Cipher Is Gone..

One of my rescues, Cipher, died today.

I rescued him about 6 months ago when he just strolled into my house when I opened the door. He was in a HORRIBLE state. He had mange and scabies all over his neck and was limping, too, it seemed. He was a long-haired cat (people mistakenly call them Persian's over here) so I'm guessing he was a pet who had been neglected and chucked out when he had gotten sick. He was incredibly friendly though. The way he just wandered into my house, you would have thought that he had lived there his whole life! He followed me around and would pounce on my legs whenever I walked past him. He was almost impossible not to bond with.

So, I took him in and kept him in the spare room we have on our third storey. I couldn't take him to the vets because I didn't know any at the time so I began to treating him myself. I had exams going on at the time but he was my priority. I had to make him better and I promised him I would. And I did. Against all the odds a 15 year old saved a rather fat tom-cat and gave him a home. His mange was gone within a few weeks and although he did develop a floppy ear because of a hematoma, he was good as new at least 2 months after I got him.

I knew that I couldn't keep him though, and that's when I gave him to my cousin. He keeps them in a factory, a very very very large space full of lots of worn down machines that aren't used anymore. It's got lots of planks of wood for him to play on and lots of beams for him to walk across, and even a little pool for him to swim in (he was a strange cat and really loved baths!). He loved it there and would yell at everyone and everything and get excited whenever he saw someone, pouncing on their legs.

My cousin bred him with his Queen, too, and she had 6 babies a few weeks ago. 3 of the babies died and 1 of them was stolen when he was a month old. The babies suddenly stopped eating and were fatigued. My cousin took them to the vet and the vet simply said that "they had the flu". He didn't prescribe any antibiotics that I know of, he just gave them an injection that I don't know the name of and told my cousin to put them in the sun. They both died within a week of each other. They had a fit and passed away. I'm guessing it was dehydration and low-blood sugar that finally got them and I can't help but feel as if it could have been prevented. Though I couldn't have told the vet what to give the kittens, out of fear of him thinking I was disrespecting him. People over here don't like to admit that they're wrong.

And then Cipher fell sick about 4 days ago. He kept vomiting (it was greeny-yellow) and refused to eat. He was drooling and hardly moving too, though would drink water every so often. His symptoms were so much like Butty's when he had an obstruction but again, the vet just said that he had a cold. The vet prescribed calpol (I told my cousin to NOT give him the calpol, the vet is stupid to have even suggested that in my opinion), Gravinate, Entox and Flagyl. My cousin would miss a few doses though, claiming that his own work was more important than the welfare of Cipher. If I was in his space, I wouldn't have left Cipher's side. I would have spent every single second with him to make sure he was eating and drinking every hour and help him urinate and ensure that he was okay. That he felt loved, even if he was destined to die.

I feel like all of this could have been prevented. I'm not sure if the vet palpated his stomach to check for an obstruction, but I don't think he did. The vet, in my opinion, is underqualified, too slacking at his job. I don't think I'll ever know why Cipher or the kittens died and that really does sadden me. I know that it probably could have been prevented if I was there to help him, but my exams are in less than a month and they live two hours away so there's no way I could have gone to help

Personally, I think in the end low-blood-sugar killed all of them, that and possibly dehydration from not drinking and vomiting (the kittens weren't vomiting, though). If anyone else has any ideas as to why they could have died, it'd be much appreciated.

Edit: here is a picture of the fluffball about a month after I got him.

Beautiful Cipher, what a sweet, expressive face! He was so lucky to have found an angel here on earth, his remaining days were spent with someone to care about him and love him. My heart breaks that he went through this, he deserved a long and happy life after what he went through before he found you. I wish things could have turned out different, but you did what you could. They could have all contracted some kind of contagious disease, I lost a stray mother, her brother and a litter of six week old kittens to distemper last year, so I know the heartbreak and the feeling of helplessness that comes with something like this. You gave him some happiness in his life, you will be blessed for caring for a creature in need. You developed a bond with him that will not be broken, I hope your memories of him in happier times will bring you comfort as you grieve the loss of such a sweet boy. Thank you for letting us know of him, we will all grieve his passing and share your sorrow. RIP sweet Cipher, the world became a little darker with your passing, but your star shines bright in the heavens! You will never be forgotten and will be forever held in a loving heart.

He was a beautiful boy, what a sweet little face. I am so sorry he is gone. Thank you for loving him 

I'm very sorry to read this.  RIP, little Cipher.  

I'm very sorry to read about Cipher's passing. He was beautiful. RIP, Cipher.

I'm so sorry for your loss of Cipher. Thanks for loving him and taking care of him as much as you could. He was a cutie. RIP Cipher.

