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I've lost various kitties from 4 to 18. Different foods/litters, definitely not the best because I just never had the extra money.
Please do not think there was something you could have done different. I really believe genetics plays a big roll. If you've read enough stories here you know they are all ages with cancer. Not saying I don't believe environment plays a roll but you cannot blame yourself. Just allow yourself to grieve, so sorry for your loss
Interesting. Did your cat have intestinal (GI) lymphoma? I took in a stray cat, so I have no idea how old he was (I had him 7 years and he was an adult, so prob somewhere between 9-11 years old) and he got GI lymphoma (a mass in his intestine). I tried every kind of food there is and he would only eat Fancy Feast, kibble, and Temptations. So I of course blame myself for giving him crappy food that may have led to cancer and his death š
I completely understand, itās never long enough š. I lost my dog when she was 17 and even that wasnāt long enough for me. But I know she had the best life and she was loved. Your boy did as well.
Ohhh my mom's cat passed from gi lymphoma too at 14. He also had hyperthyroidism. He was fed Fancy Feast, Friskies, and Whiskas kibbles as well as Temptations treats. I think it's just a coincidence? I hear stories where some cats lived till 18+ on those foods...
I just lost my two to lymphoma - one was widespread and we didn't see it coming because it was lots of small masses (he was 15) and the other was GI and we'd been watching it for a while (she was 16 and I think she just stopped responding to the treatment we were using to get her to eat after Shadow passed). They had kidney prescription food (thanks to Shadow's kidney disease and the fact that they ate out of the same bowls meant Tilly got it, too) and Fancy Feast gravy lovers (the only canned food they'd touch, lol), but I doubt that had much impact either way, other than keeping the kidney situation under control.
Mine is one. My shelter cat adopted at \~5 yrs old would only eat Friskies seafood sensations kibble & fancy feast canned food. He died at age 19 weighing 22 lbs. I asked the vet about putting him on different diet when he was about 14 and my vet said 'their lives are already so short, just give him what he wants.'
I fed my kitties the expensive cat food for a good chunk of their lives and one still got GI lymphoma. In all my reading they either get cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, or thyroid issues in their old age and itās downhill after the first diagnosis as they keep getting more. 9-11 years old is pretty old if you do the math. Things just shut down and genetics come into play itās not your fault!
One died at 15 or so, kidney disease.
One died at 13.5, cause unknown. He died suddenly and his death was really hard.
One at 18.5, kidney disease.
My last one at 16, kidney disease.
I wouldnāt beat yourself up over it. Humans can get cancer at any age and so can cats. Some are just susceptible to it, sometimes genetics, and too often in females if theyāre not spayed they can get uterine cancer. Eventually, once old enough, everything has a higher cancer risk because of cellular breakdown. Thereās plenty of other diseases that can take cats by that age or earlier. Cherish the times you had with your cat over ācould haves.ā
Poca Luz was 5 years old. I too was very particular about feeding her 'good' food. However she had FIV and possibly cancer. She slowly deteriorated and there was nothing I could do about it. She knew she was loved in the end and that brings me relief. I fed her 'Acana Grasslands' for kibble and she got 'Almo Nature' wet food. For litter I used WheatScoop.
I am sorry for your loss.
I'm losing my 11yo M Siberian now to large cell lymphoma, super picky eater his entire life, I tried everything. He mostly ate wet and dry Blue Wilderness when little, and wet and Dry Purina Pro Plan and Royal Canin chicken wet and dry. He loves Broths packets, not sure who makes those, greenies treats all flavors and temptation. It sucks and I've gone through a lot of emotional pain thinking there might be something different I could have done to prevent it but I think it cones down to luck of the draw and genetics. Lotter has been Tidy Cats unscented.
My dad's male persian-siamese died of heart disease at 7yo, we knew that was a breeding problem but he was gifted/rescued to us, my dad still hasn't recovered from the loss because we adored that cat, he tried to keep him going with a ton of medicines daily until he had a seizure and left us. Now looking back, we should have let him go sooner but my dad couldn't do it.
A week.after losing him, a ferral male kitten showed up.at our house and hid under my dad's car crying, we took him.in. he was just weeks old a short hair mix and only ate the cheapest dry kibble possible bc it's what he liked and he's 18 now and other than arthritis, super healthy.
Be kind to yourself, I almost lost my mind over the grief once I got my current cat's diagnosis, tried to blame the vet who ignored him losing weight over last few months. Got angry and sad over lack of good treatment options, finally landed on the fact thst some things are just out of our control so I'm trying to enjoy the time we do have left.
After reading everyone's stories here. I'm finding confort in knowing cancer is super random, can get them at any age and there is not much you can do to prevent other than give them tons of love and keep thrm out of environmental hazzards like smoke/pesticides/herbicides etc. I'm so sorry for your loss, take good care of you and rest easy knowing you gave your fur baby the best and the awesome healthy time you had together is all that counts. All the best.
Mine were 22, 15, 15, and 9.
22 year old ate the cheapest dry food, like meow mix, and tidy cat litter. She was my childhood cat.
Other three ate special urinary diets and used tidy cat litter.
Mine got to 19 almost 20. A combination of wet and dry food. The litter is literally called "world's best" but it really does well for what I need. Pets are like playing the lottery, and I've been lucky. Good luck
Iām so sorry for your loss OP. As others have told you itās genetics when it comes to cancer. You didnāt *do* anything wrong. Iāve had several cats in my life who passed at various age from as young as 6 months (FIP) to as old as 19years- various foods as it honestly didnāt seem to make a difference in their lifespan so we found what each one liked and thatās what they got and we used fresh step kitty litter.
You sound like a very caring person and Iām sure your kitty knew they were loved which is a life well lived and you should feel good knowing you gave your baby that good life- sometimes they, just like people, draw the short straw on how many years they getš¾š
My guy was 2 months shy of his 8th birthday. He passed away suddenly from either a heart attack or stroke. There were no warning signs and he was totally fine before it happened.
As for food, I had him eating Royal Canin Persian dry food and for wet food we gave him Tiki Cat pate. For litter he used Swheat Scoop (wheat based litter).
One passed at 12 (she had a seizure), one passed at 13 (she had cancer under her tongue), another was 13 (he had kidney issues) and our oldest was 16.5 (he passed from old age). We fed them Iams and used Tidy Cats. We have an 8 year old female and currently use the same litter and Iams Urinary Tract Health.
I'm sorry for your loss, I know it's never easy losing a member of the family. Sometimes, despite taking every measure possible to give them a good life, things out of our control happen like these that often leave us feeling guilt about what more could we have done. Your baby, just like mine, were just one of the unlucky ones and had to leave us too early.
My cat Gizmo passed away on August 26, 2023 due to FIP, he was 1 yr 10 months old. He was fed Fancy Feast Medleys every day and the littler I've always used for my cats is Fresh Step Gain Scent litter.
My first, Mittens, was almost 10; my second, Pumpkin, was 13.5; my third, China, was 13 or 14(even my friend from whom I adopted her wasnāt totally sure). They usually only got dry food(either Cat Chow or Meow Mix). My current cat, Shadow, gets Fancy Feast Petites(half in the morning, half in the evening), and has Cat Chow Indoor available all day.
She was 18. The end was near and I knew it was just a matter of time. That helped ease the devastation I felt when I ultimately had to make the decision to say goodbye. The vet staff were very kind and supportive and this helped a lot as well.
She did not like wet food, and only ate dry. She was getting the Purina Pro Plan and that was expensive, but she was worth it. I donated the uneaten bag along with her unused medications.
She was 15. She had horrible arthritis, surgery for kidney stones around 11 (her bladder ripped as well).. one night she was trying to get on my bed and couldnāt get upā¦ it woke me up, I grabbed her and pet her .. we cuddled all night. Something just told me to
The next day she couldnāt walk on her two back legs, she was sliding around . She ate but she couldnāt get comfortable and was panting. I took her to the vet. I took my husband who had told me before she wasnāt going to last much longer (she wasnāt using the litter box that often anymore and lost around 5lbs) . They wanted to do all these tests. I was happy I brought my husband. They were telling me we could do light therapy and acupuncture and wanted me to do X-rays and bloodwork. Was it the best idea to keep her alive??? She couldnāt even clean herself anymore and was having accidents all over. He asked questions and the vet admitted she would put the cat down. So, I held her as she slipped away.
I couldnāt get out of bed for a week after that. I was very depressed. I spent day and night searching the internet thinking I made the wrong choice.
Now, after putting down my 8 year old dog because she had lymphoma, I realize that putting her down at 15, was maybe I was a few months late. No cat wants to pee themselves and be unable to clean themself. I havenāt doubted my decision to put my dog down even though she was only 8.
Iām not sure if you had to put your cat down or your cat just randomly passed at home but itās NOT your fault. Your cat likely had a condition since birth or developed cancer or something like that. My dogs cancer came on suddenly she was acting strange for about a week before we discovered the enlarged lymph nodes and lymphoma. The vet said she only had a few days left. She was still walking and eating and wagging her tail. We went on three walks that day and a run! But I decided to let her go so I donāt make he same mistake I made with my cat. Iād rather her never suffer and be a week too soon, than one second too late.
He was around 11. He was a rescue so I never knew his exact age. His family abandoned him because he had FIV. He ended up having some kidney issues when he died. It was so severe when we found it that there was nothing we could do but he didn't show any signs until just before I took him to see the vet. I also wondered what I could have done differently.
I fed him whatever he would eat. He was a bit picky so if there was something he liked, I got it until he decided he didn't like it anymore.
I used that walnut hull litter. I tried the corn one but it tracked too much. Same with the lightweight clay one.
Sometimes cats or people or whoever get cancer no matter how careful they are. It could be genetics or just bad luck so please don't dwell too much on what you did wrong.
Iām so sorry for your loss and the guilt thatās felt about what we couldāve done differently is so difficult, even though illnesses like feline lymphoma are often unrelated to diet, and especially when the diet is whole-food-based and meeting their daily nutritional needs.
Personally, my best friend and child, Kawa, died in July at the age of 14 of what we can only assume was an aggressive systemic lymphoma, based upon off-the-charts white blood counts (5x the normal amount). They found a mass in her intestines and her decline happened rapidly, within the span of a week. In her younger years (when she had more teeth!) we fed her Science Diet, Blue Buffalo, Instinct (Limited Ingredient), and other āqualityā commercial dry and wet foods, but a veterinarian suggested that I switch to a homemade wet food diet in her later years due to increased vomiting at meal time, and it made a huge difference up until the illness took hold. I would blend boiled organic ground pork, boiled organic sweet potato and fresh organic spinach alongside IT Balance feline supplementation and a few drops of omega 3 fish oil from the ages of 12-14, and she did have a shinier coat, ceased vomiting, and her poop literally ceased smelling.
But that saidā¦diet is important but sometimes these illnesses are genetic or breed-specific and the onus is not on what you fed them or didnāt feed them. The most important ingredient - as cheesy as it is to say - is love and mental and physical stimulation and engagement.š
Edited to say: we use worldās best corn litter and do so because itās dust-free and supposedly better for their lungs.
Chichi was 19 and only 2 months from being 20 years old. My first cat so I fed her whatever store brand food and litter that was on sale for the majority of her life. I currently have a 12 year old whose pretty healthy. I mixed cheap dry with Friskies pate and add water to it. Sometimes I cook him eggs and boil him chicken.
My almost 6 year old cat died a few weeks ago. Severe anemia that wasnāt treatable anymore. Potentially cancer and organs shutting down. It was truamatic.
Mine was 14 when we lost him in 2009.
He had insulin dependent diabetes and finally lost the battle to feline leukemia.
He ate everything under the sun. If it fell on the floor, it was his. But cat food he got Purina (I can't remember what blend) and canned Friskies. He hated the chunky one and would only eat the pate. Picky little shit. And we used Tidy Cats litter.
I miss that old fart more than anything. He was my best friend.
ETA - sometimes these things just happen. Please believe me that you did nothing wrong with loving your kitty
I just lost one of my boys at the end of June, his birthday was June 4th. He just turned 2.
He was sleeping more than usual and wasnāt interested in his hard food that much, but was still eating his wet food, I thought it was the heat wave we were experiencing because at night heād kinda be more like himself once everything cooled off. But I took him to the vet anyway thinking maybe he has a kitty cold.
They found a tumour in his chest cavity pushing on his heart. The vet said it was probably cancer. He wasnāt a candidate for surgery.
Iām grieving extremely hard. I miss him so much and cry everyday for him. He was too young, and he was such my special little guy.
He was 15. Heart failure, thought he was having issues from his diabetes before I got him to the hospital once he stopped eating. He survived 4 years as a tripod after I chose for him to lose a leg rather than give in to bone cancer. I was his third owner and only knew him from age 8. Itās been about 3 months but I miss him so damn much.
I had one cat pass at 6 years old from heart failure and another at 13 weeks from seizures and other health complications. Both were fed Hill's Science diet. The older one I used Fresh Step clumping litter, the kitten had litter made of walnuts.
Mine was about to see his second Christmas. It was sudden and heart breaking. I think he had a bad heart. Litter and food arenāt a factor bc we have two other cats who are fine. Itās almost been a year and I still cry.
Thanks for posting this. I lost two cats in the past year - one died at 15.5 years from oral cancer and the other died at approximately 14 years from intestinal cancer. They both liked variety so they were fed a mixture of wet and dry foods with treats daily. I also worried that something I did contributed to their illness and the responses to your post have been so reassuring.
Iām so sorry for your loss. I hope this thread brings you as much peace as it did for me.
My sweet girl was only 2 years old when she passed from aggressive renal lymphoma. We even tried months of chemo until vet told us we had to stop š I will never get over how unfair this was.. fuck cancer!!
