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The litter tray

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Original poster

My dear cat died suddenly this afternoon

76 replies

BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 18:58

Got home from work, called him, he walked towards me, got as far as his favourite scratching mat by the front door.

Thought he'd have a stretch and scratch as usual, his legs buckled under him, went floppy and he was gone.

Rushed him to vets but I knew he'd gone when I put him in the carrier.

Vet thinks it was most likely undetected conginital (sp?) heart disease.

He was fine this morning, I had a gut feeling I should have stayed home today.

No one else to talk to so posting here to make some sense of it.

He was my heart and my soul, cleared away all cat related items already to save upsetting me at every turn.

its not working, he should be with me now, playing, snuggling, eating, he's everywhere still.

Anyone else had experience of losing a cat suddenly like this pls?

OP posts:
NearTheWindymill · 11/03/2014 19:52

hugs

piratecat · 11/03/2014 19:53

I am so sorry op, i know how much of a shock it is and how it hurts.

I've lost one to Feline Leukemia, fine one day not the next, and sadly had to be pts. Have lost over the yrs, 3 to the road.

I understand how it leaves a gaping hole, but slowly it does get better, and the shock wears off. How long that takes, well i don't have the answer but the pain lessens.

take care xxxx

Mintyy · 11/03/2014 19:53

Interesting that hq can be so quick off the mark on some things.

MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 11/03/2014 19:54

Hi all,

We've edited the title of this thread in case anyone stumbled into it via Active Conversations, rather than via The Litter Tray.

Hope that's okay with you, Bibi. We're really sorry for your loss Sad

usualsuspect33 · 11/03/2014 19:56

I think for the OPs sake the title needed changing.

Or she would have got loads of snippy replies about it.

Hope you are OK, Bibi

Wishyouwould · 11/03/2014 19:56

So sorry for your loss OP Flowers

Mintyy · 11/03/2014 20:00

I stumbled over it on Active Convos where the title of the topic is quite conveniently listed before the thread title.

I only ever Mumsnet via Active Convos, but am prepared to read and think before I post. Perhaps others could do the same.

usualsuspect33 · 11/03/2014 20:02

I agree Mintty, I could clearly see it was in 'The Litter Tray' from active.

DramaAlpaca · 11/03/2014 20:07

Agree with others above the topic is perfectly obvious from Active Convos so no need to be grumpy with the OP.

So sorry about your cat Bibi Flowers

SummerRain · 11/03/2014 20:22

I read it in active convos and very quickly saw it was a litter tray thread, it's written right there next to the title ffs.

Some people really have too much to complain about Hmm

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 20:44

Thank you all very much, talking to a friend so slow to catch up with messages.

The little furry git promised me he'd live until at least 21 :) (through tears)

Hope he got to the bridge ok, all the stewing steak and prawns and play and love should have guaranteed it i hope.

That's why I always gave him what I thought he wanted, people thought i pandered to him but eventually this day comes and through the pain I have the slight comfort that I did everything I could to give him the best life I thought possible.

Thank you all for sharing your stories, it helps a lot right now!!

OP posts:
Mintyy · 11/03/2014 20:48

What was his name and how old was he Bibi? I can't see it anywhere.

At least he didn't suffer at all.

Thinking of you tonight Flowers.

PollyPumpkins · 11/03/2014 20:51

Sorry for your loss Bibi :( Sending hugs x

GimmeDaBoobehz · 11/03/2014 20:56

I'm so sorry for your loss.

cattypussclaw · 11/03/2014 21:06

So sorry for your loss Bibi. I'm sorry about my username too, right now.

When I lost my Binky, my beloved furry baby that I'd had for 16 years, I thought my heart would break.

Two things really helped me. Firstly, to have her cremated and returned to me (she resides now, peacefully, on the mantelpiece) and secondly a book, Goodbye Dear Friend by Virginia Ironside. The stories and advice from other people who have lost their pet and been devastated are oddly comforting.

I don't believe in God or heaven, but I kind of like the idea of Rainbow Bridge. I hope you meet him again there one day. Thinking of you xx

CuntyBunty · 11/03/2014 21:06

Sorry for you loss Bibi. That's a terrible shock. Have a nice drink of wine?

Have you got any pictures of him? What was he like?

I think BumWad is more of a DickWad. FFS, you know those two round things in that silly head of yours, BumWad? They are called "eyes" and you can use them for reading words, like the "litter tray".

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 21:18

His name was tigger, would have been 9 next month.

Big strioey tabby, 'mummy's green eyed boy' at home but an arrogant git to everyone else - especially ALL other cats in a 5 mile radius.

Took him on as a rescue 5 years ago as he was a sprayer (territorial) in fact he left me a present on the stairwell today so can still smell him.

Worry that his bladder had gone awry and I never knew but I kept a close eye on him always - well, you tend to know in the gut if something is 'off' with your cat don't you?

We had a very close bond for which I'm grateful.

Thing is, I'm one of those that believes the form is gone but the spirit lives on.

The pain of loss still kicks hard though for now :(

It's the risk we all take when bringing a little creature like that into our lives and hearts, eventually we lose them.

OP posts:
CuntyBunty · 11/03/2014 21:33

It is a risk isn't it? You've never known pet love (don't mean that t sound dodgy) until you've sung Happy Birthday to the cat with the kids.

MrsPnut · 11/03/2014 21:39

It's such a shock and it takes months to get used to them not being around.

We lost sooty when he was about 8.5, he'd been asking for food when I got up from a nap to cook dinner but when I told him to wait he disappeared.

I only realised at 9pm that he hadn't come back and went to look for him. He'd died under my bed in his favourite spot and I was 7 months pregnant as well so doubly emotional.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 21:47

Oh I'm sorry to hear that Mrs Pnut (and all others who have relived their losses on this thread)

I am grateful that I was able to share tiggers last moments (panicked as they were) rather than finding him dead somewhere later.

Had I been home earlier it still would have happened but he would have gone out and I might have never known what happened.

Small mercies eh....

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 11/03/2014 21:53

They might have been panicked for you, Bibi but for him, he just stopped - on a nice morning with his beloved Mum coming in the house to him. I think that's comforting, myself.

cozietoesie · 11/03/2014 21:55

Or afternoon, rather. Either way, you might be hurting badly but he wouldn't have known.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 22:11

Yes cozietosie, I thought that - that he held on til I got home.

Had the weirdest feeling that said 'don't go to work today' this morning.

Dismissed it of course, as otherwise what would have kept him in steak and prawns.

Every weekday morning I always said 'its a worky day today tiggle, soon be 'caturday' again'

And always always when he went out I told him 'love you, be careful, see you soon'

Never know with cats when you'll see them again, well, that's always been my feeling anyway.

Two cats lost in two weeks (one re-homed in secret by my evil house mate last week)

Everything for a reason right, just hope the reason reveals itself soon.

Thanks again for support everyone!

OP posts:
Mintyy · 11/03/2014 22:19

Oh Bibi Sad

I just spent £575 on vet bills for my 14 year old moggy - and she couldn't really tell me what was wrong with him!

I joked with told dh that I'd think twice about spending that kind of money on him if he just went sad, stopped purring and off his tucker!

Any pet can take a little piece of your heart forever.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 22:25

:) Minty - no way would I spend that sort of money on a man, husband or otherwise!

But when it's our pets it's a different story, never resented a single penny I spent on tigger or his sister smudge.

The vet used to sigh and say 'oh, tigger again' when I used to take him in with his fighting wounds.

The incredible £50 cat I used to call him - always a fighting wound, same routine, painkillers, antibiotics and consultation fee - £50 please Bibi :£

OP posts: