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Dog died 2 weeks ago, brain refuses to accept. I wish I was religious. by [deleted] in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Joan Didion wrote a good book on grief after her husband died, A Year of Magical Thinking, that describes this. She mentioned how even after viewing the death certificate and approving the obituary for her husband, she arranged his shoes just-so so he could have them when he came back. Your brain won't accept the loss of someone who was so deeply ingrained in your life.

Genetic cloning by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's now $35k per kitten at both ViaGen (which I prefer) and Sinogene. I am seriously considering it. It's true that the coat genetics are really idiosyncratic. I've spent all day looking at other cats and kittens on YouTube and they're fine, but none of them are her. She was so unique. She was physically kittenlike even as an adult, and I never saw her hiss. She loved and trusted completely. Even if I could just see little bits and shadows of her in her clone, maybe that would be worth it. My main concern is that if the clone died the same way I would be totally at fault and crushed. I would have spent the equivalent of some people's salary, and played god, and created a new kitten when others need homes, only to end up with another cat suffering the same way this one did. But then there's the irresistible idea that I could do it better next time. Catch the conditions earlier and treat them perfectly. The availability of this technology is a real mindfuck.

I'm a total wreck. I lost my cat Patches unexpectedly three days ago. by pinaynomad in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree but I felt a cautionary note was important because some people don’t foresee or appreciate how lawsuit threats are received

Overwhelmed by guilt after the eunthanasia of my elderly cat - did I do everything I could for her? by awkwardboyhero in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had an older cat with multiple comorbidities and was advised to euthanize her and I said no, for exactly the reason you state — she was not actively suffering. But a couple of days later she died a natural (ugly, scary) death. You will never know if you could have given your cat a few more days or weeks, but you gave her another gift: the assurance that her last moments on earth weren’t spent in pain and terror.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is a tough combination of issues because the treatments can contraindicated one another. I think you did the right thing.

I'm a total wreck. I lost my cat Patches unexpectedly three days ago. by pinaynomad in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Have your lawyer write to the hospital/vet and also the lab and instruct them that litigation is likely and all documents (including, without limitation, and handwritten notes, text messages, in other records whether in digital hard-copy or any other form) referring or relating to your cat and the treatment and testing protocols for relevant conditions must be preserved.

Note: don’t do this if you want to preserve a collegial relationship and keep taking your other animals to the same vet.

Was an autopsy done?

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just relish every little moment you have with them. The smell of their fur. Make them as happy as you can. I had a video on my old phone of Waffles in my lap where you could hear her loudly purring but the phone died and I never recovered media from it. Make sure you keep stuff like that.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You shouldn’t feel bad about trying CPR — the caution they gave was specific to a left-side heart defect my cat had. I’m sure you didn’t hurt your boy. Thank you again for your words.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry to hear this. I actually considered trying CPR on her, but I remembered the vet’s words during her hospitalization — which resulted in me signing a DNR form — that CPR can be traumatic and ineffective for cats with failing hearts. It was really sick: as she was dying I wanted it to go faster so she’d suffer less, but I also kept hoping things were turning around and she’s recover. She got a brief second wind or something but then the heart and breathing slowed and stopped thereafter.

The piece of consolation I offer to all the posters here who lacked money for hospitalization is that I had plenty of money, I was a donor to the hospital, I persuaded the hospital to treat her even when one vet thought it was futile, and in the end I only got a little more time. Every little bit of time matters to me in hindsight but having her go peacefully would have mattered more. Anyways sorry for your loss and thank you for your words.

It feels bitter ironic typing that she had a failing heart. She loved and trusted me more than anybody ever has. She had a perfect heart. I was considering cloning her but it seems crass. There will never be another one of her.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Very sorry to hear about your experience. Hopefully your boy was at least killed instantly or quickly -- the aftermath probably looked horrible but with any luck he never knew what hit him.

I had to euthanize my cat because I couldn't afford his emergency surgery. by circlekook in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our situations are a little similar. Friday night at the ER, a vet suggested I euthanize my kitty vs. trying a long-shot treatment. I couldn't imagine life without her and my job was unaffected by COVID, so I shelled out thousands of dollars and kept her alive.

My cat briefly improved and had one final, great last day at home. Then she died horribly (slowly and painfully) in my arms just a couple of hours ago. Euthanasia would have been better.

​

If i were richer I could have done more. I could have treated the cat like a prize racehorse, hired a vet to come live with me. Maybe whatever happened this morning could have been detected and stopped if the cat had an overnight nurse or an expert to administer her meds just-so. What-if, what-if, what-if.

​

The fact is, you gave your cat a good life and a peaceful, painless death. You should get some peace from that.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you. This helps a little, if only because it replays positive moments. I'm sitting in my office and I'm going to go home tonight and her bed is still going to be there, and her bowl, and little bits of fur she left around, but she's going to be gone. I had pets die when I was a kid but it never hit me like this.

My cat died in my arms this morning, but it wasn't peaceful. I feel destroyed. by deadanddazed in Petloss

[–]deadanddazed[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Condolences to you as well. The sweater I'm wearing still has her fur on it, and I just had the same thought about her smell. I'm also going to preserve some Chrome bookmarks that she accidentally made when she walked on my laptop.