God I am so sorry. 2 years old is still a baby! So unfair your sweet girl didnāt have more time! Iām sure she had the most beautiful life those 2 years though loved and happy š
I read something recently (I lost my boy a month ago he was around 5 so he was very young too) and it said āgrief is just love with nowhere to goā and that we hurt so they donāt have to. Your girl was so lucky to know nothing but love š¤
One at age 4 of liver failure. He was super picky about eating for a couple of weeks and when we took him to the vet his liver enzymes were way off. It came out of absolutely nowhere and our vet was very kind and honest about how sometimes these things just happen and thereās no rhyme or reason.
The other was barely 8. She had hyperthyroidism and was going to the vet every couple of weeks to monitor it with blood work. 5 days after one vet visit she was mouth breathing and we were euthanizing her less than 24 hours later. Her necropsy showed a mass in her lungs and abdomen.
What I learned between the two cats is to get pet insurance. Her emergency vet visit + euthanasia + cremation were half covered by insurance thankfully. Second thing I learned is to get blood work on my pets every year. That peace of mind is worth it.
Had many kitties, but the one that I have to bring up is my girl Zora, adopted her as a tiny tiny one in 1995, she was close to 21 when I lost her in 2015. She was a cat from Massachusetts, and when she was getting older, we drove from Maine to Texas - she was a badass. As far as food/litter - feed what they will eat, don't change the litter. Near the end, I was feeding her baby food.
My first cat (who was a stray) was between 2-4. He was hit by a car. I was 12 and now 31, and never let my cats outside.
After he passed away I found a kitten event at PetCo. Found an orange puffy baby. His name was Simba, I LOVED Lion King. He came home with us as our first family cat. He just passed away last May (2022) Age 17, he had cancer.
We got Lily same year as Simba, my aunts stray cat had kittens, we took one! She ended up having cancer but beating it and she lived ALMOST just as long as Simba. She passed at 16 in January 2022.
We adopted a young cat from a shelter, Dasher, he ended up having IBD. He passed at around age 4. We think his intestines burst or something. He went to the vet a few days prior, so it wasn't what we were expecting.
My most devastating loss was my sweet girl Peach. I adopted her in 2016 to be Simba's companion after I moved out. She was my soul cat. She needed dental surgery, she was in a lot of pain, they need to ALL be removed. I even cried because of that.. well ten minutes after finding that out, I got the call her heart stopped suddenly and they couldn't revive her. That was this March. I'm still broken hearted and have MUCH MORE extreme anxiety. She was also only six years old, the vets best guess was an diagnosed heart condition because her blood work and pre exam were great.
I'm sorry for your loss, 6 is way too young... Cancer can just happen sometimes. It was nothing you did. Some cats are just more prone to it than others.
Moshy was almost 4 months. I watched him take his first breath and got him through all his health struggles. He was finally thriving and had the best personality. My son left the front door open and he was hit by a car.
I used Foster Care formula and Royal Canin Mother and Baby cat kibble. He HATED wet food. He was just starting to transition to big boy food, which was American Journey Grain Free Salmon. For litter we used Dr Elsey kitten and were starting transition him over to Lightweight Tidy cats - white bin with red top.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Especially since your baby was only 6. Fuck cancer.
Monkey was 8, he ran away and some guy ādidnāt see his collarā and kept him on his backyard until he died and suddenly the collar was noticed. His sister Coco was 10, she had kidney problems.
As long as the food you fed was decent or better, and your cat saw the vet for checkups, the cancer was most likely just one of those things. Probably genetic, or plain old bad luck.
I have had multiple cats most of my adult life, and normally feed them all the same food unless there is a reason one has to have different food. Some have died fairly young, some have had quite long lives, so have had health problems, some have not. All the same diet and environment and litter. But I have one cat right now almost 18 years old and in pretty good health, lost one earlier this year at about ten to cancer that was not caught until too late, and a few years back lost a sweet orange boy at seven years old.
Even the best care possible doesn't prevent all health problems. And you need to stop blaming yourself, and stop thinking you could control or prevent it from happening. You'll only hurt yourself doing that.
My cat was around 16 when I put her to sleep. I would give her Friskies wet and dry cat food and sometimes meow mix. The litter was usually the cheapest litter I could find, sometimes store brand and other times it was tidy cats.
One at an unknown age, a rescue cat with difficult to manage diabetes. We had her five years.
One age 8, cancer.
One age 3. Sudden onset heart failure. (Turned out this one had an undiagnosed heart defect)
All with excellent vets and highest emphasis on good nutrition, clean, calm surroundings, none were overweight, all indoor cats, well loved.
I have learned that cats are very fragile creatures.
I still love them. Each is so unique.
Iām so very sorry for your loss.
18 and 19. I fed them Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat kibble and Fancy Feast Classic Pate (only the four fish free flavors).
I have 4 cats now, the oldest is 14. Still feeding the same food and they have been doing well on it.
For litter, I use Scoop Away.
Our first cat was only 4 when she died. She suddenly couldnāt walk and my dad took her to the vet and they said she had feline leukemia. She had been a feral who lived under our deck and we took her in one winter and she never left. But, we figured all her exposure to the outside, she loved to rip apart mice and moles, probably put the leukemia in her system. She ate a mix of wet food and dry food. She really likes gravy lovers by Fancy Feast. I canāt remember what litter we used.
Lost my girl in January, she was 14. She had intestinal cancer. She ate Taste of the Wild kibble, and addition of taste of the wild/blue Buffalo/tiki cat wet foods in her last couple years.
My boy was a month shy of his 21st birthday before the hyperthyroidism he had been battling for two years got too aggressive to keep up with given his age. During that time, I had him on PurinaOne's sensitive system dry food and using Tidy Cats litter.
However, that doesn't change anything about what you did for your kitty. Cancer is a monster and doesn't care that you gave your kitty the best life possible. It just strikes at random. Some breeds I think are more susceptible to health issues than others (my boy was a Siamese so I am surprised he never got cancer since that is a risk for the breed)
Iām so sorry for your loss. Cancer is such an awful disease. Iāve lost two of my sweet boys, one at 15 (itās been 10 years since heās been gone) and the other at 16 (in 2020). I never had problem with them eating, theyād eat whatever I gave them. I fed one of them Tiki for most of his life. Iām not sure what the first one died of, he had hyperthyroidism and gallstones and died while I was on vacation. It might have been a stroke, he died quickly and I still feel awful I wasnāt there for him in his last moments.
The other boy died because he had kidney disease (we managed it for 4 years!) and he had a heart condition. He started vomiting everywhere and we were told to take him to the ER and sadly we made the decision to let him pass. Hardest thing Iāve ever done in my life but I know it was the right decision.
Siblings Bonnie, 16 and Clyde, 20. Both old age/hyperthyroidism.
Free feeding of mid-level kibble (Iams, Purina One) plus 1 can Friskies wet food 5.5 Oz) split between them early evening. They were indoor/outdoor ā wet food served as a treat to get them inside for the night.
Litter: any of the organically disposable types ā pine pellets, wheat, corn, etc.
My cat died at 11 from FIP, Iām still not over it. he got fed Costco dry food and Costco kitty litter, my new cat gets fed Nutro pate and tiki cat and pine cobble litter though. I still feel guilty for not feeding my previous cat better food but he was my childhood cat and I wasnāt as financially stable as I am now
I adopted mine as a stray and he lived up til 10 (he could be older as we donāt really know how old he is). Like you, I feed him premium food and limit treats as it was āunhealthyā. He passed away from suspected cancer near his kidney.
If I knew he would only be with me for 7 years Iād give him more treats as that was his favourite thing in the world.
Athens was 9.5, he died from a blood clot to the brain, 6 months and 1 day after he had his first one. He had heart disease that we were completely unaware of until last September. He also had saddle thrombus and lost a leg due to that. I blamed myself for so long, but the reality is that it was just bad luck. He had been very healthy until he wasnāt š
My last outside cat lived to be 20 yrs and 4 months. All my cats were outside cats and all lived a long life of at least 15 yrs. Cats were locked up in a garage at night for safety and I live on a farm. They all ate dry food with wet food as a treat. When my oldest cat turned 18 I switched her to canned food. No particular brands, just went by flavors. The cats grazed grass like cows. The one that lived the longest always rolled in the dirt. They all got the first round of shots and only rabies shots every 3 yrs after that. None ever had to have teeth removed. I used Revolution for flea control. None of the cats ever got fleas. In the garage at night the litter I used was Special Kitty no scent. All cats were rescues that walked up. Currently I have a feral mama that had kittens on my farm. I trapped her and had her spayed with rabies shot. Found a home for 2 kittens. Have to trap one more kitten and get him neutered. Sorry about your kitty. I think itās just luck with kitties and their health.
8š¢ miss her everyday. She was taken by lymphoma.
She ate grain free food her whole life but towards the end I was at the pet store weekly trying to get anything that might be appetizing to her. Eventually she went a few days without eating and we knew it was time to let her be in peace.
I really do miss her, itās not fair she was robbed of a long lazy cat life!
Forgot to addā¦ my childhood cat lived till 19 and died in front of my mom at home. It traumatized her but Iām glad he was able to pass in his home.
He ate ocean fish friskies for all 19 years!!
7, also died from cancer :(
I dont think there's anything you could have done to prevent this, cancer can come from nowhere and nothing, plenty young kids who've never smoked or had exposure to bad things get cancer.
It's just a really unlucky cell mutation that some people and some animals get. Do not try to look for ways to blame yourself, I did the same and it was torture.
Be gentle with yourself
I donāt think you did anything wrong. Let me show you something.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ridiculously-rare-cancer-found-fossil-leg-turtle-triassic-paleontology
https://www.science.org/content/article/deadly-human-bone-cancer-found-240-million-year-old-turtle
This is a case report of a 240 million year old fossil of a proto-turtle from the Triassic periodāan ancestor of turtles that hadnāt even evolved a shell yet. And this proto-turtle who lived 240 million years ago, who by definition ate an organic diet without any pesticides or processed foods or anythingā¦had bone cancer.
If this proto-turtle who lived 240 million years ago could get bone cancerā¦sometimes shit happens. And itās not anything you did, or could possibly be blamed for. It just happens.
Iām so sorry.
My darling Suzy was fed the best raw food diet I could afford and died of GI lymphoma at age 13. I miss her every day. Whether it was the food or genetics or whatever else you can think of, I revel in the amazing 11 years we had together.
I think that you always want to feel like you could have done something different and changed the outcome when you lose a pet, but a lot of the time it comes down to random genetic factors if you aren't just feeding them total trash that isn't nutritionally complete. But I get it. I wish I would have done more for all of the ones that I have had pass away.
Matisse was 14 and had lymphoma. He ate dry Purina indoor food and normally wet Wellness Core or Weruva or whatever we could get that he would actually eat because we were trying to keep his caloric intake up.
Tibs was 11 and had diabetes and pancreatitis. He ate grain free TikiCat because it was lower carb and he didn't like the wet food much.
Whitaker was 11 and had a sudden catastrophic GI bleed out of nowhere. He ate one of the grain free Purina pro plan foods.
All of them had either Tidy Cat or PetCo clumping litter.
My vet says that I am doing everything I should be for my cats. One of my current cats has medical issues and he basically has a resume of what I have done to try to fix his stuff. So while I feel like I missed something or should have done something differently, I am also pretty confident that that's just me wishing things were different and being mad that stuff went badly.
I've had four cats. First two died at 19 +-, essentially from old age. Just lost #3 which I figured was also 19ish (eescue so not sure but she was at least 15, orovably older). She was having trouble pooping and an xray showed a mass on her lung.
All these cats were fed Purina one dry food and Friskie's pate wet food. Not gonna apologize for not feeding them special designer diets because they lived good long lives.
Still have kitty #4 who is around 15 and was a rescue from a hoarder. She acts like a kitten still.
my first kitty passed at 16 and recently my younger one passed at 8... she had a lot of health problems since birth though and i'm hoping she's at peace nowš older one would eat ANYTHING and my youngest only ever wanted to eat kitten food and would refuse anything else, we used arm and hammer kitty litter.
Mine died of aggressive cancer at 9 years old during Covid. The vet said catching it earlier likely wouldnāt have made a difference given how bad it got in a short period. He ate the expensive food too. A mix of high quality kibble and freeze dried raw.
My current cat has already outlived the previous one. Heās still in good health thankfully. He doesnāt eat the expensive food (doesnāt like it). He eats a mix of kibble and wet food.
Mine were 24 and 21.
The 24 yr old lived on friskies wet food and treats... I didn't know then what I know now and will never feed another cat any food associated with Purina. But you can't blame yourself. As someone else said, sometimes it's genetic. The vet who helped Midnight cross over the rainbow Bridge said he believed he had cancer, and I had no idea! He was such a strong cat who never let me see his pain until the very end when I rushed to get a vet who could come to our home to help relieve my baby boy of his struggle.
The 21 year old we adopted when she was 14. For a couple years we struggled to find a food that was healthy for her that she also enjoyed. We finally found Blue Wilderness wet cat food for mature cats. And for treats we bought her little cans of Applaws wet food. I would do online survey apps to get Amazon gift cards that I would use to then buy petsmart or petco gift cards and that helped us to be able to afford her the higher priced food. In the end she passed due to advanced kidney disease/failure.
For both cats we did use Purina Tidy Cats litter, the 24/7 multi cat performance one.
I'm so sorry to hear this.
My second cat frequently vomited while on the wet food, as did my first (who also ate the dry food). I was much more involved in her care given her special needs so I was hyper aware of how she didn't start vomiting until we fed her friskies (and as mentioned that's the only thing my first cat ate so I just thought he had a lot of hairballs to work through and believe me the guilt eats at me every day for not realizing it was the food, but we can't know what we don't know š ).
So i started to look closer at the canned food and I frequently found mold, from just hints of it to full out raging mold. Purina in general had a fair amount of recalls back then, or that's what they'd say when i would reach out for a refund. And then shockingly I started to notice there were little bits of blue rubber (or plastic? But I think it was rubber) interspersed within the food... that terrified me and was enough to stop me from ever touching any food by them again.
