Cat passed away at vet

Rest in peace, our beautiful angel, Athena. I'm so sorry this happened to you today. You have truly gone too soon, and I can say that for everyone who had the pleasure of living with you and loving you the way I did.

We don't know what it was, but we took her to the vet and she began to pant and then suddenly went limp. They tried giving her oxygen and starting her heart back up, but it wasn't working. They said without an autopsy, they wouldn't know exactly what happened. Their guess is she had a heart condition that we did not know about. In my opinion, I think she got overwhelmed and perhaps had a heart attack. Either way, the pain in my heart and the dark shadow of regret that is looming over me will remain the same.

If I would have known you would have been so petrified of the vet today, I would have never let you go. The immense amount of guilt I hold in my heart is unbearable. It's been a couple hours now and I still cannot believe the phone call I received at work, and really cannot believe I just had to bury you, momma's sweet, sweet girl. I hope you enjoy your favourite toys we buried with you on the other side. Make sure to come visit us, especially Merky. I don't know what he's going to do without your fluff to snuggle into.

I will be posting more photos of her later today.
You will be greatly missed, Tina. I will be crying about this for weeks, I can feel it. I hope you are somewhere safe now with all the other kitties that have passed away. You will always hold a very special place in my heart. Forever and always.
Athena Juliette Mae
May 8, 2011 - November 18, 2016


Has this happened to anyone else before? Any insight? My heart aches and I can't stop crying. This was so sudden.

I am so, so sorry to read about Athena.      Losing a cat suddenly like that is one of the most difficult losses and my heart goes out to you in your grief.  

The vet is probably right about it being an underlying cardiac issue.   Cardiac issues are responsible for the deaths of seemingly healthy cats at home, too.  It's true you'll never know without an autopsy, but this kind of thing does happen.  Try not to blame yourself - it isn't your fault at all.  That's easier said than done, I know but it's quite possible that had this not happened at the vet, it would have happened at home.   Please be gentle with yourself over this.  You were doing the right thing taking your girl to the vet and there is no way you could have foreseen this happening.  

You gave Athena a good home with a buddy.  She knew she was loved and was happy.  That is a great gift you gave her.   

RIP Tina      

I cry for what you are going through, something like this is truly tragic. You had no way of knowing something like this would happen, it was something that was not in your control, so please don't blame yourself for something you had no idea would happen. I know for certain sweet Athena would never want you to be so sad because of what happened, she loves you too much to ever want anything but the best for you. As you would want for her if you were the first to go.  You will always have the bond of love you two have forged, let it and your precious memories of happier times comfort you in this time of sadness. Your heart is broken, and it will take a long time to heal, the scar left behind will remind you of your sweet little girl and she will never be forgotten. You gave her what she wanted the most in this world, a wonderful home and your love, take comfort in knowing she is at peace now, secure in knowing she was so loved and meant so much to you. There is no way to change the past, but use the present to give your heart time to heal.

She is on a new life's journey, but she shared yours for a little while, and it was good and meant to be, try to celebrate having her in your life and know her new path will always parallel yours before you meet once more at the end. Please accept my sincere condolences, I know the pain of losing a beautiful princess, I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Take care......RIP beautiful Athena, you were a true angel on this earth, now you have earned your wings to soar the heavens. Please send what comfort you can to the one who will forever hold you in a loving heart! 

Coniferously said:

Has this happened to anyone else before? Any insight? My heart aches and I can't stop crying. This was so sudden.

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So sorry for your loss of Athena. This happened to me in July. I am still devastated so I know exactly how you feel.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/324317/harrys-last-day

My heartfelt sympathies go out to you and I am sincerely sorry.  Any loss is difficult but when it happens so suddenly and you are totally unprepared it can be very devastating.  Please accept my deepest regrets and condolences.  RIP sweet Athena.  

Margd said:

I am so, so sorry to read about Athena.      Losing a cat suddenly like that is one of the most difficult losses and my heart goes out to you in your grief.  

