My cat died yesterday and I'm not sure why

[joy312]

I came home from work the other night to find my 13 1/2 year old cat Finster breathing very heavy and through his mouth.  I knew right away something was wrong, but it was too late to bring him to the vet.  I considered taking him to the emergency vet clinic, but to was a 25 minute car ride, and he freaks out whenever I put him in the car or the cat carrier, and I didn't want to stress him out any further.  I decided to wait until morning, as my local vet is just around the corner.  He wouldn't eat at all that night, but he did drink some milk, which I gave him twice.  The next morning his breathing was pretty much the same and he seemed a bit weaker, and he was crouched down on all fours under the star is.  I took him out and he was still very alert and even sat by the open window to look outside.  He would't eat anything however or drink any milk.  I called the vet and took him in first thing.  I couldn't get him in the carrier, so I out him in the car and drove over.  He was very stressed out, and the ride only lasted 2 minutes - literally.  In the parking lot I had to force him in the carrier in order to bring him inside.  Once inside he was foaming at the mouth and breathing very hard.  They took him into the back and out him into the oxygen cage, but I guess it was too late.  Approximately 10 minutes later the vet came out and told me he had died.  She said that after a few minutes of oxygen he wasn't responding and his lips and tongue were turning blue.  She said they took him out and tried to intubate him and he went into cardiac arrest.  She said they tired to get his heart going again but couldn't.  Today I am just trying to make sense of all this and figure out what happened.  Although there were no real outward signs of anything being wrong before this, he did drop she weight about a year ago, after we moved into our new home.  I just chalked it up to the stress of the move, as he did seem to adjust after that.  He also used to love to go outside, but wasn't really looking to go out after that.  A few months ago I noticed that one of my cats (I have 5 others) was peeing in several places throughout the first floor, where the cats live.  It was hard to tell which one, and I though it might have been one of the other cats who has a history of urinary tract infections.  Now I am wondering if it was Finster.  I did some research on the internet and read that cats who have a bad odor on their breath and their body are experiencing signs of kidney failure.  Finster had both of these for the past few months, and so now I am wondering if that was his underlying problem.  I would appreciate any thoughts anyone might have as to what exactly happened to my beloved cat, as I am feeling confused and guilty about what happened, and wondering if I should have just left him at home, as it seems like the trip to the vet caused his death.  Thank you.  

[Jade59]

Hi Joy...here is the link to 'May I go now".  I am so sad for you.  Sending my deepest condolences.  (((Hugs)))

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/May-I-Go-Now/show/2046587

[CRSeaside]

Hi Joy., did you read the post May I go Now? It is very moving. Pamela

[joy312]

Thank you for your kind words.  I have lost several other cats to illnesses myself…one to feline leukemia (he had it when I adopted him as a kitten), and  one to kidney disease, who I treated for 5 years with this illness, and one thing I can say for sure is that it never gets any easier.  Finster was a ver special cat, and he will forever remain in my heart!!

[joy312]

Thank you for your kind words.  I know it will take some time to heal, and I have learned from this experience.  I have now hired a mobil vet who will come to my home and hopefully my other kitties will never ever have to be traumatized in that way again.

[evewisewoman]

Hello Joy,

You did the right thing taking Finster to you vet. You did nothing wrong.
I read somewhere that cats often hide their illness. Sometimes it's quite
apparent when a cat is sick and sometimes it's not. You tried your best
for Finster. It's always so sad when we lose our beloved fur babies.
I lost two of my fur babies to cancer and it was heart breaking having to
have them put to sleep. We have another cat now that we adopted from
a cat rescue organization a male ginger cat. I also purchased a really good
resource book called Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. ( Third
Edition) . There are four authors of the book  Debra M. Eldredge, DMV ,
Delbert G. Carlson, DVM , Liisa D. Carlson, DVM, James M. Giffin, MD.
Wily Publishing, Inc. copyright 2008, printed in the USA. I'm telling you
about this book in case you might want to purchase it too. It's an excellent
resource and has already proved very helpful.   Eve ( mother of Sammy)

[CRSeaside]

You have cats & lots of experience .The right thing to do was take your
cat to the Vet. You did that. I had a cat die in my arms after a trip to the
vet. It's sad. It hurts. Give lots of love to your other cats. You did the right thing