|
|
Post by Ellie on Jun 1, 2015 1:44:26 GMT
My parents just returned from a month-long trip of a lifetime in Spain and Italy. It was to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Sadly, their cat died while they were gone and my brothers, who were taking care of the cat, blame themselves.
The cat was a stray that hung around some businesses in the next town over. My Dad was urged to take Tigger (not his choice of name, lol) home as they were worried he'd be hit by a car and my parents live in a very rural, isolated place.
Tigger had been living at their house for nearly two years and was completely in love with my father, who is mostly retired. In the past,they'd left him for up to three nights with someone coming by once to feed him.
My brothers (twins, 7 yrs younger than me) live 45 minutes north of my parents, but work 45 minutes north of that (my sister and I live 4.5 hours away). They had planned to split up cat duties and someone would stay there at least 5 nights a week.
Well, 10 days in, one brother had a change of work schedule and Tigger ended up alone for three nights. Four days. My brother arrived on that fourth day at 5pm and Tigger was curled up on the corner of the couch my father favored, dead. He had food and water. My brothers are so upset. My parents, who are now home, are devastated. My Dad, who argued against boarding Tigger as he thought he'd have anxiety, has major guilt.
Agh! Not sure what my point is sharing here. They surely should have boarded the cat. Or my brothers should have taken him to their place. Just thought I'd ask if anyone else knows of a poor pet that was left alone and died like this? I realize now I'm tired and probably not entirely coherent. My apologies if this post is scattered.
Oh, other possibly pertinent details: the vet estimated Tigger was 11 or 12 and he was in "excellent health" at a checkup 3 days before my parents left.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Jun 1, 2015 1:50:40 GMT
Aww, I'm so sorry. I can assure you though that no cat ever died of a broken heart because cats are dicks. I say that as a huge crazy cat lady! No one should blame themselves here. Hugs to everyone  |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 5:25:36 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 1:51:33 GMT
I'm sorry. I completely understand how everyone involved must be devastated and heart broken.
I have no experience with your exact situation, but my wonderful Great Aunt Maggie died of cancer several years ago; while she was in the hospital dying, we drove 3 hours to her house each weekend to stay there and visit her in the hospital. One of her cats had an immediate downturn in his health shortly after she left her home for the hospital. He was older, and possibly not very well to start with, but maybe a week or two after she left he became very ill. We ended up having him euthanized on her beautiful dining room table in her kitchen. It was the most terrible and the most kind thing I've ever done. So... as I said, not the same as your family's situation, but I have witnessed a cat who simply could not live without his owner.
|
|
Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,082 
|
Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 1, 2015 1:53:11 GMT
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about Tigger. It does sound as though he did die of a broken heart. How sad.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 5:25:36 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 2:12:34 GMT
I am going to play devil'a advocate, but maybe Tigger was older than you thought he was and seemed like he was younger than you (plural) thought. Maybe he was 18 or something like that and his heart just gave out.
I know it sounds cruel, but if he had food and water, maybe he was looking for the right time to cross the Rainbow Bridge and chose it himself. Cats are brilliant don't ever forget that. He is at peace and is happy and is taunting my Josie right now.
Love to all!
|
|
QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
|
Post by QueenoftheSloths on Jun 1, 2015 2:19:15 GMT
I can assure you though that no cat ever died of a broken heart because cats are dicks. Are you saying cats don't have emotions? Cats don't grieve? Cats don't care if their humans leave and never come back? If you really are a "crazy cat lady", please don't slander cats. It discourages people from adopting them, if they are assured that "cats are dicks". |
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 1, 2015 2:25:52 GMT
I am going to play devil'a advocate, but maybe Tigger was older than you thought he was and seemed like he was younger than you (plural) thought. Maybe he was 18 or something like that and his heart just gave out. I know it sounds cruel, but if he had food and water, maybe he was looking for the right time to cross the Rainbow Bridge and chose it himself. Cats are brilliant don't ever forget that. He is at peace and is happy and is taunting my Josie right now. Love to all! My first thought was along these lines. Don't let your family blame themselves. It was Tigger's time. It's easy to blame ourselves (and others) when something sad happens and we feel so much grief, but that helps nothing and no one. (((hugs))) |
|
scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
|
Post by scrapaddie on Jun 1, 2015 3:01:27 GMT
And just because he went to the vet and the vet said he was in excellent health doesn't mean he was. Did he do a complete blood panel? Probably not. And animals are fabulous at hiding illness until they at very ill... It's part of survival instinct. Did he miss them... Sure... But dying of a broken heart.... Really doubtful!!
|
|
|
|
Post by pierkiss on Jun 1, 2015 3:05:43 GMT
I'm so sorry. Please don't blame yourselves.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Jun 1, 2015 3:12:15 GMT
I can assure you though that no cat ever died of a broken heart because cats are dicks. Are you saying cats don't have emotions? Cats don't grieve? Cats don't care if their humans leave and never come back? If you really are a "crazy cat lady", please don't slander cats. It discourages people from adopting them, if they are assured that "cats are dicks". I've had cats all my life. Yes, they're dicks. I love my cat but if I died tomorrow, he'd go on living. Do you want her to think the cat actually died of a broken heart? He didn't. That's not how cats work. |
|
|
|
Post by Chips on Jun 1, 2015 3:14:42 GMT
Tigger got to experience true and genuine love from your parents <3 Boarding an outdoor cat would of been so stressful for him and he enjoyed his days outside. He was loving his time with your parents, being outside chasing birds and butterflies.
