Cat was hit by a car and didn't survive, can't help feeling guilty :(

Hi all,

My loveliest and sweetest cat, Daisy just died today. I think she got hit by a car in front of our house. I did heard some noise like a screeching wheel and something sounded like trash can got hit when I was in the kitchen this morning, but I didn't immediately check out what happened (which I really regret now ( ) because I was in the middle of preparing food for my cats.

So after ten minutes or so i was calling for my cats to give them food but Daisy didn't came, so I went to look for her and I found her in my door step lying with her body folded in half and she was gasping and panting heavily and her tongue was sticking out. I tried lifting her but she was crying in pain. I panicked and I immediately took her to the nearest vet clinic, I haven't even thought of putting her in carriage, so I carried her in my arms (which another thing I really regret).

The vet put her on oxygen mask and examined her. There was no blood. But she was very limp and was panting heavily. The vet suspected she got hit by the car at her back leg and have some internal injuries. They injected some anti-inflammotary thing to reduce the swelling. Then they suggested to either wait there and let her calm down a little before giving her any further medication for the suspected internal bleeding, or go to another clinic that has xray machine to check for any fracture and her lung condition.

I opted to have her checked at another more established vet clinic which is a little far away, but I told them that I needed to go back home for 5 minutes just to get my purse, her carriage and lock my house door etc. and I left her there with the oxygen mask on. Then I came back, and handed them the carriage to put Daisy in. But she had a cardiac arrest when they were moving her. They gave her CPR but unfortunately her heart was already beating too slow and didn't survive.

Now that I think about it, if I have checked for the accident immediately when I heard the noise, she wouldn't have to drag herself back home that maybe have aggravated her injuries (she must have jumped my fence to get to my doorstep from the road :'( ) and I would've get to the vet sooner. Or maybe i have hurt her more by carrying her in my arms instead of a carriage. Or maybe I should have let her rest a bit before wanting to move her.

Does anyone here have experienced this?

If there was no exterior bleeding, no blood from her mouth/nose/eyes, what might be the causes of her death?

What are the more appropriate steps for me to take if (god forbids) anything like this ever happen again in the future?

Thank you

I'm so sorry for your loss, @daisydaisy. 

I don't think you did anything wrong.

In fact, I think you did everything possible to get immediate treatment for your Daisy, and to let the Vet try and save Daisy's life.

I think that Daisy must have had critical internal injuries that caused her death, and that even if x-rays were available, her internal injuries caused major damage inside.

(The only way to really know would be to do a necropsy, but knowing the extent of her injuries will not change the outcome, and you'd still be faced with dealing with her loss.)

And since the vet suspected internal bleeding, I don't even know how fast that can be stopped, to prevent cardiac arrest.

(Something similar happened to me, when I was quite young, in grade school, except that it was a small benji-type dog named Scruffy. He ran across the street, and got hit by a car. His back legs did not work, and the Vet also suspected internal injuries, and suggested he be put to sleep. This was back in the early 1980's. Perhaps, today, they have better techniques, and equipment for diagnosis, but if our animals are too injured, then I don't know.)

I think everything you did, would have been exactly what I would have done.

Getting Daisy to a Vet as fast, as safely possible.

Please don't feel guilty.

The reason you are questioning all the steps that you took, is only because the grief and loss, makes us question everything we did that day, and if we could have prevented it.

It's normal to run through...the "what if I did this", or "what if I did that",... but ultimately we cannot really change how things play out.

You responded well, in the most difficult of circumstances, even though right now, you don't really believe that.

Your Daisy was so strong, in making her way back to your door step, perhaps as a final goodbye, or from knowing that you loved her, knowing it was her home and wanting to leave her love there, too.

I am so sorry for your loss. You obviously loved Daisy deeply and wanted only the best for her. As someone who has also lost a beloved pet to trauma I can tell you as cat nap says "what ifs" are normal. But please be kind to yourself, none of us have the benefit of hindsight during emergencies. 

Yes this happened to a stray I fed for years. I felt awful because he was returning from being fed by me. I just found him in the middle of the street laying there I thought he just passed away in the Middle Of the street. The vet told me the
same that he got hit by a car. I'm so sorry that this happened to you and your baby.

I'm so sorry to hear this @daisydaisy  Quite a few of the feral cats I care for were killed by cars. One time I saw it happen, picked the cat up and rushed her to the vet, but she died before we got there.

