Collapsed while on his bed

Dylan has been acting a bit strangely the last few days, but I didn't expect this at all.

He was just lying on his bed like usual, then all of a sudden he stood up and started meowing frantically. That went on for a few minutes, then he started panting heavily and his eyes glazed over and rolled back in his head, then he collapsed on his bed.

He was still breathing and when I looked in his face I could see him watching me, but he didn't have the strength to even lift his head up.

Managed to get him to a 24 hour vet... Apparantly in the past 30 minutes he's gone blind and has major internal bleeding.

I'm just glad it didn't happen a few hours later when everyone was asleep (10:30pm now), at least the vet managed to put him out of pain.

Poor thing He's had a good run I guess. 13 years, 2 of with feline AIDS.

Awwww bless his little heart the poor baby

Like you say thank goodness it happend while you were all there. He's at peace now though and playing over the bridge happy and free from any illness.

RIP Dylan sweetie Go and see your new friends at the bridge

Thanks Rosie.

The house is so empty without him here. Usually at around this time of the day he comes and sits on the chair next to me.

I don't even remember what it was like before I got him. He was my only cat ever since I was about 8 years old

Edit: Whoops, I think Rosie is actually your cats name? Sorry, didn't realise.

I am so sorry to hear about Dylan. You are in our prayers....

RIP Dylan, fly with the other angels.

Darling Dylan...RIP sweet pie.

I'm so sorry to hear about Dylan. Thinking of both of you.

I am so sorry. What a shock to have them pass so quickly like that.

Lichen--so sorry to hear that you lost your beautiful Dylan. Thanks for the pic so we can all see how beautiful he is. It's a terrible shock to lose a baby so abruptly. I would think that with what you witnessed at home, plus what the vet saw and observed about Dylan later, a well-qualified and experienced vet could make a pretty educated guess about what happened to your Dylan. I just think if it were my cat, and it happened so suddenly, I would want to know what it was that so suddenly turned fatal. If only to watch out for something similar in other pet cats. Whatever the cause, it must have been a huge shock to you, and I know you are now deeply grieving your beloved boy. At least the last person he saw was YOU, the person he knew and loved best in the whole wide world, and you were there to comfort him. That was a great blessing for Dylan. And also the fact that apparently he suffered very little if at all. Thank God your Dylan passed peacefully over the Bridge where suffering ends and there is nothing there except love and peace and friendship and joy. And of course lots of other kitties to play with, to snuggle with, and to be friends and family with while they wait for us, the humans who love them, to cross that bridge someday and join them. Dear sweet Dylan RIP and have a wonderful, wonderful time while waiting to be joyfully reunited with your humans. Lichen, this is for you, from all of us who understand your grief all too well: and of course a big comforting loving group-hug to help hold you thru your grief and loneliness. Please know that Dylan is now in a place of perfect and total joy, of indescribable peace, and overwhelming love. He will wait patiently for you, however long it takes, and he will always know how much you love him. God bless--I will be thinking of you.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I am sorry to hear about your loss. RIP, Dylan.

Thanks everyone, especially QueenofEgypt. I only got about an hour of sleep last night

Apparantly he had a stomach tumor, so it's probably been going on for quite a while. He was acting a bit strangely about a month ago for a few days, if I had've taken him to the vet back then, maybe he'd still be here now.

I feel bad about leaving him by himself on his last day. He came in to sit on my lap that morning, but after a while I made him get off so I could go to work. If I had've known what was going to happen, I'd have taken the day off to stay with him.

Seeing him lying there, unable to move, watching me out of the corner of his eyes was the saddest thing I've ever seen. Why did they have to take him away so suddenly

Originally Posted by Lichen

Thanks everyone, especially QueenofEgypt. I only got about an hour of sleep last night

Apparantly he had a stomach tumor, so it's probably been going on for quite a while. He was acting a bit strangely about a month ago for a few days, if I had've taken him to the vet back then, maybe he'd still be here now.