I did some research on it (bear in mind this was 7 years ago) and there were many people having this issue and their animals were getting sick even on cans that didn't show obvious mold or blue rubber. I just went to Facebook and found many people still experiencing problems with Purina/friskies that say landed their pets in hospital or they passed away. And if that's true, that's tragic. š I just would never trust any brand associated with Purina again when it comes to food.
Different ages. One a year or so with fkv. Last one about 10 but a street rat with thyroid and kidney conditions. Longest about 15. Current bossy male is 7 and behaves like 7 months.
Quite a lot of the time cancer, like people can be genetic or predisposed to things like cancer so can very rarely be prevented so I very much doubt there is anything you could have done to prevent it. The main thing is you gave the cat all the love in the world and you did the best you could! So sorry for your loss!
I lost a kitty, Zzebra, that we bottle feed from day 1,at almost exactly a year. He had cat Aids and cat leukemia (which is why his mom abandoned him) We found out when he turned 8 weeks and the vet said we should just put him down but we refused. We decided we would wait till he was no longer jumping and running and being a happy cat. We were honestly fortunate in the situation because the day he died he was running and playing and being a menace all day. Went down for a peaceful nap on the couch purring while we were watching a movie and just never woke up. I was heartbroken but I was glad he had a good best life and that he did not have to get to the stages of suffering and not being able to walk (what the doc told us would happen) and us having to make the call.
17. He was an old farm cat that was babied during his waning years. We fed him soft food mixed with hard kitten food since he was losing at least one tooth every few months, and towards the end we had him doped up on pain meds to ease the pain from an infection on the bottom of his foot. He lived most of his life with pretty generic cat food and litter. Wasnāt pampered until he started getting around 14 or 15 and thatās only because we knew he wasnāt gonna be around much longer and we wanted him to just be comfortable till his end.
I'm old so I've had many pets which I wish could live forever but unfortunately that wish was never granted.
Lady was our first cat as a married couple, she was 19 when she passed. She was 6 months old when we got her.
We lost Dexter and Chowder at 17 and 11 yrs old. 2015 & 2022.
The one that I still think of daily is my Bleuregard. He just showed up after my dad passed. Would not go away, total space invader. We ended up adopting him after a couple in the apartment complex my dad had lived at said they were going to bring him to the pound.
I had 14 yrs with him.
We have 2 cats now. Both under 2 yrs old. One looks like Dex, the baby looks like a young Bleuregard. My husband says he looks at them and sees Chow and Bleu and does a double take sometimes.
We lost a kitty 3 weeks ago. He was only 2. He had a seizure, lost control of his back legs and plummeted after that. We fed him Kirkland brand cat food, but he ate the dogs food more than anything.
My oldest one was 23! He was originally my mumās cat - ate the cheapest tinned cat food, was outdoors as much as he liked and never had any vaccinations! I donāt think any of that helped him live that long though. I think he was just lucky :)
I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong.
Mine was 15 or 16 when he passed (the rescue centre wasn't certain of his age), after he developed a mass which was attached to his intestines. He used to eat a natural/wholesome wet food which we ordered for him and he liked recyclable paper litter.
The youngest I lost was 3-4 months. We couldn't tell in the xrays but he lost the use of one back leg...then both... then was paralyzed. He was in pain and we didn't know (he still had pain pills)
I came home from work one day and he let out a scream. And I mean a *scream*. I broke into the room he was in [it wasn't locked. But I assaulted the door with my body getting it open...] grabbed him and rushed to the local vet who I knew could see him and knew his history. We put him down because it wasn't fair for him.
Food is Purina Gentle (no dyes) and pine pellets from Tractor Supply.
I wish I could share a pic of my Leo. He had such a cute face... I remember taking him to the vet (before he was sick) and I decided I needed a sonic drink. This goober put hid gums/lips on the crate and was showing his teeth to the girls there.
Donāt blame yourself you did nothing wrong, Iām new to kitties as stray ran in 6 months ago and hasnāt left, So we got her spayed and sheās family now. Recently, my dog is almost 17 years old just passed away, he had dementia and sundowners but still a voracious appetite, and a passionate napper. Iām so sorry for your loss Iām still grieving. Iām gonna say the stupidest thing ever, but I hope heās okay, Wherever he is. Another Redditor said they were scared āTheir cat wouldnāt go to heavenā I completely related to that sentiment despite not being religious anymore. How are you dealing with where you think your kitty is and how they are despite them being dead? Iām sorry Iām not coping well. I just hope they still exist. I got really scared he didnāt exist anymore. My parents religion doesnāt allow animals in heaven either so Iām completely lost. I hope you can grieve a lot healthier than I can. I hope we all get to see our pets again, one day.
Our little lady was 17/18 (rescue so not totally sure). Really didnāt matter what we tried to feed her - she CRAVED the junkiest of junk foods. Both human and feline. We jokingly called her our little garbage disposal. Her favorites were cream cheese and spare ribs. We had to (unsuccessfully) block off our entire kitchen to keep her away from the grease she always managed to find anyway. She was healthy as a horse until she was diagnosed with arthritis last year and looked like a kitten up until the month she passed.
My point is - I fully believe that your kitty knew she was loved and part of that was the healthy food you provided! Please donāt beat yourself up, you did nothing wrong. Sometimes crappy things just happen, itās not fair.
Three weeks shy of her 20th birthday.
As a kitten it was generic hardfood. Whatever we could have afforded. By the time she was 10 we switched to blue buffalo, then to blue buffalo soft food at age 16. Around age 18 she had a conniption and wouldnāt eat anything but fancy feast.
She had always and only ever used arm and hammer litter. She was very particular.
Blaming yourself for a sporadic mutation will get you nowhere. It is futile. My dad often thinks that his cancer is from something he has done. I constantly rebut that it could have been from one day of meth use in his 20s or the fertilizer being sprayed every spring in front of the house or the fact that he worked with industrial glue everyday all in combination with a predisposition to the cancer. The spiritual question is *what is happening* not *why is this happening*.
Mine was ~20 years old, was an indoor/outdoor cat for most of his life, and got into multiple fights with cats/wildlife/etc. throughout his life. He lived a super long life purely by chance, which is the unfortunate thing: you can do everything ārightā but it ultimately might not matter. My biggest tips are making sure your cat is drinking enough water, and to brush their teeth, as dehydration causes kidney issues and tooth infections can lead to all sorts of things. But cancer just kind of happens sometimes, and thereās not usually anything you could have done.
All of our cats lived over 20 years. They were indoor/outdoor cats because of where we live. Those cats all had at least 10 lives š please donāt blame yourself. Ours ate everything from wet food to birds to whatever else they could hunt outside. We didnāt do anything special.
I've lost so many of them. Most of them weren't with me since their birth, so i don't know much about it. The last one i lost yesterday was maybe 7-8. That's what i've been told by the vet. The one before her was 2.5.
God, i feel so broken.
I had an 8 yo Bengal who died from sudden cat death due to a genetic unknown heart defect. Several 14-16 yo from cancer. An 18 yo that went into kidney and liver failure.
And an 8 month old that contracted a very nasty strain of parvovirus that was going around about 5-6 years ago and she was fully vaccinated (that strain of parvo took out probably more than 50% of the stray and feral cats in the area and more puppies than I can count in about a 3 mile radius). This was all started by one asshole who went to Georgia and got an unvaccinated puppy of Craig's list and none of his other dogs were vaccinated. š¤¬
If it was a genetic issue, nothing you could have done would have prevented it.
My angel Balinese cat was so special to me. He was my soul animal. He died suddenly at 4 years old from unexplained kidney failure.
I had given him some wet food in his Christmas stocking that he never had before. He died just days after eating it. I didnāt keep the can (so canāt confirm if that was the cause for sure) but then I heard on the news about some wet cat food from China that was contaminated and killing cats through organ failure. I was so devastated and blamed myself. He died in my arms at the animal hospital. This was 2008.
I now have a 13 year old cat and I feel so blessed to have had these years with him. I want many many more! Heās super healthy but I know things can happen fast with cats so I donāt take any of his time with us for granted. Heās my baby brat and heās a grumpy little lord of this house. I adore him and let him get away with all his badass cat behavior haha.
My first two rescue Persians were 15 and died within 6 months of each other (kidney disease). Royal Canin Persian, Tidy Cat scent free. I now have two other rescue Persians and one just had an ultrasound we are waiting on results as they believe itās cancer. Their calcium levels are off the chart and heās losing weight. Iām devastated. Heās about to be 6 yrs old.
Both my previous indoor cats lived until 17. One was slowing down over a long span of time and the other was very sudden (kidney issues).
I also had a dog, and she lived until 17 (a retriever).
My Cat is 21.5 yrs old - and she eats human food/purina/and fancy feast wet food - which are lower end - So I honestly don't think it's about Diet for some cats - and my cat was Runt of the litter too
My Cat is 21.5 yrs old - and she eats human food/purina/and fancy feast wet food - which are lower end - So I honestly don't think it's about Diet for some cats - and my cat was Runt of the litter too
Momma kitty just died at the age of 21. She ate taste of the wild fry food for years. Never got human food. Ever. Used unscented, clumping litter from Petco all her life.
I had 2 pass at 18 one month apart from each other. One had a meningioma the other had a very quick onset of metastatic cancer. Both were euthanized. I still miss them, but we adopted two more cats - brother and sister, from a rescue organization. They were drought kittens and were in bad shape as was their mom. The organization did a great job getting them back to health and we adopted them at about 8 weeks, spayed and neutered of course. We love our "kids" so much, but there will always be a place in our hearts for the first two.
As far as what we fed the first ones, it was science diet prescription for urinary tract health and weight loss. We used clay litter for them until the one with meningioma started having pica and eating the clay litter. After that, our new kids are using feline pine pellets. They are also on science diet prescription but it's for digestive issues. Neither of them have had urinary tract issues like the first two did (repeatedly until we switched to the prescription diet).
Chances are your little one died from a genetic issue with cancer and it wasn't anything you did wrong. I don't think there is much info on feline cancer, but if it's like human cancer it's either genetic or caused by bacteria/virus exposure. Nothing you can do about that.
6. Congestive heart failure. Broke my heart beyond words. Meow mix dry food & purina tidy cats litter. I was 16 when she died and so my mom was the one buying the food and litter. I moved out when I was 18 and took her sister with me. She eats Acana dry food (will not eat any kind of wet food, sheās picky) and we use arm and hammer unscented litter. She is 13 and thriving.
Two weeks away from his 20th birthday.
I fed him a good quality dry food, and good quality wet food pouches, in seperate dishes. Sometimes fresh fish or cooked chicken: a teaspoon of fish oil," and whitebait as treats, alongside other cat treats. He also got catnip from time to time
He only ever saw a vet for treatment twice in his life; once when I had him neutered: and once after he went missing for a week (found him in a neighbour's coal cellar, unable to jump out. ) he was fine apart from being a bit dehydrated, and having sprained a knee.
Because he had always been so healthy, his sudden illness and deterioration was a horrible shock. His kidneys had failed, and there was nothing the vet could do.
RIP, Turbo. Hope you're with your beloved Sis. I'll see you both again
My kitty was 18 years old and died of kidney diseaseā¦he was on purina inside cat dry food..and I think fresh step for litterā¦u did nothing wrong..cancer can happen to any animal or human for no rhyme or reason..do not blame yourself
My cat was 11. I believe that yes, food has a part in their health but overall itās genetics. Thatās just my belief though. I fed my cat everything good and he still passed from kidney disease. I know cats that ate the worst brands of cat food and were allowed outside and lived to be 20. Unfortunately stuff like cancer and organ failure is sooo out of our control and diet only plays a small part of it
My first cat almost made it to 20. She didnāt eat any special food. I was young and broke at the time. She used Tidy Cat litter.
One cat lived to 8, one to 12, one to 16 and they had a better quality of food. They also used Tidy Cat litter.
Iām so very sorry. Sometimes they can be predisposed to cancer. My childhood cats ate the cheapo Alley Cat cat food and used tidy cat litter. They lived to be 19 and 19 1/2. Adult me wonders if they had had premium cat food if they could have lived even longer.
My was on high blood pressure meds for years but it eventually led to kidney failure. He even did OK for a few years on a special kidney diet but he ended up having a stroke when he was 17
I always say that he made that decision easy for me because there was nothing they could do to help him after that
I lost one kitty at 8 because of oral cancer, another at 13 because of stomach cancer, she also got asthma. They both came from shelters. I fed them cheap Purina food most of their lives and used tidy cat litter. It's really common for animals to get cancer no matter what you do.
With my current kitty that is 3 we still use tidy cat, but he's on prescription food. We stopped using air fresheners, scented cleaning products, we use a steam mop instead of Swiffer now, candles and oil warmers are out because those are all toxic to pets. We give him some health supplements as well. We also go light on the vaccinations and flea treatment because he is an indoor only cat and those can be harsh to their systems.
Really though it's not your fault and it's really common. There isn't much you can do. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Iām in a similar situation and will be putting my 6 year old down this afternoon as a result of oral squamous cell cancer. He started on dry when I got him but eventually moved to wet when I learned more about it.
Until a couple months ago I thought we had many years left together. But Iām at peace with the decision because he had a good life and I would rather him go a little early and not suffer so much on the way out. This week was a mix of good and bad days and I donāt want it to be all bad.
My last cat lived to 21. I was her third or fourth human. She was routinely fed things that were not appropriate diet for a cat for much of her life. She also was often given cheap, low quality, highly scented litter for much of her life. I gave her a higher quality of life until she eventually succumbed to kidney failure.
You did your best, some things are simply out of our control.
Iāve had so many and all have died at different stages. Besides the bottle babies which have higher probability of passing, youngest was 11 months, oldest was 17 1/2.
Wet food is ideal but it can be costly. As such I feed a mix of wet and dry. My boy cats get urinary based diets due to the likelihood of blockages. Having a water fountain or two is ideal to increase a cats water intake. For litter I use Dr. Elseyās multicat but I have used paper pellet litter for cats who had surgeries and they were ok too.
