My Beloved Cat Died Alone @ Home

[steel]

About 4 weeks ago my beloved 16 y/o female cat threw a blood clot. It passed & then she threw another blood clot last friday. Last sat (2/9/13) she was in her favorite cat house sleeper & she lay her head on her paws & moaned in pain. My phone was having problems so i went next door to use the phone to call my boss & tell her whats going on so i can rush salem to the vet (i was suppose to work). When i got back salem was dead. I was only gone 5 mins. I did not want her to die alone but she did. Now i feel VERY guilty. I know all about nasty blood clots & salem was most likely going to be pts. She was never the same again & her appetite was terrible. I really miss her & have enjoyed her company for over 14 yrs (i adopted her in the fall of 1998). Just last dec 27th my other 16 y/o cat who has been with me since 10/98 died of a mouth tumor. I feel like i lost 2 of my kids (i have no children). I currently have 3 cats ages 7-12 (maybe older) but its much different now. Salem & buddy were top cats here & best of friends. It sure is a lonely feeling. I did bury salem about 2 feet next to buddy. No one including animals should die alone but i know stuff happens. At least salem died in her fav cat house in familiar surroundings. I miss salem & buddy dearly.

[Taz_Zoee]

I've always been told cats prefer to go alone. She probably waited until you were gone to make her journey to see Buddy. Cats always hide when its time to go.
Please do not feel bad. She knows how much you love her and will miss her.

RIP Salem, I hope you and Buddy are having a grand time at the Rainbow Bridge together once again.

[neko1]

I know how you feel and I struggle with the guilt all the time.

I was at work when my cat passed. I shouldn't have left in the morning when he meowed at me, but I had to go to work. He was gone by the time I came home, he passed in the same place I left him.

Everyone says he meowed to say goodbye, but he was the kind of cat that was velcro'd to me and I still feel that I should have been there....

[Karen]

It is okay, do not feel guilty. Salem knew how much you loved her, and that matters more than that last moment. Love lives on, seat never wins.

[pomtzu]

Don't feel guilty - most animals prefer to die alone if they have the ability to do it - domesticated and wild ones alike. I've had 2 cats pass on at home, and they both picked out hiding places in the house to do it. The kids also had rabbits outside in a hutch when they were small, and the last survivor actually chewed thru the wire of the hutch to get out to go off and die. Fortunately I found him before the kids did.
Salem is at peace now and would not want you to feel guilty. I'm sure she knew you were trying to help her and loves you for all of your love and companionship over the years.

RIP Salem

[smokey the elder]

I'm so sorry about your precious Salem.

[steel]

Salem had trouble breathing & was heading towards the back of the tv. I picked her up & held her & then put her in her cat sleeper house. A few mins later she was moaning in terrible pain & died shortly after. I just cant get that moaning out of my head. Salem was always running around the house & very talkative. When i talked on the phone she was often meowing at me. After salem threw the first blood clot her quality of life was not good. She was quiet for a few weeks but when she stopped eating i knew the end was near. I wish i knew about this website. http://www.vin.com/FATCAT/

[Sindy]

God knows what we can handle and He was close to your baby leading him to Rainbow bridge. I am so sorry. (((Hugs))))

[renopithicus]

About 4 weeks ago my beloved 16 y/o female cat threw a blood clot. It passed & then she threw another blood clot last friday. Last sat (2/9/13) she was in her favorite cat house sleeper & she lay her head on her paws & moaned in pain. My phone was having problems so i went next door to use the phone to call my boss & tell her whats going on so i can rush salem to the vet (i was suppose to work). When i got back salem was dead. I was only gone 5 mins. I did not want her to die alone but she did. Now i feel VERY guilty. I know all about nasty blood clots & salem was most likely going to be pts. She was never the same again & her appetite was terrible. I really miss her & have enjoyed her company for over 14 yrs (i adopted her in the fall of 1998). Just last dec 27th my other 16 y/o cat who has been with me since 10/98 died of a mouth tumor. I feel like i lost 2 of my kids (i have no children). I currently have 3 cats ages 7-12 (maybe older) but its much different now. Salem & buddy were top cats here & best of friends. It sure is a lonely feeling. I did bury salem about 2 feet next to buddy. No one including animals should die alone but i know stuff happens. At least salem died in her fav cat house in familiar surroundings. I miss salem & buddy dearly.

First, I'm very sorry for your loss. Second, you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. You were doing what you thought (and what I think any rational person would have thought) was in your cat's best interest. You were trying to help her. She knew that you loved her and I'm sure she loved you right back. It's wonderful that you had each other for so long, though of course I know how much it hurts now. Please know that our thoughts are with you!!!!