Totally unexpected. He seemed fine this morning; very purry, eating his fish, demanding cheek scratches. Then I was out this afternoon and my daughter came to find me. He'd suddenly lost the use of his back legs and was struggling to breathe and yowling in pain. We rushed him to the emergency vet and they told us it was saddle thrombosis and there was less than 5% chance he'd survive. I had to make the choice between him having lots of tests and treatments and being super stressed, or having him put to sleep. He hates the vets, and is nervous of strangers and I didn't want him to have to go through more of it and more pain so they put him to sleep there and then.
I don't know how I'm going to manage without him. I know that sounds dramatic but we've had an awful few years and he's been such a comfort. My eldest has quite severe mental health problems and he always managed to sooth them. My dad died, my youngest has been ill with anorexia, and I've had cancer, but he was always there, loving and beautiful and constant. How am I going to cope?