Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

Original poster

Anyone's cat died naturally from heart failure?

19 replies

Lthrgirl · 14/02/2020 12:24

Hi readers. I feel like I'm having the worst week of my life. Took my nearly 19 year old cat to the vet last Monday and was told that due to her laboured breathing and rapid heart rate, she'd be better off being put down. He insisted we do it right then and there but without any emotional preparation, I just couldn't. Walked out with my Molly and took her back home, watched her stuff her face while I sat on the sofa in tears, wondering whether I'm the worst person in the world.

She came into my life when I was 9 years old. I'm now 27. I can't remember life without her. She provided companionship to a lonely only child who, after receiving her, never craved to have siblings again! The bond is immensely strong.

Yesterday I took her to the vets again for a second opinion. Again, I was told she should really be PTS. They offered to drain the fluid from her lungs caused by the CHF in an attempt to help her breathe a little better and I just paid for it. They drained as much as they could but told me that her prognosis is bad and I am just prolonging the inevitable. I was so close to letting her go yesterday while she was already sedated. I fell apart in the veterinary room and she just looked at me and I felt such guilt. Part of me felt like she was asking me to take her home and get her out of there so she can die in comfort in her house, the other part of me was wondering if she's telling me she's done.

I'm just broken. So heartbroken. So full of guilt. Has anyone's cat died naturally from CHF, was it god awful?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/02/2020 13:57

I think that would be an awful death. I KNOW it’s hard but you must take her back in and get it done humanely.

We’ve kept a cat going past the point at which we should have ended it and you will regret it.

BabbleBee · 16/02/2020 14:04

Unfortunately, cats are pretty rubbish at passing away by themselves. If they were in the wild, they’d become weak and defenceless prey.

I’ve been in the same situation as you with 3 out of the 4 cats I’ve owned into their late years. Only one passed away naturally, which the vet told us was quite rare.

Would you feel better if the vet came out to your home and you let her go in a familiar environment?

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/02/2020 17:40

Only one of my cats has ever died naturally. He was 17, went out for a walk and didn't come back. We found him curled up in a neighbour's garden as if he was asleep.
All the rest I've had to have pts - and I'm sorry OP but it really sounds as if that is what you need to do here.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/02/2020 10:47

My car had really bad HCM and I was in heart failure. The cardiologist doubled her diuretics and I think it tipped her over the edge and her kidneys failed. So she was PTS. It was really sad, but she had a lovely peaceful death, cuddled in my arms and her sister by her side.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/02/2020 10:48

I think PTS would be the kinder thing OP. She'll feel like she's drowning.

Sitdowncupoftea · 21/08/2020 01:11

One of my cats had heart failure. The kindest thing to do was put him down. My cat had to be put down too.

Feelingpoorlysick · 21/08/2020 01:20

Our cat had a heart condition that we didn't know about until she became very ill suddenly. The vet prescribed medication to try to give her another 6-12 months but she just wouldn't take it, whatever we did.
In the end we had to have her put to sleep as she was suffering and it was the kindest thing we could do for her. She was only 7. It still breaks my heart nearly 4 years on but we didn't have a choice unfortunantely.

You'll know when its time. At least it will be peaceful and you'll be able to be with her.

catsarecute · 21/08/2020 01:33

Our old cat had primary heart failure, managed on meds, and we were told to expect this. However he got an aggressive tumour in his mouth before the heart failure got him, and we ended up having him pts because of the tumour (he was in pain).

Our friends cat had a heart murmur for years and then got fluid on his lungs as you're describing. They had the fluid drained but he died suddenly at home a few days later. I don't think when they get to that stage there's a good prognosis.

I am so sorry, but I think it's probably kinder to let her go. Can you see if a vet can come out to your house instead of having to take her to the vets? Ours will do house calls, but in times of covid I am not sure if it would be possible :-( Either way, it sounds like you have given her an amazing life

VimFuego101 · 21/08/2020 02:04

Cats are good at hiding how much they're suffering. If you think that she is in pain and seems subdued... she is probably suffering more than you realize. It's kinder to PTS than to let her continue to go downhill. Could the vets come to your house so that she could be in a familiar place? It's such a tough decision to make.

chromis · 21/08/2020 05:41

Please have him PTS. Its a final expression of your love and caring for him. Most vets will do it at home.