  Condolences on losing Cipher - you had so much time, love and effort invested in him. It was a miracle that you brought him back to health and I pray for blessings for you in giving Cipher a 2nd chance to enjoy life - playing among the boards and getting to do "cat stuff" in a safe environment. It was unfortunate that he eventually succumbed to some horrific disease - I have lost ferals the same way, despite the best of veterinary care and medications.

Cipher was an incredibly beautiful cat and had much courage and determination to overcome mange and scabies. Personally, I think it was your love that made the difference!

I hope that the pain of your loss heals soon - I, too, am freshly grieving the loss of my kitten Trucker.

What eyes he had.

Thankyou for the kind words. I'm still in slight shock knowing that he's gone and I can't help but feel as if there was something more that I could have done. It's devastating that there's not much we can do to cure diseases in our cats rather than hope for the best. In a way it makes me want to strive even harder to become a vet and do as much research as I possibly can into making their lives better and safer.

And @catsknowme, I'm so sorry for your loss! I bet he was a marvelous kitten. It really is shocking when cats leave us suddenly. One minute they're alright and the next you know you won't ever see them again. It's sad, especially when they bond with you more than some humans.

You did everything you could, please don't blame yourself.

As for what killed Cipher and his kittens, there's no way to tell without a necropsy, and without a competent vet you can't even get that, not to mention that it's probably not worth the cost.  There's a reasonable chance that it was a genetic problem, but there's no way to tell.  At least Cipher spent his last months loved and happy and reasonably healthy, and that was all your doing.  For his sake, I'm very glad that he found you.  I wish you could have had longer with him.

Rest in Peace, sweet Cipher.

Margret

I was just doing some research right now and I realised that Cipher had a lot of the symptoms of Renal Failure?

He had excessive thirst which increased the more he got close to dying, and he would randomly vomit (his vomiting got very bad during the last few days of his life). He also grew anorexic during the last few days also.

The only problem is that he didn't lose weight? He'd always been a very heavy cat, ever since I got him.

Though the more I think about it the more it seems as if it /was/ renal failure, possibly due to old age? I was certain that he was above 5-8 years old when I got him because you could tell he was old with the way he walked and how generally lazy he was. Could this have been a possibility as to why the kittens had died to? Because he was old? I know that mutations in gametes is more possible with increasing age in humans, but is it the same for cats?

I feel a little better than I did before, but my Mum really feels that his presence is missing. Whenever she used to go to the factory to visit them, Cipher would be the first one who greeted her. He also had a rather cute habit of jumping on peoples feet and biting with all of his force :-) He really was something! One of his kittens, a little white unsexed bugger, is almost exactly like him!! The baby loves to jump up at people and is very vocal and loving, he's even a little bit on the chubby side!

Also another thing, will the female cat miss her 'husband'? She doesn't seem to have any behavioural changes yet. Are cats very good at hiding their sadness?

Cats do not mate for life.  Cipher was in no way her husband -- he was the tom cat who impregnated her.  The real question is whether they were friends when there were no pheromones involved.

Certainly cats can hide sadness, just as they can hide any other pain.  Does this cat tend to hide pain, or is she open about it?  If you think she's grieving, do you think there is anything you can do to comfort her?

Yes, Cipher's age could very well have had something to do with his kittens dying.

Yes, it could have been renal failure.  Without a necropsy there's no way to tell.  In general, renal failure in cats is a terminal illness.  There are exceptions, as when the failure is caused by an infection which is curable, rather than being chronic and ongoing.  It's not a nice way to go.  If that was it, then Cipher had a terminal illness and there was very little you could have done, especially since he was elderly.

I understand that you're trying to make sense of what happened.  This is what humans do, at least the intelligent ones.  We try to learn from experience.  But I have to tell you that none of these speculations are likely to be any comfort to you in your loss.  Take what you can from it, add it to your storehouse of knowledge, for future cats, and Cipher's death will not have been in vain.  But still, this doesn't substitute for proper grieving, and may, in fact, be your brain attempting to distract itself from the hard work that you need to do now, grieving your loss.  Sometimes our brains try to play tricks on us that way.

Your mother has some grieving to do as well, it sounds like.  Perhaps this is a time to let your mutual loss pull you together.  Maybe the kitten who has so many of Cipher's mannerisms will be comforting to her, and to you, but be careful.  This kitten is not Cipher.  It can't take Cipher's place.  Allow it to make its own place in your hearts.

(((Hugs, to you, your mom, and all the kitties.)))

Margret

Cipher was a handsome cat.  Bless you for rescuing him.  I am so sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry for your loss of Cipher! Such a beauty!
You rescued him and gave him happiness in his life. It wasn't fair that he left so soon. Sometimes though, we never know the reasons why. Just know that you cared for him and loved him, and he loved you in return.
RIP Sweet Cipher!
You were so loved and will never be forgotten!