Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 18, 2015 16:01:45 GMT -5
I heard from my parents that our cat died. I'm not sure if it was "their" cat or my cat, but I knew the cat in high school and college.
Anyway, of the three cats we've ever owned, all have died.
1 died of kidney failure 1 disappeared, we never knew what happened to it 1 just recently died, causes unknown, but suspect kidney failure
So my parents are 3/3 on cats. Who knew cats were so hard to keep alive. It's just strange because we always treated our animals well, fed them, watered them, kept them in clean living conditions.
Anyone else have issues with keeping pets alive? Have you ever lost a pet unexpectedly?
EDIT: Forgot to mention the cats who died weren't that old, maybe 10-12.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Apr 18, 2015 16:04:04 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets.
Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Apr 18, 2015 16:06:50 GMT -5
I had to bury 2 beloved dogs before I left for college and my wife still remembers fondly her childhood dog that passed away.
And we've had max since he was 6 weeks old and he is turning 6 years old in June... We got him 1 year into our marriage.
So me 2/3 and wife 1/2
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Apr 18, 2015 16:07:26 GMT -5
Also my sincere condolences on the lost of your cat
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on Apr 18, 2015 16:18:57 GMT -5
I lost my dog a couple of years ago and still miss her.
You love them... and when they go it breaks your heart.
That's pet ownership for you.....Its just how it is.
Condolences for the loss of your cat.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2015 16:45:02 GMT -5
I'm on my 5th cat. My previous 4 have died at around 13-15 years of age of various things. My last cat died last year when the mass on his spleen had metastasized all over his gut. The vet put him to sleep on the operating table.
We have a small pet cemetery in our back yard. My last 2 cats, TD's last 2 dogs.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 16:57:46 GMT -5
My male cat will turn 19 years old next month. Other than the past 18 months, he has had no health problems. He has outlived three female housemate cats (all indoor only) born after he was. The female cats died from either cancer or kidney failure..
If cats (and dogs, rabbits, fish, etc.) could tell us in human language they were not feeling well early and where it hurts, more cats would live much longer lives. They don't speak human though.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2015 17:04:50 GMT -5
They don't speak human though.
But we don't speak cat either. But I get what you're saying. Cats are really hard in that they hide how they feel until they can no longer do so. So when you finally see something is wrong, it has gone on too far.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Apr 18, 2015 17:14:56 GMT -5
I heard from my parents that our cat died. I'm not sure if it was "their" cat or my cat, but I knew the cat in high school and college.
Anyway, of the three cats we've ever owned, all have died.
1 died of kidney failure 1 disappeared, we never knew what happened to it 1 just recently died, causes unknown, but suspect kidney failure
So my parents are 3/3 on cats. Who knew cats were so hard to keep alive. It's just strange because we always treated our animals well, fed them, watered them, kept them in clean living conditions.
Anyone else have issues with keeping pets alive? Have you ever lost a pet unexpectedly? I'm sorry your cat (or the family cat ) has died. Pets always seem to hold a special place in our hearts no matter how fleeting their lives are.
Old age for cats starts around 9/10 years old. Everyone always talks about cats (and dogs) that live to be 18/20 years old (and yeah, the small poodles never seem to die and go on for ever...) but those are the exceptions - not every cat or dog lives that long.
When I was a kid - the family cat managed to live to 16 yo - he was an 'alley cat' and came and went as he liked. My mom fed him meat scraps and whatever cheap organ meat she'd get at the grocery. he'd catch and eat birds/rabbits who knows what else. He didn't get canned food (or have a litter box) until the last few years of his life when he was reluctant to leave the comfort of the house. He survived being winged by car and numerous run ins with 'critters'.
After that I had a couple of cats in my teens - but they didn't do as well with 'free range' attitude my family had (allowed to come and go as they pleased - after being fixed) - at some point they didn't come back. I stopped getting cats after the second one didn't come back.
When I lived alone I had 3 cats and they stayed in. One died at 14 when his heart went bad (he was having trouble breathing and was retaining fluid), his sister cat passed at 15 1/2 when her kidneys finally failed. The third died at 10yo from kidney failure. I took all of them for their final vet visit versus them dying at home. I wish I had taken them a day sooner in each case. I'll be kinder to my current cats.