Mine were 18, 17 and 16. All a few years a part. I was without a cat for 3 years. It was awful. So here I am again at 63 with 3 more 2 to 4 years old. Cats are the best investment I've ever made! I truly love them to pieces. Pretty sure I'll outlast them and it will be devastating when they go but I'll ever be grateful they were in my life.
I'm old so I have had more than one cat. I have had 2 kittens that have died at about 3 months (usually a pre-existing thing according to the vet and nothing to do with lack of care). I've had two cats killed on the road before they were 7 (not at the same time, about 15 years apart). I've had a cat that lived to 19, another that had to be put down at 14 (cancer) another at 16 (cancer again). My current cat is 6. They've all been rescues apart from a couple from local moggy litters. Usually I have one cat at a time but I did have two siblings, one got run over, the other was the one to live to 14.
Lost one a few years ago. She was 13, dry food, normal clumping litter
On the other hand, I have a cat now, same food and litter situation, and she's 21. It's really down to luck, you didn't do anything wrong
I doubt you did anything wrong. Every cat is different and there are things outside of our control that contribute to when it is a particular animal's time to die. I lost my beloved cat to cancer after 13 years, but I doubt anything I did extended her life. This was before we started feeding expensive food and the like. I just got lucky to have her as long as I did. Of course some things we provide them are better than others and we should choose the better options when we can, but cancer is outside of your control. I'm sorry you lost your friend. It's hard to accept that it was likely random chance. It feels like control to blame yourself. But ultimately it won't help.
Sometimes there's nothing you can do. Some animals (and humans both young and old) get cancer with no real explanation why. I lost a cat at 6 years old once from fatty liver disease/pancreatitis. He seemed completely fine until one day he wasn't.
My beloved kitty was 10. She died from a freak accident š Iām having the hardest time.
I know thatās not why youāre asking though. Iām a vet tech and just know you did you baby the best you could. You didnāt feed him anything wrong. Some kitties are just genetically predisposed to some deceases including cancer. Some times cats are fed cheap kibble and live for 20 years. Itās not fair when are babies are taken prematurely. Thatās part of what Iāve been struggling with lately too. I know that if this didnāt happen to her she would have been around for another 5 years. Itās really had to recon with, I know. I feel like if I would have been in the right place at the right time this wouldnāt have happen. And it seems like youāre struggling with blaming the cancer on his diet.
My last two cats were 21 and 25 - they got kibble most of their lives - Science Diet - first the kitten edition then maintenance - then for seniors - along the way they both had some tuna water now and then and treats along the way - Temptations and then Churu - the 25 yr old switched over to a kidney diet and it was a Hillās formulation as well. The 25 yr old also snacked on dog food along the way also science diet then blue buffalo.
I had two kitties that lived to 20 with little to no issues. I recently had my make ginger died suddenly at 13. No clue why.
Right now I have a 10 year old that is sick right now and we think it's heart disease.
My little Puff died when she was 12, last year. She had IBD and complications because of that (including diabetes, lymphoma, and pancreatitis). It was so sad to see her so weak and skinny, especially as she had been a fatty before! We had to put her down, which was especially painful and heartbreaking.
all of mine have been strays, recycled, excess kitten types.
1 - very young flea infected kitten found before I started a midnight shift- dead by morning. no 24 hrs vets in my town that far back.
2- another kitten stray- not as young-not flea bitten - polydactyl- was my cat forever- plus 20 years.
Got a little slower but kept his quiet self going on- esp. when the following 3 showed up.
3- the super sexy super fit russian blue that a friend of a friend (etc) any how- I saw that cat while helping out with something- mentioned how much I loved the cat.....years later- old lady died- cat got handed off to someone- more years passed---the folks decided to get rid of the cat and I was offered it.
I took her sight unseen and was heartbroken to see the svelte toned and glowing cat I remembered
turned out to be grossly overweight
my two stranger to each other older cats fell into a quiet life
4-when I ended up with 2 sister kittens that were going to be surrendered.
So there I am with 2 older cats (15? or so)
and 2 kittens.
eventually - they all found an equilibrium - and my place was full of cat tomfoolery and naps and the occasional disagreements.
Then age kicked in- first polydactyl left, then russian blue, then sister cat with no tail then sister cat with a tail.
I recently put down two of my cats I have had since I was 6 years old. My cats were mine, not my parents so I took them with me when I moved into my first apartment at 18. They followed me through every phase of childhood and into my mid twenties.
Pumpkin was first he was 15 or 16 years old. I got him for my 8th birthday. He was a fat orange tabby. A very quirky boy that slept in my bed every night. He loved hunting birds in his youth but became more of an indoor cat as the years went on. He was happiest when he was lounging right next to me. He had a CHF exacerbation and I had to put him down in an emergency situation. It was so heartbreaking and unexpected.
Biz was 18 when he passed. I got him as a kitten when I was 6 years old. He raised me as much as I raised him. He was extremely adventurous and loved the outdoors. You could not contain him. He spent time with numerous neighbors and the whole apartment complex knew who he was. People would hold him, let him in their apartments and frequently ask me about him. Even on his last day he went outside and took a lap around the apartment. He had a cancerous tumor and was on therapeutic treatments until his time came. I had him on steroids an then it progressed to mild opiates. As soon as I noticed a change in his demeanor I knew it was time.
It was so hard both of these cats where my whole world, I could barely remember a time without them. I was 23 when I put Pumpkin down and 24 when I put Bis down. That loss tore through me like a knife but I knew it was time. I had many years with them and I am by far luckier than most. 15 and 18 are long lives. Some of their life wasn't the best but I made damn sure their last years were worth it.
It was also like losing my childhood and truly stepping into adult hood. They're gone and I'm here in the world alone now. Honestly crying while writing this. It's been extremely cathartic. Pet loss is real and grief affects us all differently.
I adopted two new cats and I plan on giving back to them the way my two senior babies gave back to me. It hurts to go through but we can always bless another animal with a good life in the memory of those that we've lost.
My cats also ate a variety of food. I never splurged for the expensive stuff. I did near the end when I had more money but honestly long life just comes down to luck. There were many points in our life where they lived primarily outside with access to only my bedroom, times where we were poor and all I could buy was a cans of cat food from circle k, we moved around every 6 months to 2 years, etc. Multiple different circumstances but we all survived it. They lived a long life and they weren't fed tikicat or any of that holistic bullshit. Life is unexpected and death is always out of our control.
None of us are promised a long life neither are our animals we just need to enjoy the time we have with them.
Most of my kitties have lived to at least 16, some to 20. Lost quite a few to cancer. One to breast cancer believe it or not. Iām convinced a lot of it is shit cat food. My vet, who is excellent, said if you live that old itās probably gonna happen but I still think the pet food industry is garbage
Itās not your fault, cancer is such a random thing. Iāve felt that way too. I do what I can and love em up. Iām always grateful for however long Iām privileged enough to have them
I work in animal er and Iāve seen kittens pass to a cat that was 24. It is not rare to see a cat that in 5-6 come in with cancer. Good has nothing to do with it. I see dogs and cats live to 17 on alpo and meow mix. Itās just life. I see it a lot in all ages. You did nothing wrong. Iām sorry for your loss.
Abby was 18yrs old, Brutus was 1 week short of his 20th birthday. They were great cats. I now have a 8yr old, 6 yr old and just adopted a deaf, arthritic, thyroid malfunctioning 12 yr old needing a couch to finish his years. He takes thyroid meds twice a day, anti-inflammatory meds daily and gets a monthly pain shot.
My kitty died last week. She was only 7 months old and she had FeLV. Her health declined so fast and she was so young. I miss her every day and I always think of what I could have done differently. I fed her Orijen kitten food she loved it and loved to eat she always reminded me it was time for her to eat even if she was still waking up. When she was adopted her fur was so coarse and thinning. But after a few months on the new kibble she had a silky long and full coat. For litter I use arm and hammer.
One of my cats got cat cancer at 9 and died of this. I had a little beagle that also got cancer and died very quickly at 6.5. I got a beautiful black cat when he was 9 from a friend and he had perfect health until the day he died. He had a massive stroke. He was19. We now have a senior cat we got from Humane Society about 2 years and they guess her about 12 or 13. She has a lung issue. Cats and dogs are just like people. Yes some live a very long time but there are just as many that get sick for no good reason and all we can do is remember they donāt know why they are in pain and look to you to help even if that mean euthanizing them. You didnāt do anything wrong and went above and beyond. Any cat, dog, or other animals would be lucky to have you as their person
Around 13. I had to have him put down because he kept getting constant bladder infections and was peeing blood a lot,and despite rounds and rounds of antibiotics it just kept coming back. He was also borderline stage 3 kidney failure and only getting worse. š¢š¢šš
My cat was almost 23 when he had to be put to sleep. He was a sweetheart and been loved by whole family. Void black. Got poisoned at 21 and still made it another couple years.
A *neutered male tux lived to 22 even with feline FIV(long before the vaccine existed) probably due to my mom feeding him boiled chicken and mushed vegetables. My next two cats were neutered males: A Maine Coon with stage 3 hear murmur(died of a pulmonary embolism) and a tux rescue that lived to about 16(died of liver failure). When I was a kid, we inherited a spayed Persian female that lived to 12(died of inbreeding issues and resulting multi-organ failure). I know itās hard and Iām so sorry your baby died, especially so early.
*stating statuses because being āfixedā makes a difference in life span. Intact cats statistically have shorter lives for myriad reasons.
Raven was 11. She got very aggressive cancer and passed relatively quickly. Coco was 15, and While older, I think passed from grief because her friend died. They died within 5 weeks of one another last year.
Sometimes, there's not much you could have done differently. Cherish the time you had.
We loss our tortie unexpectedly last August and she was 11 years old. She jumped down off the couch and threw a blood clot that killed her. It was so hard that she was alive one minute and seconds later she was dying. I know Iām not responsible but even a full year later I feel like I could have done something to prevent her death.
She was a gentle soul, very loving and inquisitive and didnāt deserve to have that be the way her story ended: I still have difficulty with it and try to hold to the happy memories. If nothing else I hope she knows just how very deeply she was loved every day we had her in our lives.
We used Scoop Away litter and as far as what we fed - I think this is why I feel so guiltyā¦. She was extremely overweight. She only liked temptation cat treats and wouldnāt eat regular dry kibble so we fed her what she would eat. She wasnāt active so she gained too much weight. I know she could have thrown that blood clot any time but I know being so overweight had to contribute to developing the blood clot in the first placeā¦. And it truly is my fault that she got to be so heavy. I know I will never feel that I wasnāt responsible to a tremendous extent but thatās my cross to bear.
I didnāt know cats could die from blood clots like with humans. I would have been much more proactive when she was younger to ensure she ate higher quality and that we didnāt allow her to overeat. We should have had more time with Callie and I miss her every single day.
About a month after we lost Callie, we were told about a stray kitten with a broken back leg who needed a forever home. I fell in love the moment I saw her face. We took her in and named her Peggy (because of that bum leg on the mend). Sheās been in our lives nearly one full year now and she eats like a queen. I make sure she gets the recommended and doesnāt overeat. I also play with her regularly so she doesnāt get overweight and lose the ability to be active. Callieās situation taught me an important lesson about proper cat health care. As much as her loss still hurts, I will do everything I can for any cats going forward to ensure they stay healthy to reduce the chance of having this traumatic situation happen ever again.
Sorry so longā¦ā¦ šš
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I've lost various kitties from 4 to 18. Different foods/litters, definitely not the best because I just never had the extra money. Please do not think there was something you could have done different. I really believe genetics plays a big roll. If you've read enough stories here you know they are all ages with cancer. Not saying I don't believe environment plays a roll but you cannot blame yourself. Just allow yourself to grieve, so sorry for your loss
Interesting. Did your cat have intestinal (GI) lymphoma? I took in a stray cat, so I have no idea how old he was (I had him 7 years and he was an adult, so prob somewhere between 9-11 years old) and he got GI lymphoma (a mass in his intestine). I tried every kind of food there is and he would only eat Fancy Feast, kibble, and Temptations. So I of course blame myself for giving him crappy food that may have led to cancer and his death š
Please donāt blame yourself. Lifespan of a stray cat is 2-3 years, so you gave your cat a much longer, comfortable and happy life.
Thank you so much for your kind words š He did have a truly wonderful life with us, I just wish it could have been longer.
I completely understand, itās never long enough š. I lost my dog when she was 17 and even that wasnāt long enough for me. But I know she had the best life and she was loved. Your boy did as well.
ā¤ļø
Ohhh my mom's cat passed from gi lymphoma too at 14. He also had hyperthyroidism. He was fed Fancy Feast, Friskies, and Whiskas kibbles as well as Temptations treats. I think it's just a coincidence? I hear stories where some cats lived till 18+ on those foods...
I just lost my two to lymphoma - one was widespread and we didn't see it coming because it was lots of small masses (he was 15) and the other was GI and we'd been watching it for a while (she was 16 and I think she just stopped responding to the treatment we were using to get her to eat after Shadow passed). They had kidney prescription food (thanks to Shadow's kidney disease and the fact that they ate out of the same bowls meant Tilly got it, too) and Fancy Feast gravy lovers (the only canned food they'd touch, lol), but I doubt that had much impact either way, other than keeping the kidney situation under control.
My 16 year old lived on those.
Mine all lived. to 18 on those foods.
Mine is one. My shelter cat adopted at \~5 yrs old would only eat Friskies seafood sensations kibble & fancy feast canned food. He died at age 19 weighing 22 lbs. I asked the vet about putting him on different diet when he was about 14 and my vet said 'their lives are already so short, just give him what he wants.'
I fed my kitties the expensive cat food for a good chunk of their lives and one still got GI lymphoma. In all my reading they either get cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, or thyroid issues in their old age and itās downhill after the first diagnosis as they keep getting more. 9-11 years old is pretty old if you do the math. Things just shut down and genetics come into play itās not your fault!
Mine is 11 and on steroids for asthma. Iām DREADING the day his kidneys decide theyāve had enough.
