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

Original poster

Just lost our beloved boy, unexpectedly.

35 replies

mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:28

Our lovely boy cat has just died on us this evening. He was only 7 and we'd had him for three and a half years as a rescue cat. I'm devastated. He had an appointment at the vet's in the morning. We have him now in his basket in the garage and will have to tell our two little children in the morning. I'm so so sad. I thought we had him for a good few years yet.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 05/12/2016 19:30

I'm so sorry, mousy. Do you know what caused it?

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:33

We're not 100% sure. My husband telephoned an out of hours vet and rushed him over in the car but he had died by the time the vet arrived 10 minutes later. The vet had a look at him in the car park but just confirmed he had passed away. He said it could have been a problem with his lungs. He'd been a bit off colour for a few days and had started to stagger on Sunday. The first appointment we could get was tomorrow lunchtime. He was eating fine and grooming fine, in fact he had two lots of dinner this evening.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 05/12/2016 19:35

Achh.

You might find this useful with regard to telling the DC.

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:37

I'm so glad that he has had a lot of attention from my husband and I the last few days. He has been on our bed and I have been off work with a virus so he has had a lot of extra love and attention and has been purring his head off. It was only when he went out this evening and we then heard him yowling at the back door that we knew there was something very very wrong. I found him by the children's bikes and he seemed to to be having some sort of fit and was all floppy and uncoordinated. I scooped him up and brought him in and my husband called to the vet. It all happened very very quickly. He carried on having a sort of fit on the rug in the bathroom where I laid him and then went very quiet. My husband picked him up and put him in his basket and drove to the vets. But he must have died on the way.

OP posts:
flamingnoravera · 05/12/2016 19:40

So sorry for your loss. Losing a loved pet is devastating. Sending good wishes

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:41

Thank you for the link cozietoesie. I think we will show the children him in the morning so that they can say goodbye. He just looks like he's sleeping at the moment. My husband is going to bury him in the morning in between me taking the children to school and him having to get to work. Its going to sound crazy but he really was like another child to me. He was the friendliest daftest moggy who loved cuddles and loved having his tummy stroked as if he were a dog.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 05/12/2016 19:41

It sounds as if it might have been some sort of brain incident - a serious stroke or something. It was fairly quick though?

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:43

My husband, who always said he wasn't a cat person, loved that cat too. He'd leave his best wool jumper out for the cat to sleep on.

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Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:45

Very quick. I was sat with him in the bathroom stroking him for a maximum of 10 minutes whilst husband phoned vet, then phoned out of hours vet, then got his basket and blanket, put shoes on and found car keys. I'm so glad it was quick and I could be there with him stroking him and hopefully making whatever it was he was going through less alarming.

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Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:46

I haven't cried over an animal since my first cat died when I was 8. This one was a very special boy.

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Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:47

The vet did say to my husband that is was likely something that wouldn't have been treatable at this stage. Maybe he was just saying that as a comfort.

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Wolfiefan · 05/12/2016 19:48

I'm so sorry for your loss. Must have been such a shock. I don't know how old your children are but I might think carefully about them seeing him. Also don't mention "sleep". It can make children think they will wake up or even be afraid to sleep themselves. Flowers

MollyHuaCha · 05/12/2016 19:53

💕So sad for you. I hope you can remember lots of happy times with him.

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:55

They are a bit young Wolfiefan, just 5 and 6. Do you think that is too young for them to see him? I want them to understand that he is gone and thought that by seeing him they would 'get' that. Do you have any experience or advice? He looks fine, just as if he is asleep, but I understand that that is not a word to use to avoid confusion. But if they can see him and touch him maybe they will see that he won't wake up?

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Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 19:58

He was on our bed this morning when the children were in with us opening up there advent calendars. The youngest was cuddling him. They are going to really miss him.

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mousynon · 05/12/2016 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/12/2016 20:07

I'm so sorry, it hits you so hard when you lose them. I'd give the kids the option of seeing him.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/12/2016 20:09

What a handsome chap he was. I'm so sorry x

cozietoesie · 05/12/2016 20:11

A great boy.

You know your own children best on this one. The only suggestion that I would make is to view him yourself before letting them view him. I'm afraid that the deterioration in a body can be quite marked, even in a fairly short time.

Potentialmadcatlady · 05/12/2016 20:12

I'm so so sorry for your loss... When one of my dogs had to be pts last year I took pictures of him after all wrapped in his favourite blanket looking cosy ...I gave the kids the option of seeing his photos when they were ready-one choose to look at photo a few days after and one choose to not look at all..might be an option? Thinking of you

cozietoesie · 05/12/2016 20:14

Photos are actually a good idea, I think.

Wolfiefan · 05/12/2016 20:16

He's lush. I'm so sorry.
I would agree with Cozie. It's horrid to say but Yes I'm afraid he may not look quite the same tomorrow.
Keep it clear and simple. He was very ill. You went to the vet but the vet couldn't make him better so he died.
It's harsh but kids need to understand and when adults try and soften the awful news it can make them scared and confused. Also be prepared for them to worry about relatives etc maybe. For a little bit.

Original poster
mousynon · 05/12/2016 20:18

Thank you for the idea about the photos. Husband is off to take some now. The cat is all wrapped up in a blanket in his basket. The garage is quite cool so we think he will be OK overnight, but will definitely check before showing the children (if that's what we decide). Gosh this is hard. It's like we've lost a close relative. I normally poo poo anyone being soppy about their pets but we are the worst offenders it would seem.

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Meemolly · 05/12/2016 20:22

We lost our beloved 6 year old cat about a month ago, in unexpected circumstances too. We had also only had her about 3 years. She was so special too, she used to do everything with us and we were devastated so I'm so sorry you're going through this too. They truly are amazing animals.

Autumnchill · 05/12/2016 20:22

I'm so sorry for your loss. They leave such a hole Flowers