I was very sad and did grieve each one. I did tell people close to me but didn't really say much at work or to acquaintances about it. It's normal to feel sad. I did put their ashes out in a flower bed under a substantially big natural rock (my brother brought it from his lake house for me - he was clearing an area around his peer) in my back yard. My brother's dog is buried at the Lake House - in her favorite spot to watch the action on the lake.
Current Big Boy cat is 11 yo and I suspect his kidney's are slowly starting to go. He's fine for now - doing cat things/eating/etc but when he starts showing he's not comfy anymore we'll make that last visit to the vet. The Little Girl cat is an undetermined age - but I'd put her at about 7 or 8 - she's not showing any 'older cat' symptoms.
That's part of the 'problem' with pets... they have such short lives compared to ours.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 17:17:16 GMT -5
They don't speak human though.But we don't speak cat either. But I get what you're saying. Cats are really hard in that they hide how they feel until they can no longer do so. So when you finally see something is wrong, it has gone on too far. But we do have doctors who speak our language. There are no cats with medical degrees.
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whoami
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Post by whoami on Apr 18, 2015 17:18:30 GMT -5
I have a picture of me and the cat I grew up with when I was 1 1/2. They had to put her to sleep on my 16th birthday. The next cat lasted 17 years and they are going on 8 or 9 years with the current cat. We had a dog that we had for 14 years.
My dog is 10 and getting very gray in the face. Had her since she was a baby. I hope when its her time, she just goes to sleep. I cant even imagine having to take her to the vet to be euthanized. The idea makes me want to throw up.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 17:22:37 GMT -5
1-month-old kitten = 6-month-old human baby 3-month-old kitten = 4-year-old child 6-month-old kitten = 10 human years old 8-month-old kitten = 15-year-old human A 1-year-old cat has reached adulthood, the equivalent of 18 human years 2 human years = 24 cat years 4 human years = 35 cat years 6 human years = 42 cat years 8 human years = 50 cat years 10 human years = 60 cat years 12 human years = 70 cat years 14 human years = 80 cat years 16 human years = 84 cat years How Cats Age: A "Cat Years" Calculator
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Apr 18, 2015 17:46:40 GMT -5
I've got a 50 and two 82 year olds.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 18, 2015 18:09:00 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets. Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life. The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 18, 2015 18:14:14 GMT -5
They don't speak human though.But we don't speak cat either. But I get what you're saying. Cats are really hard in that they hide how they feel until they can no longer do so. So when you finally see something is wrong, it has gone on too far. Hmmm, that's a good point, I never considered that.
Cats are very independent by nature, so it makes sense that they'd "tough it out" long before the problem becomes acute.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 18, 2015 18:18:35 GMT -5
Kidney failure seems to be a common thing among cats, I wonder if cats, by their nature, have weaker kidneys than most mammals?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 18:22:23 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets. Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life. The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
Depending upon your source, the average life span of a cat is 10-15 years old. Cats living 18-20 years are quite the exception.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Apr 18, 2015 18:24:41 GMT -5
1-month-old kitten = 6-month-old human baby 3-month-old kitten = 4-year-old child 6-month-old kitten = 10 human years old 8-month-old kitten = 15-year-old human A 1-year-old cat has reached adulthood, the equivalent of 18 human years 2 human years = 24 cat years 4 human years = 35 cat years 6 human years = 42 cat years 8 human years = 50 cat years 10 human years = 60 cat years 12 human years = 70 cat years 14 human years = 80 cat years 16 human years = 84 cat years How Cats Age: A "Cat Years" Calculator I have a 35-year-old and an 82-year-old.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Apr 18, 2015 18:25:41 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets. Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life. The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
the POTENTIAL lifespan of a cat is 18 to 20 yo. Your cats didn't die 'prematurely' at 10 or 11 they were 'senior' cats.
Would you say someone who died at 78, died prematurely because a few thousand (out of billions) of humans have lived to 105?
