Breathing problems in cats

Blindsided_2

Thank you all so much for your kind words, they really do mean a lot.
I'm trying not to cry too much, but it's difficult, everything in the house reminds me of him. And a few times I thought I have heard him meow (grief I'm assuming) my other 2 cats are running around like mad things as usual, which is helping take the kids minds off it.

I have literally never felt so utter sad and guilty. If only I had spotted something sooner.

meritaten

cry - he deserves that and it will help you. don't bottle up your emotions.
how could you spot something sooner if there was nothing there to spot? you saw him in distress and took him straight to vet. I cant see what you could have done differently. you aren't psychic!
for some reason he became very ill and died. it happens hun. to animals and humans both. their time is at an end. it does no good to beat yourself up over it.

Gold_Dust_2

Blindsided wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your kind words, they really do mean a lot.
I'm trying not to cry too much, but it's difficult, everything in the house reminds me of him. And a few times I thought I have heard him meow (grief I'm assuming) my other 2 cats are running around like mad things as usual, which is helping take the kids minds off it.

I have literally never felt so utter sad and guilty. If only I had spotted something sooner.

Almost two months on, I still spot what looks like my cats sitting at the garden door, waiting to be let in as they used to do all of the time, or I hear a floorboard creak as though under their feet and then I remember again. These things will continue to catch you off guard for a while, it's entirely normal, and it stops hurting as much after a while. Cry as much as you need to, holding it in will only make it worse for you .

Please don't feel guilty. Cats are amazing at hiding discomfort, and sometimes they don't have any symptoms until the problem is well advanced. There was nothing to spot, so don't go there!

Another user recently lost his cat on here because she had pneumonia. You think he would've spotted that, right? It's not a subtle illness. Yet his cat showed nothing right up until the end - you wouldn't blame him for that, so you shouldn't blame yourself either.

~Chameleon~

Blindsided wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your kind words, they really do mean a lot.
I'm trying not to cry too much, but it's difficult, everything in the house reminds me of him. And a few times I thought I have heard him meow (grief I'm assuming) my other 2 cats are running around like mad things as usual, which is helping take the kids minds off it.

I have literally never felt so utter sad and guilty. If only I had spotted something sooner.

Please don't feel guilty, there was absolutely nothing you could have done differently. Crying is good for us, it helps to release our emotions. It's been a little over 6mths since I lost my girl and I still cried the other day when I suddenly realised it was the first time I'd eaten fish & chips since she's been gone as I momentarily looked down at my feet, expecting to see her sitting there waiting for her bits of fish. I could never eat fish & chips without sharing with her

donnac2558

You did the best, cats are strange and do not show pain or distress just keep quiet and carry on. Of course if an accident that is different.

He had a long happy life, was loved and cared for. You did the right thing for him, and he will live in your memories as a happy loving friend.

CaptainAmerica

So so sorry to hear the news. My thoughts are with you x

Blindsided_2

I feel slightly worse this morning, I'm less numb I suppose. I didn't sleep well and kept hearing him meowing

I have arranged with the vet to have him cremated and returned to me, I don't think I could face collecting him and burying him.

I still can't believe how quickly he went downhill, I think I will always blame myself for not noticing, he must have shown some symptom, maybe I just didn't pay enough attention.

My other 2 cats are attention seeking to the extreme this morning. I think they miss him too.

I hope this gets easier.

~Chameleon~

Blindsided wrote: »

I feel slightly worse this morning, I'm less numb I suppose. I didn't sleep well and kept hearing him meowing

I have arranged with the vet to have him cremated and returned to me, I don't think I could face collecting him and burying him.

I still can't believe how quickly he went downhill, I think I will always blame myself for not noticing, he must have shown some symptom, maybe I just didn't pay enough attention.

My other 2 cats are attention seeking to the extreme this morning. I think they miss him too.

I hope this gets easier.

It does get easier, I promise. I have one remaining cat and although they didn't particularly get along, the younger one really misses her mum since she passed and her own health is now declining (she 23 yrs old this year) so I'm going to have to go through it all again, probably this year

Please stop beating yourself up about not seeking help sooner. I honestly doubt you could have done anything differently. Pyothorax is relatively rare in cats but has an incredibly rapid onset with very few clinical signs initially and is almost always fatal even with aggressive treatment. I don't know the history of your cat or whether he had any underlying problems that could have contributed to such a rapid decline. It's just one of those things that you could have done nothing to prevent.

Blindsided_2

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

It does get easier, I promise. I have one remaining cat and although they didn't particularly get along, the younger one really misses her mum since she passed and her own health is now declining (she 23 yrs old this year) so I'm going to have to go through it all again, probably this year

Please stop beating yourself up about not seeking help sooner. I honestly doubt you could have done anything differently. Pyothorax is relatively rare in cats but has an incredibly rapid onset with very few clinical signs initially and is almost always fatal even with aggressive treatment. I don't know the history of your cat or whether he had any underlying problems that could have contributed to such a rapid decline. It's just one of those things that you could have done nothing to prevent.

He was completely healthy and had been to the vet for his check up just before Xmas. I think that's the worst part, there was no preparing for it. He was fine on Sunday night and by Monday night he was gone.
It's made me think about my other cats too, they are 9 and 12 , I'm dreading ever having to do this again. I don't think I will ever get anymore animals, despite being a self confessed cat lady

My brother had gone to see him last night and said despite being out of breath he was the usual him, trying to lick my brothers face and escape the oxygen tent. 15 mins later the vet said whilst they were changing his drip he just laid on his side and passed away. I so wish I could have been there. He must have been so frightened, he was a homebody.

meritaten

Hun, you said it yourself 'he was fine on Sunday night and by Monday he was gone'.
You are obviously a caring and attentive owner. Now you know he was fine Sunday and as SOON as you noticed a problem you got him to the vet. what more could you have done? NOTHING. if you don't believe us - then ask the Vet!
I do understand that right now you are in the 'Why' and 'What could I have done' stage. I hope that you realise soon that there wasn't anything you COULD do.
It hurts right now - it hurts a lot. and your other furbabies need you. they will want to grieve with you - hence the attention seeking - they are showing you that they are THERE for you and love you.