Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

Original poster

No contact from vet after cat died

40 replies

jellybeanlover2 · 28/09/2023 21:34

My cat died recently, she was 3 year old and had a major operation, she was checked over at the vets 10 days later by a vet nurse and she said that she seemed okay. Then she died two days later, I assume from sepsis or something similar. I emailed the vets to tell them and they sent back a standard email to say how sorry they were for my loss. This was bank holiday weekend. I did think that the vet who did the operation might ring and ask a few questions or try to offer some explanation, however there has been no other contact. Do you think that they should have contacted me or am I being a bit too fussy?

OP posts:
Phos · 28/09/2023 21:37

No, this isn't something I would expect them to do.

Sorry for your loss but for them, this is just one animal out of hundreds they see.

spanishviola · 28/09/2023 21:41

Yes I do. A cat they operated on died and they should want to find out why. Plus it is common decency. I’d ring and ask to speak to the vet who did the op.

autumniscomingsoon · 28/09/2023 21:43

I'm very sorry for your loss I don't think you're being fussy in that you would like an explanation but I think it would be best to contact them and ask them why it could have happened especially as it was unexpected.

Original poster
jellybeanlover2 · 28/09/2023 21:52

Thank you all for the responses, I don’t want to make a fuss, and also I’m still upset about losing her.

OP posts:
MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 28/09/2023 22:03

Sorry for your loss. I'm wondering whether the Practice has not put two-and-two together? Maybe a member of admin staff replied with condolences, without considering that the vet should be told, because it was so soon after the op?

I would contact the Practice and ask to speak to the vet, but I would not assume that the vet already knows and hasn't bothered to contact you.

VeryQuaintIrene · 28/09/2023 22:06

Our vet always does send messages of condolence even when a cat's death is due to old age and expected, so I don't think it's unreasonable. Sorry for your loss.

Nowanextraone · 28/09/2023 22:10

Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. Its utterly heartbreaking. We lost our cat when he was 20 years old.

Our cat had a stroke and collapsed at home. He only needed a little help from the vet to send him to rainbow bridge. Anyway, the vet kept his little body for a while whilst I went home in shock and when I collected him, they'd done his paw prints in a card, put a little clipping of his fur in a little glass jar and wrote a little card to us. I thought it was SO lovely but by the sounds of it, it's not usual.

When our dog died a few years back we were at a different practice and they didn't give us a card or a call either

BluebellsForest · 28/09/2023 22:36

They should definitely want to discuss what might have gone wrong and answer any questions you have.

Flowers
Original poster
jellybeanlover2 · 28/09/2023 22:40

Thanks again for your responses, I have two dogs and another cat registered with the same vets, and I think very highly of the entire practice. I have to pop in tomorrow and I think I will try to chat to one of the nurses discreetly.

OP posts:
ItJustFellOutLikeWordVomit · 28/09/2023 22:43

Well to start I’m so sorry for your loss at 3 years it must be tough.

I’m a dog person and have never owned a cat….,but if I had taken any of my dogs to the vet for surgery and they passed post surgery I would expect the vet to give me a call and go over the reasons that might have caused them not to pull through.

Big loves 🤍

StarDolphins · 28/09/2023 22:43

In these circumstances, I would definitely expect the vet to call. Your cat had an op & something has gone wrong & you don’t know what happened. I would ring & ask the vet to call you.

Honeyroar · 28/09/2023 22:48

Im sorry you lost your cat. That must have been a horrible shock. She was too young. I’d have been tempted to ask for a post mortum. I think my vets would have offered to do one. Yes I’d speak to the practice, say you’re struggling to get your head around what happened and could someone speak to you.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/09/2023 22:53

I got paw prints and a lovely card when my two died. The cardiologist wrote a lovely personal card.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/09/2023 22:54

But I would expect a call from
The vet in your circumstances.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 28/09/2023 22:58

I assume from sepsis or something

You haven't given any context to explain your assumption here. Did the cat have any symptoms? Did you raise these symptoms with the vet?

Bringbackthetoddlers · 28/09/2023 23:14

BluebellsForest · 28/09/2023 22:36

They should definitely want to discuss what might have gone wrong and answer any questions you have.

Flowers

I agree with this and the pp who suggested maybe the person you spoke to wasn't aware your cat had just had surgery. I think if you have questions they should be willing to give you some time to ask them.
Sorry for your loss.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 28/09/2023 23:20

Nowanextraone · 28/09/2023 22:10

Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. Its utterly heartbreaking. We lost our cat when he was 20 years old.

Our cat had a stroke and collapsed at home. He only needed a little help from the vet to send him to rainbow bridge. Anyway, the vet kept his little body for a while whilst I went home in shock and when I collected him, they'd done his paw prints in a card, put a little clipping of his fur in a little glass jar and wrote a little card to us. I thought it was SO lovely but by the sounds of it, it's not usual.

When our dog died a few years back we were at a different practice and they didn't give us a card or a call either

When I had Felix pts I asked the receptionist if they did paw prints, so I could order something of Amazon and take my own if they didn't. They did and a few days after I'd said goodbye to him I received a lovely card with his nose print and paw print taped inside with the words 'From your nose to your toes, you were loved' they also sent me a spare copy of each print which sits in front of his ashes. The Vet also asked me if I wanted a clipping of his fur to put inside a tiny glass bottle. She also asked if I wanted to cut his fur myself which I did so I could make sure I got both the black part and white part of his fur. Poor Cat was left sporting a bald patch though, although he was often sporting bald patches cos he was forever rubbing into something sticky that needed cutting out. The other thing I always did when I found one was save his whiskers which are now in a jewellery box along side him. I found a random whisker on my bedroom carpet the other day and it was June I lost him. The carpet has been hoovered many times since then.

gotomomo · 28/09/2023 23:21

We got a card from the vet when our can died. I thought it was sweet of them.

kittenseverywhere · 29/09/2023 01:13

I expect they are happy with the information they already have and don't need more. I wouldn't expect more than a message of condolence, if that.

maceycakes · 29/09/2023 01:25

I'm so sorry for your loss, x

TroysMammy · 29/09/2023 06:23

I had a condolences card signed by all staff when I had my rat put to sleep. I've also had cards for cat who was put to sleep, one who died in a rta and one who died suddenly with serious heart problems.

Sorry for your loss.

VisaWoes · 29/09/2023 06:32

I don’t think vets are generally very good at this sort of thing.

years ago I had a dog die at the vets following a routine dental. They found her dead in the cage in recovery room. I still don’t know what happened as I was too shocked on the day. The only contact I had with them afterwards was to remind me I owed them £400 for the dental.

romdowa · 29/09/2023 06:37

If my pet died 10 days after surgery then yes my vet would ring me and would probably want to know about what happened in the lead up to their death. But I'd have rang them , not emailed. Ring them tomorrow and ask to speak with the vet

margotrose · 29/09/2023 07:46

I wonder if the receptionist didn't make the link between your cats' death and the surgery and just sent a generic apology email.

I would ring and speak to the vet if I were you.

Tambatamba · 29/09/2023 07:47

Phos · 28/09/2023 21:37

No, this isn't something I would expect them to do.

Sorry for your loss but for them, this is just one animal out of hundreds they see.

Wtf?