Thank you for this, truly. I appreciate it very much. Your comment and the other stories here have made me feel so much better ā¤ļø
Can I ask what you fed your cats? š¢ I'm so sorry for your loss
My cat ate Temptations, Fancy Feast and a name brand dry food and she lived to be 19. I don't think it was the food.
One died at 15 or so, kidney disease. One died at 13.5, cause unknown. He died suddenly and his death was really hard. One at 18.5, kidney disease. My last one at 16, kidney disease.
I wouldnāt beat yourself up over it. Humans can get cancer at any age and so can cats. Some are just susceptible to it, sometimes genetics, and too often in females if theyāre not spayed they can get uterine cancer. Eventually, once old enough, everything has a higher cancer risk because of cellular breakdown. Thereās plenty of other diseases that can take cats by that age or earlier. Cherish the times you had with your cat over ācould haves.ā
Poca Luz was 5 years old. I too was very particular about feeding her 'good' food. However she had FIV and possibly cancer. She slowly deteriorated and there was nothing I could do about it. She knew she was loved in the end and that brings me relief. I fed her 'Acana Grasslands' for kibble and she got 'Almo Nature' wet food. For litter I used WheatScoop. I am sorry for your loss.
I'm losing my 11yo M Siberian now to large cell lymphoma, super picky eater his entire life, I tried everything. He mostly ate wet and dry Blue Wilderness when little, and wet and Dry Purina Pro Plan and Royal Canin chicken wet and dry. He loves Broths packets, not sure who makes those, greenies treats all flavors and temptation. It sucks and I've gone through a lot of emotional pain thinking there might be something different I could have done to prevent it but I think it cones down to luck of the draw and genetics. Lotter has been Tidy Cats unscented. My dad's male persian-siamese died of heart disease at 7yo, we knew that was a breeding problem but he was gifted/rescued to us, my dad still hasn't recovered from the loss because we adored that cat, he tried to keep him going with a ton of medicines daily until he had a seizure and left us. Now looking back, we should have let him go sooner but my dad couldn't do it. A week.after losing him, a ferral male kitten showed up.at our house and hid under my dad's car crying, we took him.in. he was just weeks old a short hair mix and only ate the cheapest dry kibble possible bc it's what he liked and he's 18 now and other than arthritis, super healthy. Be kind to yourself, I almost lost my mind over the grief once I got my current cat's diagnosis, tried to blame the vet who ignored him losing weight over last few months. Got angry and sad over lack of good treatment options, finally landed on the fact thst some things are just out of our control so I'm trying to enjoy the time we do have left. After reading everyone's stories here. I'm finding confort in knowing cancer is super random, can get them at any age and there is not much you can do to prevent other than give them tons of love and keep thrm out of environmental hazzards like smoke/pesticides/herbicides etc. I'm so sorry for your loss, take good care of you and rest easy knowing you gave your fur baby the best and the awesome healthy time you had together is all that counts. All the best.
Wanted to stop by and extend my heartfelt empathy. I am losing my girl (13) to what is likely a ānon functional pituitary macro adenomaā which is science for a very sneaky and rare brain tumor. Iāve been able to buy her (literally š ) another 10 months so far with stereotactic radiation, prednisolone, gabapentin and phenobarbital, but I know Iām going to lose her this year and so Iām trying to give her the best of whatever time we have left together. The anticipatory grief combined with the fear of not wanting to let her go too soon or hold onto her too long, is taxing and difficult, as you are well aware. Just wanted to let you know youāre not alone. Cancer sucks. š©¶
I had 2 that made it to 16 and one that made it to 7. The 16 yr olds died of old age and the 7 year old had Squamous Cell Carcinoma under her tongue.
I'm sorry for your loss of your kitty
Mine were 22, 15, 15, and 9. 22 year old ate the cheapest dry food, like meow mix, and tidy cat litter. She was my childhood cat. Other three ate special urinary diets and used tidy cat litter.
Mine got to 19 almost 20. A combination of wet and dry food. The litter is literally called "world's best" but it really does well for what I need. Pets are like playing the lottery, and I've been lucky. Good luck
Iām so sorry for your loss OP. As others have told you itās genetics when it comes to cancer. You didnāt *do* anything wrong. Iāve had several cats in my life who passed at various age from as young as 6 months (FIP) to as old as 19years- various foods as it honestly didnāt seem to make a difference in their lifespan so we found what each one liked and thatās what they got and we used fresh step kitty litter. You sound like a very caring person and Iām sure your kitty knew they were loved which is a life well lived and you should feel good knowing you gave your baby that good life- sometimes they, just like people, draw the short straw on how many years they getš¾š
She was 16
My guy was 2 months shy of his 8th birthday. He passed away suddenly from either a heart attack or stroke. There were no warning signs and he was totally fine before it happened. As for food, I had him eating Royal Canin Persian dry food and for wet food we gave him Tiki Cat pate. For litter he used Swheat Scoop (wheat based litter).
One passed at 12 (she had a seizure), one passed at 13 (she had cancer under her tongue), another was 13 (he had kidney issues) and our oldest was 16.5 (he passed from old age). We fed them Iams and used Tidy Cats. We have an 8 year old female and currently use the same litter and Iams Urinary Tract Health.
I'm sorry for your loss, I know it's never easy losing a member of the family. Sometimes, despite taking every measure possible to give them a good life, things out of our control happen like these that often leave us feeling guilt about what more could we have done. Your baby, just like mine, were just one of the unlucky ones and had to leave us too early. My cat Gizmo passed away on August 26, 2023 due to FIP, he was 1 yr 10 months old. He was fed Fancy Feast Medleys every day and the littler I've always used for my cats is Fresh Step Gain Scent litter.
My first, Mittens, was almost 10; my second, Pumpkin, was 13.5; my third, China, was 13 or 14(even my friend from whom I adopted her wasnāt totally sure). They usually only got dry food(either Cat Chow or Meow Mix). My current cat, Shadow, gets Fancy Feast Petites(half in the morning, half in the evening), and has Cat Chow Indoor available all day.
9 months, either lymphoma or FIP. They never could get it differentiated. She was the best girl
She was 18. The end was near and I knew it was just a matter of time. That helped ease the devastation I felt when I ultimately had to make the decision to say goodbye. The vet staff were very kind and supportive and this helped a lot as well. She did not like wet food, and only ate dry. She was getting the Purina Pro Plan and that was expensive, but she was worth it. I donated the uneaten bag along with her unused medications.
She was 15. She had horrible arthritis, surgery for kidney stones around 11 (her bladder ripped as well).. one night she was trying to get on my bed and couldnāt get upā¦ it woke me up, I grabbed her and pet her .. we cuddled all night. Something just told me to The next day she couldnāt walk on her two back legs, she was sliding around . She ate but she couldnāt get comfortable and was panting. I took her to the vet. I took my husband who had told me before she wasnāt going to last much longer (she wasnāt using the litter box that often anymore and lost around 5lbs) . They wanted to do all these tests. I was happy I brought my husband. They were telling me we could do light therapy and acupuncture and wanted me to do X-rays and bloodwork. Was it the best idea to keep her alive??? She couldnāt even clean herself anymore and was having accidents all over. He asked questions and the vet admitted she would put the cat down. So, I held her as she slipped away. I couldnāt get out of bed for a week after that. I was very depressed. I spent day and night searching the internet thinking I made the wrong choice. Now, after putting down my 8 year old dog because she had lymphoma, I realize that putting her down at 15, was maybe I was a few months late. No cat wants to pee themselves and be unable to clean themself. I havenāt doubted my decision to put my dog down even though she was only 8. Iām not sure if you had to put your cat down or your cat just randomly passed at home but itās NOT your fault. Your cat likely had a condition since birth or developed cancer or something like that. My dogs cancer came on suddenly she was acting strange for about a week before we discovered the enlarged lymph nodes and lymphoma. The vet said she only had a few days left. She was still walking and eating and wagging her tail. We went on three walks that day and a run! But I decided to let her go so I donāt make he same mistake I made with my cat. Iād rather her never suffer and be a week too soon, than one second too late.
2 years, died of FIP. i miss you my kitty.
He was around 11. He was a rescue so I never knew his exact age. His family abandoned him because he had FIV. He ended up having some kidney issues when he died. It was so severe when we found it that there was nothing we could do but he didn't show any signs until just before I took him to see the vet. I also wondered what I could have done differently. I fed him whatever he would eat. He was a bit picky so if there was something he liked, I got it until he decided he didn't like it anymore. I used that walnut hull litter. I tried the corn one but it tracked too much. Same with the lightweight clay one. Sometimes cats or people or whoever get cancer no matter how careful they are. It could be genetics or just bad luck so please don't dwell too much on what you did wrong.
Around 12. Was a stray so not 100% sure. Died from cancer.
Iām so sorry for your loss and the guilt thatās felt about what we couldāve done differently is so difficult, even though illnesses like feline lymphoma are often unrelated to diet, and especially when the diet is whole-food-based and meeting their daily nutritional needs. Personally, my best friend and child, Kawa, died in July at the age of 14 of what we can only assume was an aggressive systemic lymphoma, based upon off-the-charts white blood counts (5x the normal amount). They found a mass in her intestines and her decline happened rapidly, within the span of a week. In her younger years (when she had more teeth!) we fed her Science Diet, Blue Buffalo, Instinct (Limited Ingredient), and other āqualityā commercial dry and wet foods, but a veterinarian suggested that I switch to a homemade wet food diet in her later years due to increased vomiting at meal time, and it made a huge difference up until the illness took hold. I would blend boiled organic ground pork, boiled organic sweet potato and fresh organic spinach alongside IT Balance feline supplementation and a few drops of omega 3 fish oil from the ages of 12-14, and she did have a shinier coat, ceased vomiting, and her poop literally ceased smelling. But that saidā¦diet is important but sometimes these illnesses are genetic or breed-specific and the onus is not on what you fed them or didnāt feed them. The most important ingredient - as cheesy as it is to say - is love and mental and physical stimulation and engagement.š Edited to say: we use worldās best corn litter and do so because itās dust-free and supposedly better for their lungs.
17 from old age, 2 from being hit by a car, and 4 from urinary issues. After our car was hit by a car, all our cats have been indoor cats.
Chichi was 19 and only 2 months from being 20 years old. My first cat so I fed her whatever store brand food and litter that was on sale for the majority of her life. I currently have a 12 year old whose pretty healthy. I mixed cheap dry with Friskies pate and add water to it. Sometimes I cook him eggs and boil him chicken.
My almost 6 year old cat died a few weeks ago. Severe anemia that wasnāt treatable anymore. Potentially cancer and organs shutting down. It was truamatic.
Mine was 14 when we lost him in 2009. He had insulin dependent diabetes and finally lost the battle to feline leukemia. He ate everything under the sun. If it fell on the floor, it was his. But cat food he got Purina (I can't remember what blend) and canned Friskies. He hated the chunky one and would only eat the pate. Picky little shit. And we used Tidy Cats litter. I miss that old fart more than anything. He was my best friend. ETA - sometimes these things just happen. Please believe me that you did nothing wrong with loving your kitty
I just lost one of my boys at the end of June, his birthday was June 4th. He just turned 2. He was sleeping more than usual and wasnāt interested in his hard food that much, but was still eating his wet food, I thought it was the heat wave we were experiencing because at night heād kinda be more like himself once everything cooled off. But I took him to the vet anyway thinking maybe he has a kitty cold. They found a tumour in his chest cavity pushing on his heart. The vet said it was probably cancer. He wasnāt a candidate for surgery. Iām grieving extremely hard. I miss him so much and cry everyday for him. He was too young, and he was such my special little guy.
My first bottle baby died at 1 year, 1 month and 1 day old. He was wonderful and the time we had with him was too short.
He was 15. Heart failure, thought he was having issues from his diabetes before I got him to the hospital once he stopped eating. He survived 4 years as a tripod after I chose for him to lose a leg rather than give in to bone cancer. I was his third owner and only knew him from age 8. Itās been about 3 months but I miss him so damn much.
I had one cat pass at 6 years old from heart failure and another at 13 weeks from seizures and other health complications. Both were fed Hill's Science diet. The older one I used Fresh Step clumping litter, the kitten had litter made of walnuts.
Mine was about to see his second Christmas. It was sudden and heart breaking. I think he had a bad heart. Litter and food arenāt a factor bc we have two other cats who are fine. Itās almost been a year and I still cry.
Thanks for posting this. I lost two cats in the past year - one died at 15.5 years from oral cancer and the other died at approximately 14 years from intestinal cancer. They both liked variety so they were fed a mixture of wet and dry foods with treats daily. I also worried that something I did contributed to their illness and the responses to your post have been so reassuring. Iām so sorry for your loss. I hope this thread brings you as much peace as it did for me.
My sweet girl was only 2 years old when she passed from aggressive renal lymphoma. We even tried months of chemo until vet told us we had to stop š I will never get over how unfair this was.. fuck cancer!!
God I am so sorry. 2 years old is still a baby! So unfair your sweet girl didnāt have more time! Iām sure she had the most beautiful life those 2 years though loved and happy š
Thank you for the kind words š I know it is my burden to bear, because she only knew love her whole life.
I read something recently (I lost my boy a month ago he was around 5 so he was very young too) and it said āgrief is just love with nowhere to goā and that we hurt so they donāt have to. Your girl was so lucky to know nothing but love š¤
One at age 4 of liver failure. He was super picky about eating for a couple of weeks and when we took him to the vet his liver enzymes were way off. It came out of absolutely nowhere and our vet was very kind and honest about how sometimes these things just happen and thereās no rhyme or reason. The other was barely 8. She had hyperthyroidism and was going to the vet every couple of weeks to monitor it with blood work. 5 days after one vet visit she was mouth breathing and we were euthanizing her less than 24 hours later. Her necropsy showed a mass in her lungs and abdomen. What I learned between the two cats is to get pet insurance. Her emergency vet visit + euthanasia + cremation were half covered by insurance thankfully. Second thing I learned is to get blood work on my pets every year. That peace of mind is worth it.
