Feline Aortic Thromboembolism.
That was is what took our cat Trixie from us today. It is a genetic condition in cats that can lead to sudden death or, in the case of Trixie, a clot coming loose that blocks that blocks the flow of blood to the hindquarters.
My wife and daughter came home around lunch today to find Trixie on her side on the floor, meowing in distress, and unable to move her hind legs. They brought her to the emergency vet near our house while I headed over from the office. And while the vet took her immediately, she had been in her paralyzed state for a while. Her paws and hindquarters were cold to the touch, she was in a lot of pain, and the doctor said there was little hope for anything but a very temporary recovery due to the state of her heart. We had to put her down.
She was just a wee thing when her and her brother Fred came to live with us less than six years ago.
Today we had to say good-bye, just a year and a month after her brother Fred passed on. The vet thought it likely that Fred’s sudden death was from the same genetic disposition.
In a house of tall people and big cats, she was a wee little thing, just 8 lbs, with a squeaking, high pitched meow, who would go every place at a trot or a run, and who had to scale every piece of furniture in the house.
In the kitty order of things she was “my cat,” though she was happy to be with everybody in the family. But when she was young, when I got home she would meow at me and jump up on the kitchen table, putting her front paws on the back of a chair to get her just a bit higher, where she would wait until I came over to pick her up. She would then wriggle out of my arms and get up on my shoulders so that she could ride around up there… at least until I got close to something taller, at which point she would jump for that.
She also slept on the bed with us every night, either on my wife’s hip or cuddled up with our 15 year old cat Oscar. She wasn’t much of a lap cat and didn’t like to be held, but she would come over to me at night some times and dig for my hands until I would pet her. Then, in a display of kitty OCD, she would first lick and then lightly nibble the tip of each finger on that hand. After that she would run off.
At the vet we all held her one last time. She was on pain meds and a bit confused, but purring and happy to see us. True to form, she tried to wriggle out of my arms for a bit, no doubt aiming to get on my shoulders once more.
And now it is all tears at our house today. We miss her and her little meows and the sound of her skittering around the house. So many pets over the years, but saying good-bye never gets any easier.
A gallery of Trixie pictures after the cut.
Aw, I am so sorry! It was always pains me to see anyone lose a loved one. I wish you and your family the best.
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I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved kitty. It never gets any easier to say good-bye to them. *hugs*
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So sad when they go but so much joy while they’re here. Great pictures.
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I’m so very sorry. Trixie was a beautiful girl. My friend Oliver — a handsome orange tabby — died from the same condition and I remember how sudden and devastating the loss was for everyone that loved him. My thoughts are with you and your family. You all were lucky to have Trixie and she was lucky to have such a loving home.
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sorry about your cat, glad to see you have a ton of happy memories of her
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Sorry for the loss.
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I’m so very sorry for your loss. :(
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Very sad. Purr in peace.
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My condolences on the loss of kitty cat. I remember when my grandmother’s dog – whom I had played with since a child – died after 16 years on this earth. Every pet is special, and every one will be remembered for the love and affection they brought us.
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Man sorry to hear that : ( Not a cat person but pets in general just make a place in your heart then they are family. Not that it’s any consolation but at least you have an answer for Fred’s sudden passing.
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Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear about this. :( Trixie looks like a lovely kitty, and thanks for sharing her story with us.
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My thoughts are with you. We recently lost our dog Indy who was (despite a firm belief that cats were prey) the most cat like dog I’ve ever owned.
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I’m really sorry for you and your family, especially so soon after losing Fred. You’re all in my thoughts.
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I’m really sorry to hear about your loss. I truly feel for you and your family.
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I know that pain all too well. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
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I’m truly sorry for your family’s loss. Our pets are part of the family. Some people don’t get that. Those people are missing something wonderful.
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Aww, vibes.
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I’m so sorry for you and your family and your kitty. Remember the love you share.
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I feel your pain. We’re damned to love and share our lives with creatures whose life is so shorter than ours, and yet, some of them can’t live it full… I am sure you gave her a good life.
Having seen several kitties go by, I can only suggest this: onto the next one! Another kitty deserves his or her chance, when you and your family are ready.
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I’m so sorry, she was beautiful.
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Sorry for your loss.
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Sorry to hear about your loss.
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I am so sorry to hear of your Trixie’s passing. You have my condolences.
They burrow their way into our hearts, these little furry ones. Trixie had love and comfort right to the end, which is a pretty fine life all things considered. But whether we have them one year or twenty, there is always that wish that we could share just a little more time with them.
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So very sorry to hear this. Our condolences. Every moment is precious.
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I’m sorry for your loss, Wilhelm, and my condolences and best wishes to your family.
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It’s always sad when a pet dies. It looks like Trixie had a good life, even if it was too short.
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Very sorry to hear the passing of Trixie :(. She looked lovely in the nice gallery you put up !
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Such a wonderful tribute to a great kitty! She was such a cutie; will miss her terribly.
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