Monday, January 30, 2012

Please help. A sudden Loss.?

My wife and I have are from Oklahoma and recently had a Seal-point Snowshoe Siamese in full black mask (robber mask) that passed away last Thursday night around 10:45 pm on August 2, 2007. It was a sudden death. He showed no signs of anything. He had just turned 5. It is very devastating and he (Buster Boots Bob Stoops) was like our child. He would walk with us everywhere around the house. He would always lie at our heads at night, talk in his gentle voice to us, sit on our laps and was very affectionate. We ended up letting him outside for the last three years for about 2 to 6 hours every day. He would come in at night. He seemed to stay away from danger and had his favorite place in the shade. He always looked at us sincerely to go outside. I wonder if it now a mistake. We found him at our doorstep in the garage as if he were sleeping like he normally does (so peacefully) as he was waiting to come in. He was still warm and very limp when I found him. There was no puke or blood anywhere to be seen. He had clear liquid that came out of his mouth and bottom after we had picked him up. I guess that is normal but still do not have any idea. We do not know if he got into any flowers, there was a sunflower like plant in the back yard and nothing else any where. We do not know if he was bitten by a spider black widow or brown recluse as we have them. I would assume that there would be some sort of swelling. Perhaps he was bitten by a mosquito or played with a mouse that was infected with d-con or something. Next door the neighbors cleared all of the bushes out and finally mowed. Maybe he was hit by a car, there were no broken bones and he would have had to jump a 6-8 foot wooden fence if that were the case. Could internal bleeding give him that much energy? I do not know, because there was no sign of blood anywhere. It was as if someone placed him in our backdoor inside the garage as he looked so peacefully. I doubt it though because the fence was locked. I regret that we buried him in a box the next day without giving him an autopsy. We buried him on a family farm in a box with his favorite needing blanket. A golf ball that he used to roll around (he also would follow me from hole to hole and rest in between or look around in between shots. When calling upon him, he always would lift his head and gently meow back at us and jump and run to catch up.) He also always greeted and meowed at us as we came home. Please help if you have any idea. It is very hard. He is a great loss and it feels as if a part of our heart is missing. He was too young to die. Of his past, he was caught up on all of his shots. We gave him treats and sometimes a piece of grilled chicken or a little piece of sliced ham lunch meat when making a sandwich for work. He was very picky. He always played with and chewed on sticker type paper and photographs. We would try to keep it out of his sight whenever possible. He had a sensitive stomach. He always regurgitated his food. We thought it was because of hairballs. Most of the time there was no hair there. A week or so ago, we found green vomit on the bed. To our dismay, we did not think much of it as he always puked undigested food out. Was it a mistake to do nothing? I keep asking only ifs and whys. It hurts so much. On his last day, he was rubbing around our feet as if he wanted a treat or to go outside. He used the rest room, ate some and drank a little water. The temperature was about 90 deg. He would go to his favorite resting place in under a bush in the front yard. He seemed perfectly normal.





Questions:


-Could he have been hit by a car? There seemed to be no broken bones nor blood any where around the house on the road in the vicinity or in his mouth, ears, privates or nose. Would internal bleeding show any sign.





-Could he have been poisoned? There was no evidence in puking and his mouth looked clean and clear saliva came out of it and his privates only after we picked him up and inspected him.





-Could he have been bitten by a snake or spider? Wouldn’t there be any swelling?





-He lay peacefully as if he were comfortably sleeping in a normal position; however, his eyes were slightly opened. Is it normal for cats to look like that after they die?

Please help. A sudden Loss.?
I can't really answer any of your questions but, I can offer you some sympathy. Our two cats passed in January. It was a shock to both my boyreind %26amp; I. They were caught up with their shots. Then suddenly our little girl Pepo, got sick. She lost control of her entire back end, legs and all. The last two days of her life she stopped eating %26amp; dragged her little self around the house. We took her the vet %26amp; they said that she had feline aids. So we put her down. It wasn't long till her little fatty brother Tonto died.


When pets pass it's so sudden. Your never prepared to lose someone. I can tell you cared about your pet verry much. Even though his life was short, remind yourself of how he passed. It really sounds like he was ready for that one. I know it's hard. But that is what helped me.





