My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

In shock.

17 replies

bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 19:41

Ok, my parents are on holiday but my brother lives with them. He knocked this morning to tell me their ten month old, previously healthy cat had literally just died in his arms. The cat had had a bit of a dodgy tum the last few days but he's had this before and the vet wasn't concerned. Clean bill of health (he was lovely, strong looking and glossy. Neutered and up to date with all jabs/wormed etc...) and said it was just one of those things that happens to kittens so we thought little of it over the last few days.

My brother said he'd been absolutely fine, playing (in fact he was a little bugger, really playful but also very bitey!) when out of absolutely nowhere he began to mewl really loudly - which was something he never really did - so my brother picked him up. The cat just shook, lost control of his bladder and died in his arms :(

I am dreading telling my parents - they will be heartbroken because they loved him to bits and 18 months ago we lost the cat we'd had for 19 years.

From what I've googled it looks like sudden heart failure? he's going to the vet tomorrow. Any ideas at all? Literally, he's gone from playing as normal to dead within seconds.

OP posts:
Report
Naghoul · 21/10/2012 19:49

:(

I have no experience of this but I would get comfort from the fact that he was happy and playful up to the end.

Thanks

Report
bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 19:51

Thankyou :)

OP posts:
Report
DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 21/10/2012 19:55

Oh bottle, I'm so sorry, how awful for you and your DB, I'm sure your parents although very upset will be of concern for you two. Xx

Report
HappyTurquoise · 21/10/2012 20:02

Your poor brother! At least he was there for the cat at the end. Am sure your parents will understand. There was nothing else anyone could do, and you gave him the best life he could have.

Report
Lonecatwithkitten · 21/10/2012 20:09

Over the last 14 years I have investigate three such case all of them turned out to be cardiomyopathy and there is no way to indentify these cats unless we scanned every cats heart every year.

Report
bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 20:10

Thanks. They've just had such a bad few years, go on a much needed holiday and this :(

He was like their little baby (they'd go mad for me saying that like they're mad cat people :) but he was. My mum used to watch him crossing the road so he didn't get knocked over.

Oh blardy hell.

OP posts:
Report
bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 20:13

Thanks Lonecat. I know it helps to know it's unavoidable and unpreventable. My own cat was PTS a couple of years ago with wet FIP. I felt horrible like I'd missed a vaccination or something until I found out there is none and it's pretty much untreatable.

Nothing worse than worrying you should have spotted something.

OP posts:
Report
cozietoesie · 21/10/2012 20:13

So sorry, bottleofbeer. My last senior boy just keeled over dead one morning at aged 8. No warning, no previous apparent ill health, no nothing. It does leave you shocked.

Report
bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 20:24

I got him from my friend whose cat had the litter when they (parents) felt ready for another cat after our old boy died.

Now, she's totally irresponsible and her cat has had at least four litters in the last two years. If this IS cardiomyopathy and hereditary it makes it even more imperative she gets her spayed - as if she didn't need to already Hmm

I need to calm down and then tell her she's allowed god only knows how many cats be born with a potential fatal problem. Right now I could throttle her.

OP posts:
Report
Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2012 20:27

Our little cat had a hear murmur. She went missing for 4 days and was found dead. She was perfect and appeared to have just died. Sad She had had kittens very young.

I am so sorry. Will he be able to bury the cat in the garden or a cremation at the Vets? What do you think your parents would prefer? Sad

Report
cozietoesie · 21/10/2012 20:28

Even if this wasn't hereditary, you're right - she should still have that cat neutered.

Report
CremeEggThief · 21/10/2012 20:30

:(. Sorry for your loss. I didn't actually know this could happen :(.

Report
zonedout · 21/10/2012 20:36

How heartbreaking Sad

So very sorry.

Report
crazynanna · 21/10/2012 20:40

Oh God.

Just....Oh God Sad

So,so sorry

Report
bottleofbeer · 21/10/2012 20:42

I think he'll probably do what he did last time. Cremated and returned in a little wooden box with his name on it.

Just couldn't bear a family pet to be thrown away like a biohazard piece of rubbish :(

OP posts:
Report
Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2012 20:43

That sounds like the best you can do for them bottle. When are they back?

Report
Fluffycloudland77 · 21/10/2012 21:26

Your poor cat, what a horrible thing for your parents to go through.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.