I feel bad about leaving him by himself on his last day. He came in to sit on my lap that morning, but after a while I made him get off so I could go to work. If I had've known what was going to happen, I'd have taken the day off to stay with him.

Seeing him lying there, unable to move, watching me out of the corner of his eyes was the saddest thing I've ever seen. Why did they have to take him away so suddenly

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I don't think we will ever understand why they are taken so suddenly, but I do believe everything, even the hard times, were meant for a reason.

Please don't beat yourself up with the "what-ifs" because they only hurt you more. Dylan would never blame you for not taking him to the vet last month because he was hiding what was wrong, cats are excellent at being sneaky like that, so know that he wouldn't blame you and you can't blame yourself.
In the morning you had to go to work, sadly most of us do, especially when we have a cat on our lap, hehe Always know that you both got in another snuggle and I promise when the hurt starts to ease it will be something you will always treasure.

Dylan had you for 13 long lovely years and had you with him at the end, when he needed you most. That is what truly matters, he knew your love right then and he gave you his.

Take care sweetie and God bless... You and Sweet Angel Dylan are in my thoughts

Originally Posted by Lichen

Apparantly he had a stomach tumor, so it's probably been going on for quite a while. He was acting a bit strangely about a month ago for a few days, if I had've taken him to the vet back then, maybe he'd still be here now.

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Cancer is not very easily treated in animals, especially something like a stomach tumor. As time goes on, you will realize that you did do everything possible for Dylan. Maybe you could call your vet to ask him, to be sure.

I am very sorry for your loss. We got our cats Garfield and Festus when my dd was eight. I do not know how she will handle their inevitable loss someday. They are so close, often sleeping together. While we are lucky to share such a close relationship, it is devastating when your loved one is gone!

Many hugs to you at this difficult time. Rest in peace, sweet Dylan.

aww, look at him in my car



The hardest part is the day after it happens. The first thing I saw today was his little water bowl still with water in it, and the empty spot where he used to sit next to the window.

My dog is acting weirdly today too (don't worry, there's nothing wrong with her). She knows that something bad has happened, she kept crying when I went out to see her.

Sorry for going on about this, I'm sure all of you have had cats die before, but I haven't

Don't second guess yourself. Understand that this process is part of grief. I am sorry for your loss, but don't beat yourself up. Cats hide pain so remarkably well you almost have to be a detective to figure out if they are healthy or just acting odd-

LIchen, I feel so sorry for you and what you are going through. It is hard when we lose them suddenly. My Max passed in July. He was diagnosed on Friday with kidney failure and so much worse on Monday that we made the decision to let him go. He was twelve and a half years old and had never been sick a day of his life. We have no idea what caused the kidney failure. So I know how you are feeling now. I pray that God will give you strength to endure. Your memories will bring you much peace and comfort. Dylan was a blessed cat to have such a loving owner. Don't beat yourself up thinking all the things you could have done differently. Your cat knew you loved him. That is what is important. And I am sure you made all decisions at the time in the best interest of your cat.
Rest in peace sweet kitty. You were loved and you are sorely missed.

So sorry to hear that, it is so much harder when we dont have time to prepare for it. You gave him such a good life though, and there was probably nothing they could do for the cancer except what they did. You were a very special person for caring for him when he had FIV too. I hope your dog manages to get over her grief too.

Condolences on your loss of Dylan. What a cute picture of him in the car, with places to go, things to see. Well, he sees a lot more now, from over RB, and he's feeling healthy and whole again, too. What a dear loyal friend, to stay with you since you were 8! It' s more like you've lost a sibling, and that is such a great loss. On Sunday, it will be 12 years since my brother was killed when a drunk lady's SUV broadsided his car, and I still get sad & weepy when the first chills of frost return to remind me of that awful day.... I was very impressed that he lived for 13 years with FIV, what a special love you two have, to conquer such challenges! Hugs, susan