The vet is probably right about it being an underlying cardiac issue.   Cardiac issues are responsible for the deaths of seemingly healthy cats at home, too.  It's true you'll never know without an autopsy, but this kind of thing does happen.  Try not to blame yourself - it isn't your fault at all.  That's easier said than done, I know but it's quite possible that had this not happened at the vet, it would have happened at home.   Please be gentle with yourself over this.  You were doing the right thing taking your girl to the vet and there is no way you could have foreseen this happening.  

You gave Athena a good home with a buddy.  She knew she was loved and was happy.  That is a great gift you gave her.   

RIP Tina    :heart3:  

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Thank you so much for your reassuring words. I have been crying nonstop since I have heard the news of her passing. I'm just full of guilt because her temperature was normal at the vet and last night she was being so sweet and so loving. We have, or had, 15 cats and they all have been going through some respiratory issues. Some more than others. Arthemis, my all white cat with blue eyes, has been gagging and her meow has been a little hoarse. I checked her temperature last night and she pull away before it could finish, but it was already in the high 102s. We planned on taking her to the vet today alone, but then my boyfriend mentioned that he saw Athena doing the same gagging thing, so we decided to take her too. I wanted to check her temperature, but I knew how she was with getting upset about things, so I didn't wanna stress her out. Arthemis still had a fever so she was given antibiotics, but poor Athena did not. I was not at the vet, my boyfriend took them alone, but I was told she was panting on the way to the vet a little, but then calmed down when they got there. Then she started panting in the actual room, but not too much. Nothing crazy. They weighed her - 14 pounds - and then took her temperature. I guess she was okay at that point too, but then the doctor went to listen to her heart and that's when she started panicking. Apparently she started panting a lot and started to roll over onto her side. That's when she went limp and he called for oxygen. They then decided to just bring her to the back room, which was the surgery section, to try and start her heart back up, but to no avail. I can't help but feel almost angry that they couldn't save her. I know that it isn't their fault, but I just wish they could have helped her. My mom mentioned something about rectal temperature being taken can sometimes cause a weird thing to happen with a nerve in there that negatively affects cats with heart issues and can cause them to have a heart attack. I'm not sure if this is true, but if it is, maybe there is a reason I did not take her temperature last night. I can't help but hate myself for not though, as we wouldn't have taken her to the vet today. It is also weird that my mom and I both did not even THINK that we shouldn't get her to the vet because of her anxiety about it. A few years ago when she got spayed, she literally defecated and urinated in the carrier and was salivating so much and panting heavily, but somehow it never crossed our minds that we shouldn't bring Tina to the vet. I almost want to say it happened for a reason, maybe this was the best case scenario for her to pass at the vet, and not alone at home or right in front of helpless us, with no way of trying to resessitate her. We shaved Athena recently, a couple months ago, and she did the same panting thing and defecated on the floor and urinated in the bathtub whilst sitting in a sort of hunched, but normal position, not the normal squatting position. She also rolled onto her side/back when we were shaving her, so perhaps it could have happened next time we needed to groom her up. You just never know. I am just so heartbroken and I apologise for this scramble of jumbled up words that probably don't make sense. I'm just in such a bad place right now, total disbelief and shock.

Di and Bob said:

I cry for what you are going through, something like this is truly tragic. You had no way of knowing something like this would happen, it was something that was not in your control, so please don't blame yourself for something you had no idea would happen. I know for certain sweet Athena would never want you to be so sad because of what happened, she loves you too much to ever want anything but the best for you. As you would want for her if you were the first to go.  You will always have the bond of love you two have forged, let it and your precious memories of happier times comfort you in this time of sadness. Your heart is broken, and it will take a long time to heal, the scar left behind will remind you of your sweet little girl and she will never be forgotten. You gave her what she wanted the most in this world, a wonderful home and your love, take comfort in knowing she is at peace now, secure in knowing she was so loved and meant so much to you. There is no way to change the past, but use the present to give your heart time to heal.
She is on a new life's journey, but she shared yours for a little while, and it was good and meant to be, try to celebrate having her in your life and know her new path will always parallel yours before you meet once more at the end. Please accept my sincere condolences, I know the pain of losing a beautiful princess, I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Take care......RIP beautiful Athena, you were a true angel on this earth, now you have earned your wings to soar the heavens. Please send what comfort you can to the one who will forever hold you in a loving heart! 

