Conference misery::feline

    
    I'm so sorry about Shadow.....  I know it must be very painful
    for you and your family.  The thing to remember is that Shadow
    loved you and you loved him, and you had the nine years together.
    Think about how many cats and kittens are wandering around outdoors
    now, cold and hungry with no home and no love.  Shadow was very 
    lucky, and you were blessed by his presence in your life.  
    
    N

    I'm so sorry about your loss.  I assume you've buried Shadow already,
    but if not, you could have an autopsy if that would set your mind at
    rest as to the actual cause of his death.  In any event, many of us
    in this file have had apparently perfectly healthy cats who had regular
    vet care become ill and die within a few days because of something that
    developed quickly and that no amount of vet care could have prevented.
    I lost my Pussycat to FeLv this way.
    
    I'm sure Shadow knew that he was loved, which is what is really
    important.  I'm glad to hear that you may share your love with a new
    cat when you're ready.
    

    my sincere sympathies to your family over losing Shadow.
    
    Cherish all those wonderful memories you have gathered in the
    9 years.   I'm sure Shadow was a very happy kitty and obviously
    he brought alot of love to your home.
    
    Sandy

    My condolences...
    
    Best,
    Michelle

    Take it from one who has lost many cats to sudden illnesses:  This
    probably would have happened even if you brought Shadow in for his
    annual checkups/vaccines religiously.
    
    Many underlying problems of the vital organs (liver, heart, kidneys)
    are not detected in a cursory examination.  They emerge suddenly and
    without warning, when symptoms begin appearing.  Because cats are very
    adept at hiding their illnesses until they have progressed to a
    critical state, the damage done is usually irreversible.
    
    Please don't beat yourself up.  The important thing to remember is that
    Shadow was loved... loved enough to be brought to the vet for care
    during his final moments of life.  You did not allow him to suffer. 
    Take comfort in that.
    
    Time will lessen your grief.  In the meantime, think of happier times
    with Shadow and all the love he brought to your life.
    
    Take care of yourselves,
    
    -Roberta
    

    My sympathies. I lost my beloved Argus J. Pussycat, Esq last Feb
    to liver problems that came on *very* suddenly. AJP was fine on
    Saturday morning, acting disoriented Saturday night and passed away on
    Thursday evening. An autopsy showed a huge tumor where his liver should
    have been, and an autopsy showed he had a very fast growing liver
    cancer. The vet at Angell said that there was no way it could have been
    detected, and probably only had been growing two weeks. It appears
    that AJP did have cancer of the pancreas, also, something that would
    never had been detected unless you are looking for it. Both the vet at
    Angell and my own vet told me that you (or a cat) can live a long time
    with cancer of the pancreas, but that if it should spread to the
    liver, it is nearly always quick spreading and fatal.

    Deb

    Oh i'm so sorry about Shadow.  :-(
    
    Nanci

    My condolences and thoughts of you at this time.
    Love Karen and all her kittes, paw pats from them!
    

    Us, too.  And please, please don't blame yourself.  It might not have
    been anything the vet could have caught earlier.  Don't feel guilt,
    feel love and know that we all cry with you.
    
    Mary+8

I second that you should try not to feel so guilty.
Bumble Bea gets annual checkups, but I don't see that they
do anything that could detect a problem like what you described.
They check most major orifices, her heart, and look for flea
dirt. That's  about it.


                                       Susan

    
      sorry to hear about your loss,  but don't feel too guilty, these
    things do happen quickly sometimes.
    
      Denise

    So sorry to hear about Shadow.  You had him for 9 long "healthy" years
    and I think that's a good track record.  I'm sure you're a good mom. 
    Don't feel guilty.
    
    Jeanne
    

         My condolences too ...
    
    					- Andrea

I really appreciate all you kind words, it has taken most of
the weekend to get Shadow off my mind. 

We buried Friday morning in the woods where he used to hike 
with us (yes, very much like a dog would do) and donated all
of the extra food and "stuff" to the Animal Rescue League.

Although it was hard to break the routine of feeding, letting
him out, letting him in etc.etc., I did think back on all the
pleasure he brought us and that helped loads...good advice.

    
    
    	I too am sorry to hear about Shadow. As menitioned earlier
    	don't feel guilty. Normally it is not until the cat is 10 years
    	old will a vet check for liver functions, unless the cat has 
    	a medical history. But at 10 years old the cats are considered
    	to be middle aged. Because of yearly dental care or if the cat
    	requires surgery, this put extra pressure on the liver to process
    	the medications. The vet will draw blood and send it out for 
    	analysis, with the result the vet can better treat the cat.
    
    	Mike
    

    Hindsight is always 20-20 and when something tragic happens we always
    find ways to feel "guilt".  We think the outcome would have been 
    altered if only WE had done something different.
    
    I cannot pretend to feel your pain - but having experienced some in
    my lifetime I have come to the conclusion that some things are just
    meant to be.  Shadow came into your life for a reason - and you have
    so many wonderful memories.  I hope this isn't coming across as "cold"
    because that is not my intent.  I know how hard I used to be on
    myself - and I guess that's why I am asking you not to beat your
    self over the head for something you could not control.
    
    As for your loss - please accept my heartfelt sympathy.  I send 
    you this with tears in my eyes ... as losing a loved one is so
    very sad and painful.  Hang tight to the memories!
    
    Hugs,
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany, Abigail and "stray" 
     

    I too can say "please, don't feel guilty.  We all try to do the best we
    can but hind sight is always better than reality.  I lost one stray we
    loved (I say we but Chiggar was uniquely my cat) to a sudden onset of
    diabetes.  Looking back, I should have seen all the warning signs but I
    didn't.  That was 3 1/2 years ago and we have adopted another "stray"
    who is again a very different cat.  Having been ferrel for first part
    of his life, he doesn't often like to be touched.  But occasionally
    he'll run up on you lap, look you in the eye and "softly purr".  As
    long as you don't push your luck, he's happy.  Figaro can't replace
    Chiggar but both have made our lives very rich and wonderful.  I feel
    very lucky to have had these cats that other people didn't want.  I
    hope you remember all the happy times.
    
    Gloria, Tai and Figaro

    My deepest sympathies for you......
    
    As I mentioned to another noter who's cat had died, don't burden
    your heart with all the "what if's". You can't put the weight of
    the world on your shoulders. We can only control so much in life,
    the rest is destiny. What is done is done and it cannot be unchanged.
    
    Just concentrate on all the happy times and love you have given each
    other. When you are finally able to do this, you will think of 
    Shadow and a smile will come to your face instead of a tear to your
    eye. Why cloud your good memories ???
    
    You mentioned that you gave your cat "stuff" away. Does this mean
    that you are not intending to get another cat/kitten? I am sure
    there is a little critter out there just waiting for someone like
    you...........
    
    T