My cat died today

[liviadrusilla]

I'm so sad. We've only had her a month. I posted a while ago about the difference between domestic shorthairs and bengals and got great advice. We adopted her and her sister and they are both the sweetest, most loving cats - we completely bonded.

She was a bit underweight when we adopted her but no indication of illness. She got diarrhoea so we took her to the vets and she was admitted for a night, perked up and spent a week back here, then spent three nights this week at the vets and then was at a referral centre. There was the possibility of putting a feeding tube in but they wanted to get food into her orally. Then today she died suddenly and we still don't know why. We have been waiting for test results for two weeks - I think they're coming tomorrow and I'm dreading finding out that she had something curable but it took too long to find out. We're worried about how her sister will be on her own. I'm not sure why I'm posting really, just very sad. Even when she was weak this week she really perked up when I visited, sat on my lap purring and tried to get on my shoulders. I lost a cat I'd had since I was 13 a few years ago and I feel as upset about losing this one as I do the first.

Thank you rooster - that's really good to hear that your cat has recovered and made a new friend :) My formerly crazy bengal is definitely sitting quietly with me more all this week (but has always been affectionate, just not as much as her sister). I had two domestic shorthairs (one of whom still lives at my dad's) and when one died we didn't get another and the one left seeks us out to sit with much more now.

She'll be ok on her own. Cats are solitary creatures, especially as they get older. They don't need a pack and are quite content with their humans.

So sorry for your loss.

I am going through an anxious time with a post op cat at the moment, and I dread that anything would happen to her.

So sorry livia. They become part of the family so quickly don't they. Her last few weeks would have been happy ones & you did your very best for her

We got some test results - she had tritrichomonas and coronavirus. I'd never heard of them, but apparently 50% of cats have coronavirus, which is normally not a problem but can mutate. It seems it did mutate and she had FIP - the vet at the referral says this is untreatable and almost always fatal, and that if she was still alive he'd be advising us to put her to sleep. It's still very painful and hard, but at least it takes away some of the 'what ifs' I've been thinking about. Our vet very cautiously said they were surprised/unimpressed the place we adopted from hadn't investigated the possibility of tritrichomonas, which is upsetting, but I think in my cat's case it wouldn't have made a difference - we need to get her sister checked though. I thought I'd update you because you've all been so kind - it's really comforted me, and it's helped to know other people have dealt with this and their remaining cats have been fine and they're ok now.

I have never heard of either of those conditions.

Poor wee mite.

Oh that's awful, poor puss. I don't know if it helps to hear from someone who has been through this, but my cat also had coronavirus and developed FIP as a young cat. My vets at the time were amazing, and very in touch with new research etc and advised that there was a treatment they could try to help my boy.

I regret giving it to him to be honest. The cost was very high and essentially meant that he had to have his abdomen drained, be injected with steroids and painkillers and a special new medication designed to help slow the damage to his liver. He was very poorly and declined very quickly quickly (from diagnosis to passing away in two weeks). He had to be put to sleep after having a fit and collapsing, which I will forever feel guilty for.

We were devastated obviously, and had to get our other cat tested. She tested positive for coronavirus, but showed no signs of developing FIP and has actually now shed the virus (it can pass through their systems through their poo and if you are very thorough about changing and disinfecting litter trays and bowls etc it can prevent re-infection).

I just wanted to re-assure you that there really is nothing to be done with this virus, and there is no treatment that works - we were quoted 30% chance of success as a young healthy cat, but really this was very optimistic. Your cat had the most lovely, comfortable and loving final few weeks, and that would have made all the difference to them. Try not to worry about your other cat in regards to FIP at least, if they didn't develop it so far, they are unlikely to at all and can shed the virus altogether.

Un MNetty hugs to you, I really feel for you