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Kitten - Passed away overnight

Well, up untill last night we had a perfectly healthy 4 month old kitten. Last night I noticed that she was not as hyper as she should be for it being 11:30. She was just lying on the couch with a tired look and I nudged her to assure she was still okay. She looked up at me slowly and put her bed back down and shut her eyes. I thought nothing of it and went on watching TV. I was staying up late last night and shut off the television around 3 in the morning. When I got up off the couch, she would usually feel the cushions move and wake up but she didnt. I nudged her and her eyes opened but she just layed there. I picked her up and she was very limp but still breathing normally and her eyes were wide open. I put her on the ground to stand her up but her body was so limp she didnt even attempt to stand. I layed her on the couch and watched her for a bit as I didnt know what to do. She was breathing but not reacting to anything and just lay limp. Soon her legs started spasming on and off and she looked like a dog would if it were having a dream about running so they say. I called the vet up and she asked me to see the color of her gums. They were a healthy pink wich I understand is normal. She told me to bring the kitten in to get looked at but unfortunately it costs alot of money that i do not have to help a kitten I picked up as a stray. She seemed to be getting better as she now slightly responded to my touch but her body was still twitching. She seemed to almost be in a siezure. I had siezures as a child and they were much like what she was doing and the doctor always had me just rest untill it wore off. I know there is probably a big difference in cats and humans when it comes to things like this but I was hoping for the best. I set a blanket on the couch and balled her on it to elt her rest. I went to bed hoping she would be somewhat in better shape when morning came. Unfortunately she was not. When I woke she was in a better place. It is sad for me but right now I am looking for answers as to what happened. The seizure theory is one but why would she die? I also think maybee there might have been a pain killer pill on the ground somewhere in the kitchen or bathroom that I didnt think twice about that she might have gotten a hold of. It was such a sudden reaction as far as the spasms go it almost seemed like an overdose. Anything would be helpfull on this thank you everyone.
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228686 tn?1211554707
Ah, my wife just contradicted me. She said a light dusting of flea powder on the tummy is the best route, if it's a serious flea problem, see a vet. I bow to her greater wisdom. :)
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228686 tn?1211554707
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It could have been FLV related. I've found that 3-4 months is one of those "Crucial times" when cats with FLV can get a first time bad attack that goes fatal.

On another note, 4 months is a wee bit young for a flea collar. I'd go with a diluted dip next time to be safe. It's a great deal of poison to have on a cat, especially if it was on the small side.

Again, very sorry, be happy in knowing you gave it a good home for the short time it had.
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441382 tn?1452810569
I am going to PM you with some information that you might find useful.  Again, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your little one.  

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
We did just get her a flea collar the day before. It was one that had that powdery residue on it. I was concerned with it, but thought it was okay because it was a more expensive collar and I bought it from PETSMART. The collar was the first thing I thought of when she was seizuring. But I then moved on to other ideas because I just disnt know anything. Do you really think that might have been a cause?
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441382 tn?1452810569
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty!  Unfortunately, without a necropsy, there is no way to tell what the cause of death really was.  Do you have other pets?  If so, I would see a vet about having a necropsy performed, just for THEIR safety, in case she died from something that could affect them as well.

You mentioned that you took this kitty in as a stray.  Was there any discharge from her eyes or nose?  Seizures are a common result of a cat or dog that has had distemper, because it can affect the central nervous system.  It doesn't sound like there was any internal bleeding, if her gums were still a healthy pink.  Had there been internal bleeding (if she had eaten an Advil or a Tylenol or other med), her gums would have been white.

Had you put any flea medication on her lately?  Was she wearing a flea collar?  You also mentioned that you had a concern that she could have eaten a pain pill that she could have found on the floor.  What type of pain pill might this have been?  Do recall what her eyes looked like?  Were both of her pupils the same size?  Or was one large and one small?  Lastly, how long has it been since you took her in?   This is going to be a tough puzzle to figure out, but to put your own mind at ease, I think it's important to try.  I'll help as much as I can.  Again, my condolences on the loss of your kitty.

Ghilly
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419446 tn?1212542377
Sorry to hear about your loss. :(
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410475 tn?1262942367
we had that happen once to, it was a blocked bowel, was she pooping normally?
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Avatar universal
I am sorry to hear about the loss of this precious Kitty.  Unfortunatly, there would be no way of knowing what was really the base cause of her sudden downhill condition and death unless evaluated by a veterinarian.  Even seizures can be caused by multiple causes, as well as the lethargy and weakness. Sorry again for your loss...
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