Mysterious Death 10 month Old Kitten

I am not sure where to even begin in writing this.  First off I do not have children and looked at my cat as my baby, Always. Even in his later age he was still my baby.  It started back in February 2013 when my cat of 12 years Dexter (he was a male orange tabby of 16yrs) started acting just a bit different than usual (pawing at his mouth like he had a string stuck in it, I would check and see nothing) and also began having smelly breath.  I made a vet apt. to take him in and have his teeth cleaned.....he did not need his teeth cleaned.  Turns out he was diagnosed with Oral Sarcoma of his lower jaw!  I was shocked, confused, sad and heartbroken.  I was told he would be in pain and the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize him.  Not 24 hours after taking him in to the vet, my beloved Dexter was dead.  This was February 11th.  I was traumatized and heart sick, I did not think the pain of losing my baby would go away.  

Less than 2 months later I decided there are so many cats and kittens that need a good home that I would start to look for another.  One that is completely different than Dexter so as not to ever compare the two.  I searched around for my new baby at different shelters then on March 21st I went to a no kill animal shelter in Alberta, Canada and found my new little man!! He was only 9.5 months old, black and white fur with a black button nose and black paws.  He was soooooooo sweet, I could not resist.  My partner decided we should name him Buzz because of his high energy.  Life was becoming joyful again with Buzz in the house.  All the little things he would do brought love and light to our hearts and we completely fell in love.  Buzz's presence really helped us with the too recent loss of Dexter and we doted on him.  From the moment I let him out of his carrier when I first brought him home, he loved it and was totally relaxed and comfortable here.  He knew he was home and I was his new mom  We spent everyday together since I work out of the home and made sure to give him lots of kisses and cuddles.  I was a bit paranoid when he first came home about his safety since he was so young and playful so I walked around the house making sure no chords were laying around etc.  At first Buzz was sneezing quite a bit, had diarrhea, a saggy belly and his back legs were bull legged.  After a couple of days I took him to my Vet. I brought a stool sample with me so we could check for worms.  The results were negative.  The vet gave a powder called Flora something to aid in his digestion.  He started to get better right away.  The sneezing sub sided, poops were no longer soft.  He was always full of energy.  

This past Thursday a friend of mine passed away tragically in a vehicle accident so Friday night we had a bonfire to remember our friend.  I woke up Saturday (May 11th) around 5 or 6am because Buzz was playing with a plant right beside my head on the side table.  I went back to sleep.  I awoke again not sure of the time (between 7:30 - 8:00am) and saw Buzz standing at the foot of the bed at my feet just looking at me  Such a sweet face.  Again, I lay back down to awake and get up at 8:30am.  SIDE NOTE: I have a wooden foot board on my bed and in front a wooden blanket box with about a 3 or 4 inch gap between the two.  When I awoke and got up at 8:30am I went to the bathroom then for some reason back to the bedroom.  What I saw was Buzz's fur hanging upside down between the box and foot board.  OMG, I freak out and immediately move the box and begin CPR and mouth to snout as he was still warm.  No such luck.  Buzz was dead!!!!!  3 months to the DAY of Dexter's passing.  The vet said he did not suffocate nor did he break his neck.  I never got an autopsy and really wish I would have for peace of mind if anything.  

From day 1 I had a feeling something wasn't quite right but I took him to my vet, did the stool sample and nothing was wrong or so they found.  I am just so devastated and heartbroken right now.  I wish I knew what happened.  I LOVED Buzz with all my heart and was looking forward to being together for 15 / 20 years.  I didn't have him for even 2 months!!!  Why has this happened?  Because of the circumstances of how I found him I am very confused if he died because of a heart issue or did he hit his head and snap his brain stem?  Is that possible for such a young guy?  Why would this happen to Buzz....to me??  I love my cats and would do anything for them.  2 cats and 1 friend within 3 months is just too much.  Any words of advice or encouragement are greatly appreciated.  I find these message boards quite helpful with the grieving.  Thank you to all who have read this and that will post a reply.

I am so sorry you have to go through this again. As sudden as it was I would speculate he had a heart problem, almost everything else usually shows signs of something wrong. It's perfectly normal to blame ourselves and feel guilt.YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. You gave him a wonderful home and all the love you could, there is no way you could have predicted what would happen. Mourn for him because he was a beautiful soul, but he would not want you to be so sad. Only time will help. I wish that I could hug you, but please accept comfort from everyone on this site. RIP little Buzz, please join Dexter and try to comfort your mommy from above.

Thank you Di for your kind words.  Today I am thinking of it now that I have an angel on each shoulder.  I believe that they were both brought to my life for a reason and I will always hold dear the time I was lucky enough to have with each of them....long or short. I loved them both.  Now they are brothers watching over me. 

I'm so sorry that Buzz left you after such a brief time and all too short a life. When you say he was playing with a plant, could he have chewed on something poisonous?

RIP, sweetie.

The plant he was playing with is fake so no risk there.  I will have to live with the fact that I will never truly know what happened.....not in this life anyway.  

Your post brought tears to me.  I can so feel your anguish.

Please take some comfort that when a young cat like Buzz passes suddenly for no apparant reason, it could very possibly be hereditary.  I lost a barly 2 year old cat, Beeshee Marie who developed a severe heart murmer and passed in a day.  My vet told me he had little doubt she got it from one of her parents, her father a feral.  He also disappeared and I believe he succumed to heart problems.

Try to remember you rescued him and gave him such a wonderful life for the short time he was with you.  Concentrate on that.

In time, in his honor and Dexters, I hope you will adopt another little one.  Such a caring person, as yourself, should not be without a bundle of fur to love and care for.

There is a little one out there who needs you.  In your own time, love again.

God Bless you and Buzz and Dexter. 

I'm so so sorry to read of your loss. Like farleyv said, you gave Buzz a lovely home and a happy life for his last days. Rather focus on that. Both Buzz and Dexter is in a better place, playing and running and jumping. When you are ready, open your heart and your home home to another kitty who so desparately needs one. You're such a lovely person for giving these kitties a loving home. Thank you. Good luck and many blessings!

What an awful time you've all had, l'm so sorry 

Know that Dexter and Buzz are safe at the Bridge and looking down on you

Buzz