~Dani


Her little
Reply:I am very sorry. It kinda sounds like he had an ongoing problem with food and digestion. He could have had a blocked bowel or an obstruction. With his history i'd say it is very likely it was related to his eating and as he aged it just got worse.





You really shouldn't blame yourself! He sounds like a great cat and he had a GREAT life! Doesn't even sound like he suffered a bit!





I am very sad for your lose and hope you and your family all the best.





JEN
Reply:I am sorry for you lost. I recently lost my best friend too. I feel so guilty for many things. It helps me to hear from others that I did everything and I gave him the best love I could have. Please do not feel guilty. I might help to find out what happened, but do not feel guilty. The way you describe, seems as you loved him every much and even thought you have no real answer ... your family member that the best owners he could have
Reply:Trauma (such as a blow or a fall or a collision with a car) may result in internal bleeding that is not obvious. My 9 year old dog died when I was at work. I came home and found the dog dead at 11 pm when she was fine at 5. A necropsy revealed a small cancerous tumor of her spleen had ruptured, causing her to bleed to death internally. Her abdomen was filled with blood, yet none had left her body through nose, ears, or anus.





Poisons almost always cause some form of vomitus or hemorraghing. D-con or other rodent poisons cause the animal to bleed to death- but it ruptures blood vessels in the nose and trachea and colon so the animal is bleeding visibly.





A snake or spider bite or bee or wasp sting could kill without swelling if anaphylactic shock occurred. Sometimes people who are allergic to peanut butter or shellfish die before the swelling becomes too pronounced.





Lying in a normal position is not an indicator of a violent death. Eyes can be fixed in any position at the time of death. Based upon everything you've told me, I am inclined to believe that the cat died of something at least mostly painless. It is possible he experienced heart failure or a stroke or a brain accident like an embolism. He may have had a birth defect that you were unaware of.





Now, stop tormenting yourself. Without a necrospy you will not know. But, as it sounds like you are wonderful owners, you shouldn't go crazy with the 'what ifs'. It was your beloved cat's time and he was taken. It happens- my dog was only 9, remember? If you think his death may have been caused by anything you mentioned, then remove those factors from the environment of the next animal you bring home.





Grieve as long as you have to, laugh, rant, rage, then accept, remember fondly, and go adopt another friend to bring into your home and fill it with love.
Reply:The cat did have 5 GOOD YEARS.





He also got to enjoy the great outdoors and was not trapped inside, unable to roam.





I hope that we will get to see our pets again.





Thanks for the good cry.





JESUS Bless you,





dave








...^.........^


.....@ @


%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;..v..%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;


........V
Reply:Please don't torture yourself with ifs and whys, I am sure that your cat don't want you to do that. He is in a better place now.


An outside cat get into all kinds of trouble, eating anti freeze, poisonous plant etc. When you decide to get a new cat, please don't let it outside. I have 4 cats and they very happy to be inside cats. Inside cats also live longer.
Reply:I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I ponder if it's too late to do an autospy as another posted., Other posts had insight too.





I did find this:


WHEN A CAT DIES UNEXPECTEDLY





Many cats die peacefully of natural causes or by euthanasia. Although this is expected or even planned, it can still be a shock when it actually happens. When a cat dies suddenly or unexpectedly or in an accident this is more traumatic for the owner and feelings of grief are compounded by feelings of anger and often guilt.





Following an accident of any kind it is all too easy to say 'if only I had done this instead of that', but you had no way of knowing that your cat would meet with misfortune. Try to think of the good times you enjoyed together and, although it is hard, try not to feel guilty about an event you could not have foreseen. Owners are not expected to be psychic and however hard you try to ensure your cat is safe, accidents do indeed happen. Cats are true free spirits, are notoriously curious and do not take kindly to being 'wrapped in cotton wool'.