I agree with what others have said and that it was his time and even though your parents were not there he loved them and felt their love too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Jun 1, 2015 3:15:16 GMT
And yes, cats are very good at hiding illness. That's what they do. Please don't perpetuate any myths @queenofsloths that leaving a cat while you go on vacation is going to kill it.
|
|
milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
|
Post by milocat on Jun 1, 2015 3:23:44 GMT
My cat lost her sister when they were only 4 years old. Whenever we went on holidays after that upon our return she would howl for days, pike me with her paw every half hour all night for 2 nights. Meow if I left the room. Even if my husband stayed home and my kids and I went away she'd howl. She never meows. After 3 years alone we got a kitten, after he was a year old and not so hyper they have become companions. Now when we go away she doesn't howl when we return. So I think he could die of a broken heart. Sorry for their loss.
|
|
Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,314
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
|
Post by Country Ham on Jun 1, 2015 3:29:02 GMT
We leave our cats alone with plenty of food and water and fresh litter for 4 and 5 days at a time. No one should feel guilty about not boarding it.
|
|
|
|
Post by smokeynspike on Jun 1, 2015 7:10:25 GMT
My 18 year old cat didn't die of a broken heart thankfully, but his sister died after getting into the toilet bowl for a drink (back when we didn't know better in college, used the cleaner disks in the toilet, and someone accidentally left it up). They were about a year old at the time. My cat stopped eating and was so sad. We had the hardest time getting him to eat again! I think cats totally experience emotions like grief. Maybe not on the same scale that we do, but emotions nonetheless.
I'm sorry about this situation!
Melissa
|
|
|
|
Post by njinkerbelle on Jun 1, 2015 8:01:20 GMT
I agree with Melissa. I think all animals have emotions and experience losses and changes to their environments more than we realize.
Sorry to hear of the loss and for your Dad losing a companion.
|
|
|
|
Post by KelleeM on Jun 1, 2015 9:15:55 GMT
I'm so sorry about your parent's cat. Two years ago my dh had an accident and was in the hospital/rehab for 6 weeks. We had a love bird at the time who adored dh. I took care of him while dh was gone...fresh food and water every day. He was only 2 years old and love birds can live 20 plus years. A few days before dh was due to come home I found Opie in the bottom of his cage  Birds are masters at hiding illnesses and often you don't know they're sick until they are close to death. I was so sad and dreaded telling dh. DH firmly believes Opie died of a broken heart. |
|
|
|
Post by Ellie on Jun 1, 2015 9:21:16 GMT
I'm so sorry about your parent's cat. Two years ago my dh had an accident and was in the hospital/rehab for 6 weeks. We had a love bird at the time who adored dh. I took care of him while dh was gone...fresh food and water every day. He was only 2 years old and love birds can live 20 plus years. A few days before dh was due to come home I found Opie in the bottom of his cage Birds are masters at hiding illnesses and often you don't know they're sick until they are close to death. I was so sad and dreaded telling dh. DH firmly believes Opie died of a broken heart. Oh, poor Opie! How sad. Thank you all for the replies. Much appreciated! |
|
momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,153
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
|
Post by momto4kiddos on Jun 1, 2015 10:45:51 GMT
That is so sad for all involved.
I just wanted to throw this out there because a pet death can be unexpected even with a clean bill of health. My sisters dog was in for its yearly checkup a few years back, was older, but all was seemingly well....was dead the next day. It's unfortunate, but it does happen.
Hope everyone can focus on the wonderful life kitty had with your parents instead of how it ended.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennyap on Jun 1, 2015 12:40:48 GMT
How horribly sad I just want to mention that whilst a cat cannot die of a broken heart per se, they can suffer separation anxiety, and in some cases this could lead to a potentially fatal illness. If because of stress or any other reason a cat stops eating, they can very quickly develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). It's a very serious condition for a cat, and needs aggressive treatment as soon as it is identified. Any cat that doesn't eat for 2 or 3 days in a row should be seen by a vet as a matter of priority. I know because have a cat who developed this disease - in his case because of an injury, surgery and subsequent cage rest. We had to force feed him every couple of hours, and the vet would have admitted him for IV feeding if we hadn't seen improvement quickly. Luckily he recovered fully, and recent tests of his liver function show it is still good. I have no way of knowing whether this is what happened in this case, and my first instinct is that it is unlikely and to agree with Elannah, but it is something cat owners should be aware of. |
|
|
|
Post by Dictionary on Jun 1, 2015 17:31:53 GMT
So sad for your parent's loss, we had a Tigger who passed away a few years back but she was exceptionally older for a cat in her 20s. As for the post on cat's being emotionless, not true. I adopted a sweet little kitty who freaked out when I left her for 5 days. I since adopted another adorable little girl to keep her company and she does so much better but when I am gone more than 1 day the my cat clings to me and doesn't let me out of her site..so yes she does care when I leave.
OP I would let your parents know that they made a difference in their little kitties life and while it's sad she passed on so early in life there may have been more wrong with her than known. Like the above posters say unless you do a complete workup you would not know. Being that she was on her own for so long with no healthcare to speak of before finding your parents you have no idea what she was exposed to. They should be at peace knowing they made her last few years enjoyable and filled with love.
|
|
Birds are masters at hiding illnesses and often you don't know they're sick until they are close to death. I was so sad and dreaded telling dh. DH firmly believes Opie died of a broken heart.