The thing with cats is that the functioning of their inner working parts weren't made to last so long and haven't caught up with their longer lives due to consistent quality foods and fewer physical dangers. We don't really breed cats based on longevity - now that they HAVE an opportunity for longevity.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 18:27:35 GMT -5
1-month-old kitten = 6-month-old human baby 3-month-old kitten = 4-year-old child 6-month-old kitten = 10 human years old 8-month-old kitten = 15-year-old human A 1-year-old cat has reached adulthood, the equivalent of 18 human years 2 human years = 24 cat years 4 human years = 35 cat years 6 human years = 42 cat years 8 human years = 50 cat years 10 human years = 60 cat years 12 human years = 70 cat years 14 human years = 80 cat years 16 human years = 84 cat years How Cats Age: A "Cat Years" Calculator I have a 35-year-old and an 82-year-old. My poor male cat is somewhere in his 90s and three females who are 60.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Apr 18, 2015 18:50:36 GMT -5
The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
Depending upon your source, the average life span of a cat is 10-15 years old. Cats living 18-20 years are quite the exception. I've had one female Siamese who I put down at 21 1/2. We have friends who had a similar situation only their cat was a three-legged cat from about age 2.
Our current Siamese is almost 16. I didn't expect him to live that long because he's an oversized one. At his best he was 17 pounds of love. He's now about 14.5lbs. He's in the last stages of kidney failure. We're doing subcutaneous fluids 3x per week. He's old but he's otherwise pretty happy. And there ain't nothing wrong with his lungs!
Because of cats' meat diets they often succumb to kidney disease. You can buy kidney diet food from your vet or from places like Petsmart. You should also make sure you test their creatin and BUN every annual check up.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Apr 18, 2015 18:51:01 GMT -5
I have water everywhere and because it's easy to access, the cats drink a lot of it. Hopefully, that helps their kidneys stay happy.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Apr 18, 2015 19:03:31 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets. Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life. The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
Try not to think of them as premature deaths. I think its easy to forget maximum lifespan is not a given for every cat or human even with more optimal conditions. Pets and people pass all throughout the lifecycle from birth to very old age.
Celebrate the fact you and your parents got those 10 to 11 years. Sorry for the loss of your cat.
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violagirl
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Post by violagirl on Apr 18, 2015 19:23:59 GMT -5
I have 3 cats - 11,12 and 13. The oldest one has never had any health problems. The middle one has had cancer for half his life and has had bouts with crystals in his urine. But the cancer is basically on his skin, I forget what it is called, when dogs have it it grows really fast, but cats it grows slowly. So he is kind of lumpy, but does not appear to suffer any ill effects from it. When we first discovered a lump on his side, we had surgery, but when it came back all over his belly, we decided that we would just let it take its course. So 7 years later he is still going. Once we switched to canned food (with added water) he never had any kidney problems again.
I have had other animals before and maybe it is because of my upbringing - grandfather a butcher, father a hunter - but I have a pragmatic view toward animals. I understand my cats have had pretty good lives, I've taken care of them the best I can and that is all they need. I'll cry when they die, but I understand that is the circle of life. I'm not someone who would never get another pet because a beloved pet died. I find that kind of selfish. Maybe "selfish" isn't the right word, but I mean if you had a pet you loved that much, then wouldn't it be the best thing to take in another unwanted, unloved animal and give it a good home? Maybe ultimately it doesn't make a huge dent in the number of unwanted animals, but it makes the world of difference to one.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 19:37:48 GMT -5
Depending upon your source, the average life span of a cat is 10-15 years old. Cats living 18-20 years are quite the exception. I've had one female Siamese who I put down at 21 1/2. We have friends who had a similar situation only their cat was a three-legged cat from about age 2.
Our current Siamese is almost 16. I didn't expect him to live that long because he's an oversized one. At his best he was 17 pounds of love. He's now about 14.5lbs. He's in the last stages of kidney failure. We're doing subcutaneous fluids 3x per week[/]. He's old but he's otherwise pretty happy. And there ain't nothing wrong with his lungs!
Because of cats' meat diets they often succumb to kidney disease. You can buy kidney diet food from your vet or from places like Petsmart. You should also make sure you test their creatin and BUN every annual check up.
