My cat got sick very quickly and passed away. If anyone has any input at all it would be much apprec

I had adopted a cat about 2 weeks ago and she has been or seemed somewhat lazy. She would come out to eat for the most part and drink when I fed both cars. Today, however, she did not eat or drink. Later in the day the other cat was following her so I checked and there was a lump that seemed to have come out of nowhere. I mean earlier in the day there was no lump and if there was it was tiny. That night the lump was enormous and her breathing became very heavy. She started keeping her mouth open and looked as if it were harder to breathe each breath. You could tell she was in so much pain. Her breaths became longer and longer from each breath and we pet her until she passed which was only a few minutes. It was very sad and would like to know if anyone has any input at all in the matter. She was very friendly and kind. Very unfortunate the outcome. Thank you.

I would also like to add that the lump may have been in the middle of her body. When she would turn over to each side it would pop up on both sides. You could tell it was painful.

 My deepest condolences. I know how tough that can be. May her soul Rest In Peace.

   If you were looking for answers, I believe that to be a diaphragmatic hernia. I'm not sure what could have possibly caused it, but the description you gave fits the symptoms.

It is likely that the lump was one of her organs. The visibility of the lump means that the organ was pushing against the side of her body. 

I'm sorry, tonyp. Sometimes it happens so fast. Because cats are hidey creatures, and because they're so small, health issues can escalate really quickly for them. Sometimes, unfortunately, too quickly for us to really do much.

I don't have any suggestions on what might have gone wrong here. Just hope you're taking care of yourself, and I'm sorry for your loss.

sounds like congestive heart failure. Panting is because lack of oxygen. The heart may have been leaking fluid into the body and that's where it settled. There was nothing you could do to reverse this without big medical moves which don't guarantee anything. I am sorry you had to endure this. I don't know why the lump settled down near the legs though.

It is very scary watching your kitty pass away.

in 2008 I had an elder kitty die in my arms due to lung cancer. we never did make it to the ER. she had started panting earlier in the day-I didn't know it was a medical emergency. I thought it was asthma and would go away. later she got very limp and couldn't walk or eat. I held her as she drew her last breathes. felt her heart beat slow down. she didn't suffer. It was more traumatic for me than it was for her. It took me months to even talk about it.

Don't be surprised if you cry your eyes out for some time. There was nothing you could have done to reverse it. Even with best vet care if the heart is compromised, there is not much to fix it. I again am sorry for your loss. You didn't do anything wrong.