Very few cats survive traffic accidents I'm afraid.

The best thing to do is to keep your cats away from the road. You mention that you have other cats. Do they go outside too? They would be much safer if you could keep them in a catio or only let them out on a harness and leash. Maybe there is a way you could cat-proof your back yard so they stay there? I know they enjoy their freedom, but it's very dangerous for them to be out alone.

Rest in Peace sweet Daisy.

Horrible accidents happen, beautiful Daisy was killed through nothing that was your fault. My heart cries for what you are going through, I know the pain of losing a little one this way. You tried to get her help and at the time that is all you could have done. Try not to blame yourself for something that was beyond your control, it brings nothing but heartache. Try to concentrate on what a wonderful little girl she was, one you grew to know and what she meant to you and what she brought into your life as she shared your life's journey for that little while. The bond you formed with her will follow you for the rest of your life, you can send your love and comfort to her even now and she will do the same. Don't be hard on yourself, there are limits to how many we can bring inside to protect, and so many show up to be fed and to find a home. Know that you are bringing happiness and love to these little ones, and they would never want you to be so unhappy when they have to go. Bless you for your pain and suffering, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. RIP dear Daisy, you will never be forgotten and will always have a special place in a heart that will cherish your memory forevermore! Sleep tight little Princess!

I'm really touched by all your kind words and thoughts, thank you so much. I really needed them to calm my broken heart a little in this difficult time. And my heart goes out to all of you and all the precious little ones who has experienced this unfortunate event too T T

I should really be grateful that I still have the other two cats. Yes, I let them out to roam around during the day too, but I'm thinking of letting them go out only under my surveillance from now on as I couldn't really afford an outside enclosure or catio now, so I hope, I really hope they'll still be happy.

Dear @cat nap, @moorspede, @hexiesfriend, @Norachan, and @Di and Bobit, I will remember all your supporting and warm words, thank you so much again, they really have helped me a lot.

Daisy really was a strong, lovely and sweet cat, and I should really cherish the beautiful time we have spent together. And may time heal this heart <3<3<3

daisydaisy said:

 
I'm really touched by all your kind words and thoughts, thank you so much. I really needed them to calm my broken heart a little in this difficult time. And my heart goes out to all of you and all the precious little ones who has experienced this unfortunate event too T T

I should really be grateful that I still have the other two cats. Yes, I let them out to roam around during the day too, but I'm thinking of letting them go out only under my surveillance from now on as I couldn't really afford an outside enclosure or catio now, so I hope, I really hope they'll still be happy.

Dear @cat nap, @moorspede, @hexiesfriend, @Norachan, and @Di and Bobit, I will remember all your supporting and warm words, thank you so much again, they really have helped me a lot.

Daisy really was a strong, lovely and sweet cat, and I should really cherish the beautiful time we have spent together. And may time heal this heart <3<3<3

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@daisydaisy...Any time you need to talk about your Daisy, or just post photos, or need support, there will always be someone on the Cat Site, to lend a ear, virtual hugs, or support.

And if you have to keep busy, or focus on other things, that is okay, too. Everyone has their own process.

We all kind of know the rough time that you will be going through, and can relate to that.

What @Di and Bob said about our cats never wanting us to be unhappy, is so true. Even when they leave us, they would not want us to be too sad.

I'm glad that you have two other cats that will also help you with your pain.  Having any animal around helps with that, since it helps us to focus on the present, and they need us to do things for them.

They also remind us to enjoy the time with them, too.

You're right about time healing a broken heart.

It takes a while, but eventually it does get better. 

Sending you vibes of Strength and Peace.

I am so sorry for your loss, it was a terrible accident and try not to blame yourself. RIP sweet Daisy you will always be loved and missed by your family  

I'm so sorry for your loss.  Please don't feel guilty about your sweet Daisy.  You obviously loved (love) her very much.  I understand that guilt you feel but it doesn't do any good.  My dear cat Ezlo was killed by a car about 2 months ago.  He was missing for a day and I finally saw a post on the NextDoor app about a dead kitty by the side of the road a few streets over.  I knew immediately from the description it had to be him and it was.  For the most part he was totally intact and didn't look hurt at all.  So it much have been internal injuries.   I felt horrible guilt, that I didn't/couldn't keep him safe.  But being out and about made him happy.  You did all you could and are obviously a loving, kind caretaker.  Hugs.