Elderly Cat Died - Have Question

[Venceremos]

My 19-year-old Siamese cat (Sammi) died last night. The night before, she ate some canned cat food before going to sleep. The next morning she was fine, but by afternoon she was lethargic and wouldn't eat or drink. I called the vet but he couldn't see her until today.

She died in her sleep last night. I talked to the vet this morning. He suggested a necropsy with in-depth microscopic tissue examination to determine why she died. He said that maybe the cat food she ate was tainted.

She didn't eat the whole can of her last meal, so i gave the leftovers to my Jack Russell terrier (Jack). Jack hasn't gotten the least bit sick. Also, my other cat ate several cans from the same package, and he isn't sick, either. I told the vet, but he didn't say anything.

This same vet convinced us to spend a bunch of extra money when our Retriever got a fatal illness five years ago. Unfortunately, we have to use him in emergencies because we're rural and there's no other vet near here. I loved Sammi and wouldn't want any other cats to get sick if that food was tainted, but I'm suspicious that the vet is just trying to make money.

Sammi had been slowly declining. Her coat wasn't as shiny, her appetite was gradually declining, and she was getting less active. And for lack of a better word, she was starting to act senile. A couple months ago I took her to a vet in a different town. He said she was just getting old but had no diseases. He also said she'd outlived her life expectancy by several years.

So my question: could Sammi have just died like that from old age, or do you think it's more likely that her food was tainted?

I hope I don't sound selfish or uncaring, but I just don't trust this vet, and I hate the thought of having Sammi autopsied for no reason.

[Samurai_Writer]

1. I'm not a vet, but I've had several elderly cats

When it's their time to die, they die. Unless you want to be 100% sure the cat food wasn't tainted, I would not have the necropsy done. She lived a good, long life and that's all that really matters.

I'm sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she had a good life with you.

[Venceremos]

2. Thank you

She was the oldest pet I ever had so I wasn't certain. But I also think it was just her time. She didn't get violently ill or anything, just drifted off.

[hippywife]

3. Sounds like you've ruled out the food already.

19 is very old for a cat. It was just her time. You've had many long, wonderful years together. So sorry for your loss.

Oh, and welcome to DU! :hi:

[Venceremos]

5. Thank you

Before the vet said that, I hadn't even considered the food because my dog didn't get sick from it. But I wanted to see what other people think.

We had her so long I can't even remember before she was here. She was a year older than my youngest son. He doesn't know yet (he's at school), I'm really dreading telling him. We were all very attached to her, but especially him.

[hippywife]

7. Good luck with telling your son.

I'm sure you'll break it to him gently.

Ours is almost 12 years old and getting very arthritic. The husband had her for a year before we got married. She welcomed my two cats without reservation when we moved down here. I really enjoy curling up with her at night. She's my up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-can't get-back-to-sleep companion. I'm really going to hate it when she goes.

[Venceremos]

11. I told him

he's 17 (almost 18) so he played the tough guy. But I know it really bothered him, he didn't want to help us bury her, and has been in his room ever since.

[ginnyinWI]

10. Sympathies.

Our 18-year-old cat died in January. He also died during the night, but he had several things going on--kidney failure and also a bad heart, and had gotten very thin and weak, so it was expected. In fact he lasted a full two months longer after the vet predicted in November that he would not last a week more. He was on two prescriptions and had a heating pad in his bed for warmth--I called his corner our "kitty nursing home".

I think your cat most likely just had a sudden heart attack and just died. Not a bad way to go, considering. And 18 or 19 is a very long life for a cat. (I agree, I would not spend the money on finding out if the food was bad or not--most likely it was just fine.)

We had our cat from the day of his birth--when our youngest was just in the first grade. Now she's 25, through six years of college and starting her career. Just shows how long that is--in her life anyway. She was really broken up about old Tim, even though she's moved away from home and has her own life. He was so tied to her childhood.

We are waiting a little while before getting a new kitty, but will eventually. To us, a cat makes a home.

[Venceremos]

12. Thanks

and I'm sorry about your cat, too. All my other pets always died by having the vet put them to sleep. That gets to me - it's so cold and clinical. It was comforting that she died peacefully in her little cat bed. We have a 9-year-old cat still - he keeps looking around for her.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

4. Sorry for your loss

Your kitty more than likely died peacefully of old age. Throw away the cat food and buy a different brand if you have any lingering doubts about it rather than feed it to your other cat. That will be cheaper than the necropsy the vet is suggesting.

[Venceremos]

6. Thank you, too

She ate the last can out of that 4-pack, and I'd already gotten new food at a different store before the vet made the tainted food suggestion.

[China_cat]

8. It truly sounds like it was just her time.

The last one we lost was 23 and she just got slower and slept more, ate less, groomed less. There were several times we thought she was gone in her last 2 years only to come in with the box for burying her to find her sitting up in the cat box or getting a drink of water. The last time we waited 24 hours to be sure.

But, like Cotton, it sounds like your Sammi just aged out of the system. If you have no other animals sick on the same food, I would just bury her or cremate, mourn her passing and remember the good times.

[Venceremos]

9. Thanks

Cotton sounds just like Sammi, she kept gradually getting slower. We're waiting for my son to get home to bury her.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Old age, probably.

19 is a good, long life for a cat; I guess it was just her time.

R.I.P., Sammi. :hug:

[Tammie]

14. Sorry to hear of your loss

I agree that Sammi's passing most likely had nothing to do with the food. 19 years is a ripe old age for a kitty. Passing away peacefully while in sleep is hard on those left behind but also a blessing. Sammi left this world from her own home, from her own bed, with no fear. Hang on to the happy memories. Rest in peace, dear Sammi. Peace to you and your family Venceremos.

[Eurobabe]

15. Sorry for your loss Venceremos

My cat will be 18 in October, and he is so thin in his rear end. He weighs a fraction of what he used to. We had a scare last month, and he is on this disgusting renal diet now, doing okay, but I slowly see him failing. I don't think he will be with us by next year. I can so relate to your story.

Sammi had a great life with you, peace and hugs.

48%er & family