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The litter tray

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

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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:

HarpyFishwifeTwat · 11/03/2014 23:24

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's horrible to lose our lovely little friends. When my lovely cat was run over one of my friends sent me this message - it helped and I hope it can help you (I've made a couple of changes to make it more relevant)

"They aren't 'just cats' they're the wee people we share our lives with. It helps to look at it the following way - there was not a day since you got him that Tigger ever felt, hungry, or loved or had a warm welcoming house to come back to after his adventures. That's more than a lot of cats have. He had a wee loving life and you never forget the love they've shown you..."

Freewheelin · 11/03/2014 23:34

I'm so sorry. What a horrible shock for you.
I had my 18, nearly 19 yr old pts a month ago.

Original poster

BibiBlocksberg · 11/03/2014 23:54

You're right HarpyFishwifeTwat - I always said when people sneered at me for giving him chopped up steak and prawns that I want the comfort of knowing he had the best life possible before he goes to the big litter tray in the sky.

And it is a comfort now, even changed my working hours so I could spend more time with him 6 months ago.

So yes, he had a great life - just my ego would have loved to have kept hold of him for longer and that's what hurts.

Freewheelin - sorry to hear about your loss too, can't imagine what it must be like to have to make the decision all pet owners dread but must be made nevertheless.

OP posts:

Italiangreyhound · 11/03/2014 23:58

So sorry for your loss.

Petal02 · 12/03/2014 14:31

I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I would be devastated if that were my cat.

Original poster

BibiBlocksberg · 12/03/2014 19:18

Thank You all again for your kind words, they really do help.

Starting the journey of dealing with the empty house syndrome tonight, bleurgh!

OP posts:

Wordsaremything · 12/03/2014 20:04

Have pmd you, bibi. I am so sorry. A house without a cat is so awfully empty. You just have to get through as best you can.
Harpy fish wife's quote is spot on.

Wordsaremything · 12/03/2014 20:06

Ps you will probably 'see' Tigger out of the corner of your eye in the early days. So hard x

Millymolly99 · 12/03/2014 20:25

Yes, I had "corner of the eye syndrome" when one of my cats passed away:(

Petal02 · 13/03/2014 14:19

OP - how are you today?

Original poster

BibiBlocksberg · 13/03/2014 19:11

Thanks for asking petal02, was ok at work but coming home to face empty house is horrible.

Have been out as much as poss since tiggy passed on Tuesday but figure I may as well face this pain head on now rather than trying to run from it with fake busy work.

Might employ a little help from Ernest & Julio Gallo this evening, such helpful brothers at times :) :)

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/03/2014 19:39

Would you consider another cat to re-home?

Original poster

BibiBlocksberg · 13/03/2014 19:47

Fluffycloudland77 - are you offering one? :)

The thought had crossed my mind tbh but am about to move to a new place so need to see how I get on there plus best wait til the worst of the raw grief has died down a bit.

Might decide to travel the world for a bit before re-joining the world of being responsible for a furry 'child' :)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 13/03/2014 19:48

The OP may be Dudley'd or something similar. (When my Darling Oneago died, his vacancy wasn't filled right away - unusual for me. And then Seniorboy suddenly needed a home and is still here 6 years later. Snoring at the moment!)

cozietoesie · 13/03/2014 19:49

PS - I think Fluffy would give you the DH before her cat!

FamiliesShareGerms · 13/03/2014 20:10

Oh I'm sorry for your loss (and for the snippy comments you got before the title was changed)

hanette · 13/03/2014 22:42

Hi bibi - I am so sorry to hear if your loss, am thinking of you. You must be in shock, I hope you are ok x

hanette · 13/03/2014 22:55

Ps along time ago I lost two cats within a year in their early years from cardiomyopathy - they were literally fine one minute, gone hours later. They were from the same litter, I don't know if it's genetic but their sister lived to the grand old age of 17. It's such a huge shock to the system I hope you can get through these days ok - your diversionary activities are a good idea I think. Best of luck.

hanette · 13/03/2014 22:59

Pps! My diversionary activity when I lost my gorgeous old lady cat to cancer, was to take all the old paper photos I had taken in earlier years, scan and digitise them and get then made into a ring bound photo book. Didn't cost much on photo box, kept me busy and now I have a lovely memory book of her.

Original poster

BibiBlocksberg · 13/03/2014 23:42

Oh, I really hope I get 'dudley'd!!! Made me laugh that expression :)

New place where I'm going has an outdoor only cat I found out tonight.

Give me time and a saucer of prawns!

Quite telling really that I thought fluffy was offering me a cat....

Spent time with a kind friend earlier today, cuddling her two doggies was lovely but as soon as her cat walked in I felt so happy and peaceful.

Disloyal human that I am....- one things for sure, I wasn't a mouse in a former life :)

Gawd, it hurts like hell losing tiggy, even been reading about pets and the afterlife - it's all supposed to be happy clappy there for them BUT in my case tigger lived for me and I lived for him so how come he is so happy on the 'other side' on his own?

Wherever I was, tiggy wanted to be, that cat was never happier than when he was sitting next to me, on the sofa of an evening, outside in the sun, going for walks around the neighbourhood, snuggling up by my ankles at night, playing with a piece of string dragged around the floor by me etc etc

Hanette - good idea, I'm planning on doing that when I'm a bit stronger. Listened to a recording of his little funny noises and purring etc tonight and looked at pics and it was just too much.

I want to be able to concentrate on all the wonderful times we had together so hope I'll get to the fond rememberance stage soon.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 13/03/2014 23:54

You're not being disloyal feeling good about seeing another cat - in fact it shows how well you got on with Tiggy that you have a big cat shaped hole at the moment.

I've always been much the same. I mourn my boys very intensely for a few days and then give a little shake and ready myself for the next one to come into my life - by whatever means. But that's just me and it takes everyone differently.

Your new buddy is somewhere around, probably - and you'd better come back and tell us when he arrives!

6cats3gingerkittens · 14/03/2014 06:11

How awful for you, no fear for your cat though. Many loving purrs from my lot to you. Get yourself a new baby when you feel brave enough. My three ginger kittens helped tremendously after the shock of finding my grand old boy, Ceddie, dead one morning. He just wore out.
Take no notice of those who try to diminish the grief you feel, there are shitty people everywhere.

Petrify · 27/08/2017 19:19

So sad to hear this. My 7 year old cat died from amnesia suddenly x

Weedsnseeds1 · 28/08/2017 09:08

Not to me,but a friend's cat dropped dead at 11 in just the same way.
Sorry to hear your news.
You'll know when / if you are ready for another, or one will turn up and slot into your life as if he's always been there.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/08/2017 10:14

Very sorry OP. At least he died at home. With the person her lived. I hope that gives you comfort in the future.

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