Was it old age or something else?

daniel625

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So... my cat died a couple of days ago.
He was 18 years of age.
The vet said that it was kidney failure. Not completely unprecedented I suppose; he did previously diagnose him as having early to moderate kidney disease. Last year, my cat's BUN was high while Creatinine, Phosphorus, and SDMA (if that counts) levels were all normal. He still ate well though, sometimes cleaning his dish completely. Though he had been slowing down, sleeping more and such, he was still playful.

But last week, something happened: one day he seemed fine, doing his usual things, then the next day, he suddenly lost his appetite, and went from drinking lots of water to only a little water, then the next day, stopped eating and drinking completely and was walking around like something was stuck up his behind. I figured that he had constipation. So we took him to the vet the next morning.

Nope...

He was in full kidney failure; his levels this time were... well, let's just say that the doctor didn't think they were capable of getting that high.
Anyway, they gave him sub fluids, and then over the next few days, he was having nosebleeds, thick mucous pouring out of his other nostril, he threw up white foam once, he couldn't walk at all, had chills, pretty much fever like symptoms, until finally, he checked out peacefully on Monday.

Now my question is this... is this a normal way for cats to die of old age, or could something else have happened? Yeah I get that he was older and all, and if it was just that then there you go I guess, but due to the suddenness of all of these bizarre symptoms, which reminded me of how my brother's cat died (and she was only 11), the paranoid part of me feels that something else took him instead. Everyone is just writing it off as "just failed kidneys due to old age", but... I guess I'm just blown away; I always thought that if any cat was a candidate to live to their 20s, it would have been him. I can heartbreakingly say that I was wrong.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?
 
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pegleg

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I'm sorry for your loss.

I would venture his age, especially if he was on his way out, would have exacerbated his kidney disease to the point where he had stronger symptoms.

We had the same thing with my grandad's cat, who died of the same thing as my grandad. They were both fairly well up until near the end where everything went downhill at an alarming pace.
 

di and bob

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I'm so sorry for your loss, 18 years is a long time to share your life with that little boy. Towards the end of life everything slows down and conditions that were minor before can get a lot worse because of the weakened state. Kidney failure is a common reason for death as is heart failure. We all pray that our loved ones grow to be old and die peacefully in their sleep, but that so rarely happens. I hope you can hold on to the fact that as the body shuts down, so does pain perception and conscious feelings about what is happening.

Your little one gave you 18 years of friendship and unconditional love, I pray we all have that long with those little souls we love so much. You were with him at the end of his journey, you showed him that you cared and did what you could to love him all the more, he carried that with him as he started on his new journey , no longer bound to this earth and free of pain and old age. The bond you formed over those years will never be taken from you, use it to send your love and he will do the same. It is spiritual, not physical, so will never die, his love will follow you until the end of your own journey. He would never want you to be sad when thinking of him, just as you would want for him if you were the first to go. He passes on to you his legacy of love, and though it hurts so very much to not have his physical self in your life anymore, what he brought to your life is as priceless as the rarest jewel, you were so very fortunate to have known him and loved him as he is for loving you. My heart cries for your pain, but know we will share that pain because we know how much it hurts. Take care of yourself........RIP sweet, gentle boy, you will never be forgotten and will reside in a loving heart for evermore!
 

solomonar

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I remember my childhood.  My grandpa telling me that a cat can live "4-5 years, maybe 10 years". We discussed about outdoor cats (but still...)  this estimation was very common that time. Food consisted in table leftovers and sometime the "super-delight" of chicken boiled mixed with rice... Cow milk sometime....

I never known why a cat passes over until very recently. Kidney failure = old cat death - that almost every vet told me. Although I am of a very curios person by  nature and I like doubt and scientific inquires, I refrained myself to push my nose to deep in this topic. The fact is cats gained years of their life following committed and professional care, following  the love humans show to them. How many years - I do not know,  I just assume that many years. Again, I refrain myself to investigate this aspect, feeling better to stay away from big misteries of life and death. 

There is no science in love, there is no balance to weight it. When a cat goes over the rainbow, is like a piece of love is split in two - one piece remaining for ever with the human guardian (the "cat owner", as some may say).

You are very fortunate to  treasure  that love. My head bow to rainbow cat ! And my compassion to you.
 
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daniel625

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Thank you all for your kind words!  I would never trade the years that I spent with my kitty cat for anything in the world.

