Hello All.

I just wanted to say hello. I have joined up because I need a fellow cat loving friend right now. My darling George had to be put to sleep yesterday, he was a beautiful Turkish Angora and I had only had him for 5 months. I rescued him from the RSPCA back in January and he has been amazing. He is deaf so therefore had to live inside but we went out to play in the garden every day. My partner and I relocated and as he works away alot, we rescued George as company for me. He followed me everywhere, and even slept on my pillow. He was not himself Wednesday night, just a bit restless. I had given him a new bed time snack so when he woke us vomiting all through the night we put it down to that. In the morning (Thurs) he seemed ok, but did not meow for his breakfast which was strange - but considering he had been poorly in the night, we put it down to his new snack. I went to work and returned at lunch time to check on him and he was curled in a ball eyes open looking depressed. He got up to drink some water but drank whilst laying on his front. This was not normal and he was not 'pleased' to see me - usually he meows and has to give me a kiss before he will settle. I called the vet and they told us to bring him at 4pm which we did. They found diabetes which they managed to control and told us he would be home on Monday and need insulin twice a day. This was fine - we just wanted him home safely. Then they called to say that we needed to come quickly as he was weakening!! We got there ASAP and the vet explained that his liver and kidneys were poorly too but not to give up on him yet as he was not in any pain and if by Sunday he was not better then to think about putting him to sleep. We visited him every day and he just looked so sad, not even lifting his head to see us. Yesterday morning a specialist came down to scan his body and they found that he actually had acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis which was the cause of everything and that even though his liver was stable, the pancreatitis had damaged his kidneys beyond repair and that there was not healthy pancreas left. We had to put him to sleep there and then I am devasted. Why were there not any signs? Why can the Vet not find a cause? Could I have done something if I had known sooner? The vet says no - that sometimes it just happens and there is no way of knowing what caused it but how can something happen with no cause. I keep thinking that somehow I caused this. I love him so much I cant bear life without him and I don't know how to make the sadness stop. He was my best friend and I miss him terribly. Will he know we put him to sleep because we had no choice and not because we gave up on him? Why did this happen to my beautiful boy?

Very sorry to hear about your George but I can assure you that you did nothing to cause this condition so please don't blame yourself. This acute form of pancreatitis can come on very suddenly and as you said yourself he was acting normally until he became ill. What actually happens with this necrotizing pancreatits is that the pancreas begins digesting itself and I agree with the vet says-from what you describe the damage was so severe there was nothing they could do either. The pancreas is a very important little organ.

I know it's devastating to loose a pet very suddenly like this and it's natural to question things and want answers but really there was nothing you could have done to prevent this. Some cats are genetically/otherwise more disposed to getting certain illnesses than others.

Really sorry for your loss. Take care.

I've got no medical knowledge for you here but wanted so say how very, very sorry I am for your loss.

__________________
.

So very sad to hear you lost your beloved George. Try to take some comfort in that you gave him five very happy months where he was so loved - it doesn't take the pain away just now but time will help ease the heartache.

__________________
Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

Thank you to everyone. I am feeling a bit less like it was my fault - I just need to stop the tears. He was my baby and I loved him more than my life! x

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news he was lucky you chose him and gave him such a wonderful 5 months You did the right thing for him.

How utterly heartbreaking for you, I'm so sorry. Of course knowing you didn't do anything wrong won't ease the pain right now, but you know in time you will be able to put it all in perspective. I know how you feel, as do most of us I suspect. When I lost my Bruno last October to a car accident while I was away, the hole he left was almost tangible. I thought my heart would break. Cry as much as you like, hun. Hugs.

__________________
http://catscanjump.blogspot.com

Wendy, mum to:
Simba von Wurzbachtal, Turkish Van, born Austria, 5/9/10

RIP
Tarka, 1989 - 2008 my gentle Phileas Fogg
Bruno, 2008 - 2010 taken too soon my darling boy
Misi, 1993 - 25/3/2012 My brave, beautiful tabby

Hugs n kisses and so sorry to hear about george. Really nothing you could of done to save him.

I hope your ok xxx Will be thinking of you

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my two 17 year old darlings in the same month a few months ago, and I thought I would never stop crying, it's heartbreaking, I understand the pain in your heart. But it does get easier, and you gave him so much love in the short time he owned you, you were both blessed to have each other. xxx

I still keep bursting into tears! What is wrong with me!!