Equally shocking to the owner is the sudden death of a cat. Most often this is due to a sudden stroke or heart failure or to an illness or condition where there were no symptoms for you or your vet to detect. Sometimes, unknown to the owner, a cat has been in an accident which left no outward marks, but which caused internal damage. A post mortem, should you request it, may identify the cause of death, but cats very occasionally die for no known reason (in humans this is called Sudden Death Syndrome). It is more upsetting if he was young and apparently healthy, but it is very possible that he had a birth defect, such as an abnormal heart, which led to his sudden and unexpected death. It is unfair to yourself to feel guilty at not noticing signs of illness if there were no signs to for you to detect, but you may wish to discuss the death with veterinary staff. They may not be able to tell you the cause of death, but they can often reassure you that you could not have anticipated or prevented such a sudden death.





Just as with euthanasia, you need to decide how to deal with his body if he has died in a road traffic accident. If the body of a cat is not collected from a roadside after several hours, the local Council's Cleansing Department usually collect it for incineration. If you find the sight of a body too distressing, a friend or neighbour may be able to help you or you could place a towel over it before moving it. If you cannot bury your cat, many vets will allow you to leave his body at the vet surgery where the body can be dealt with by the vet or be collected by a pet cemetery or pet crematorium if you make appropriate arrangements. The following will help you decide on a suitable course of action.





found here:





http://messybeast.com/euth.htm





and this one too from there/





COPING WITH PET BEREAVEMENT





All cats die, whether from old age, accident, illness or euthanasia. Cats have a shorter lifespan than humans (the record age for a cat is 36 years) although most owners would like to think their cat is immortal, especially if he is hale and hearty in his late teens or beyond.





The death of a well-loved pet is on a par with the death of a human family member, despite what thoughtless people may say. Grief or anger are natural reactions to the death of an animal companion. Most people need time to come to terms with the loss of a close animal friend. Many seek consolation in remembering the joy that their cat brought them. Others find it harder to come to terms with pet bereavement especially if the cat had been rescued, nursed through illness or was their main companion.





No-one who has had to make the decision to euthanase a pet will deny that there are feelings of loss and perhaps guilt. However owners must take some comfort in having been able to be merciful to their loved pets. In a sense the owner has taken on the pain of a loving act of mercy in exchange for the suffering their cat has been spared from.





It sometimes helps to share your feelings, but people who have never lost a pet themselves may seem unsympathetic. Many GPs and religious ministers are now sympathetic to those who have lost an animal family member and can offer bereavement counselling. Suppressing feelings of grief is unhealthy and the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) runs a Pet Befriender Referral Helpline which can put you in touch with a Pet Befriender in your own area. Pet Befrienders understand just what you are going through, having experienced it themselves, and know that it helps to talk about your feelings after the death of a pet.





People with access to the Internet will be able to find Internet newsgroups where you can share your feelings with other bereaved pet owners e.g. rec.pets.cats, alt.animals.felines or one of the many bulletin boards or on-line forums which will be found using a search engine. There are also 'virtual cemeteries' where you can post up a message of remembrance for your pet. You may wish to place an obituary in a cat or pet magazine or even in a newspaper.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...


BEAMED FROM THE BRIGHT CATTERY IN THE SKY


(Michael Hatwell, The Cat Magazine)





"praedilecta Sappho ibi nuper ascensa sic loquitu"


In case you have been wondering


Just how I am getting along


In my new surroundings


Or worry whether I have learned to cope


With the easy rhythm and pace


For which this place is renowned


Then listen: I have been chasing little mice again


Sweeter, lighter, infinitely more fragrant


Than any I ever brought into the bedroom


For your pleasure


In the old days.


That having been said,


I wouldn't for all the world wish you to infer


That they stint the grub up here:


Admittedly


The celestial fish are not especially exciting


(Their natural zodiac ripeness has had to be homogenised


for the general run of feline palates)


But on the plus side


The nice cat-lady who comes round,


All gowned in blue (my favourite colour)


And with glory crowned,


Pours out a warm and creamy whiteness


That is literally


Quite heavenly.


Someone usually remembers


To cut my claws


And tickle my ear


So that side of things is catered for,


One might say,


Adequately enough.





I think of you sometimes


Certain that you will come one day


To take me on your knee


And talk to me the way you used to.


When that day comes


I shall let you know


Loudly and unambiguously


That things round here have finally begun to go


Really very well indeed:


I shall add to ordinary space and time


My own particular dimension


Of thick, soft-throated sound.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...