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Thank you much for your kind words. I truly hope she is in a better place and hope for her to visit us in our dreams. I hope her presence can still be felt around the house for the cats that were so very close to her. I know she will be very missed by her human family, but also her cat family as well. RIP sweet, beautiful Athena Juliette Mae. You will forever be in my heart.

Primula said:

So sorry for your loss of Athena. This happened to me in July. I am still devastated so I know exactly how you feel.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/324317/harrys-last-day

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Thank you so very much for sharing your story with me. I read it with tears streaming down my face and even more when I saw sweet Harry's photo and how young he was. I'm happy that I am not the only one who has gone through this, it truly is something we can't control. I am sorry for your loss as well, I haven't been through this for ten years now so it has reopened a very deep scar that was put there when I suddenly lost my childhood best friend, Mittens. I never had to bury a pet before though, Mittens was put into a communal grave due to the fact I was 12 years old and my mom didn't think it would be good for me to take him home from the vet and bury him. I have much regret about that as well, but that is a totally different story. It's hard in a unique way each time you lose a precious furry family member, and it never gets any easier.
Rest in peace my lovely baby Athena, and sweet little Harry, I hope you both are in a better place.

Neely said:

My heartfelt sympathies go out to you and I am sincerely sorry.  Any loss is difficult but when it happens so suddenly and you are totally unprepared it can be very devastating.  Please accept my deepest regrets and condolences.  RIP sweet Athena.  

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Thank you very much, it is appreciated. I will be hurting about this for months to come, I can assure you. Time might heal wounds, but no one ever said they healed quickly. RIP Athena [emoji]10084[/emoji]

I am so, so sorry .

Coniferously said:

Rest in peace my lovely baby Athena, and sweet little Harry, I hope you both are in a better place.

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Interesting how you were told that Athena went limp, rolled on her side & received oxygen. This exact thing happened to Harry about a month before. He had been neutered successfully & we went to the vet for a minor issue & to get his blood work done. Nobody could believe how he "fainted" at the vet. We don't know what brought it on. We brought him back a month later & he was fine & bloodwork was fine.

Harry & Athina most likely had an unknown heart condition. I'm sure they have found each other now & are playing together & having fun.

Primula said:

Interesting how you were told that Athena went limp, rolled on her side & received oxygen. This exact thing happened to Harry about a month before. He had been neutered successfully & we went to the vet for a minor issue & to get his blood work done. Nobody could believe how he "fainted" at the vet. We don't know what brought it on. We brought him back a month later & he was fine & bloodwork was fine.

Harry & Athina most likely had an unknown heart condition. I'm sure they have found each other now & are playing together & having fun.

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Crazy how similar our cases are. Again, I'm happy I have at least one person who knows close to how I am feeling. Obviously each situation is going to be unique, but losing our babies suddenly to what seems to be a cardiac issue is definitely the same. I truly hope there is another dimension or another world out there where their souls wander off to. Selfishly, I'd love for Athena to wander back into her home with all of her feline companions and to come visit her humans. I guess that's the saddest part; not knowing. And as a thinker and a worrier by nature, I'm always going to wonder where she is and all the "what ifs". I hate knowing her lifeless little body is out in my yard, it feels so wrong. She should be in here with all of us, cuddled up next to her cuddle buddy Mercury.

I'm so sorry for your loss Coniferously. What a beautiful girl Athena was! I can tell from tell from the pictures that she was very sweet. Please don't beat yourself up. Guilt will not accomplish anything. There is no way you could have known. You were a wonderful kitty parent. You took her to the vet because you were concerned for her health. You did the right thing! Please have peace in your heart that you gave her a wonderful life. She loved you dearly. I'm sure she is watching over you and the rest of your family. I know my words can't take away your pain, but I am sending you hugs! :rub:

I am so, so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful girl. Many hugs to you.