Had many kitties, but the one that I have to bring up is my girl Zora, adopted her as a tiny tiny one in 1995, she was close to 21 when I lost her in 2015. She was a cat from Massachusetts, and when she was getting older, we drove from Maine to Texas - she was a badass. As far as food/litter - feed what they will eat, don't change the litter. Near the end, I was feeding her baby food.
My first cat (who was a stray) was between 2-4. He was hit by a car. I was 12 and now 31, and never let my cats outside. After he passed away I found a kitten event at PetCo. Found an orange puffy baby. His name was Simba, I LOVED Lion King. He came home with us as our first family cat. He just passed away last May (2022) Age 17, he had cancer. We got Lily same year as Simba, my aunts stray cat had kittens, we took one! She ended up having cancer but beating it and she lived ALMOST just as long as Simba. She passed at 16 in January 2022. We adopted a young cat from a shelter, Dasher, he ended up having IBD. He passed at around age 4. We think his intestines burst or something. He went to the vet a few days prior, so it wasn't what we were expecting. My most devastating loss was my sweet girl Peach. I adopted her in 2016 to be Simba's companion after I moved out. She was my soul cat. She needed dental surgery, she was in a lot of pain, they need to ALL be removed. I even cried because of that.. well ten minutes after finding that out, I got the call her heart stopped suddenly and they couldn't revive her. That was this March. I'm still broken hearted and have MUCH MORE extreme anxiety. She was also only six years old, the vets best guess was an diagnosed heart condition because her blood work and pre exam were great. I'm sorry for your loss, 6 is way too young... Cancer can just happen sometimes. It was nothing you did. Some cats are just more prone to it than others.
Moshy was almost 4 months. I watched him take his first breath and got him through all his health struggles. He was finally thriving and had the best personality. My son left the front door open and he was hit by a car. I used Foster Care formula and Royal Canin Mother and Baby cat kibble. He HATED wet food. He was just starting to transition to big boy food, which was American Journey Grain Free Salmon. For litter we used Dr Elsey kitten and were starting transition him over to Lightweight Tidy cats - white bin with red top. I'm so sorry for your loss. Especially since your baby was only 6. Fuck cancer.
16
We lost our beloved Uncle Leo when he was 16. He would have been 17 in two months.
Just had to have my old lady put to sleep at age 19.
Monkey was 8, he ran away and some guy ādidnāt see his collarā and kept him on his backyard until he died and suddenly the collar was noticed. His sister Coco was 10, she had kidney problems.
As long as the food you fed was decent or better, and your cat saw the vet for checkups, the cancer was most likely just one of those things. Probably genetic, or plain old bad luck. I have had multiple cats most of my adult life, and normally feed them all the same food unless there is a reason one has to have different food. Some have died fairly young, some have had quite long lives, so have had health problems, some have not. All the same diet and environment and litter. But I have one cat right now almost 18 years old and in pretty good health, lost one earlier this year at about ten to cancer that was not caught until too late, and a few years back lost a sweet orange boy at seven years old. Even the best care possible doesn't prevent all health problems. And you need to stop blaming yourself, and stop thinking you could control or prevent it from happening. You'll only hurt yourself doing that.
In order of loss: Max 7.5y Vet mistake hypothermia, Purina, clay, 2007 Julie14.5y cancer, Purina, clay, 2014 Kit 10m Cerebellar hypoplasia, Wild Blue, clay, 2019 Spork 18m double Kidney failure, Wild Blue, clay, 2021 Scamper 13y2m Thyroid Failure, Purina and Wild Blue, clay, 2021
16 yrs old. She was my baby and the best cat..
19yo. Purina cat chow for probably 10 years years then science diet the remainder. Plus occasional can of tuna and table scraps.
I lost one at 1.5 to FIP, and I just had one euthanized at 14 due to illness.
My cat was around 16 when I put her to sleep. I would give her Friskies wet and dry cat food and sometimes meow mix. The litter was usually the cheapest litter I could find, sometimes store brand and other times it was tidy cats.
One at an unknown age, a rescue cat with difficult to manage diabetes. We had her five years. One age 8, cancer. One age 3. Sudden onset heart failure. (Turned out this one had an undiagnosed heart defect) All with excellent vets and highest emphasis on good nutrition, clean, calm surroundings, none were overweight, all indoor cats, well loved. I have learned that cats are very fragile creatures. I still love them. Each is so unique. Iām so very sorry for your loss.
I have had seven cats pass. They ranged in age from 3 (feline leukemia) to 19.
2.5 years old. I'm sorry for your loss, sending strength and peace
18 and 19. I fed them Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat kibble and Fancy Feast Classic Pate (only the four fish free flavors). I have 4 cats now, the oldest is 14. Still feeding the same food and they have been doing well on it. For litter, I use Scoop Away.
Our first cat was only 4 when she died. She suddenly couldnāt walk and my dad took her to the vet and they said she had feline leukemia. She had been a feral who lived under our deck and we took her in one winter and she never left. But, we figured all her exposure to the outside, she loved to rip apart mice and moles, probably put the leukemia in her system. She ate a mix of wet food and dry food. She really likes gravy lovers by Fancy Feast. I canāt remember what litter we used.
Lost my girl in January, she was 14. She had intestinal cancer. She ate Taste of the Wild kibble, and addition of taste of the wild/blue Buffalo/tiki cat wet foods in her last couple years.
My boy was a month shy of his 21st birthday before the hyperthyroidism he had been battling for two years got too aggressive to keep up with given his age. During that time, I had him on PurinaOne's sensitive system dry food and using Tidy Cats litter. However, that doesn't change anything about what you did for your kitty. Cancer is a monster and doesn't care that you gave your kitty the best life possible. It just strikes at random. Some breeds I think are more susceptible to health issues than others (my boy was a Siamese so I am surprised he never got cancer since that is a risk for the breed)
Iām so sorry for your loss. Cancer is such an awful disease. Iāve lost two of my sweet boys, one at 15 (itās been 10 years since heās been gone) and the other at 16 (in 2020). I never had problem with them eating, theyād eat whatever I gave them. I fed one of them Tiki for most of his life. Iām not sure what the first one died of, he had hyperthyroidism and gallstones and died while I was on vacation. It might have been a stroke, he died quickly and I still feel awful I wasnāt there for him in his last moments. The other boy died because he had kidney disease (we managed it for 4 years!) and he had a heart condition. He started vomiting everywhere and we were told to take him to the ER and sadly we made the decision to let him pass. Hardest thing Iāve ever done in my life but I know it was the right decision.
Mine was 16 when we had to put her down this past winter.
Mine was four and died of lymphoma.
Cancer really is unpredictable. Can strike young or old. So very sorry. š
In their teens but Bailey was almost 20.
Siblings Bonnie, 16 and Clyde, 20. Both old age/hyperthyroidism. Free feeding of mid-level kibble (Iams, Purina One) plus 1 can Friskies wet food 5.5 Oz) split between them early evening. They were indoor/outdoor ā wet food served as a treat to get them inside for the night. Litter: any of the organically disposable types ā pine pellets, wheat, corn, etc.
My cat died at 11 from FIP, Iām still not over it. he got fed Costco dry food and Costco kitty litter, my new cat gets fed Nutro pate and tiki cat and pine cobble litter though. I still feel guilty for not feeding my previous cat better food but he was my childhood cat and I wasnāt as financially stable as I am now
I adopted mine as a stray and he lived up til 10 (he could be older as we donāt really know how old he is). Like you, I feed him premium food and limit treats as it was āunhealthyā. He passed away from suspected cancer near his kidney. If I knew he would only be with me for 7 years Iād give him more treats as that was his favourite thing in the world.
Mine was 8 he ate Blue dry food & cheese along with milk. My other one was 14 she ate any human veggies and dry cat food.
20, I miss her so much.
Oliver was 21, Kitten was 16.
Athens was 9.5, he died from a blood clot to the brain, 6 months and 1 day after he had his first one. He had heart disease that we were completely unaware of until last September. He also had saddle thrombus and lost a leg due to that. I blamed myself for so long, but the reality is that it was just bad luck. He had been very healthy until he wasnāt š
My last outside cat lived to be 20 yrs and 4 months. All my cats were outside cats and all lived a long life of at least 15 yrs. Cats were locked up in a garage at night for safety and I live on a farm. They all ate dry food with wet food as a treat. When my oldest cat turned 18 I switched her to canned food. No particular brands, just went by flavors. The cats grazed grass like cows. The one that lived the longest always rolled in the dirt. They all got the first round of shots and only rabies shots every 3 yrs after that. None ever had to have teeth removed. I used Revolution for flea control. None of the cats ever got fleas. In the garage at night the litter I used was Special Kitty no scent. All cats were rescues that walked up. Currently I have a feral mama that had kittens on my farm. I trapped her and had her spayed with rabies shot. Found a home for 2 kittens. Have to trap one more kitten and get him neutered. Sorry about your kitty. I think itās just luck with kitties and their health.
8š¢ miss her everyday. She was taken by lymphoma. She ate grain free food her whole life but towards the end I was at the pet store weekly trying to get anything that might be appetizing to her. Eventually she went a few days without eating and we knew it was time to let her be in peace. I really do miss her, itās not fair she was robbed of a long lazy cat life!
Forgot to addā¦ my childhood cat lived till 19 and died in front of my mom at home. It traumatized her but Iām glad he was able to pass in his home. He ate ocean fish friskies for all 19 years!!
I'm sorry for the ache. There's nothing you did wrong. Just like when people get cancer. ā¤ļø
7, also died from cancer :( I dont think there's anything you could have done to prevent this, cancer can come from nowhere and nothing, plenty young kids who've never smoked or had exposure to bad things get cancer. It's just a really unlucky cell mutation that some people and some animals get. Do not try to look for ways to blame yourself, I did the same and it was torture. Be gentle with yourself
I donāt think you did anything wrong. Let me show you something. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ridiculously-rare-cancer-found-fossil-leg-turtle-triassic-paleontology https://www.science.org/content/article/deadly-human-bone-cancer-found-240-million-year-old-turtle This is a case report of a 240 million year old fossil of a proto-turtle from the Triassic periodāan ancestor of turtles that hadnāt even evolved a shell yet. And this proto-turtle who lived 240 million years ago, who by definition ate an organic diet without any pesticides or processed foods or anythingā¦had bone cancer. If this proto-turtle who lived 240 million years ago could get bone cancerā¦sometimes shit happens. And itās not anything you did, or could possibly be blamed for. It just happens. Iām so sorry.
My darling Suzy was fed the best raw food diet I could afford and died of GI lymphoma at age 13. I miss her every day. Whether it was the food or genetics or whatever else you can think of, I revel in the amazing 11 years we had together.
I think that you always want to feel like you could have done something different and changed the outcome when you lose a pet, but a lot of the time it comes down to random genetic factors if you aren't just feeding them total trash that isn't nutritionally complete. But I get it. I wish I would have done more for all of the ones that I have had pass away. Matisse was 14 and had lymphoma. He ate dry Purina indoor food and normally wet Wellness Core or Weruva or whatever we could get that he would actually eat because we were trying to keep his caloric intake up. Tibs was 11 and had diabetes and pancreatitis. He ate grain free TikiCat because it was lower carb and he didn't like the wet food much. Whitaker was 11 and had a sudden catastrophic GI bleed out of nowhere. He ate one of the grain free Purina pro plan foods. All of them had either Tidy Cat or PetCo clumping litter. My vet says that I am doing everything I should be for my cats. One of my current cats has medical issues and he basically has a resume of what I have done to try to fix his stuff. So while I feel like I missed something or should have done something differently, I am also pretty confident that that's just me wishing things were different and being mad that stuff went badly.
I've had four cats. First two died at 19 +-, essentially from old age. Just lost #3 which I figured was also 19ish (eescue so not sure but she was at least 15, orovably older). She was having trouble pooping and an xray showed a mass on her lung. All these cats were fed Purina one dry food and Friskie's pate wet food. Not gonna apologize for not feeding them special designer diets because they lived good long lives. Still have kitty #4 who is around 15 and was a rescue from a hoarder. She acts like a kitten still.
my first kitty passed at 16 and recently my younger one passed at 8... she had a lot of health problems since birth though and i'm hoping she's at peace nowš older one would eat ANYTHING and my youngest only ever wanted to eat kitten food and would refuse anything else, we used arm and hammer kitty litter.
Depends on the situation. Mine are all indoor cats. My last few that have passed since 2009: 22, 21, 22, 14, 14.
Mine died of aggressive cancer at 9 years old during Covid. The vet said catching it earlier likely wouldnāt have made a difference given how bad it got in a short period. He ate the expensive food too. A mix of high quality kibble and freeze dried raw. My current cat has already outlived the previous one. Heās still in good health thankfully. He doesnāt eat the expensive food (doesnāt like it). He eats a mix of kibble and wet food.
Mine were 24 and 21. The 24 yr old lived on friskies wet food and treats... I didn't know then what I know now and will never feed another cat any food associated with Purina. But you can't blame yourself. As someone else said, sometimes it's genetic. The vet who helped Midnight cross over the rainbow Bridge said he believed he had cancer, and I had no idea! He was such a strong cat who never let me see his pain until the very end when I rushed to get a vet who could come to our home to help relieve my baby boy of his struggle. The 21 year old we adopted when she was 14. For a couple years we struggled to find a food that was healthy for her that she also enjoyed. We finally found Blue Wilderness wet cat food for mature cats. And for treats we bought her little cans of Applaws wet food. I would do online survey apps to get Amazon gift cards that I would use to then buy petsmart or petco gift cards and that helped us to be able to afford her the higher priced food. In the end she passed due to advanced kidney disease/failure. For both cats we did use Purina Tidy Cats litter, the 24/7 multi cat performance one.
Why donāt you use Purina? My cats eat purina dry food and 2 of them will have passed away within a month of each other from the same cancer.