RAINBOW BRIDGE (Anon)





"Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hill for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.





All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.





You have been spotted, and when your and your special friend finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.





Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together........"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...





I am sorry for your loss =^^=


a beloved pet owner of Sandy


=^^=
Reply:I am so so very sorry to hear of your loss. it sounds like you loved him so much. My thoughts and Prayers go out to you during this difficult time. It is hard to loose a beloved family pet, but to loose them suddenly and at a young age is even harder.





Without doing an autopsy you will never know what happened unless a neighbor saw something and they relay the info to you. I know how hard this next comment I am, going to make is. Don't beat yourself up over this, and asking yourself what if? Unfortunately it will not change what has happened, I wish for your sake it could. I have been down the same road you are going down right now, and believe me it is not easy. But some how you make it to another day, week, month and yes even year. It will get easier...... You will never forget and they remain in your heart forever. Hang on to the memories and the wonderful times you had together.





I will say one more thing which might help you. I had a dog 15 months old that got sick and died fairly suddenly. We did have the oportunity to run tests and see him hooked up to all kinds of equipment, while we watched him deteriorate. We did find out what he had. At the end we had to make that gut wrenching decision to say goodbye, but he was hooked up to a ventilator and I am not sure he even knew we were there. We did an autopsy.... even though we knew what was wrong with him we never knew what made him sick to begin with. So even after everything I still asked What If????? and Why???? So my point is that even if you had an autopsy done you might have not got the answers you wanted or needed. Sorry





Indoor cats for the most part have a longer life expectency, but that is not to say that outdoor cats can't live a long life too. Lots of people have outdoor cats, it is a personal decison. I have had 2 cats over the years and both were indoor cats, but one did like to go outside onto our deck and sneek out when ever the opportunity arised.
Reply:I am very sorry for your loss, but no-one answering here knows for sure what happened to your cat. It could have been an accident or natural causes. A vet is the only person who can determine this.





Please don't beat yourself up for allowing him outside. Pet owners who "don't care" will never experience the pangs of guilt. Only caring, responsible pet owners go through this agony.





Cats have no concept of lifespan, they live for the here and now, so it is quality of life that matters to them and not quantity. You sound such devoted owners, that I'm sure that every day of his life was filled with as much love and happiness as any cat could wish for.





Perhaps you might want to make a little grave for him with a marker, or plant a tree or flower in his memory. Or dedicate a memorial to him at the Rainbows Bridge web site.





He may be gone from your life, but he will always be in your heart.
Reply:im deeply sorry for your loss maybe he was ill all along im so sorry again
Reply:I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my 15 year-old cat Jasper (the joy and love of my life) a year ago in July. Words are hard to form when a cat has meant so much to you for so many years. I know the pain you are feeling.





As to the reasons for Buster's death, it would be hard to determine the cause without an necropsy (animal autopsy). Any of your speculations are valid and plausible. The release of fluid and the position of peaceful repose, eyes open, are perfectly normal when death occurs. Jasper exhibited those traits as well.





Of great help to me was a pet loss support group run by my local Humane Society in Rochester, NY. I found a pet loss counselor listed in Oklahoma City on-line: Virginia Miller, MHR, Bereavement Counseling, 5217 SE 82nd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73135, (405) 672-2625. Additional information on pet loss can be found at paws2heaven.com, which is an excellent site.





I don't know if this information is really helpful for the specific questions regarding the cause of your cat's death. That may never be known. My cat died a heart attack, which can be happen at any age (a friend lost his cat at age 2 to a heart attack). That might have happened to your cat, too. Heart disease in cats isn't a common cause of death, but it isn't uncommon either.





In time I hope you will heal enough to bring a new cat into your home. I have a new cat named Tucker and I obtained him through a rescue program. His personality and manner are very different from Jasper's, but he brought me healing and joy and I am grateful he is part of my life.