ForrestMeows said:

I'm so sorry for your loss Coniferously. What a beautiful girl Athena was! I can tell from tell from the pictures that she was very sweet. Please don't beat yourself up. Guilt will not accomplish anything. There is no way you could have known. You were a wonderful kitty parent. You took her to the vet because you were concerned for her health. You did the right thing! Please have peace in your heart that you gave her a wonderful life. She loved you dearly. I'm sure she is watching over you and the rest of your family. I know my words can't take away your pain, but I am sending you hugs! :rub:

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She was probably the sweetest, most loving cat I have ever met. She didn't have a mean bone in her body and absolutely loved other cats. I even witnessed her headbutting one of my older cats that she was fond of as she walked by and greeted her. I've never seen another cat do that in my life.
She will truly be missed and will forever be in our hearts. As much as I've cried today, and as tired as I am, this headache and absolutely sick-to-my-stomach feeling will not go away and allow me to sleep. The pain is honestly unbearable.

miagi's_mommy , angel

Thank you both so very much [emoji]10084[/emoji]

It's nearly 2am and I am sat up in bed, crying, when I should be soundly asleep. This is so hard you guys, I miss her so badly. I'd give anything to go back a day and stop myself from letting her go to the vet. My sweet Athena would be here right now, safe and warm in her home, not outside in the yard, buried. This is killing me.

Im so sorry, my prayers are with her.

You will never get pass the pain, just learn to live with it and accept she is gone.

If you can bring yourself to it, try to adopt another kitty in her name

it will only get better.

Coniferously said:

It's nearly 2am and I am sat up in bed, crying, when I should be soundly asleep. This is so hard you guys, I miss her so badly. I'd give anything to go back a day and stop myself from letting her go to the vet. My sweet Athena would be here right now, safe and warm in her home, not outside in the yard, buried. This is killing me.

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You were trying to take care of your baby and had the best of motives in your heart. I know the special grief of "if only I hadn't..."   It's a kind of self torture.  It might help you to call the ASPCA pet loss hotline:  877-474-3310.  Many members here have found them very helpful

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/end-life-care

ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline at (877) GRIEF-10. (877-474-3310)

Another group that helps with Pet Loss is the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.  http://www.aplb.org/   They are a free service that provides counseling for these awful times.

Please take care of yourself and remember - you have nothing to feel guilty about.  There is no way you could have foreseen this.       

EJ x said:

Im so sorry, my prayers are with her.

You will never get pass the pain, just learn to live with it and accept she is gone.

If you can bring yourself to it, try to adopt another kitty in her name

it will only get better.

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Thank you very much. You're very right about never getting past it; it's been nearly 10 years since they passing of my sweet boy, Mittens, whom I raised from being a kitten and up to the day he died at 7 years old. I had him since I was 6, so he meant the world to me. Was my very best friend. I still cry to this day about him and the last few days of his life when he was suffering and I was there to help him are still burnt in my memory, so vivid it feels real. I miss him more than anything in the world. The hole has patched up a bit since I found a cat outside who resembled Mittens and has stole my heart with his great personality and lovable nature. His name is Orbit and he is my darling baby. He has helped me mourn Mittens for the last few years and sometimes I wonder if he was sent to me because I was taking so long to mourn losing Mittens. I was not as close to Athena as my mom was, but I still obviously loved her and everything about her. She had the best temperament in the house and was such a lovable girl. I truly miss her presence. With 14 cats still in the house, I would not ever bring another in to replace Tina. I never could do that. She was far too unique, I will never find a white fluffy kitty with grey splotches who chirps and loves other cats the way she did. She left a void in the house, a crack in the foundation, a black hole in our hearts. She will forever be missed and the fond memories of her will remain alive. Again, rest in peace, my angel.