notices diabetic symptoms and just says "Ok" when you find out you have to monitor a cat and give her two injections daily. Maybe she even waited for you to be gone so that she could go without having to see how much it hurt you. I know she would not want you to hurt and torture yourself...

Love,
Jennifer

Caroline and Jennifer,

Thanks so much for your kind words. It really helps.

I am convinced my darling died instantly. I don't know how. But she was stretched out in her favorite "relax and groom" pose on her "throne" and her eyes were half-open. She did not look to be in pain or afraid.

I am just so grateful that she had such a happy life. She was such a special animal.

Her name? Cindy. Cindarella. Cindita Burrita. Fat-Rat-Poo-Poo.

Thanks for sharing.

Renee

It does sound like she went in her sleep, I was sleeping next to Sadie when she went.

She had had a heart attack (I think) in the night and when she went there was just this long sigh as she slept.
She looked just like if you prodded her, or opened a bag of crisps, she would wake up.

Take care,
Love Sue

Renee:

I am so sorry about your loss. I know that no matter what we would say, you'd feel that you could have done something different, and you could have changed that event, and you would think it over and over, how you should have stayed, and checked you kiddy, and just be near her. It just shows how much you love her, and how much you miss her.

As you've described it, it sound she went instantly. There are only few things that would do it. The most common is arrhythmia, abnormal heart rhythm. It is common in kidney failure, as blood chemicals are slightly out of level. The truth is, nobody could predict exact time of arrhythmia, and prevent it, or even reverse it. It was unpredictable random tragic event. However, it does not matter what it was, as you would mourn her, and miss her, and recall her, and think about her in those 9 and 1/2 years with you. Finding your fault is a normal reaction, because you love her so much.

I am still in that situation, 2 years since my beloved cat Nick is gone.