Bless you!
Reply:It sounds like antifreeze poisoning. I Am soo sorry. The only true wat to know is to take him to the vet for an autopsy.
Reply:Could have been both hit by a car or poisoned, accidentally or on purpose, the possibilities are endless. Outdoor cats have a lower life expectancy than cats who are safe indoors. Be happy he made it home to die at the doorstep and your not wondering where he is. Yes, it is normal. Sad but normal.
Reply:A sudden loss is due to back of vitamin. For more details visit http://hair.health2all.info
Reply:I'm so very sorry for your loss. You were obviously very, very attached to this little guy. Please don't beat yourself up about the why. It happened. You gave him a great cat life, even if it was short. Cats love being outside, so don't feel guilty about what happened. Again, I'm really sorry.
Reply:I am so so sorry for your loss. I can't possibly imagine how you are feeling right now.





I lost my kitten Tigger who was only 8 months old when a vet punched a nerve in his back when doing a rabies shot. He acted very weird and wouldn't eat. Then one morning he was walking funny and eventually lost control of his lower back and bladder. We finally gave him to the SPCA to give to a shelter for disabled animals. I don't even know if he's gone or just suffering. I just consider him gone because I have no idea what fate awaited him.





My assumption is that your cat had always had chronic indejestion. Usually when a cat has a hairball, you see orangish vomit with little furballs in them. Green vomit is a sign of stomach acid.





The liquid coming ouit of his mouth could be saliva.


Cats like humans sometimes die with their eyes open, so I'm guessing it's normal.





I doubt he was hit by a car. He wouldn't be able to jump the fence and internal bleeding or injuries would have enabled him to do nothing.





Also, did he have any recent shots that have affected him strangely?





I understand your feeling to know what really happened. It's too bad you couldn't have the autopsy done.





It really could have been anything, but think of it this way. He had a wonderful life, even though short, and is probably frolicking around with his golf ball in heaven. It's OK to grieve, but don't feel guilty. I did when our vet said that Tigger didn't really need a Rabies shot if he was an indoor cat, but I learned to accept the truth, but I still mourned.





Once again, I'm so sorry about your loss.





Good luck. I hope you will pass through these hard time.
Reply:I am so sorry to hear of your beautiful cat passing so suddenly. My heart goes out to you and your wife at this time. It's could be a lot of things that took him. Poisoning, hit by a car, bug or snake bites. An autopsy would have told you what he did die of.





He had a wonderful home, and I know you both loved him very much. I'm sorry I couldn't tell for sure what made your cat die so suddenly.
Reply:HI


I am so very sorry for your loss. FWIW without an autopsy there is no way for people or anyone to be able to tell you why this happened. There is nothing to blame yourself for. I let my cats in and out like you but bring them in at night before bed. I have had a cat that lived past 20 going out.


You can't tell if her had been bitten because you wouldn't see swelling hours after it happened Could it have been food poisening, kidney disease? Possible. Internal bleeding? who knows. Also, cats vomit. You did nothing wrong
Reply:Travis


I.ve scanned many questions on this site and I have to say your question has brought tears to my eyes and saddened my heart. I don't have any of the answers to the questions you've asked, but I do know how you are feeling...for whatever reason a pet is lost, it is a very traumatic experience if you really love them.


I have had the love and the loss of several pets in my lif ( dogs and cats) and every single one was unique in their own way...they have different personalities just like us humans.


One of my cats was killed by a car several years ago because he slipped out the door after we moved . I went through a major guilt trip thinking I was to blame because I did't watch him close enough. I mention this to you because I pray you will let go of the guilt of the many "only if's" you are feeling.


If you're questions remain unresolved, please remember the most important thing. From what you wrote, I'm positive that you're cat knew he was very much loved. You gave him a wonderful home and he loved you in return.


Believe me, I know from experience that it will take time to heal your heart...and even then you may have times when you still feel overwhelmed, but it will get better.


Some people rush right out and get another pet right away to fill the void. I could never do that...I had to go through a mourning period. But please don't be someone who can't ever have another pet because the loss is too great. There are MANY cats out there who need the love you have to give.


If what I've said hasn't helped you, I apologize. I wish I could tell you a few of my personal stories; not only of my personal pets I've lost, but of the ones that are strays at a factory where I used to clean.


I want to thank you for your question, because as much as you are hurting and looking for answers, you've answered a very big question for alot of people on this site....there REALLY are people out there that care.


For that, Travis, I thank you and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.


No comments:

Post a Comment