You too on the subcutaneous fluids three times a week, eh? The old boy eats just a little bit of canned (moist) cat food. His primary food is diced chicken thighs. He won't live forever and he has surprised me he has lasted this long. So I don't begrudge him the chicken thighs.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 18, 2015 19:41:58 GMT -5
I have 3 cats - 11,12 and 13. The oldest one has never had any health problems. The middle one has had cancer for half his life and has had bouts with crystals in his urine. But the cancer is basically on his skin, I forget what it is called, when dogs have it it grows really fast, but cats it grows slowly. So he is kind of lumpy, but does not appear to suffer any ill effects from it. When we first discovered a lump on his side, we had surgery, but when it came back all over his belly, we decided that we would just let it take its course. So 7 years later he is still going. Once we switched to canned food (with added water) he never had any kidney problems again. I have had other animals before and maybe it is because of my upbringing - grandfather a butcher, father a hunter - but I have a pragmatic view toward animals. I understand my cats have had pretty good lives, I've taken care of them the best I can and that is all they need. I'll cry when they die, but I understand that is the circle of life. I'm not someone who would never get another pet because a beloved pet died. I find that kind of selfish. Maybe "selfish" isn't the right word, but I mean if you had a pet you loved that much, then wouldn't it be the best thing to take in another unwanted, unloved animal and give it a good home? Maybe ultimately it doesn't make a huge dent in the number of unwanted animals, but it makes the world of difference to one. I once read something to the affect that your departed pet would want you to get another member of his species. Your late pet believes because you so enjoyed him, why not enjoy again..
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Apr 18, 2015 19:50:27 GMT -5
You do know that pets do not live as long as humans right, and if you are an animal lover you are most likely to go through a few pets. Doesn't mean you can't keep them alive (besides the one that went "missing") it is just the circle of life. The cats in question weren't that old, maybe 10 or 11. I'm aware that the lifespan of a cat is about 18-20 years or so.
Sorry, I guess I should have clarified premature deaths.
I'm sorry for your loss, and that of your parents. Losing a pet really hurts. Actually, though, the average cat lives to be around 12 -13 years, not 18-20 years. I've had cats die as young as 12 (thyroid cancer) to as old as 21 (kidney failure). In general, indoor cats live longer lives than outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Apr 18, 2015 19:59:37 GMT -5
We have had 9 dogs. 6 of them lived long happy lives to 12 years or more. 3 are still alive I moved out with DD and 2 live with us
One beagle died at 8, it was due to heart problems from being overweight.
One dog was adopted from DS ex GF when she was 7. Her family did want her - she was neglected not abused. She had heart worm and we "treated" her. She improved and was very happy with us but died after 8 months.
Saddest was a puppy we adopted from a shelter who supposedly had her shot. Her 2 nd day with us she got sick and a few days later died of parvo.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Apr 18, 2015 20:11:31 GMT -5
Our track record isn't very good, but we also choose dog breeds with health issues.
DH's first boxer died at 5 from complications from epilepsy (whether it was related to a tumor, we don't know. He had grand map seizures every few weeks for about 1.5 years before the last one basically 'fried' his brain and we had to put him to sleep.
Another boxer died of lymphoma at 6, two months short of 7. He was diagnosed six months prior and we didn't do chemo, just a combo of a steroid and inexpensive chemo-like pill. Surprisingly he responded very well to that treatment and had an awesome last summer with us. I expected two months but we got six. That dog was a huge dork but I miss him. Putting him to sleep was the hardest thing I have had to do.
We have three dogs now. A boxer, 6, and two beagles, both 3. If the boxer makes it to September and turns 7, and he has no known issues, he will be the oldest dog we have ever had. He did have a mast cell tumor removed two years ago but it hasn't returned so that is good.
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Apr 18, 2015 20:13:06 GMT -5
I have two senior golden retrievers. One is my first dog and the other I inherited when I moved in with my partner 6 years ago. I love them both dearly. The youngest of the two is "mine" and is the love of my life. I will be devastated when the time comes for either of them.
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