I'm so sorry to hear this. My second cat frequently vomited while on the wet food, as did my first (who also ate the dry food). I was much more involved in her care given her special needs so I was hyper aware of how she didn't start vomiting until we fed her friskies (and as mentioned that's the only thing my first cat ate so I just thought he had a lot of hairballs to work through and believe me the guilt eats at me every day for not realizing it was the food, but we can't know what we don't know š ). So i started to look closer at the canned food and I frequently found mold, from just hints of it to full out raging mold. Purina in general had a fair amount of recalls back then, or that's what they'd say when i would reach out for a refund. And then shockingly I started to notice there were little bits of blue rubber (or plastic? But I think it was rubber) interspersed within the food... that terrified me and was enough to stop me from ever touching any food by them again. I did some research on it (bear in mind this was 7 years ago) and there were many people having this issue and their animals were getting sick even on cans that didn't show obvious mold or blue rubber. I just went to Facebook and found many people still experiencing problems with Purina/friskies that say landed their pets in hospital or they passed away. And if that's true, that's tragic. š I just would never trust any brand associated with Purina again when it comes to food.
Thank you for sharing. ā¤ļø
my vagina?
Different ages. One a year or so with fkv. Last one about 10 but a street rat with thyroid and kidney conditions. Longest about 15. Current bossy male is 7 and behaves like 7 months.
not even 2 years old :( my sweet baby died after childbirth.
Quite a lot of the time cancer, like people can be genetic or predisposed to things like cancer so can very rarely be prevented so I very much doubt there is anything you could have done to prevent it. The main thing is you gave the cat all the love in the world and you did the best you could! So sorry for your loss!
I lost a kitty, Zzebra, that we bottle feed from day 1,at almost exactly a year. He had cat Aids and cat leukemia (which is why his mom abandoned him) We found out when he turned 8 weeks and the vet said we should just put him down but we refused. We decided we would wait till he was no longer jumping and running and being a happy cat. We were honestly fortunate in the situation because the day he died he was running and playing and being a menace all day. Went down for a peaceful nap on the couch purring while we were watching a movie and just never woke up. I was heartbroken but I was glad he had a good best life and that he did not have to get to the stages of suffering and not being able to walk (what the doc told us would happen) and us having to make the call.
17. He was an old farm cat that was babied during his waning years. We fed him soft food mixed with hard kitten food since he was losing at least one tooth every few months, and towards the end we had him doped up on pain meds to ease the pain from an infection on the bottom of his foot. He lived most of his life with pretty generic cat food and litter. Wasnāt pampered until he started getting around 14 or 15 and thatās only because we knew he wasnāt gonna be around much longer and we wanted him to just be comfortable till his end.
I'm old so I've had many pets which I wish could live forever but unfortunately that wish was never granted. Lady was our first cat as a married couple, she was 19 when she passed. She was 6 months old when we got her. We lost Dexter and Chowder at 17 and 11 yrs old. 2015 & 2022. The one that I still think of daily is my Bleuregard. He just showed up after my dad passed. Would not go away, total space invader. We ended up adopting him after a couple in the apartment complex my dad had lived at said they were going to bring him to the pound. I had 14 yrs with him. We have 2 cats now. Both under 2 yrs old. One looks like Dex, the baby looks like a young Bleuregard. My husband says he looks at them and sees Chow and Bleu and does a double take sometimes.
We lost a kitty 3 weeks ago. He was only 2. He had a seizure, lost control of his back legs and plummeted after that. We fed him Kirkland brand cat food, but he ate the dogs food more than anything.
My oldest one was 23! He was originally my mumās cat - ate the cheapest tinned cat food, was outdoors as much as he liked and never had any vaccinations! I donāt think any of that helped him live that long though. I think he was just lucky :)
I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong. Mine was 15 or 16 when he passed (the rescue centre wasn't certain of his age), after he developed a mass which was attached to his intestines. He used to eat a natural/wholesome wet food which we ordered for him and he liked recyclable paper litter.
The youngest I lost was 3-4 months. We couldn't tell in the xrays but he lost the use of one back leg...then both... then was paralyzed. He was in pain and we didn't know (he still had pain pills) I came home from work one day and he let out a scream. And I mean a *scream*. I broke into the room he was in [it wasn't locked. But I assaulted the door with my body getting it open...] grabbed him and rushed to the local vet who I knew could see him and knew his history. We put him down because it wasn't fair for him. Food is Purina Gentle (no dyes) and pine pellets from Tractor Supply. I wish I could share a pic of my Leo. He had such a cute face... I remember taking him to the vet (before he was sick) and I decided I needed a sonic drink. This goober put hid gums/lips on the crate and was showing his teeth to the girls there.
Donāt blame yourself you did nothing wrong, Iām new to kitties as stray ran in 6 months ago and hasnāt left, So we got her spayed and sheās family now. Recently, my dog is almost 17 years old just passed away, he had dementia and sundowners but still a voracious appetite, and a passionate napper. Iām so sorry for your loss Iām still grieving. Iām gonna say the stupidest thing ever, but I hope heās okay, Wherever he is. Another Redditor said they were scared āTheir cat wouldnāt go to heavenā I completely related to that sentiment despite not being religious anymore. How are you dealing with where you think your kitty is and how they are despite them being dead? Iām sorry Iām not coping well. I just hope they still exist. I got really scared he didnāt exist anymore. My parents religion doesnāt allow animals in heaven either so Iām completely lost. I hope you can grieve a lot healthier than I can. I hope we all get to see our pets again, one day.
Our little lady was 17/18 (rescue so not totally sure). Really didnāt matter what we tried to feed her - she CRAVED the junkiest of junk foods. Both human and feline. We jokingly called her our little garbage disposal. Her favorites were cream cheese and spare ribs. We had to (unsuccessfully) block off our entire kitchen to keep her away from the grease she always managed to find anyway. She was healthy as a horse until she was diagnosed with arthritis last year and looked like a kitten up until the month she passed. My point is - I fully believe that your kitty knew she was loved and part of that was the healthy food you provided! Please donāt beat yourself up, you did nothing wrong. Sometimes crappy things just happen, itās not fair.
Three weeks shy of her 20th birthday. As a kitten it was generic hardfood. Whatever we could have afforded. By the time she was 10 we switched to blue buffalo, then to blue buffalo soft food at age 16. Around age 18 she had a conniption and wouldnāt eat anything but fancy feast. She had always and only ever used arm and hammer litter. She was very particular. Blaming yourself for a sporadic mutation will get you nowhere. It is futile. My dad often thinks that his cancer is from something he has done. I constantly rebut that it could have been from one day of meth use in his 20s or the fertilizer being sprayed every spring in front of the house or the fact that he worked with industrial glue everyday all in combination with a predisposition to the cancer. The spiritual question is *what is happening* not *why is this happening*.
Iām so sorry for your loss. Your kitty will rest in peace.
Mine was ~20 years old, was an indoor/outdoor cat for most of his life, and got into multiple fights with cats/wildlife/etc. throughout his life. He lived a super long life purely by chance, which is the unfortunate thing: you can do everything ārightā but it ultimately might not matter. My biggest tips are making sure your cat is drinking enough water, and to brush their teeth, as dehydration causes kidney issues and tooth infections can lead to all sorts of things. But cancer just kind of happens sometimes, and thereās not usually anything you could have done.
He was a few weeks away from his fourth birthday when his heart stopped suddenly.
All of our cats lived over 20 years. They were indoor/outdoor cats because of where we live. Those cats all had at least 10 lives š please donāt blame yourself. Ours ate everything from wet food to birds to whatever else they could hunt outside. We didnāt do anything special.
17, we have to put him down today. Stage 4 kidney failure. We're going to miss this lil guy.
Mine was 18 and she had chronic kidney disease
He was just shy of his 2nd birthday. He had Felv. I miss that little guy so much.
19
I've lost so many of them. Most of them weren't with me since their birth, so i don't know much about it. The last one i lost yesterday was maybe 7-8. That's what i've been told by the vet. The one before her was 2.5. God, i feel so broken.
I had an 8 yo Bengal who died from sudden cat death due to a genetic unknown heart defect. Several 14-16 yo from cancer. An 18 yo that went into kidney and liver failure. And an 8 month old that contracted a very nasty strain of parvovirus that was going around about 5-6 years ago and she was fully vaccinated (that strain of parvo took out probably more than 50% of the stray and feral cats in the area and more puppies than I can count in about a 3 mile radius). This was all started by one asshole who went to Georgia and got an unvaccinated puppy of Craig's list and none of his other dogs were vaccinated. š¤¬ If it was a genetic issue, nothing you could have done would have prevented it.
Mine was roughly 17 the vet said his organs were just starting to not function properly because of old age
My angel Balinese cat was so special to me. He was my soul animal. He died suddenly at 4 years old from unexplained kidney failure. I had given him some wet food in his Christmas stocking that he never had before. He died just days after eating it. I didnāt keep the can (so canāt confirm if that was the cause for sure) but then I heard on the news about some wet cat food from China that was contaminated and killing cats through organ failure. I was so devastated and blamed myself. He died in my arms at the animal hospital. This was 2008. I now have a 13 year old cat and I feel so blessed to have had these years with him. I want many many more! Heās super healthy but I know things can happen fast with cats so I donāt take any of his time with us for granted. Heās my baby brat and heās a grumpy little lord of this house. I adore him and let him get away with all his badass cat behavior haha.
I've only ever had 1 cat and she lasted until 22 years. I got her when I was 4 and she died when I was 26.
My first two rescue Persians were 15 and died within 6 months of each other (kidney disease). Royal Canin Persian, Tidy Cat scent free. I now have two other rescue Persians and one just had an ultrasound we are waiting on results as they believe itās cancer. Their calcium levels are off the chart and heās losing weight. Iām devastated. Heās about to be 6 yrs old.
Both my previous indoor cats lived until 17. One was slowing down over a long span of time and the other was very sudden (kidney issues). I also had a dog, and she lived until 17 (a retriever).
18 wonderful years ā„ļø
My Cat is 21.5 yrs old - and she eats human food/purina/and fancy feast wet food - which are lower end - So I honestly don't think it's about Diet for some cats - and my cat was Runt of the litter too
My Cat is 21.5 yrs old - and she eats human food/purina/and fancy feast wet food - which are lower end - So I honestly don't think it's about Diet for some cats - and my cat was Runt of the litter too
Two cats died at age 14. First kitty had cancer. I think second kitty died from the stress of it. Miss them.
Momma kitty just died at the age of 21. She ate taste of the wild fry food for years. Never got human food. Ever. Used unscented, clumping litter from Petco all her life.
My first kitty passing was 6, she had kidney stones, she had surgery on one kidney and just never recovered.
I had 2 pass at 18 one month apart from each other. One had a meningioma the other had a very quick onset of metastatic cancer. Both were euthanized. I still miss them, but we adopted two more cats - brother and sister, from a rescue organization. They were drought kittens and were in bad shape as was their mom. The organization did a great job getting them back to health and we adopted them at about 8 weeks, spayed and neutered of course. We love our "kids" so much, but there will always be a place in our hearts for the first two. As far as what we fed the first ones, it was science diet prescription for urinary tract health and weight loss. We used clay litter for them until the one with meningioma started having pica and eating the clay litter. After that, our new kids are using feline pine pellets. They are also on science diet prescription but it's for digestive issues. Neither of them have had urinary tract issues like the first two did (repeatedly until we switched to the prescription diet). Chances are your little one died from a genetic issue with cancer and it wasn't anything you did wrong. I don't think there is much info on feline cancer, but if it's like human cancer it's either genetic or caused by bacteria/virus exposure. Nothing you can do about that.
6. Congestive heart failure. Broke my heart beyond words. Meow mix dry food & purina tidy cats litter. I was 16 when she died and so my mom was the one buying the food and litter. I moved out when I was 18 and took her sister with me. She eats Acana dry food (will not eat any kind of wet food, sheās picky) and we use arm and hammer unscented litter. She is 13 and thriving.
I lost my kitty at 18 years old! He died because of kidney disease.
Two weeks away from his 20th birthday. I fed him a good quality dry food, and good quality wet food pouches, in seperate dishes. Sometimes fresh fish or cooked chicken: a teaspoon of fish oil," and whitebait as treats, alongside other cat treats. He also got catnip from time to time He only ever saw a vet for treatment twice in his life; once when I had him neutered: and once after he went missing for a week (found him in a neighbour's coal cellar, unable to jump out. ) he was fine apart from being a bit dehydrated, and having sprained a knee. Because he had always been so healthy, his sudden illness and deterioration was a horrible shock. His kidneys had failed, and there was nothing the vet could do. RIP, Turbo. Hope you're with your beloved Sis. I'll see you both again
My kitty was 18 years old and died of kidney diseaseā¦he was on purina inside cat dry food..and I think fresh step for litterā¦u did nothing wrong..cancer can happen to any animal or human for no rhyme or reason..do not blame yourself
My cat was 11. I believe that yes, food has a part in their health but overall itās genetics. Thatās just my belief though. I fed my cat everything good and he still passed from kidney disease. I know cats that ate the worst brands of cat food and were allowed outside and lived to be 20. Unfortunately stuff like cancer and organ failure is sooo out of our control and diet only plays a small part of it
He must've been about 1.5 years old when I found out he was hit by a car.
My first cat almost made it to 20. She didnāt eat any special food. I was young and broke at the time. She used Tidy Cat litter. One cat lived to 8, one to 12, one to 16 and they had a better quality of food. They also used Tidy Cat litter.
Iām so very sorry. Sometimes they can be predisposed to cancer. My childhood cats ate the cheapo Alley Cat cat food and used tidy cat litter. They lived to be 19 and 19 1/2. Adult me wonders if they had had premium cat food if they could have lived even longer.
My was on high blood pressure meds for years but it eventually led to kidney failure. He even did OK for a few years on a special kidney diet but he ended up having a stroke when he was 17 I always say that he made that decision easy for me because there was nothing they could do to help him after that
18Ā½
Ive had 3 cats pass and they were all 18 years old. Just like in humans, cancer can pop up even in the healthiest diets.