My 12 yr old cat had (undiagnosed) heart failure at home and it wasn't peaceful at all. I still have nightmares at how he suffered. We couldn't get him to the vet in time.

daytripper28 · 21/08/2020 06:00

for you.

That is very sad especially as your cat has got to such a good age.

We had a ginger tabby who died from heart failure and it was bad -
I'm with others on this thread and think that PTS is the kindest way for your cat to die.

Best wishes for you as it is very hard.

MumtherofCats · 21/08/2020 22:13

So sorry -- I'm in agreement with others that you should really bring her in. My cat died at home naturally and unexpectedly (although not heart failure) a few weeks ago and it was not nice or peaceful. I would have much preferred for him to be PTS a few days earlier, and if I could go back and change this knowing what I know now, I really would.

bowchicawowwow · 21/08/2020 22:19

All of my cats have been PTS when the time came rather than waiting for nature to take its course. It really is the kindest thing you can do for them when it gets to that point. If you have been advised twice that PTS is a sensible kind option then I think you should heed the advice, even though it is heartbreaking news.

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/08/2020 22:23

I know of a cat who died of natural causes - she basically snuck out of her house and was found behind some bins at the end of the street. Apparently it’s not so uncommon - Cats really make an effort not to die in the home. Do you really want her struggling and panicking trying to find her way outside to die?

madcatladyforever · 21/08/2020 22:27

Yes two years ago my Smoky had exactly as you describe, I took him to the vet and asked for him to be PTS as I didn't want him to suffer.
The vet refused and drained his lungs under sedation which cost me about £800.
Told me to take him home and bring him back if it happened again.
Smoky died "naturally" one evening, he had a massive, agonising heart attack which lasted several minutes, writhing in pain the whole time, then a huge fit and died in my arms.
I am still totally traumatised by what happened and furious that the vet wouldn't put him quietly to sleep when I asked so that he didn't suffer. My last memory is of him almost biting his tongue in half in agony.
Do you want this for your 19 year old cat? Because that is what will happen.
I considered sueing my vet for this and I have never, ever forgiven myself for not taking him to another vet to have him PTS. I trusted my vet and I should not have.
All cats with this condition die in this way, you should get your cat PTS for the cat's sake. The cat doesn't deserve this.

pandafunfactory · 21/08/2020 22:27

This thread is from February! I think the poor cat will have passed by now. FWIW my parents have lost two like this, they both died at home. I think my parents found it better that PTS and they didn't appear to suffer unduly.

OfDragonsDeep · 21/08/2020 22:29

My cat died of heart failure in June, it was very sudden and she died on the way to the vets.

Her yearly checkup was due a month or so beforehand and was cancelled because of Corona and still all the time I’m thinking that I wish I’d been able to take her for that checkup. Maybe they would have been able to pick up something was wrong and I would have had the chance to PTS and be kinder to her

user1471453601 · 21/08/2020 22:36

My dog died two weeks ago with cardiomyopathy (heart failure). We had her put to sleep. Believe me, it's the hardest thing we've ever done, but it was the right thing to do. She was panting and coughing at the end. Believe me, you do not want to see that.

As hard as it is for you, do the thing you've done all your cats life. The right thing.

I'm so very sorry you are going through this.

shakymum · 17/09/2020 09:07

Yesterday we had to put our gorgeous cat of 14 years to sleep. He suffered, quite unexpectedly, an embolism. In the morning he was absolutely fine and then he was suddenly in the worst state you can imagine, howling (he was normally a silent cat) and sick and having lost the use of his back paws. I couldn’t quite believe that putting him to sleep was the best thing to do and felt enormous guilt for most of the day that we would somehow have kopped out by not trying all other avenues to get him better. But in the end when I saw the look of bewilderment, fear and pain on his face as the vet lifted him out of his basket I knew that letting him go was the only thing and the right thing to do. A final act of love. Be strong, if you don’t help your cat now you may blame yourself for keeping them alive for too long later. Focus on all the good things that they brought to your life (and that you brought to theirs.) sending you a hug.

Flip