However... a new concern has just occurred to me.  It seems that one of the last things my cat ate was Blue Wilderness dry food.  A month ago, he ate a can of Purina One "True Instinct" (a fairly new product, said to be the replacement for "Smart Blend" for cats).

They both have one thing in common, they are said to be high in protein.

The Blue moreso, as the True Instinct didn't have much more protein than Friskies, despite making a point of saying that it is "high in protein".  However, I bring the latter up because my cat had gotten [what appeared to be] constipated after he ate the can; lethargy, having trouble using the litter box, etc.  However, it seemed to clear itself up in a couple of days and he went back to his normal routine, eating well and jumping up on things.  My cat seemed fine.

Now, I've heard that a high-protein diet is not good for kidneys that may be diseased, but I was under the impression that it meant if fed a persistent diet of high-protein food, not simply one small can, and a tablespoon worth of dry food.  Because if the latter is true, if all it takes to cause instantaneous renal failure is one can or one spoonful, I don't think I could ever live that down.  Could anyone clarify this for me please? I'd hate for my cats passing at this age to be for the wrong reasons.
 
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zed xyzed

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I am certain that a high protein food did not cause him to pass. Cats hide illnesses very well and sadly as mentioned in the previous posts  older cats can take a turn for the worse very quickly. I am so sorry for your loss.
 

hexiesfriend

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18 is a good full life and your cat it seems held on to you for as long he could. In old age unfortunately in my experience it's a one day good the next day bad. As mine get older I try to pay a lot more attention to them because it seems to happen this way. I'm So sorry for the loss of your kitty.
 

stephanie junca

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Sorry for your loss of your beloved kitty!

I think we always look to see if we could have done something different to prevent a certain outcome but as I have learned through my cat's illness we cannot prevent the inevitable.

My little girl is 16 almost 17 and barely hanging on. Her kidneys are almost at the end and she is eating less and less every day. It is sad to see her deteriorate but unfortunately it is a part of life and something I have slowly come to terms with as I have had a year of knowing that her disease could take her at any moment.

For you, it seems you had some knowledge of your cat's illness but like others have said it can take them when we least expect it. Your kitty lived a long life where he was happy and loved so take heart in that and know you have a little kitty angel somewhere to watch over you now [emoji]128570[/emoji]
 

millcats66

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Just something I wanted to share that my daughter sent me...

“‘Owner, Dearest Friend,’ by Vivian Matthews

I could never say enough, Owner, dearest friend, to thank you for the love you gave to me, until the end.

I’m sorry that I hurt you by saying my goodbye. You gave me such a happy home, I lived a happy life. I leapt and played and laughed in ways you maybe couldn’t see. Of all the pets you might have loved, I’m glad that you chose me.

It’s okay to miss me, for I miss you too.

It’s okay to bow your head and cry if you have to.

However hard it seems today, your dear sweet heart will heal.

For now, my friend, remember me and feel what you must feel. But don’t give up on loving, Owner, dearest friend. Although the cost is oh so high, it’s worth it in the end — to know that you made this pet’s life the best one it could be. It should be no mystery why you meant the world to me.

So here’s my final word, my friend, this is my last wish: Find another lonely pet, then give to them my dish. And every time they make you smile, know that I’m smiling too, still so proud to once have been a dearest friend to you.

Love, always.”
 
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daniel625

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Thank you all for your replies.  Millcats66, that was a very sweet thing that you and your daughter shared.

Yeah, there were some clues that he was slowing down as I mentioned before.  One thing I didn't mention yet though was that he had an unidentified mass in his x-ray taken about a year ago, which may or may not have been a tumor, and probably was why he was constantly dehydrated.

One thing that my Dad pointed out though was that my cat's responsiveness to certain things seemed to be lessening somewhat.  i.e. he seemingly wouldn't know you were coming until you went right up next to him, wouldn't be as aware of when you put a treat next to him (almost like he had tunnel vision), or other things.

So in a weird way, maybe it's good that he went when he did, before any of these other things (cancer, blind and deafness, etc.) could overtake him.  Because for all intents and purposes, he got to go out more or less in one piece: never had any teeth extracted, never suffered any broken bones, and never really got sick or contracted fleas.

So yeah, at least his quality of life stayed great up to the end.  I guess that is something to be grateful for.
 
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