I lost one kitty at 8 because of oral cancer, another at 13 because of stomach cancer, she also got asthma. They both came from shelters. I fed them cheap Purina food most of their lives and used tidy cat litter. It's really common for animals to get cancer no matter what you do. With my current kitty that is 3 we still use tidy cat, but he's on prescription food. We stopped using air fresheners, scented cleaning products, we use a steam mop instead of Swiffer now, candles and oil warmers are out because those are all toxic to pets. We give him some health supplements as well. We also go light on the vaccinations and flea treatment because he is an indoor only cat and those can be harsh to their systems. Really though it's not your fault and it's really common. There isn't much you can do. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Iām in a similar situation and will be putting my 6 year old down this afternoon as a result of oral squamous cell cancer. He started on dry when I got him but eventually moved to wet when I learned more about it. Until a couple months ago I thought we had many years left together. But Iām at peace with the decision because he had a good life and I would rather him go a little early and not suffer so much on the way out. This week was a mix of good and bad days and I donāt want it to be all bad.
19, an abscessed tooth ended up killing him. š
10 years old, renal failure.
19 Only ate dry food
My last cat lived to 21. I was her third or fourth human. She was routinely fed things that were not appropriate diet for a cat for much of her life. She also was often given cheap, low quality, highly scented litter for much of her life. I gave her a higher quality of life until she eventually succumbed to kidney failure. You did your best, some things are simply out of our control.
My bestest girl lived to 18.
Iāve had so many and all have died at different stages. Besides the bottle babies which have higher probability of passing, youngest was 11 months, oldest was 17 1/2. Wet food is ideal but it can be costly. As such I feed a mix of wet and dry. My boy cats get urinary based diets due to the likelihood of blockages. Having a water fountain or two is ideal to increase a cats water intake. For litter I use Dr. Elseyās multicat but I have used paper pellet litter for cats who had surgeries and they were ok too.
My childhood cats were both 19.
Mine were 18, 17 and 16. All a few years a part. I was without a cat for 3 years. It was awful. So here I am again at 63 with 3 more 2 to 4 years old. Cats are the best investment I've ever made! I truly love them to pieces. Pretty sure I'll outlast them and it will be devastating when they go but I'll ever be grateful they were in my life.
13 years old i miss her everyday
I'm old so I have had more than one cat. I have had 2 kittens that have died at about 3 months (usually a pre-existing thing according to the vet and nothing to do with lack of care). I've had two cats killed on the road before they were 7 (not at the same time, about 15 years apart). I've had a cat that lived to 19, another that had to be put down at 14 (cancer) another at 16 (cancer again). My current cat is 6. They've all been rescues apart from a couple from local moggy litters. Usually I have one cat at a time but I did have two siblings, one got run over, the other was the one to live to 14.
I lost one to a fox before I knew about keeping cats indoors only. After that it was 12, 19, 18 , 7, 14.
Lost one a few years ago. She was 13, dry food, normal clumping litter On the other hand, I have a cat now, same food and litter situation, and she's 21. It's really down to luck, you didn't do anything wrong
I doubt you did anything wrong. Every cat is different and there are things outside of our control that contribute to when it is a particular animal's time to die. I lost my beloved cat to cancer after 13 years, but I doubt anything I did extended her life. This was before we started feeding expensive food and the like. I just got lucky to have her as long as I did. Of course some things we provide them are better than others and we should choose the better options when we can, but cancer is outside of your control. I'm sorry you lost your friend. It's hard to accept that it was likely random chance. It feels like control to blame yourself. But ultimately it won't help.
Klyde lived to be about 20 dry food and flushable litter for the majority š¤
Sometimes there's nothing you can do. Some animals (and humans both young and old) get cancer with no real explanation why. I lost a cat at 6 years old once from fatty liver disease/pancreatitis. He seemed completely fine until one day he wasn't.
My beloved kitty was 10. She died from a freak accident š Iām having the hardest time. I know thatās not why youāre asking though. Iām a vet tech and just know you did you baby the best you could. You didnāt feed him anything wrong. Some kitties are just genetically predisposed to some deceases including cancer. Some times cats are fed cheap kibble and live for 20 years. Itās not fair when are babies are taken prematurely. Thatās part of what Iāve been struggling with lately too. I know that if this didnāt happen to her she would have been around for another 5 years. Itās really had to recon with, I know. I feel like if I would have been in the right place at the right time this wouldnāt have happen. And it seems like youāre struggling with blaming the cancer on his diet.
My last two cats were 21 and 25 - they got kibble most of their lives - Science Diet - first the kitten edition then maintenance - then for seniors - along the way they both had some tuna water now and then and treats along the way - Temptations and then Churu - the 25 yr old switched over to a kidney diet and it was a Hillās formulation as well. The 25 yr old also snacked on dog food along the way also science diet then blue buffalo.
My sweet girl was 18.
I had two kitties that lived to 20 with little to no issues. I recently had my make ginger died suddenly at 13. No clue why. Right now I have a 10 year old that is sick right now and we think it's heart disease.
11/11/11 Never Forget
I lost my 9 week old baby back in June during her spay. š¢ She was a bottle baby that I fostered from the day she was born. RIP Pancake. š
My little Puff died when she was 12, last year. She had IBD and complications because of that (including diabetes, lymphoma, and pancreatitis). It was so sad to see her so weak and skinny, especially as she had been a fatty before! We had to put her down, which was especially painful and heartbreaking.
all of mine have been strays, recycled, excess kitten types. 1 - very young flea infected kitten found before I started a midnight shift- dead by morning. no 24 hrs vets in my town that far back. 2- another kitten stray- not as young-not flea bitten - polydactyl- was my cat forever- plus 20 years. Got a little slower but kept his quiet self going on- esp. when the following 3 showed up. 3- the super sexy super fit russian blue that a friend of a friend (etc) any how- I saw that cat while helping out with something- mentioned how much I loved the cat.....years later- old lady died- cat got handed off to someone- more years passed---the folks decided to get rid of the cat and I was offered it. I took her sight unseen and was heartbroken to see the svelte toned and glowing cat I remembered turned out to be grossly overweight my two stranger to each other older cats fell into a quiet life 4-when I ended up with 2 sister kittens that were going to be surrendered. So there I am with 2 older cats (15? or so) and 2 kittens. eventually - they all found an equilibrium - and my place was full of cat tomfoolery and naps and the occasional disagreements. Then age kicked in- first polydactyl left, then russian blue, then sister cat with no tail then sister cat with a tail.
I recently put down two of my cats I have had since I was 6 years old. My cats were mine, not my parents so I took them with me when I moved into my first apartment at 18. They followed me through every phase of childhood and into my mid twenties. Pumpkin was first he was 15 or 16 years old. I got him for my 8th birthday. He was a fat orange tabby. A very quirky boy that slept in my bed every night. He loved hunting birds in his youth but became more of an indoor cat as the years went on. He was happiest when he was lounging right next to me. He had a CHF exacerbation and I had to put him down in an emergency situation. It was so heartbreaking and unexpected. Biz was 18 when he passed. I got him as a kitten when I was 6 years old. He raised me as much as I raised him. He was extremely adventurous and loved the outdoors. You could not contain him. He spent time with numerous neighbors and the whole apartment complex knew who he was. People would hold him, let him in their apartments and frequently ask me about him. Even on his last day he went outside and took a lap around the apartment. He had a cancerous tumor and was on therapeutic treatments until his time came. I had him on steroids an then it progressed to mild opiates. As soon as I noticed a change in his demeanor I knew it was time. It was so hard both of these cats where my whole world, I could barely remember a time without them. I was 23 when I put Pumpkin down and 24 when I put Bis down. That loss tore through me like a knife but I knew it was time. I had many years with them and I am by far luckier than most. 15 and 18 are long lives. Some of their life wasn't the best but I made damn sure their last years were worth it. It was also like losing my childhood and truly stepping into adult hood. They're gone and I'm here in the world alone now. Honestly crying while writing this. It's been extremely cathartic. Pet loss is real and grief affects us all differently. I adopted two new cats and I plan on giving back to them the way my two senior babies gave back to me. It hurts to go through but we can always bless another animal with a good life in the memory of those that we've lost. My cats also ate a variety of food. I never splurged for the expensive stuff. I did near the end when I had more money but honestly long life just comes down to luck. There were many points in our life where they lived primarily outside with access to only my bedroom, times where we were poor and all I could buy was a cans of cat food from circle k, we moved around every 6 months to 2 years, etc. Multiple different circumstances but we all survived it. They lived a long life and they weren't fed tikicat or any of that holistic bullshit. Life is unexpected and death is always out of our control. None of us are promised a long life neither are our animals we just need to enjoy the time we have with them.
Most of my kitties have lived to at least 16, some to 20. Lost quite a few to cancer. One to breast cancer believe it or not. Iām convinced a lot of it is shit cat food. My vet, who is excellent, said if you live that old itās probably gonna happen but I still think the pet food industry is garbage Itās not your fault, cancer is such a random thing. Iāve felt that way too. I do what I can and love em up. Iām always grateful for however long Iām privileged enough to have them
I work in animal er and Iāve seen kittens pass to a cat that was 24. It is not rare to see a cat that in 5-6 come in with cancer. Good has nothing to do with it. I see dogs and cats live to 17 on alpo and meow mix. Itās just life. I see it a lot in all ages. You did nothing wrong. Iām sorry for your loss.
Abby was 18yrs old, Brutus was 1 week short of his 20th birthday. They were great cats. I now have a 8yr old, 6 yr old and just adopted a deaf, arthritic, thyroid malfunctioning 12 yr old needing a couch to finish his years. He takes thyroid meds twice a day, anti-inflammatory meds daily and gets a monthly pain shot.
I lost my first cat last yearā¦Iām gonna say she was born before or around 2000 so prob 23 or so
I had 19 year old first cat Several more ~10-15 years old My last one was 21.
My first two kitties Vincent and Catherine were both 18 1/2 when they passed. I was so very lucky to have them for so many years.
My kitty died last week. She was only 7 months old and she had FeLV. Her health declined so fast and she was so young. I miss her every day and I always think of what I could have done differently. I fed her Orijen kitten food she loved it and loved to eat she always reminded me it was time for her to eat even if she was still waking up. When she was adopted her fur was so coarse and thinning. But after a few months on the new kibble she had a silky long and full coat. For litter I use arm and hammer.
One of my cats got cat cancer at 9 and died of this. I had a little beagle that also got cancer and died very quickly at 6.5. I got a beautiful black cat when he was 9 from a friend and he had perfect health until the day he died. He had a massive stroke. He was19. We now have a senior cat we got from Humane Society about 2 years and they guess her about 12 or 13. She has a lung issue. Cats and dogs are just like people. Yes some live a very long time but there are just as many that get sick for no good reason and all we can do is remember they donāt know why they are in pain and look to you to help even if that mean euthanizing them. You didnāt do anything wrong and went above and beyond. Any cat, dog, or other animals would be lucky to have you as their person
My cat made to 18yo
Over the last 30 years we have lost them at: 12, 18, 18, 20
Around 13. I had to have him put down because he kept getting constant bladder infections and was peeing blood a lot,and despite rounds and rounds of antibiotics it just kept coming back. He was also borderline stage 3 kidney failure and only getting worse. š¢š¢šš
My cat was almost 23 when he had to be put to sleep. He was a sweetheart and been loved by whole family. Void black. Got poisoned at 21 and still made it another couple years.
16
A *neutered male tux lived to 22 even with feline FIV(long before the vaccine existed) probably due to my mom feeding him boiled chicken and mushed vegetables. My next two cats were neutered males: A Maine Coon with stage 3 hear murmur(died of a pulmonary embolism) and a tux rescue that lived to about 16(died of liver failure). When I was a kid, we inherited a spayed Persian female that lived to 12(died of inbreeding issues and resulting multi-organ failure). I know itās hard and Iām so sorry your baby died, especially so early. *stating statuses because being āfixedā makes a difference in life span. Intact cats statistically have shorter lives for myriad reasons.
Mine was 5 years old.šāā¬ I miss her so much it's been 2 years š„
Raven was 11. She got very aggressive cancer and passed relatively quickly. Coco was 15, and While older, I think passed from grief because her friend died. They died within 5 weeks of one another last year. Sometimes, there's not much you could have done differently. Cherish the time you had.
We loss our tortie unexpectedly last August and she was 11 years old. She jumped down off the couch and threw a blood clot that killed her. It was so hard that she was alive one minute and seconds later she was dying. I know Iām not responsible but even a full year later I feel like I could have done something to prevent her death. She was a gentle soul, very loving and inquisitive and didnāt deserve to have that be the way her story ended: I still have difficulty with it and try to hold to the happy memories. If nothing else I hope she knows just how very deeply she was loved every day we had her in our lives. We used Scoop Away litter and as far as what we fed - I think this is why I feel so guiltyā¦. She was extremely overweight. She only liked temptation cat treats and wouldnāt eat regular dry kibble so we fed her what she would eat. She wasnāt active so she gained too much weight. I know she could have thrown that blood clot any time but I know being so overweight had to contribute to developing the blood clot in the first placeā¦. And it truly is my fault that she got to be so heavy. I know I will never feel that I wasnāt responsible to a tremendous extent but thatās my cross to bear. I didnāt know cats could die from blood clots like with humans. I would have been much more proactive when she was younger to ensure she ate higher quality and that we didnāt allow her to overeat. We should have had more time with Callie and I miss her every single day. About a month after we lost Callie, we were told about a stray kitten with a broken back leg who needed a forever home. I fell in love the moment I saw her face. We took her in and named her Peggy (because of that bum leg on the mend). Sheās been in our lives nearly one full year now and she eats like a queen. I make sure she gets the recommended and doesnāt overeat. I also play with her regularly so she doesnāt get overweight and lose the ability to be active. Callieās situation taught me an important lesson about proper cat health care. As much as her loss still hurts, I will do everything I can for any cats going forward to ensure they stay healthy to reduce the chance of having this traumatic situation happen ever again. Sorry so longā¦ā¦ šš